Christmas Gift Dilemma

[Guns&Religion]

I have a dilemma (if I'm spelling that word correctly) concerning a gift I've received from my brother-in-law who's a fellow shooter. He bought me some ammunition for my 1911 that I don't really want to use.

I have a Kimber Custom Target in 45ACP, which is the best, and most expensive handgun I own. The only rounds I really shoot through it are standard 230 FMJ. My brother in law bought me a couple of boxes of Cor-Bon +P 185 gr JHP. The hardball ammo I usually put through it has a velocity of around 830 fps and an energy of 350 ft/lbs. This .45 +P has a velocity of 1150 fps and an energy of 543 ft/lbs , (according to the print on the box).

As a rule, I don't use +P ammo unless it's in a firearm that is marked for it (usually my .38 snub). My Custom Target is not marked for it, and I'm concerned about causing too much wear on this nice pistol .

To me, it's like taking a classic Corvette, and running a tank of nitrous oxide through it. I'm thinking of giving the rounds away to someone else. (I will tell my brother I shot them, of course).

What do you guys think?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I would blast it.

 

[guyfromohio]

Trade it? I'm sure someone on Armslist would like to trade.

 

[GAF]

Here you go. Hope this helps.
This is from Kimbers FAQ website.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/faq

What type of ammunition do you recommend for your handguns?

We recommend using quality American-made ammunition. Choose from trusted names like Federal, Winchester or Remington because ammunition by these makers has proven to be of consistent high quality. Our function testing is done with Federal 230 grain FMJ.

+P ammo manufactured to SAAMI specs is fine to use as a defensive round or for occasional range use only. Our pistols are rated to handle +P ammo. However, we do not recommend a steady diet of them, as they are rough on the pistol and will accelerate the wear on the gun and may shorten the life of the recoil spring.

 

[travisd]

It isn't going to do anything to it. If a couple boxes of +P are going to wear out a good quality 1911? Then it wouldn't be able to handle thousands of rounds of standard pressure.

 

[Red Wind]

Shoot them out. The Kimber will handle them with no problems. Enjoy the blast!

 

[leadcounsel]

OP - you're kidding right?

Shoot them.

Or save them for a rainy day.

Or use them for HD or carry ammo.

Live life.

 

[il.bill]

This ^

Be gracious, give him a sincere 'thank you', and put it in your ammo stockpile if you are worried about occasional use of it hurting your Kimber. Or take seven rounds with you to the range now and then and let them rip!

 

[riceboy72]

Your pistol is beyond suited to shoot +P, so take a mag out and try it; you may actually like it. One can never have too much ammunition on hand, and be thankful he bought you good, quality ammo instead of some of the junk that's on the market today. He sounds like a good brother in law!

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Here you go. Hope this helps.
This is from Kimbers FAQ website.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/faq

What type of ammunition do you recommend for your handguns?

We recommend using quality American-made ammunition. Choose from trusted names like Federal, Winchester or Remington because ammunition by these makers has proven to be of consistent high quality. Our function testing is done with Federal 230 grain FMJ.

+P ammo manufactured to SAAMI specs is fine to use as a defensive round or for occasional range use only. Our pistols are rated to handle +P ammo. However, we do not recommend a steady diet of them, as they are rough on the pistol and will accelerate the wear on the gun and may shorten the life of the recoil spring.

Kind of my thoughts. Or, you may want to shoot some just to see how they perform and keep the rest as just in case ammo.

 

[bannockburn]

A couple of boxes of +P ammo is not going to do any appreciable wear to your Kimber. I would love to have a brother in law who would buy me ammo; usually I'm the one giving ammo away as gifts.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Send them to me, my Kimber 45s will shoot them just fine.

 

[BSA1]

As a rule, I don't use +P ammo unless it's in a firearm that is marked for it (usually my .38 snub). My Custom Target is not marked for it, and I'm concerned about causing too much wear on this nice pistol.

Could you explained what you mean by "causing too much wear on this nice pistol"?

One the best ways to prevent excessive wear on a 1911 pattern pistol is to replace the recoil spring regularly. Depending on the source anywhere from every 3,000 - 5,000 rounds. Recoil springs are inexpensive and are made in different strengths.

+P ammo manufactured to SAAMI specs is fine to use as a defensive round or for occasional range use only. Our pistols are rated to handle +P ammo. However, we do not recommend a steady diet of them, as they are rough on the pistol and will accelerate the wear on the gun and may shorten the life of the recoil spring.

I don't understand their comment. All steel 1911's have been ran hard in IPSC and IDPA matches for many years with many thousands of draws and rounds fired. Ammunition must meet a certain power factor and some events require more powerful ammo to knock down steel targets.

Does the owners manual give recommendation when to replace the recoil springs? Frankly Kimbers warning sounds like a legal escape clause.

 

[LocoGringo]

Choot 'em! Recoil springs are cheap to replace. I've replaced my recoil spring from my Kimber Custom Target once and haven't had a problem. I use it for 3-gun comps when I'm playing around and IPSC every now and then to keep proficient with a 1911 type pistol, so it's been run hard but not put away wet. I clean her after every comp.

Keep the pistol well lubed to help prevent wear and shoot it. Then, regardless of the results, tell your BIL what ammo works best in your pistol as a hint for the next ammo purchase after thanking him for this gift.

 

[wingman]

I would save or give it away, personally I see no need for +P in a 45acp or in truth most calibers, if you need more power buy a bigger gun. The question is what is accomplished by using +p, bigger bang, more punishment for the gun or you. I've reloaded for nearly 50 years never load max or over, though out my life I've read and known guys who reload with the thought they must load hot for simply no reason IMO. The firearm is yours do as you view correct.

 

[19-3Ben]

It's a hunk of steel. Not crystal. Shoot the stuff and don't worry about it. Your Kimber, nice as it is, is just a pistol like any other, designed to work within certain standard sets of parameters. So long as the ammunition falls within the limits of those parameters (OAL, pressure, etc...) then there is no reason in the world not to shoot it.

Seriously, it's one thing to baby a nice gun, but to worry about it to this degree, I would think is unwarranted.

I should add that since you mentioned it's the target model, and that all you shoot through it is standard pressure 230gr. FMJ, that perhaps this is a range queen for you, rather than a SD gun. If that's the case, there's no sense shooting good defensive loads to check reliability in your KImber if it will never see SD duty. I might save it for when you do get a .45acp defensive gun and use the ammo in that.

 

[Candyman87]

Shoot it! A few rounds of +P aren't going to do anything to a modern metal firearm.

 

[Old Fuff]

The pistol's manufacturer says...

+P ammo manufactured to SAAMI specs is fine to use as a defensive round or for occasional range use only. Our pistols are rated to handle +P ammo. However, we do not recommend a steady diet of them, as they are rough on the pistol and will accelerate the wear on the gun and may shorten the life of the recoil spring.

While some folks you never heard of, and probably never will say...

Shoot them out. The Kimber will handle them with no problems. Enjoy the blast!

So who are you going to believe???

Personally I don't think the Plus P ammunition would hurt the pistol, but if it were mine I'd stick to ammunition the manufactured recommended, and which you are using now. If in the future something happens to change your mind you can reconsider.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Shoot them That my carry load in all my Colts and Dan Wession You pistol will handle fine. Recoil be no worst that 230 because lighter bullet.

2 boxes won't hurt you pistol. If does better trade it in. He must like you Corbon is pretty expensive today.

 

[TimboKhan]

Except it's not like taking a classic corvette out at all, man. Any shooting will wear the pistol out. You are talking about a very limited number of hot rounds through a pistol designed for 1000s upon 1000s of shots over a lifetime.