Souris
Member
I have a circa 1998 Kimber 1911 officers model that I want new sights for. What sights are compatible with the Kimber rear sight dovetail? What sights are worth the money?
Thanks in advance,
Thanks in advance,
1911 Sight question
- Thread starter Souris
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Jim Watson
Member
What do you want a new sight to do that your old one will not?
Brownells.
Brownells.
Souris
Member
The pistol shoots low and left. I want to put an adjustable rear sight on it.
I have seen several on the market but an not sure of what sights will fit.
Is there a "standard" dovetail?
How do I measure the dovetail to ensure a fit?
What is a "bo-mar" cut?
Jim Watson
Member
Ok, last things first.
Yes, there is a standard dovetail. Kimber doesn't use it.
Measuring a dovetail is kind of tricky, and should be unnecessary. Best depend on getting a sight listed to be made for the Kimber mutation.
A Bo-mar cut is the combination of dovetail, flats, and grooves required to mount a Bo-mar BMCS adjustable sight in a low position on the slide.
MMC and Novak make somewhat adjustable sights for Kimber.
I have read that the Kimber fixed sight cut can be extended somewhat to take a Bo-mar adjustable but have not seen it done.
Changing the rear sight might require a new front sight, I don't know for sure, but Novak says you need a .175" tall front sight to go with their Extreme Duty adjustable.
I consider it a gunsmith job. I don't know of one in Birmingham but I will be shooting there tomorrow and will ask around.
Now the bad news. It may be your fault. Shooting low and left is a sign of flinching and jerking the trigger. Have you shot the gun off a rest? Or had a known good shot try it out?
Yes, there is a standard dovetail. Kimber doesn't use it.
Measuring a dovetail is kind of tricky, and should be unnecessary. Best depend on getting a sight listed to be made for the Kimber mutation.
A Bo-mar cut is the combination of dovetail, flats, and grooves required to mount a Bo-mar BMCS adjustable sight in a low position on the slide.
MMC and Novak make somewhat adjustable sights for Kimber.
I have read that the Kimber fixed sight cut can be extended somewhat to take a Bo-mar adjustable but have not seen it done.
Changing the rear sight might require a new front sight, I don't know for sure, but Novak says you need a .175" tall front sight to go with their Extreme Duty adjustable.
I consider it a gunsmith job. I don't know of one in Birmingham but I will be shooting there tomorrow and will ask around.
Now the bad news. It may be your fault. Shooting low and left is a sign of flinching and jerking the trigger. Have you shot the gun off a rest? Or had a known good shot try it out?
Souris
Member
I thought of that and it usually is! (most of my guns are better than I am).
I have:
Fired from a rest = 2" Low & 1" Left @ 20 yards
Tried several different factory and handloads = 2" Low & 1" Left @ 20 yards
Had 2 different friends fire the pistol = 2" Low & 1" Left @ 20 yards
Are you shooting the IDPA match at Steel City? If so good luck and have fun!
I might be at the Steel City tomorrow AM Sighting in a new rifle. If I am I will probably observe the IDPA match and see if I want to shoot the match next month.
I, unfortunantly, do not know of any gunsmiths in Birmingham that I would trust my guns to again.
I like the MMC web page better than the Novak page and I like that the MMC sight will work with the existing front sight. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
Jim Watson
Member
Yes, I shoot IDPA at Steel City and will be there tomorrow if at all possible.
I'm the guy in the 'Team Mediocre' vest.
I will ask Joe Day and Ron Holland if they or someone they know is up to knocking out the (tight!) Kimber sight and pushing in a new one.
Come over and get acquainted.
I'm the guy in the 'Team Mediocre' vest.
I will ask Joe Day and Ron Holland if they or someone they know is up to knocking out the (tight!) Kimber sight and pushing in a new one.
Come over and get acquainted.
Sunray
Member
"...Come over and get acquainted..." To say the least and take your pistol and get Jim to shoot it. That'll tell you if it's you or the sights. If I'm to late with my sage advice, get another shooter you trust to do it.
Mind you, you haven't said what ammo you're using. Ammo with fixed sights is important. You have to sight in with fixed sights and a particular load too.
Mind you, you haven't said what ammo you're using. Ammo with fixed sights is important. You have to sight in with fixed sights and a particular load too.
Souris
Member
Just thought that I would let ya'll know.
I really appreciate the comments and advice from you guys. I decided to go with the MMC Kimber Adjustble Sights and I ordered them with red tritium in the rear and green in the front.
The people at MMC were very pleasant to deal with and the sights came in approx. a week. I had them installed locally after hearing horror stories about getting Kimber sights out of the dovetails. I headed to the range after getting the pistol back and tested it from a rest. MAN! it's a new gun! It shoots point of aim and the new sights are much better than the Kimber factory sights. The new sights seem to draw your eye to them and align by themselves.
Once again, Thanks
JR
I really appreciate the comments and advice from you guys. I decided to go with the MMC Kimber Adjustble Sights and I ordered them with red tritium in the rear and green in the front.
The people at MMC were very pleasant to deal with and the sights came in approx. a week. I had them installed locally after hearing horror stories about getting Kimber sights out of the dovetails. I headed to the range after getting the pistol back and tested it from a rest. MAN! it's a new gun! It shoots point of aim and the new sights are much better than the Kimber factory sights. The new sights seem to draw your eye to them and align by themselves.
Once again, Thanks
JR
Jim Watson
Member
That is great to hear. I had to read the fine print to even know they made a sight for the oddball Kimber dovetail & flat layout.
JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
Member
Ok, what's the big deal with the tight sights in a Kimber. I just bought one via THR, and fully intend on replacing the sights with some adjustable ones when I get it.
-Steve
-Steve
As I mentioned in the other thread, they are installed at the factory with a hydraulic press.
They are a pain in the rear to drift out.
I would recommend you put the slide in a vise with padded jaws (leather works well) and use a piece of nylon for your drift punch.
Or you could do what I did before I learned about that and put the slide on the workbench and use a steel drift punch...
Shoots fine, but sure looks like some fool hammered the stuffing out of it.
They are a pain in the rear to drift out.
I would recommend you put the slide in a vise with padded jaws (leather works well) and use a piece of nylon for your drift punch.
Or you could do what I did before I learned about that and put the slide on the workbench and use a steel drift punch...
Shoots fine, but sure looks like some fool hammered the stuffing out of it.
JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
Member
Will they hammer out with a brass drift?
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