Kimber factory mags suck!

[rock jock]

This past weekend I used my Kimber LW Compact in IDPA. Typically, I only use Wilson 47D mags in it, but ran short and went with a Kimber mag (yeah, I know, they are really Chip McCormick Shooting Stars) for one scenario. The stupid thing caused several failures and then would not drop ofter I depressed the mag release. I had to literally get my fingernails around it and pull like the dickens to get it to come out. I promply went to my car, retrieved a large hammer, and beat that thing into sheet metal. It really ticks me off that I paid over $650 for a gun and they then supply you with a single POS magazine. I would rather them not send anything at all, or better, a $5 coupon off a Wilson.

 

[AK103K]

The only mags that work 100% in ALL my 1911 pistols are the USGI "contract #" mags. Best part is, they are also the cheapest. Last batch was $5.50 ea. I have a couple of the Wilson mags from awhile back. They were picky about which guns they worked in. I just use them for the range. The other thing that really annoys me about them are those big ole slots on the side of the mag. Might as well just stuff them with lint from the start!

 

[Pendragon]

Hmm.

I just got (5) 10 round mags and (2) 8 round mags - all Chip McC.

I hope I have better luck than you.

How do you know the problem is the magazine?

 

[Moondancer]

I have the original that came with my Compact CDP and two more that I bought at the same time. Never had any trouble with them at all.

Bought a Wilson at a local gunstore and was advised "don't waste your money on that, stick with the Chip McCormick. We don't get any of them back, unlike the Wilsons."

 

[9x19]

My Chip McCormick 8 round Power Mags run just fine with my Kimber royal and Pro Carry... perhaps your Kimber is just being snobbish, and needs a time-out!

Please don't take a hammer to it!

 

[Soap]

I don't like Chip McCormick mags. I've known people to have spring problems, fit problems, function problems, etc. Always buy a quality mag, your gun deserves it!

 

[Handy]

I've found my Shooting Stars to be the most reliable mags that I have for the 1911. They feed both Ball and SWC.

 

[blades67]

I have the factory magazine and some Mec-Gar magazines for my Kimber that have worked just fine. I guess they didn't know that only Wilson magazines are supposed to work.

 

[Snowdog]

A few years ago I bought 5 Chip McCormick 8rnd Shooting Stars... not a lick of trouble out of any of them, and each have seen a few hundred rounds.

 

[WonderNine]

Kimber factory mags STILL suck???

 

[Hawkman]

<sarcasm on>I always enjoy reading posts that essentially say "I personally had one bad experience with one piece of equipment. Therefore, all pieces of similar equipment suck!"<sarcasm off>

Waste of bandwidth.

 

[JohnBT]

Agreed, but it was more than a run-of-the-mill rant. He had a story to tell about a mag and a hammer.

JT

I've had no problems with my 4 stainless 8-rd Shooting Star mags in the past 4 years. Or the 2 Power Mags I've had not quite as long. Or the Wilson mags. I like my Kimber SGM.

 

[45R]

Its pretty ironic that your Kimber mag is not functioning correctly. I've had my Custom II since Dec and I take the "Kimber" Mag out every outting. It will feed Ball and SMC all day long.........maybe your mag just needed time out. No need to destroy a mag. Next time you get mad at your 1911. Send me the gun instead of destroying it. I charge a 30 dollar disposal fee.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

I can testify that I have had problems with a Kimber stock mag that came with my new gun.

It was the 7 rounder that comes with it. The mag NEVER was able to empty all of its rounds without a failure!! Kimber mailed me a replacement 8 rounder free of charge that has been trouble free. In fact, after taking apart the OEM mag, lubing it, and reassembly, it has been 100% and now holds 8 rounds. I still trust the Wilson 47D's that I have over the Kimber mags due to my first experience. I do understand that the Kimber mags are probably as reliable now but my emotions sway me to use the Wilson's. Plus, they simply just feel MUCH better made, especially with the rounded followers.

 

[valnar]

"Kimber factory mags suck!"

I agree, I could never get one of those bad boys to fit in my SIG P220 either.


-Robert

 

[Hal]

A few years ago Kimber sponsored a listserv e-mail based discussion list.

Poor quality mags were discussed very often. as were the numerous reports of the failure of the slide to lock back after the last shot, and rusting problems.

Looks like Kimber still hasn't figured out the mags.

 

[LiquidTension]

I just dug my old Kimber factory mag out of the back of the drawer where it has resided since I got my Shooting Stars. It never worked correctly, but I'm going to go back and try it again since I replaced the slide stop (it didn't work correctly either). If it was the mag and not the gun, I'll contact Kimber and see if they'll ship me a new 8 rounder I was never very upset that the factory 7rd mag didn't work since I had no intention of using a mag that didn't hold 8 rounds.

 

[rock jock]

I think the factory-supplied Kimber mag is different than the Shooting Stars that you buy off the shelf. Another guy had a couple of shooting stars (not Kimber-supplied) and they looked a lot different. So, my post was not a general slam on McCormick mags, but rather only those that come with the Kimbers. Plus, that is not the first time I had problems with that mag, and I didn't want to take a chance that I would ever use it for self-defense.

 

[StuporDave]

These threads about "this mag sucks and that mag's great" are exactly the same every time I read one

The best mags for your 1911 are the ones that work in it. My Kimber likes Shooting Stars, and Wilsons work well too. My son's Charles Daly only likes Wilsons.

Find the brand that works best in your pistol and use it. Just because a certain mag occasionally hiccups in your gun doesn't mean every mag that company makes is garbage. Your problem mag may perform flawlessly in my gun.


Dave

 

[Monkeyleg]

Dave, usually I'd agree with you about the "this brand stinks" or "that brand stinks" arguments.

However, I now have two Kimbers and hope to get a third. Both have shown feeding problems with the factory mags, and one of the Kimbers is a 1998 manufacture, so this isn't a new issue.

I'm not an engineer, but I can look inside the pistol and see what's causing the problem, and it's consistent: the mag follower moves forward after the last round, keeping the slide release down; and the mag follower, after moving forward, makes it difficult to remove the mag.

On my Pro Carry, the moving follower cause the MIM slide release to get a slice in it that caused more malfunctions. On the Gold Match, it hasn't done that, but I still get the occasional failure to lock the slide back.

When one problem is so common, you'd think the manufacturer would respond quickly by remedying it. Why Kimber hasn't is a mystery.

 

[9x19]

I promply went to my car, retrieved a large hammer, and beat that thing into sheet metal.

Your problem mag may perform flawlessly in my gun.

Now THAT is optimism!

 

[StuporDave]

When one problem is so common, you'd think the manufacturer would respond quickly by remedying it. Why Kimber hasn't is a mystery.

Point taken, Monkeyleg. I haven't used my Kimber factory mag in so long I don't remember if/what kind of problems it had. I'll have to experiment with it next trip o the range.





9X19 -

Dave

 

[pinetree64]

My Kimber Compact came with a Mec-Gar mag. Doesn't state it, but I ordered a Mec-Gar and they are the same. They work but have less capacity then my CM Shooting Stars which work great for me.

tjg

 

[HadEmAll]

They do too!