Kimber Break-in Period

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NavyGunNut

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Just bought a (new) Kimber Ultra-Carry II yesterday. I know Kimber recommends a 400-500 round break-in period for new firearms; what exactly is "normal" to see during this period?

I put my first 100 rounds through it this morning and had two failure to feeds (slide locked back in the middle of a magazine). Is this to be expected during the break-in period, or should I be concerned?
 
I could live with one or two random stoppages at this point. But after good cleaning, inspection and lubrication, it had better straighten up and fly right the next time you take it out, IMO.
 
Yeah it requires about 500 rounds or so to loosen up the slide on the frame. In the meantime, the friction from the tight fit will reduce the slide's forward momentum. Keep it lubed. Also keep in mind that 3" 1911s have never been very reliable.

You said the slide locked back in the middle of the magazine? Did it fail to feed or was the slide lock activated somehow? Are you using Kimber mags? Ball ammo?
 
My Ultra Carry never usually made it through a mag without some sort of problem, ever.

I would suggest buying a second spring assembly and get some spare springs from Wolff. Its a lot cheaper to swap out the springs than buy the assembly from Kimber. If you have two rods, you can rotate them. Your probably going to have to swap them out sooner than they suggest. I did. Function was a little better with fresh springs, but it still had issues. Hopefully, they got the problems worked out with the UC II's.

If you call Kimber, ask them why THEY dont break them in? ;)
 
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I personally think the idea of break-in peroid is Bull. as customers we should demand guns that work WHEN WE BUY THEM. Many people buy guns to protect themselve from a current threat, I.E. exhusband, local gangbangers, ect, ect. Those people derseve a functioning gun, they might not have enoulgh money, time, access to gun range to put several hundred rounds through them.

IMO, we should make it clear that we want guns that work when we buy them.
 
I put my first 100 rounds through it this morning and had two failure to feeds (slide locked back in the middle of a magazine). Is this to be expected during the break-in period, or should I be concerned?
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Well, you have a new pistol that cost you a "pretty sum"; it certainly is disconcerting to say the least. I'm not in the camp that sides with the idea of break-in up to 500 rds. 10 boxes to smooth out the rough edges? If you have a FTF at the 499th rd; what conjures in your mind in terms of it's over-all reliability especially if contemplating this as your CC weapon?:confused:
This notion or idea of a breaking in, will certainly come-up for sure, of comparing a pistol to the workings of an auto's internal combustion engine is fallacious from the start. IMHO of course....:)
 
I got tired of the 500 rounds break in and failuers Mine didn't go 500 It was traded for a Dan Wesson tighter and hasn't needed 500 rounds to work. Just like my Colts Clean lube and enjoy Military 1911's when new were tight ( I had a mint 43RR and it was tight and worked fine) Didn't need a break in they worked when issued.
 
My ultra CDP had 3 failures in the first 150 rounds, now at around 700 without any other issues.

I don't mind the break-in period. I'd rather have a tight fit from the start with the parts wearing slightly together for a nice fit than a loose sloppy fit out of the box.

My tractor had a break in period, my motorcycle had a break in period, all of my ATV's had break in periods, what's the big deal?
 
The slide locking back on a mag with rounds in it, is not gonna break in. Kimber sent me a new stop, and it still did it, so I started removing material off the stop, till the problem went away. Bullets hit it enough during heavy recoil to just engage the slide, and hold it open. My UCII, has never had a jam in over a 1000 rounds, but the slide will still lock back on occasion, but only with defence ammo, with stout recoil.:cuss:

Oh yeah....Welcome to THR!!
 
Hmm. My CDP Ultra has never failed to feed, fire, or eject from round one. HP's, SWC's, RN's, TrFP's, you name it. Maybe I just got lucky.......hmmm....... :)

The 500 round break in garbage from Kimber is horses***. A 1911 should work from round one. Period.
 
Perhaps I misspoke when I called it a FTF. The slide lock was activated mid-magazine (after 5 rounds were fired both times), so I guess it would be a failure to return to battery. I was shooting 230gr FMJ Wolf ammo, and these were the stock Kimber 7 rd magazines.
 
Don't worry about it, dude. I have a Pro Carry II, the first few hundred rounds were rough, I was banging my head about it. Once I got past the break-in period, it was flawless. Them things cost a pretty penny for a reason.
 
Kimber mags SUCK. I bet if you got some aftermarket, good quality mags, you'd be good to go.
 
My tractor had a break in period, my motorcycle had a break in period, all of my ATV's had break in periods, what's the big deal?
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A lot of people will debate whether or not those needed a break-in period also.
 
I guess I got lucky. I bought a used Kimber Ultra Carry. Must have already been "broken-in". I put 100 rounds through it and not a single failure.
 
Perhaps I misspoke when I called it a FTF. The slide lock was activated mid-magazine (after 5 rounds were fired both times), so I guess it would be a failure to return to battery. I was shooting 230gr FMJ Wolf ammo, and these were the stock Kimber 7 rd magazines.
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First thing is to make sure you're not accidentally pushing the slide stop up with one of your thumbs when firing. Then take a look at the plunger tube and make sure it's staked on tight. The plunger tube on my Custom II started working loose pretty early on.
 
I have bought 2 used Kimbers, a 3" and a 4", both coverts with CTG.

Both have since had a few hundred rounds each of FMJ's and a couple of mags of JHP's.

No failures so far. Maybe I'm just one lucky SOB
 
3 Kimbers for me and no issues with any of them I don't know what they are talking about with a 500 round break in.
 
Personally, I take it as a sign of quality products when something requires a break-in period. That means various components machined precisely and fitted together with very tight tolerances.

My Kimber had a few FTEs initially but has been flawless ever since. So count me in as a believer.
 
My tractor had a break in period, my motorcycle had a break in period, all of my ATV's had break in periods, what's the big deal?
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Did your tractor, motorcycle or ATV stop running? Bet not. :) And they are far more complex mechanical devices than a handgun.
 
Personally, I take it as a sign of quality products when something requires a break-in period. That means various components machined precisely and fitted together with very tight tolerances.
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Might be so, however, when I took HS Machine Shop 101, evidence of metal shavings on our projects were called "shoddy workmanship" and poor QC. :)
 
500 rounds will cost you about $200 in today's market.

If you are looking at a Kimber, you need to add that $200 to the cost of the gun. Colt, S&W, and other brands do not have such long and costly break in periods.

Kimber would be better off if they just charged more, and actually finished the guns before they left the factory.
 
I have a Kimber Custom Carry II that had some initial feeding issues. After several hundred rounds of factory ammo, it performs flawlessly. It has no problems with any ammo I feed it including my reloads with LSWC bullets.

On the other hand, I have a RIA that is finicky as hell. The olyn rounds that it seems to feed well are factory ammo.

Keep it well cleaned, the feed ramp shined and oiled well and she'll be a great piece.
 
500 rounds will cost you about $200 in today's market.

If you are looking at a Kimber, you need to add that $200 to the cost of the gun. Colt, S&W, and other brands do not have such long and costly break in periods.

Kimber would be better off if they just charged more, and actually finished the guns before they left the factory
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Everyone keeps saying that like they buy guns and never plan to shoot them. Why is the cost of ammo a factor? Even though I have had no problems with any of mine I still plan on shooting thousands of rounds through them just for fun!

Heck you should shoot a few hundred rounds through any gun you get that is new to you just to get used to it.
 
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