Kimber - are they still to be avoided?

[jfh]

I got a stainless target II in 10 mm about 4 weeks ago--

and I am mightily impressed. The only FTFs I've had have been on the McCormick mags I bought for my Omega 15 years ago, basically.

I've run 400 rounds of reloads through it now, 180 TMJs to burnish the barrel. The break-in has been predictable. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Jim H.

 

[the pistolero]

I am in-between...

I got a stainless target II in 10 mm about 4 weeks ago--

I got one of those late last year and really like it, too...I think I put about 200-300 rounds of factory ammo through it before I started reloading for it. Would have been more, but factory 10mm is hideously expensive, at least around here in the brick-n-mortar stores. But it's eaten everything I've fed it. I would buy another, at least a 10mm. As far as the good ole .45 is concerned, though, I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I don't know why the Springfield Loaded isn't just as good of a pistol as is the Kimber. As far as I can tell all you're getting with that extra cash is the name, and I would invite anyone who scoffed at my Springfield to pony up the dough for my next Kimber. But to answer the question posed by the title to this thread? Not at all. Buy one and shoot the snot out of it!

 

[brashboy]

My Kimber is a ss Classic (I) 5" and predates the changes to the II series. But I've never had a better handgun. First boat all the way.

 

[Tom Servo]

I've got a CDP Compact. It had one FTE on the eighth round fired, and has not had a malfunction in the >3000 rounds since.

It's one of the external-extractor/Series II ones. I've seen tons of folks who've had no problems with theirs.

Does Kimber occasionally turn out a lemon? Probably. I've seen bum Glocks and Sigs, too, and nothing in my experience indicates that Kimbers are particularly problematic.

 

[schmeky]

I have a 20+ year old Kimber Classic Custom .45. Better than any 1911 I have ever owned. Fired thousands and thousands of rounds through this pistol. My pet light handload of 3.2 gns of Bullseye behind a 230 gn RN lead bullet taper crimped will shoot forever with no malfunctions. Ever. Factory pressure level reloaded jacketed rounds are just as reliable, i.e., 100%.

About 4 months ago I was confronted with my daughters drunk boyfriend. I have about 25 pistols, Colt, Glock, Sig, CZ, Ruger, Benelli, Star, Norinco, etc.
Grabbed my "old" Kimber .45 loaded with Hydra-Shocks when he drove up (he left politely, no problem). My instinct was to grab what has worked, over and over and over, . . . . .

I am probably going to get a 1911 based 9mm in the future.

It'll most likely be a Kimber.

 

[Newton]

Bullseye in Pittsburgh looks to be out of business, so I'll have to wait to try out a Kimber personally.

 

[EdLaver]

Jennings and Hi-Point are pistols that need to be avoided...not Kimbers. I have never heard anything bad about them personally. I have friends that live by Kimbers and own like 4 each and have never had a single problem with them. They are great to shoot IMO.

 

[Serpico]

Seems to be the shorter models have more problems...most Custom 2 owners, myself included, have had nothing but positve experiences with it, as with all their full size guns...

 

[doubleg]

I loves my Kimber. Proud owner of a Custom II EE, yeah thats right EXTERNAL EXTRACTOR! And to the contrary to what people say on internet forums it hasn't jammed yet, and AR-15's don't jam every shot, and you can hit things with AK's..... (PS I became even more proud when I dumped that crappy plastic mainspring housing.)

 

[Katana8869]

I was nothing but disappointed with my Pro-Carry II. I consider it to be the single most pathetic and disappointing gun I have ever owned. Even after sending it back to the factory to be worked on by Dennis and his minions it still continued to have problems although not to the stunning frequency that it did out of the box.

The gun never was reliable enough to be carried for self defense. I ended up selling it back to the dealer that I bought it from and have since bought a SA Loaded 5" and a S&W 1911PD Commander. Not a single malfunction from either one to date.

I just brought them home, opened the box, cleaned them and then went to the range and shot the hell out of them.

That's kinda what I was expecting to do with that god forsaken POS from New York. It didn't work out that way though. Good riddance and never, ever, ever again. I learned my lesson.

 

[Average Joe]

I never heard they were to be avoided. Where did that come from ?

 

[gunfighter48]

Kimber had a problem with the external extractors that came on many of their guns. Not all guns had an issue but enough that Kimber got a black eye out of it. That's why people said "Don't buy a Kimber". About 1 1/2 years ago they went back to the internal extractor with the result of much increased reliability.

I bought a Pro Carry II about 3 years ago and it's been 100% reliable out of the box since day one!!!!!! I have fired 1500 rds thru it and it's my only carry piece. I highly recommend Kimbers, they make great guns.

 

[1911RjB]

i have a kimber custom II w/ night sights, i've been looking at changing out some of the MIM parts just for the long run, but out of the box the fun fired flawlessly! Extremely accurate, its a great gun for the money IMO.

get what you don't worry about anyone else.

 

[JohnRov]

Bullseye in Pittsburgh looks to be out of business, so I'll have to wait to try out a Kimber personally.

Newton,

Try Anthony Arms, they may have one to shoot.
http://www.anthonyarms.com/

 

[target1911]

Go to the Kimber thread at
www.forum.m1911.com