Kimber Custom II Owners

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motorcycle-charlie

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i am thinking about getting a Kimber Custom II and would like to hear some feedback from people who actually own them. i know some people say they jam all the time but alot of the people who knock it just go by internet rumors. any auto will jam if you dont hold it firmly, so if you have one of these let me know about your real world experience with it so i can make a decision to get one or just stick with revolvers.
 
My three Kimbers have worked perfectly.
Custom Pro II 9MM
Tactical Custom II .45 ACP
CDP Pro II .45 ACP
 
I have a Tactical Custom II. It is the one that everyone who has never had one says jams all the time. It is one of the ones with an external extractor. I have shot everything thru it from 185~250+p and it NEVER failed to feed! I have shot in three gun competitions with it, range shot it, used it as a CCW piece, and carried it as backup hunting. I will and do, stake my life on this pistol and it has never failed me. I have lent it out to people who have problems with their Colt and other 1911s and they never have a single problem with mine.
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Still probally the best deal in 1911's under $1000.

K's have a few issues sometimes. Usually it's an easy fix. Lose the stock K mags and get some Wilsons for starters.

Kimbers's tactical bump grip safety really makes thier pistols alot nicer for only $35 and it's a drop in part on every K I've tried it on. (that's what's cool about MIM, drop in parts)
 
I have to agree with Sniper X about the Custom 2. I've got the base Custom 2 with the external extractor and it's accurate and never malfunctions regardless of how I shoot it. I too think it is the best under $1000 pistol out there in 1911s. I've only added Novak adjustable sights to it so as to be able to fire different loads, but seldom have to make changes.
 
Mine jams. It's been back to Kimber and to a pivate 1911 smith. I've got a little over 7000 rounds through it but it is only a range toy... Not a serious gun.
 
My shooting buddy has one that's been through at least the first 800 rounds without a failure that I've been there to witness. That's including some Tula steel case, my reloads, and Winchester White Box.
 
My first 1911 was a Custom II. It was a good gun, accurate and reliable. Maybe I got lucky, but I doubt that since everyone I know who has one loves his.
 
Zerodefect said:
Kimbers's tactical bump grip safety really makes thier pistols alot nicer for only $35 and it's a drop in part on every K I've tried it on. (that's what's cool about MIM, drop in parts)
Click to expand...

I recently ordered, received and installed one of those based on your recommendation a couple of months ago. I "had" to paint/bake it in the oven because some of the paint had been worn off by the packaging during shipping! I dumped it in propenol and left it in the ultrasonic cleaner for ten minutes then painted it with GUN-KOTE 2400 (flat black) and baked it for a couple of hours. As you say, it's a drop in part which is nice and it does feel a lot better than the standard grip safety. I think I'll need to get used to the pistol again though if my performance in last Sunday's USPSA match is anything to go by. The pistol performed flawlessly with 150 or so of my reloads, but me .... not so much. The grip safety changed my grip on the pistol ... I think. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

motorcycle-charlie, I would buy just about any 5" or 4" Kimber based on my experience with a Tactical Entry II. In particular, I plan on buying a Stainless Pro Raptor II at some point. My TEII is an excellent pistol that I use fairly hard i.e. USPSA matches and range practice. Mine worked flawlessly out of the box with four kinds of factory 230gr ammunition. I made some enhancements but that was by choice rather than necessity.

Here's my Kimber as it came from the factory (with standard grip safety) and as it is now with Ed Brown parts (everything but the mag release), Cylinder & Slide grips, Wilson Combat one-piece guide rod/bushing and 18lb spring, and a Kimber tactical bump grip safety. I use Wilson Combat magazines exclusively and did away with the ambidextrous thumb safety.

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My buddy has one and had a few fte's for the first 250 rounds. Since then he has shot close to 1,000 through it without an issue of any kind. A Custom II is on my to get list.
 
motorcycle-charlie, one thing to consider is that if you buy a Kimber with a flared/oversized magazine well, the mainspring housing will be steel rather than plastic ... just a thought. However, you can have your 1911 à la carte by picking and choosing exactly what you want. For instance, a nice Ed Brown steel MSH with chainlink checkering is $45.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=534582
 
I am the proud owner of a Kimber Custom TLE II. The pistol has been flawless in operation, eating everything (ball and hollowpoint) that I have crammed into its stock Kimber mags. My only complaint has been that the finish seems to have worn off quickly in some spots (thumb safety in particular), but then again, it has seen a LOT of carry since I bought it four years ago.

My father-in-law has been equally pleased with his Kimber Custom Compact Stainless.

So as far as my experience and opinion goes....BUY KIMBER AND SHOOT WITH CONFIDENCE!
 
My Custom II is perfect. No FTFs, no FTEs, or any other failure that you can name. I love it, and am going to go pet it now that me made me think of it. Maybe I should get a girlfriend... :D
 
3 Kimbers here, and all are great guns. One, the Compact CDP, is my carry gun. I'd definitely buy Kimber again.
 
I had a Stainless Custom; Traded it for a Ultra Crimson Carry II and love it. I wanted a little big carry gun for winter carry but it's good to go for summer carry in my Silent Thunder IWB. I do still love my BUG 442 though.
 
I have owned the following Kimbers:

Custom II NS
Pro TLE
Warrior
Tactical Custom

They all worked great witout a problem.
Keep in mind the Custom II is an entry model and has subpar sights IMHO and a crappy magazine. It may or may not have the plastic MSH. Good luck!

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