Kimber Ultra Carry3" Range report

[cerberus]

I again took my Kimber Ultra Carry to the local range today to make sure it was ready for duty. Meaning to be carried for defence. I fired around 150 rounds of Blazer brass 230gr ball FMJ Ammo.And I had no failures of any type. No FTF or FTE it fired with out any problems. I really wanted to shoot this Kimber again I wanted to be sure the last range visit was not a fluke as I had not had any failures then. I have read in other gun forums about the failures the 3" Kimbers have had. So every range shoot of this Kimber is a fitness of service test. I also fired two other of my Kimbers a Tac Pro 4" and Custom TLE 5" and also I had no FTF or FTE nothing but good shooting.

 

[wally]

I've a Kimber Ultra Carry 3" (older internal extractor model) Its been very reliable, although I did have to increase the extractor tension and replace the recoil spring once so far.

--wally.

 

[stans]

The compact 1911's have a reputation for eating recoil springs every 500 to absolutely no more than 1000 rounds. I think most compact 1911's run well out of the box, but some need varying degrees of work before they are reliable.

 

[bubbygator]

I have a used (but not much) Kimber UC-2 that I'm trying to qualify. The first time at range I shot 60 rounds from 10 different mags (I have a Colt Compact) and had average of 2 FTE per mag. Sent to gunsmith who "adjusted the extractor shape". Another 60 rounds for exactly 1 FTE per mag on 3rd or 4th round. I'm getting ready to send it in to factory to see what they can do. My Colt Compact is already qualified with these mags - - zero failures.

 

[cerberus]

Right about the springs

You replace both springs on the Ultras but only the outside spring on Pro series. I have had very good luck with the breaking in of my Ultra. Some people don't like the way the smaller Kimbers dis-assemble but I did not find using the hairpin tool a problem. In some ways it's easyer then using the flat tool on the full sized Kimbers. You just don't try forcing anything and they come down ok. Same for re-assembling them just take you'r time and don't force things.

 

[vwfool]

I too have a Kimber Ultra Carry II, and I absolutely love it. I carried a series I Compact Stainless for 3 years or so and liked it a lot; however, the UC is even better. I never have had any FTF or FTE's with eigther gun. I only wish I could say that about all of the autos I have had.

Like I said, I love my UC. The recoil isn't bad, it doesn't jam, is very accurate, and s light enough to carry anywhere, even in your pocket(hammer down of couurse). What more could ou ask for... well... besides 10,000 rounds of free ammo to go with it.

Quit disbelieving it, all these good things can come from a 3" .45. Enjoy it as much and often as you can.

 

[myrockfight]

Kimber Ultra CDP

"The compact 1911's have a reputation for eating recoil springs every 500 to absolutely no more than 1000 rounds. I think most compact 1911's run well out of the box, but some need varying degrees of work before they are reliable."

I hope you don't take this as an insult in anyway, but I have more than a few thousand rounds in my Kimber Ultra CDP and have never had any problems save for a FTF caused by a bad mag.

What is with the springs? I assume that would cause a problem worthy of notice after a few thousand rounds.

Thanks for the reply, in advance...

 

[clown714]

both of my UC have been 100% reliable.

even with the factory mags

clown

 

[XLMiguel]

I have a series 1 UC. It's thoroughly reliable with everything I've fed it, scary accurate, and works fine with OEM and Wilson mags. Kimber recommends a fresh recoil spring after 2000 rnds. FWIW

 

[stans]

What is with the springs? I assume that would cause a problem worthy of notice after a few thousand rounds.

Springs wear out from repeated compression and decompression and the spring loses pressure. The loss of pressure can lead to the slide battering the frame during recoil. Also, with a weak recoil spring you can have failure to feed problems. The higher slide velocity of the shorty 1911's just wear on the short recoil springs faster than the longer springs of the Government model.