AIRFORCECOP31
Member
My wife is buying me a Kimber Por Carry II in .40 S&W for our anniversary. I have been hearing alot about some problems occuring with Kimber IIs. Can someone please help me with my worries?
Kimber II problems?
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Kruzr
Member
There are more Series 2 problems "on the internet" than on the pistols. I see a lot of Kimbers and have only read about the problems.
AIRFORCECOP31
Member
Thanks
Thanks for the input. For the price I am getting the weapon for, I just can not let it go... no matter what problems I may come across. If you would like to talk guns morre let me know.
Thanks for the input. For the price I am getting the weapon for, I just can not let it go... no matter what problems I may come across. If you would like to talk guns morre let me know.
denfoote
Member
If you have gotten a good deal, then don't pass it up.
I was doing the comparison shopping thing between the Springfield and the Kimber a couple of weeks back. I was wary of the Kimber, because of all the reports I had heard. The clincher was when, even though they cost less, the sales person, who I know personally, sold me on the Springfield. I have not been happier!!
I was doing the comparison shopping thing between the Springfield and the Kimber a couple of weeks back. I was wary of the Kimber, because of all the reports I had heard. The clincher was when, even though they cost less, the sales person, who I know personally, sold me on the Springfield. I have not been happier!!
AIRFORCECOP31
Member
Thanks for the advice but I think I will stick with the Kimber. It isn't in .45 ACP but rather .40S&W. Hopefully it will have just as much good quality as the the .45 Kimbers. Keep shootin.
Lightsped
Member
I bought a Pro Carry II last month. NO problems whatsoever with it. Seems like most of the "Series I vs Series II" is just internet overhype. People love to find things to complain about, and alot of people are really good at it.
My gun has been perfect. I am even using the Kimber mag that came with it.
My gun has been perfect. I am even using the Kimber mag that came with it.
well, at the local IPSC practice matches here, the guy with his new polymer kimber (wide body), has all sorts of problems. But I believe even if reading the internet rumor mill, these guns have a whole list of problems outside the scope of series I vs. series II.
Chairman Meow
Member
No problems with mine yet, but I did notice something weird about the new safety. When field stripping, the safety pin sometimes doesn't fall down out of the way immediately, locking the slide in a "half off" position. A gentle bump on the bottom of the mag well drops the safety pin down and the slide comes right off. The problem is that the pin is in the up position when the beavertail safety is depressed, so you have to take your hand off of it to take the gun down. I can imagine someone just thinkning it was stuck and trying to force it, causing the little pin to shear off. Have people reported having them shear while firing? Hmm...sounds troubling. Has Kimber said anything about it?
cslinger
Member
Davidtdm has a series II and has never had any of the "series II issues"
Really the only problems that he has had stemmed from a really messed up magazine. The spring was warped as heck. Other than that his seems to run just fine.
Chris
Really the only problems that he has had stemmed from a really messed up magazine. The spring was warped as heck. Other than that his seems to run just fine.
Chris
bountyhunter
member
You don't see the ones with problems at the range because they are in the back of a FedEx truck headed to the factory. Given that I also read about the problems... in Gun Tests magazine where they detailed how the gun failed to fire... I think it is not just an unfounded rumor. And given that I have seen digital pics posted on how and where to file to get the grip safety to go in far enough to actually lift the safety plunger out of the way of the firing pin to let the gun shoot.... I suspect the problem is completely genuine in the guns that have the problem. Nobody ever claimed it was a huge percentage. The problem is, Kimber still maintains the problem does not now and never has existed at all.... and that's a separate problem in and of itself.
Hawk
Member
I had a series II issue with an Ultra CDP.
To Kimber's credit, they would've fixed it had I (continued) to send it back. I gather that the series II problem is incredibly rare, and that internet reports will lean heavily toward the traffic from the complainers.
Nevertheless, just because it's rare, or maybe even no longer a problem, the fact remains that it DOES happen, and when that happens, Kimber will go into denial, if my experience is typical.
Sure, could've been anything, but when I removed the FPB, it went from 20% FRTB to running like a Swiss watch - 500 rounds since and no probs - draw your own conclusions. The only drawback is my dealer looking at me like a was a child molester when I said I pitched the parts.
FWIW, I have a full size Eclipse type II that has been PERFECT from day one.
To Kimber's credit, they would've fixed it had I (continued) to send it back. I gather that the series II problem is incredibly rare, and that internet reports will lean heavily toward the traffic from the complainers.
Nevertheless, just because it's rare, or maybe even no longer a problem, the fact remains that it DOES happen, and when that happens, Kimber will go into denial, if my experience is typical.
Sure, could've been anything, but when I removed the FPB, it went from 20% FRTB to running like a Swiss watch - 500 rounds since and no probs - draw your own conclusions. The only drawback is my dealer looking at me like a was a child molester when I said I pitched the parts.
FWIW, I have a full size Eclipse type II that has been PERFECT from day one.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
According to my gunsmith, the extra "safety feature" on the Series II Kimbers can be removed without much trouble.
I was pretty happy with my Series I Gold Match until he slicked it up. Now I'm delighted with it.
I was pretty happy with my Series I Gold Match until he slicked it up. Now I'm delighted with it.
FWIW:
I have about 3,600 rounds through a Kimber Custon Eclipse II in about a year. No problems here. Use Wilson Combat 8-round mags. Had one problem with one mag; don't use it for carry.
