Kimber 1911s Prove So Fragile & Unreliable, N.C. Law Enforcement Agency Scraps Them

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Typical government abuse of seizure laws. Asset forfeiture is nothing more than legalized robbery by statist thugs.

Also, my Kimber Eclipse Custom II works fine with good mags, 2K rounds so far, but it's nothing more than a fun gun. Once I hit 10k rounds I'll call it good. :)
 
Having once worked bars in NC, this doesn't surprise me in the least. NC ALE are a dirty bunch. I was glad to get away from their purview.
 
I'm not a Kimber fan, but it can't be denied they have been selected by SOCOM forces, SWAT teams and others that have a far higher likelihood of needing to use their weapons in the course of fulfilling their missions. SIG firearms are also the choice of pros.

If the firearms are as problematic as they are described to be, why would the agents buy them? I would think they would be glad to be rid of them.
 
So where are all the K trade-ins going???

I love picking up POS K's and fixing them into truely awsome pistols. Usually nothing a Wilson mag, springs, ramp polish, and a Arkansas stone can't fix.

The .Gov has it's own agenda. Not really a good place for advice on what gun "you" should carry. Ignore what the Pd's choose.
 
I'm not a Kimber fan, but it can't be denied they have been selected by SOCOM forces, SWAT teams and others that have a far higher likelihood of needing to use their weapons in the course of fulfilling their missions. SIG firearms are also the choice of pros.

If the firearms are as problematic as they are described to be, why would the agents buy them? I would think they would be glad to be rid of them.
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Anecdotal evidence from officers in LA and elsewhere that use Kimbers have indicated they have a fairly high rate of repair.
 
Pizzagunner said: Kimbers are junk 1911 shaped objects. The story has external extractor failure written all over it.

Well, that's a bold statement...do you have now or have you ever had a Kimber? I used a Kimber Tactical Custom II in stock form to shoot three gun for years. It is the external extractor one. It NEVER failed to feed anything, and I won the pistol portion most of the time I ever entered with it soooo, what are you talking about? BTW to this day that gun has AT LEAST 20,000 rounds thru it many +ps and is still running like brand new....
 
I have six Kimbers and the only time I have had any trouble with them, I attribute it to myself (such as a dinged case mouth on a reload failing to chamber).

I don't believe there is sufficient information provided here to diagnose possible brand or agency wide failures.

I don't do anything fancy to mine but; use them, clean them and lube them.
 
Zerodefect said:
I love picking up POS K's and fixing them into truely awsome pistols. Usually nothing a Wilson mag, springs, ramp polish, and a Arkansas stone can't fix.
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My Kimber didn't need any fixing since it ran well to start with. However, I wanted to "enhance" it and initially took a few steps backwards when I swapped out all of the MIM parts for Ed Brown parts. I had to learn about the platform and learn how to "tune" the various parts to work perfectly. Like you, I really enjoy enhancing a 1911 and find it more satisfying compared to buying a high end model which is just point and shoot. I'm definitely going to buy another Kimber or two and do the same thing that I did to my TEII. This past weekend I shot a USPSA match with a friend of mine who recently bought a Wilson Combat CQB. Both pistols performed flawlessly in the match (about 100 rounds each) and then we shot each others pistols after the match (another 50 or so flawless rounds each). We agreed that both pistols are outstanding and we'd be happy to own either one. However, at this point I'd rather buy another Kimber for $1,200 and spend $350 on upgrades rather than spend twice that on a new Wilson Combat CQB. That's my opinion today, but 10,000 rounds later I may feel differently .... who knows. I do have an Ed Brown so am aware of the differences between $1,200 and $2,500 1911s.

Photo taken after the match showing my Kimber and SIG P220 Combat with my friend's Wilson Combat CQB and his SIG P220 Combat (tan grips).

kimber_sigs_wilson_combat.jpg
 
speaksoftly said:
1858, what brand are the magazine extensions on your Sigs? I have some 226 .40 mags that I would like to have extended bases for.
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I'm not sure about the extensions since the magazines are supposedly factory SIG 10-round stainless magazines that I bought from www.pistolsandparts.com . I think they're made in Italy by Mec-Gar like the 8-round stainless magazines that come with the SIG P220.

http://www.pistolsandparts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=2129
 
Yes, I haven't any doubt there are illegal stills in the woods around here (WNC). I understand some counties are worse than others for this, with Yancy and Madison county coming to mind as having plenty of activity.
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Easy there, I live in Madison Co. The locals started out moon shining, then the pot thing started up and now we are trying to clean up our image and go back to moon shining:)
 
I just have to hang my head:banghead:. It dosen't matter if it is fishing poles-reels, bow- arrows, underware-fuzzy or bare metal, we all think just because it didn't work for me, it's junk. I played golf with a guy a few years ago, he didn't have 2 of the same brand clubs in his bag, he beat the crap out of me, I'm glad we wern't shooting at each other. Some things just work for each of us differently. DUCK I thought I saw the guy.:what:
 
Not one offer to pick up a crappy Kimber for the postage. DAMN!

