How Reliable are the Kimber 3" Micro 1911's?

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Lastmohecken

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I guess it's too late to talk me out of trying one, as I have just put a new Kimber Tatical Ultra II, 3 inch 45 on layaway at my local gunshop. I didn't see a thread specifically discussing these guns, so I though I would start one.

I had been scared off of the little micro 3 inch 1911's for several years, due to complaints about reliability issues, but there are just so many really cool models out now, that I finally just decided I had to try one.

Anyway, I was just wondering how many of you have had good luck or bad with them. So if you have had experience with one, please tell us how well or not so well did it work.

One of my favorite carry guns has been a Lightweight Commander, so after owning and shooting several 4 and 5 inch 1911's for years, I have decided to take the plunge and try one of these lightweight micro's, because I just can't hardly warm up to most other smaller carry guns, all that much. I hope I am not dissapointed.
 
I don't think you'll be disappointed. One of my first 1911's was a Kimber Ultra Eclipse II. That gun has been absolutley amazing. Sure it had a hiccup or two during it's first 100 rounds when I bought her brand new, but ever since then, that gun has eaten and spit out everything that I have fed her. Reloads(dirty or not), Hollowpoints, FMJ's of all brands, etc... She has been a sheer joy to own. Best of wishes with your new acquistion.:D
 
Well OK.... I carry a Kimber Ultra Tactical II everyday. Been on my side for several years and I love the little hand cannon. I did NOT break the gun in correctly and just fired the hell out of it right out of the box. Having several (many) ftf issues after 500 rounds, I had the extractor adjusted. No cost, no big deal. Little guns has went BANG every time since then for over 3000 rounds and I have yet to change the recoil spring assembly. ( I keep a spare) The gun has been tortured tested to the extent that I did NOT oil or clean the weapon for hundreds of rounds and sent mag after mag downrange as fast a possible with no failures. Lots of people have NOT had the same experience w/ 3' guns. Mine has run like cat in room full of rockin chairs. It does show holster wear... where i work, it clears leather pretty frequently.

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Three-inchers can be more finicky, for lack of a better word. IMO perfect timing is a must. I have one that initially would lock back the slide on a loaded mag. Installed a properly spec'ed SS and has worked fine since. Pretty low round count, though. Maybe 2K.
 
My Ultra Carry II, has 1200 rounds through it, never had 1 jam. I too have had an early slide lock issue, and am slowly resolving it. My only complaint from Kimber is the 1yr warranty, they might warranty outside a year, but its above and beyond whats written.
 
I also carry a Kimber UCC II. 3,000 rounds later and no issues after the first 200 rounds. And most of them was the powder I was using (too dirty)...

By the way JDGray...Kimber has a replacment part to end your lock back problem if you call them...
 
Thanks, for the posts, everyone.

It sounds like failure to feeds are not much of an issue, just mostly the occasional slide stop problem which can rear it's ugly head on about any 1911 if not tuned correctly, but perhaps the timming is a bit more critical on the micro's.

I am looking foward to getting mine out of layaway, and ringing it out.
 
By the way JDGray...Kimber has a replacment part to end your lock back problem if you call them...
Click to expand...

Yeah....I did that one already, the stop they mailed me was the same as the original. I have heard people getting custom ground stops from Kimber, maybe they will send me one of them if I beg:D(Out of warranty now)
 
Yup...The "slide stop"...(lever and pin assembly)

JD...Give them a call and tell them they sent you the wrong one. Try again...Ya give up too easy...Get Pissy...:D
 
I just got Ultra II got 300 rounds through not one ftf or any problem as of yet.Don't care for sights but I can replace easy enough you would think for 1005.00 you would get proper carry sight on a carry piece.
 
I have 5 Kimbers. Four are "Ultras" The Ultra is my carry choice.
kimbercollection.gif

Without going into a long thing.
I have a lot of good handguns that would make excellent carry guns but I choose to carry a (3 inch) Kimber Ultra.
If the gun wasn't the best thing I've found for the job I would not carry it or keep spending thousands for new ones. It's as simple as that.
 
