Spitting Kimber

[Jeremae]

Well I only spent $682 last August for my Kimber (the Basic Custom II) and no had work done on it.

I carry it every day, shoot it in IDPA, have put 7425 rounds downrange and have had no problems at all.

I would give up a lot of my other possessions before I will let her go.

[arod757]

Well I only spent $682 last August for my Kimber (the Basic Custom II) and no had work done on it.

I carry it every day, shoot it in IDPA, have put 7425 rounds downrange and have had no problems at all.

I would give up a lot of my other possessions before I will let her go.

I guess lucky you. My sister just called me up asking what the heck to do about here Kimber ultra carry stainless and the FTEs and FTFs every few rounds on her first range trip.

Found this thread, so now I know ... send it back to Kimber. I told her not to buy that thing, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted more of a "Girlie gun" as opposed to my Glock or my wife's XD.

Live and learn.

[Texbow]

Found this thread, so now I know ... send it back to Kimber. I told her not to buy that thing, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted more of a "Girlie gun" as opposed to my Glock or my wife's XD.

Not sure I would categorise the Kimber Ultra a "girlie gun". The fact is that with any gun you will find someone who swears up and down that it's a piece of junk or the best thing invented. So many unknown factors in problems some face. Is the gun cleaned properly, break in process followed, limp wrist, faulty magazine, faulty or cheap ammo and the list goes on. Individuals have unique taste, needs, desires, budgets, patience and resolve. What works for some will not work for others. I place little value in second hand stories and discount good and bad reviews. There are plenty of both.

[Skiprr]

Not sure I would categorise the Kimber Ultra a "girlie gun". The fact is that with any gun you will find someone who swears up and down that it's a piece of junk or the best thing invented. So many unknown factors in problems some face.

Arod757, you didn't mention how experienced a shooter your sister is, but you did note that it was her first range trip with the pistol. Just IMHO, but the first thing I'd want to rule out is the limp-wristing Texbow included in his post. Short-slide 1911s generally want a nice, firm wrist, and letting an experienced 1911 shooter put several rounds through the Kimber might tell you quickly if that's the most likely suspect.

As another aside, I never shoot the factory-included magazines in my Kimbers. I've been using Wilson mags exclusively for a couple of years now. Not that the stock Kimber mags are necessarily inferior; I just like to remove variables from my equipment.

I'm also happy to note that, in the right "girl's" hands, any gun is a "girlie gun." I personally like your sister's choice!

[RPBrown]

In most cases I agree with Anygun. But not on this one. I have a total now of seven 1911 platform pistolas ranging from the cheapest of all (125.00) to Les Baer Customs. None of which have had a problem AFTER BREAK IN.

However, I have had 3 Kimbers all with multiple trips back to the factory and none would work properly before or after break in rounds. They have since gone as trades for for more reliable guns.

I won't own another Kimber without being able to put 500 rounds through it BEFORE purchase or trade.

[CompVest]

Not sure I would categorise the Kimber Ultra a "girlie gun".
I'm also happy to note that, in the right "girl's" hands, any gun is a "girlie gun." I personally like your sister's choice!

I so agree. I love my Kimber Ultra Carry and do not have any issues it.

[slowpoke]

My kimber CDP customs accuracy & reliability has made it my #1 carry.
You can get a lemon in any product,but luckly i got a great .45.

[anygunanywhere]

I have a stainless UC II and a CDP Pro and both are great, reliable handguns. The CDP dislikes aluminum case ammo but other than that I have had no issues. The CDP is my daily carry. The stainless UC II will be my BBQ gun one of these days.

RP, your experience with Kimber is truly inexcusable on Kimber's part. I understand your position.

As with all pistols 1911s must be broken in and ammo choice can be an issue especially with the short barrel versions like the UC II. Limp wristing can affect reliability as well.

Anygunanywhere

[Liberty]

Found this thread, so now I know ... send it back to Kimber. I told her not to buy that thing, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted more of a "Girlie gun" as opposed to my Glock or my wife's XD.
.

Now ya did it!

[Bunkins]

I had a few minor FTF or FTL's if you will with my Kimber Stainless Ultra Compact when I first got it, I found it was due to the oil not staying in the slide and the slide action getting rough. I went to grease, never had another problem.. Other than that I'd suspect a weak spring.. I heard but dont know for a fact that Wolff actually makes the springs for Kimber, but at Kimber's specs.