Listen, I'm not a brainwashed fanboi nor koolaid drinker. I enjoy them but 1911s are not the end all pistola. My Series II full size Raptor has been flawless, I quit counting at 1200, didn't see the freakin point. I also rely on a "top heavy" XD with a "crappy trigger" and a .380 lcp that will just piss someone off if I shoot them. I don't know how I end up with so many worthless guns but I must be the luckiest sob on the planet. They all go bang every time.
I don't own a Glock, doesn't mean I never will but then I'd have to get PO'd with all the Kaboom grip angle posts.

Is the world ALWAYS ending or is it just Chicken Little that thinks so?

This whole story smacks of corruption, kickbacks, and good ol boy politics.
 
Lots of things that work fine for the proud and attentive individual owner often go all pear shaped when you buy a couple of dozen and pass them out to your field employees, because they start running them over with forklifts, dropping them in toilets, heaving them into snowbanks, etc.
 
I smell a totally scam! Okay, maybe the little Kimbers had issues BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOU WILL EVER CONVINCE ME A SIG552 WAS NOT A RELIABLE WEAPON! An investigation is needed for fraud and other issues.
 
"But with the manufacturer's warranty expiring at the end of 2010, Chandler wrote Young that the best solution was to trade in the troublesome Kimbers for new Sig Sauer 220 pistols similar to what the agency had previously."

"These are really no-frills guns, no ALE emblems or seals on them or anything," Ledford said. "We are hopeful these will be quality products, and we believe they are. The Sig handgun is the same model carried by the Secret Service."

When did the Secret Service start carrying P220's?
 
i am not a kimber owner, never really gave them a serious thought. however, i have seen these kimbers and they are absolutely gorgeous. "they" have the full size and the compacts. these kimbers were proprietary to the A.L.E. the model number begins with A.L.E. silver logo on the rear of the slide and on the greyish silver fleck wood grips. stunning. consider the individuals that are A.L.E. agents. many are not gun enthusiasts at all. some barely qualify with any gun. i have put my hands on these kimbers and they appear to be quality through and through. price tag on the compact is $1,299, $1,199 for the full size. initially i didn't think i would like the A.L.E. seal on the weapon, but it grows on you. i may pick one up. but i really want an acog. very tough decision. these pistols make you stop and stare.
 
"Not one offer to pick up a crappy Kimber for the postage."

I don't need another one. My Stainless Gold Match has run just fine since 1999.
 
Not enough information for me to make an informed decision.

How many rounds through the guns that malfunctioned?

If they are like the local LEOs there's a good chance these had very few rounds through them and they probably weren't maintained properly. I know some will chime in that a break in shouldn't be needed for a gun that cost that much but the fact remains that any time you have machined surfaces rubbing together a wear pattern will occur at the point of contact and, up to a point, increased performance is usually the result. The tighter they are the more break in may be required.

How were they maintained?

Some have the mind set that since I haven't fired my gun I shouldn't need to clean and lube it before a trip to the range. While this may hold true for safe queens, those that are carried and exposed to the elements on a daily basis may require regular maintainance to insure reliability. If I were an LEO I would have a set schedule where I would strip and clean all my weapons, not just my sidearm.

What kind of ammo?

I'm not a Kimber fan boy (at least not yet). I just recently purchased my first Kimber (Pro Carry II) and it states in the manual to use only ball ammo in it. I ran some hollow points through it and it fed them fine all except the last rd. in the mag would stove pipe. This problem may go away as it gets more use but for the time being I will carry only ball ammo in it.

In short, I put very little value on reports as sketchy as this one.
 
Try a Tripp magazine in your Kimber to solve that last round problem.

I've had the same problem with a K CDP. Magazine, and a better Wolff or Wilson recoil spring solved the problem.
 
This is crap! Dont believe everything you read
KIMBER's are excellent guns sig 552s are also very high quality guns
 
Sniper X said:
So basically, all the cops got together and hatched out a totally brilliant plan. They sat round a table and decided to make up all sorts of problems with thir super trick Kimbers so they can all buy them for a Dollar! SWEET!
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That's what it sounds like to me. Public "servants" right?
 
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