Kimber ejecting probs

[SeaTurkey]

I recently purchased a Kimber Grand Raptor II. This is my first 1911 pistol, so I was anxious to get a few rounds down range the first time. However, even on the first shot, I had an ejection failure. Well, not an ejection failure, I guess it was more of a feed failure. It looked as though the round caught on the feed ramp or something and the slide (obviously) never went fully forward. After carefully (manually) feeding the round, the same thing happened again..and again..and again. Disgusted, I put it down and went to my H&K and Sig. I was shooting factory ammo, Winchester hollowpoints. I have read that this is an issue sometimes with guns of closer tolerances, but I am somewhat dismayed that after spending that kind of money this would happen. I have also read of "breaking in" periods with this type (1911) gun. I am also considering trying some round nose, or "ball" ammo.
I guess my question is, has anyone else had this happen? Is it common? Should I send it back to Kimber, to a gunsmith, or just see if it eventually "works itself out"? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Walkalong]

Call Kimber. Make them make it right.

 

[gb6491]

I agree Kimber should make it right, but does the mis feed look like it the round is hanging up on a rough spot on the ramp or is the rim not sliding under the extractor? Since it doesn't require much effort and might save a trip back to Kimber, give your extractor tension a quick look: http://www.m1911.org/technic2.htm
Regards,
Greg

 

[treeman800]

As a kimber owner I would
1. try diff ammo
2 follow the above mentioned link
3 return to kimber they will solve the problem

 

[dhoomonyou]

I HAD a Kimber, traded it due to LOUSY cust svc, hope you get better treatment.
Dennis in the repair dept wanted me to send it back on my dime.
aside from that he is not a nice person.

 

[CWL]

FYI, never hand-feed a cartridge and expect the results to be accurate.

A M1911 (actually all pistols) are designed to properly feed by operating the recoil spring. Pull the slide all the way back and let go.

Your reliability depends on how it will function during live-round firing.

If it isn't the feed ramp causing your problem, then I'd bet that the ejector wasn't properly fitted/tensioned. Kimber is famous for this.

 

[ninja45]

Did you clean and lube the pistol after you took it out of the box? For a 1911 pistol (except a Les Baer), this is SOP before using for the first time.

Ninja45

 

[glockman19]

I'd call Dennis @ the Kimber Pro Shop and get a tag sent out for it. Tehy will fix it for you. Kimber Mags are notorious for failure. Get Wilson Mags and see if that doesn't solve the problem. Kimber will polish the feed ramp and run some good factory ammo through it before returning it. It should take you 500 rounds to break in a Kimber Custom Shop gun.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Another post bad mouthing Kimber 1911's.

Well, I'll support them. I have a model that most don't like. A Stainless II, with external extractor. A tight fitting 1911. There's nothing I've fed it that it doesn't like. Sure, I have played with Lyman 452460 bullet seating depth and made them fail, but that's not the gun's fault. Even Lee's 250gn TC feeds nicely. Those won't through my buddies Bullseye gun.

And, I use Kimber, Colt, Randle and a couple no name brand magazines. No need for the espensif ones.

I hope you have called Kimber and have a resolution in the wings.

-Steve

 

[45auto]

Sounds like you only fired one round...yes?

Lube it, preload the mag with 8 rounds for one night, try some hardball and shoot some rounds through it.

Easy "stuff" first.

If it still malfs, "note" and detail how it malfunctions, i.e. on the frame ramp, bullet in chamber, etc...it does make a difference.

 

[Ske1etor]

First of all, don't manually feed rounds into the chamber on any firearm with an internal extractor. The extractor snapping over the rim of the casing will weaken it eventually and could cause problems down the road. Stripping the top round off of the mag is the right way to go. Secondly, make sure that the rounds are seated in the mag correctly. Load the mag and tap the back of the magazine on the palm of your hand once or twice.

The protocol for figuring out a feeding problem or any other problem for that matter is to start with the cheapest part. That would be the magazines. Try out a Chip McCormick, Wilson or even the Kimber Pro-Tac mag.

Second of all, try loading some ball ammo. Some JHP's will hang up in some 1911's due to the design of the firearm. They were made to fire FMJ. Now, with that said that doesn't mean that they won't load JHP's but you may need to try a couple of different bullet designs to figure out if certain ones won't feed properly. This is not a 1911 thing but a general firearm thing.

I can pretty much assure you that there is no problem with your Grand Raptor. It is most likely a mag, or even the ammo you chose. Try those two things and if it doesn't remedy the problem give a call to Dennis and he will arrange to have your firearm shipped back to kimber for a reworking. Don't listen to all the hype that you hear about kimber, afterall most of the badmouthing comes from springfield owners and people that got conned into purchasing plastic pistols by their local gunshop commando.