Let my sister shoot it on Christmas, and she had many FTF's because she was limp wristing it, once I told her what she was doing wrong the gun never had another problem..

I'm a very picky person, and I'm noticing now that I dont like the trigger on mine. But comparing it to a Springfield Ultra Compact it's a very nice trigger. I'm just picky is all.. Most people I've talked to about it and let them feel what I'm talking about dont see why I plan to change it up because it feels fine to them. It has 4 LBS of trigger pull with some creep. The Springfield UC has 6 1/2 LBS of pull and lots of creep as well.. They are both production guns, you can feel the difference, but I dont care what you buy it's not going to suit everyone. This is why almost everything I own is custom in some way, I'm a picky guy.

When I took the CHL course I noticed that 4 out of 10 people have stovepipes or other problems, I think I was the only guy there with a Kimber. I was actually worried about my Kimber because I hadn't shot it enough after going to the grease to trust it. It didnt miss a lick, and it hasn't yet other than when my sister shot it... I did the same with my dad's Springfield UC because it would jam up every 3 rounds, I bet the gun might have 200 rounds through it, it still jams up ( FTF, FTE ), it's obviously going to require more work.... When he goes to take the CHL course he's already said he's taking my Kimber and leaving his SF at home..

I dont doubt that people have trouble, everything in my mind is junk, there is just more expensive junk than others. I dont expect everything to suit me no matter what it costs, but I have a list of things I would change on my dad's SF just to make it reliable, and only a handful of things with my Kimber and every single one has to do with my preference, not reliability.

[arod757]

The "girlie gun" reference was my sister's, not mine. That's what she wanted, more of a girlie gun. I'm sure if she finds some Hello Kitty grips, she'll probably slap those on there, too. (Pics will follow if she does that) I personally couldn't care less what anyone shoots, especially for concealed carry. No one ever sees the thing anyway. As long as it's reliable, who cares? I'm just glad she's finally decided to start the process to start carrying a handgun. If it takes spending a grand on a pistol that she thinks is a little more purty or finding a Glock with a pink frame to get her to do that, so be it.

As far as the problems with her Kimber being human error, I doubt that. Her husband is quite experienced with these weapons. His duty weapon is a .45 1911 Colt, I believe, that he's able to carry because he qualified with it before Houston went to .40 only, and she told me the same thing was happening to him. I've seen him shoot, and if I'm ever half the marksman he is, I'll be happy.

I'll pass along the replies as far as possibly changing out mags and trying grease on the slide before she goes and sends it in. Maybe that will help. Of course, my bro-in-law probably already tried that, but we'll see.

Thanks for the advice.

[cowboymd]

I had one out of 100 hit me above the right eye the first time I shot my Pro carry II. Didn't think anything about it until now I will have to check that out at the range tomorrow.

Second hundred Winchester 230 gr FMJ's shot with no brass dodging this time.

[RPBrown]

I have a stainless UC II and a CDP Pro and both are great, reliable handguns. The CDP dislikes aluminum case ammo but other than that I have had no issues. The CDP is my daily carry. The stainless UC II will be my BBQ gun one of these days.

RP, your experience with Kimber is truly inexcusable on Kimber's part. I understand your position.

As with all pistols 1911s must be broken in and ammo choice can be an issue especially with the short barrel versions like the UC II. Limp wristing can affect reliability as well.

Anygunanywhere

Thats why I waited until after the break in rounds were shot. In fact, well after. Each had 500-700 rounds before the first trip back.

It also did not matter what ammo was used. FMJ did feed a little better than JHP but still had problems. Also used all brands as well as reloads. Nothing worked.

As much as I wanted the Kimbers to work, I just could not feel comfotable with reliability to carry one. With my luck that would be when I needed it the most and it wouldn't work.

[CompVest]

FYI: to qualify as a "girlie gun" it must have pink grips.

[Abraham]

I know those who love 1911's are diehards and will tolerate failure rates that would be unacceptable in modern designed firearms.

I appreciate there's no such thing as a perfect pistol design, but I sincerely doubt the "across the board" problems that seem to generally plague 1911's would be tolerated in Glock's, XD's, Sig's, etc. Modern pistols suffer fewer failures and problems than 100 year plus designed pistols.

If you must shoot a .45 ACP, get a modern designed pistol and the vast majority of your problems will disappear...plus, you can get a pistol with greater ammo capacity.

Not bad!