Kimber poll to set the record straight

[Zerodefect]

I like my Kimber Custom 5" CDP II.

But:
-Kimber barrels corrode too easy. (IME all 1911's corrode easy)
- Lose the MIM, even if it works fine, MIM shouldn't be there.
- I will find who came up with the idea for the plastic mainspring housing and...
-Stainless isn't so stainless
- how about a model with a black melonite coating on everything so I don't have to carry my Glock on rainy/sweaty days.
-Kimber mags stink.
-they don't allways work too swell out of the box.
-wrong recoil spring

I think the Dan Wesson Valor is a superior 1911.
I prefere the Glock 23 for CCW now.

I didn't vote. Can you add a "My Kimber is Ok but my Glock is better" or "I like turtles." as an option?

 

[rfwobbly]

Brand new owner of a Kimber Stainless Target II in 38 Super. Shoots and handles like a dream.

I had heard bad things about their mags so I ordered 2 Metalform mags. In side-by-side comparison, the Kimber mag IS a Metalform mag !!

 

[JDGray]

Even after a few glitches, mines a keeper. Very accurate for a 3 incher, never a FTF or FTE in over a thousand rounds. If it weren't for the slide stop, holding open on a full mag, it would be perfect!

 

[Balrog]

Even after a few glitches, mines a keeper. Very accurate for a 3 incher, never a FTF or FTE in over a thousand rounds. If it weren't for the slide stop, holding open on a full mag, it would be perfect

Well gee most guns would be perfect if they didnt have problems.

 

[ckone]

I've had 2, they both sucked and put me off of 1911's for quite a while... IMO, a $400 RIA will run better than a Kimber 9 out 10 times.

 

[xXxplosive]

Not a Kimber fan.............................

 

[rklessdriver]

I bought a brand new Tactical Pro II back in 2004. Saw one on the cover of "Handguns" when I was on my first tour and as soon as I got back home I went looking for one. Ended up having to go to my local FFL and ordered it. Very high demand item at the time and I had to wait 2 months and paid MSRP...

First couple of range outings I kept having Fail To Extract problems. Called Kimber they told me that it needs a 500rnd break in.... 500rnd later still FTE at least once per mag. Kimber sends a call tag and I send it back. A month later I get it back and go to the range.... First round out of the first mag out of the box had a FTE... Wasted 50rnds that day and still FTE at least once per mag.... I call Kimber absolutely pissed. They send another call tag and keep my pistol for another 3 weeks.... Get it back and it still has the same problem.... Another call to Kimber and I get another call tag.... 3 weeks later same story.

At this point I'm so discouraged - I just put it in the back of my safe and refuse to touch it for 2 yrs. I get it out one day and take it to the range just out of spite and yep it still FTE's like no body's business....

Real shame it is a such a POS, because it is a beautiful pistol.



It is somebody else's beautiful POS now. I took a huge loss on it and was glad to see it go. All I can say is that there are plenty of other 1911 mfgrs in this price range and from now on I'll spend my hard earned $$$ with them.
Will

 

[Kingofthehill]

Didn't see an option for my answer.

Sure their good 1911's.. I just think they are over hyped and Trendy.... in the Polymer world of "Tacitcal" its all about Glocks... in the world of "COOL" 1911's its Kimber.

There are tons of 1911's of better value and better finishes than a kimber... but kimbers do have a lot of options, they look good and they are always mixing it up... and yes, they shoot very well.

JOe

 

[MCMXI]

I bought a Tactical Entry II late last year and it seems that it'll shoot 230gr ball ammunition (Blazer) just fine but it doesn't feed my 185gr SWC reloads at all. It seems to be very accurate, comfortable and controllable and it's definitely a beauty, but would I bet my life on it? Not yet but it's early days. Maybe it'll end up being my favorite auto but for now my SIG 220 still has the top spot. As for the poll, since there wasn't a "I'm still thinking" option, I voted that I like them and would recommend them based on fit, form and function (with factory ball ammunition).

 

[garyhan]

I have owned 1911's by many manufacturers and the Kimber has been far the best, and I think they are the best you can buy for anything near a reasonable price.

gary

 

[rswartsell]

New 5" Custom II Target, 3rd Kimber used, always liked 'em. 100% brand new with 230 gr FMJ and Black Hills and Double Tap +P HP. A close second for most accurate handgun I own (for me) to a classy old S&W Pre-K-38 Masterpiece with a 6.25" bbl.

 

[JDGray]

Well gee most guns would be perfect if they didnt have problems.

As long as they don't reoccur, I'm happy

 

[Browns Fan]

ol' scatch, sorry if I disparaged your gun, it's just that I got caught up in the Kimber hype, bought an ultra carry. Back then, I was foolish enough to carry it before I actually fired it. It turned out to be a jam-o-matic. You buy a beautiful gun, especially a pricey one like a Kimber, and you expect it to run like a swiss watch. It was a major disappointment.

 

[Balrog]

First couple of range outings I kept having Fail To Extract problems. Called Kimber they told me that it needs a 500rnd break in.... 500rnd later still FTE at least once per mag. Kimber sends a call tag and I send it back. A month later I get it back and go to the range.... First round out of the first mag out of the box had a FTE... Wasted 50rnds that day and still FTE at least once per mag.... I call Kimber absolutely pissed. They send another call tag and keep my pistol for another 3 weeks.... Get it back and it still has the same problem.... Another call to Kimber and I get another call tag.... 3 weeks later same story.