One of the most painful USPSA stages I saw shot was by a guy with a new Kimber 3" 1911. New shooter, new Kimber, and he was using 165 grain semi wad cutter reloads. The poor guy had more live ammo on the deck than empty brass (no kidding).

Was it the gun? Nah. I'd put it on the ammo first and the shooter second. 1911s require a certain level of expertise to run AT SPEED. Any knucklehead can stand there and shoot one all day in slow fire. When you start going for .2 splits your grip and stance matter. The guys who know how to run the gun can and the guys who are still learning it have a long day.

Dan
 
Wow! M2 Carbine,

You must have had good luck with the Kimber 3 inch guns, for sure. I have owned a Kimber Custom Compact 4 inch gun for years, and it's been a good gun.
 
I've seen too many 3-inch 1911's choke at classes and competitions I've been to (yes, I know yours probably runs fine) for me to carry one without sending a significant amount of rounds down range to make sure it doesn't have any issues.

Fact of the matter is, they can by picky at times, and you should find a load that it likes. Nice shooting .45's though. Very comfortable.
 
WarMachine is partly correct. I reload and found that my Kimber UCC II does not like powder residue in the chamber (jams the incoming round 3/4 of the way in). Runs perfect using WSF and 185 grain Hornady HP/XTP
 
Wow! M2 Carbine,
You must have had good luck with the Kimber 3 inch guns, for sure. I have owned a Kimber Custom Compact 4 inch gun for years, and it's been a good gun.
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Yes my Kimbers and my friends Kimbers have been great.

Some years ago I hadn't heard of Kimber handguns. A friend brought two NIB Kimbers over to the house and told me he just bought them. He said try them out for a couple weeks and see if I just wasted a whole bunch of money.
One was the full size target model and one was a Ultra.
I shot them a good bit using mostly my 45 target load with a 200 gr SWC lead bullet.
Surprisingly I was more accurate with the Ultra than the full size Kimber.

After about a week I told my Wife, "I haven't spent this much money for a gun in my life but I got to get me one of these".:)

First I bought the Compact Custom. IMO the 4 inch 1911 is the best all around size 1911 but I have a thing about the three inch, so I keep buying them.

The last one I bought is the Ultra Covert. For the heck of it, when I got home I took it from the box, looked for barrel obstructions, then started shooting and counting magazines. I don't remember the exact count but I got tired of counting at something over 300 rounds

Even my least expensive Kimber is very accurate.

Funny story.
A while back I handed a friend the Compact Custom and a handful of magazines.
He's a decent shot but he was outdoing himself. I was just sitting in a chair watching him shoot.
After the last shot he just kept standing there looking back and forth at the target and the Kimber.
Finally he turned to me and said, "I always thought you were a good shot but now I see it's your Kimber".:D


I know there's a lot of good 1911 pistols out there and some shooters have had trouble with their Kimbers, but I stick with what's been trouble free for me.:)
 
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Even my least expensive Kimber is very accurate.
Click to expand...

Although reliability has been an issue for a few I've owned or shot, I've never found one that wasn't accurate.
 
Love my 3" Kimber.

I added a Kimber magwell and installed a Wilson slide stop and thumb safety on mine. I modded the thumb safety to resemble the Colt Commander safety. I sand blasted both parts to match.

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while miniature 1911s

can be made reliable i doubt though the stopping power of a .45acp from a 3inch barrel. me, i carry a 5inch. while the short ones are more convenient the 5inchers can be carried conveniently as well however you need to dress around the gun. goodluck to the op.
 
If you get a good one it is probably as reliable as any other. If you get a poor one, they often cannot be made to function even after multiple tries. Do keep your magazine and especially recoil springs fresh.
 
1000yds

My Ultra Carry II SS has 3000+ rounds through it with ZERO failures. We shoot golf balls at 30 feet. Accuracy IS there.
 
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