Maybe because it came out of the custome shop it is special. Dunno.
That said. Have see a Pro Carry with no end of failure to feed problems. So Kimbers, like anything else man-made, are not perfect.
Regards,
I have about 3,600 rounds through a Kimber Custon Eclipse II in about a year. No problems here. Use Wilson Combat 8-round mags. Had one problem with one mag; don't use it for carry.
Maybe because it came out of the custome shop it is special. Dunno.
That said. Have see a Pro Carry with no end of failure to feed problems. So Kimbers, like anything else man-made, are not perfect.
Regards,
bountyhunter
member
They have no choice. If they publicly acknowledge a problem that affects gun operation, they would be legally required to recall all guns to make certain they did not have the problem (or pay their dealers to check them all). Kimber would also be liable for any damages resulting from mis-opertion, and those could be huge $$$ law suits considering some of them are in LE use.
I have read that all you need to do is install a standard series 70 firing pin and the safety will be nullified and the gun will operate correctly. The series 70 FP does not have the cut out for the pin to slip into (which the series 80 type does), so it keeps the safety activation pin depressed against it's spring. The slight friction of the tip of that pin riding against the firing pin surface does not affect firing of the gun. No guarantees, YMMV.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Failure to Fire...
Bountyhunter said:
They have no choice. If they publicly acknowledge a problem that affects gun operation, they would be legally required to recall all guns to make certain they did not have the problem (or pay their dealers to check them all). Kimber would also be liable for any damages resulting from mis-opertion, and those could be huge $$$ law suits considering some of them are in LE use.
Yep...Just wait 'til a cop gets in a bad situation and his pistol goes
*click*. if he survives to tell the tale, he'll likely scream it from the
town square.
Bountyhunter said:
They have no choice. If they publicly acknowledge a problem that affects gun operation, they would be legally required to recall all guns to make certain they did not have the problem (or pay their dealers to check them all). Kimber would also be liable for any damages resulting from mis-opertion, and those could be huge $$$ law suits considering some of them are in LE use.
Yep...Just wait 'til a cop gets in a bad situation and his pistol goes
*click*. if he survives to tell the tale, he'll likely scream it from the
town square.
Kimber II
I can only post about what I know. I bought a Kimber Pro Eclipse II almost two years ago (I think it was Christmas 2001). I was leary about the series II safety, but the gun looked and felt so cool in the store that I decided to buy it anyway.
It's been a great gun and I haven't experienced any series II failures. I had sold a Colt XS Lightweight commander to buy the Eclipse. The Colt was nice, but too light for marathon shooting sessions (should have kept it in hindsight for collector's value). I prefer the Kimber to the Colt I had. It shoots point of aim, and is much more accurate than the Colt. Also, the Colt's slide would routinely fail to stay locked open after the last round was fired when I used the factory provided 8 rounder. The kimber didn't have this problem unless the gun was pretty dirty (250 rounds or more without clearning). I use a standard 7 round mag and haven't had any problems with the Kimber, even though I haven't replaced the recoil spring (the factory recommends replacing it every 800 rounds - I'm probably close to double that in the round count). In fact, this past week I was shooting the Kimber and I was able to feed and fire some Magtech 230gr ball rounds that had jammed up a Colt S70 MKIV 1911 that I had. The rounds were shorter than a standard round (because of the way they jammed in the MKIV), but in spite of that the Kimber Pro fed them with little or no problem. I was surprised.
I think that the Series II safety is pretty effective from what I've experienced. I was totally leary about the system when I first got it (I shot the gun upside down, sideways on both sides, etc., trying to get it to jam), but it seems like it works well. As with any mechanical device, I wouldn't be surprised if there are examples of Kimber II's that have problems with this system, but I personally think that if the system is installed/adjusted properly, it works very well.
I can only post about what I know. I bought a Kimber Pro Eclipse II almost two years ago (I think it was Christmas 2001). I was leary about the series II safety, but the gun looked and felt so cool in the store that I decided to buy it anyway.
It's been a great gun and I haven't experienced any series II failures. I had sold a Colt XS Lightweight commander to buy the Eclipse. The Colt was nice, but too light for marathon shooting sessions (should have kept it in hindsight for collector's value). I prefer the Kimber to the Colt I had. It shoots point of aim, and is much more accurate than the Colt. Also, the Colt's slide would routinely fail to stay locked open after the last round was fired when I used the factory provided 8 rounder. The kimber didn't have this problem unless the gun was pretty dirty (250 rounds or more without clearning). I use a standard 7 round mag and haven't had any problems with the Kimber, even though I haven't replaced the recoil spring (the factory recommends replacing it every 800 rounds - I'm probably close to double that in the round count). In fact, this past week I was shooting the Kimber and I was able to feed and fire some Magtech 230gr ball rounds that had jammed up a Colt S70 MKIV 1911 that I had. The rounds were shorter than a standard round (because of the way they jammed in the MKIV), but in spite of that the Kimber Pro fed them with little or no problem. I was surprised.
I think that the Series II safety is pretty effective from what I've experienced. I was totally leary about the system when I first got it (I shot the gun upside down, sideways on both sides, etc., trying to get it to jam), but it seems like it works well. As with any mechanical device, I wouldn't be surprised if there are examples of Kimber II's that have problems with this system, but I personally think that if the system is installed/adjusted properly, it works very well.
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