This is the way Kimber is. I have had several Kimbers that are that exact story. The guns don't run right, and Kimber tells you to waste 500 rounds breaking in a jamming gun. Thats about $200 of ammo. Kimber does not understand what a break in period is for. You can't take a jam-o-matic and fix it with break in. Also, when I have sent something to Kimber customer service, they have never been able to fix it either, and they send it back with the same problem.

 

[swinokur]

Maybe I'm lucky. I have 550 rounds through my TLE/RL II. This was 500 rounds of WWB 230g FMJ and 50 230g HST +p JHP. Not a single problem. I even used 4 Kimber mags and 2 Wilson 47D's. Not a single problem. It's a keeper.

 

[Jonah71]

I've never owned one. But I do as of 2 days ago. Nice looking pistol that fired when I pulled the trigger. A used older model .45 cal. Only paid $500. I know absolutely NOTHING about Kimbers. But I was in the market for a .45 and it seemed like a fair price to me (after he came down from $650 tag price....this is the 5th gun I've bought from him in less than a year.) I hope I didn't waste my $500. My gun dealer has been fair to me so far. Hope I'm still saying that after my next trip to the range.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I own 5 Kimbers. The only reason I don't own 6 is I haven't seen another one that I want, yet.

Friends own about another 8 or so.

I can carry any gun I want and I have dozens of good carry guns.
Because of experience with them I choose to carry Kimbers.

I am not brand loyal. I don't care what brand it is, if it doesn't preform I don't want it.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Never a problem with my Stainless Target II 10mm, and at some point I'll pick up an Eclipse. Just have other priorities right now for $1k.



As far as the poll, should have been only 2 options, and only answerable by owners, former or current. Would you buy another Kimber? Yes or No. That would be the only way to get a half-way accurate summation. Opinions about a gun's reliability/durability from people who have never owned one count for nothing. Shooting one that doesn't belong to you is not a good way to assess a firearm in that regard, as you have no idea it's history of reliability and maintenance/repairs.

 

[ol' scratch]

I bought a Tactical Entry II late last year and it seems that it'll shoot 230gr ball ammunition (Blazer) just fine but it doesn't feed my 185gr SWC reloads at all. It seems to be very accurate, comfortable and controllable and it's definitely a beauty, but would I bet my life on it? Not yet but it's early days. Maybe it'll end up being my favorite auto but for now my SIG 220 still has the top spot. As for the poll, since there wasn't a "I'm still thinking" option, I voted that I like them and would recommend them based on fit, form and function (with factory ball ammunition).

I had the same problem with 200 grain semi wads produced by Rainer. My pistol will digest the 185 and 200 semi wads made by Hornady. Try switching bullet manufacturers, it may make a difference.

 

[wilkersk]

There's a lot of boo-hoo-ing about the Swchartz safety and about FTF problems. But, I've never been bothered by either.

With the Swchartz safety, I think understanding how the darn thing works, and the benefits of developing a good instinctive grip is key to avoiding the "problem" associated with it.

As far as the FTF problems I'm hearing about, I'm at a loss. I've never had an FTF with mine, except the time I was experimenting with OAL on some 230gr Hornady XTPs.

 

[ol' scratch]

ol' scatch, sorry if I disparaged your gun, it's just that I got caught up in the Kimber hype, bought an ultra carry. Back then, I was foolish enough to carry it before I actually fired it. It turned out to be a jam-o-matic. You buy a beautiful gun, especially a pricey one like a Kimber, and you expect it to run like a swiss watch. It was a major disappointment.

I went back and reviewed my post and I was very abrasive. Sorry about that. I had just gotten back from the range and had been listening to Mr. Tact-i-cool explain to the guy shooting with him that I paid too much for my $1200 pistol (paid $750). He said that Kimbers are junk and I should have bought a Glock because they don't jam. I had just sent 50 rounds down range without a problem. I thought you were a Glock guy posing as a Kimber owner.

 

[crawfobj]

Had an Ultra CDP II. Great looking, and almost too pretty to carry. Shot and functioned fine, except for an annoying tendency to launch one empty case per mag directly at my forehead. I traded it and went back to carrying my XD subcompact.

 

[wrc]

Oh, Kimber. My first Kimber was a regular old Stainless II. It immediately revealed itself as a FA machine pistol. After a trip back to the factory (All on Kimber's dime), it came back better than new with a really good hand-fit trigger and sear. It has not shown even a ghost of a problem since. I have not handled it with kid gloves, either. Lots of gouges on that gun.

My last Kimber was a Grand Raptor. Very pretty. Works great. Nothing has broken. The trigger isn't as good as that first Kimber's, but I'd like to think Kimber *owed* me that trigger.

People complain about the MIM parts, which can be valid if there's a bad QA guy for the batch, but what I hate is the awful plastic backstrap. Pay the premium for a 'factory custom' and you still get the lego backstrap. It fills me with irrational rage.

Note: Colt will also give you a lego backstrap.

Anyway, in my experience, any problems with a Kimber reveal themselves quickly and will be taken care of in similar haste. After that, they are reliable and durable.

 

[HisSoldier]

Mine is a fine functioning gun, the most accurate of all my 1911's, but had I known they had so much MIM in them I wouldn't have bought it.

I had just gotten back from the range and had been listening to Mr. Tact-i-cool explain to the guy shooting with him that I paid too much for my $1200 pistol (paid $750). He said that Kimbers are junk and I should have bought a Glock

Tact-i-stupid. A guy like that doesn't have a clue about what makes a fine gun. I wouldn't trade my 'MIMber' for ten glocks. At least it's not made of plastic!

 

[Perseverance]

I don't like the price for a gun made with lower quality parts. Given a lower price I'd say they were a fine gun, but as of now I think people are overpaying for a lower quality pistol. Does this mean there junk, no, just overpriced.