Kimber Pro Carry 2 (1911) FTF problems and fixes

[smartshooter.45]

This year i decided to buy a nice 1911 for personal carry and home defense. a friend of mine has an ultra carry that i fired alot and quite liked but i wanted a 4" barrel and full size frame so i went with the pro carry 2 in .45 acp. anyway i went with kimber because of their reputation for quality and dependability.

i have recieved my NIB pro carry 2 and have prolly put about 600-700 rounds through it (500 is the break in). when totally clean it operates fine but once i have put about 20 or 30 rounds through the gun it starts to have feeding issues. :banghead: i use quality 8 round kim pro tac mags so i dont think its a mag issue. i shoot quality 230gr FMJ rounds.

what happens is this: ill put 3 clips through it with no problems. then ill load in the 4th clip and release the slide lock to chamber the 1st round of the clip. the round loads about 1/2 way into the barrel and then stops. it seems like the resistance is from the round getting stuck on the top of the barrel or the back lip of the casing getting stuck behind the extractor. the more rounds i fire in a session the more this seems to happen. so mostly it just fails to feed the 1st round out of the clip. once a round is fully chambered and fired the rest feed and extract fine.

one thing i noticed is that when the slide is locked open the barrel has a relatively large amount of play moving forward and back. i was thinking this could be the cause of the problem.

Has anyone else had similar problems with their kimbers? if so what did u do to fix ur ftf's? im looking for options before i just send it into kimber.

thanks,
smartshooter.45

 

[fgr39]

did you check the extractor tension, it may have too much and the least bit of fouling causes problems.

 

[smartshooter.45]

lowered the extractor tension

ok i lowered the extractor tension and it seems to chamber all rounds from all my mags well. but at this point the gun is still clean. im going to the range this week and ill see if all goes well. wish me luck. cheers.

SS.45

 

[smartshooter.45]

Fix + Range Report

ok so i took some 800 grit sand paper to my feed ramp and tuned up my extractor. went to the range today and put 120 rds through her with 0 jams at all! i used 4 different kinds of ammo:

1. Winchester white box 230gr FMJ
2. Wolf 230 gr FMJ
3.Blazer 230 gr FMJ
4. Winchester 230 gr JHP

all fed/extracted beautifully. so im at 120 rds and counting with no erros. im hoping for a few thousand rounds with no errors then ill be really stoked!

thanks for your help with this guys. cheers,

SS.45

 

[The Bushmaster]

Change your ammunition...What you are using is leaving residue in the chamber and jamming the next round to enter. Try Winchester. They tend to use a cleaner burning powder. Kimber uses a tighter tolerenced chamber...

 

[smartshooter.45]

yea basically what i was saying in post 4 is that i had apparently fixed my gun but hadnt gotten the chance to shoot it yet. i went to the range today and ended up trying a bunch of different ammo and clips. i ended up using 4 different kinds of ammo and all fed/extracted fine out of 3 different kinds of clips. it felt great throughout the session. now i will just buy winchester white box 230gr FMJ since its the best deal in my area and apparently the cleanest burning =)

hopefully this thread can help out some kimber owners out there who were/are experiencing some of the same problems i was. an extractor that is not tuned correctly can cause major FTF problems but its an easy fix once you are able to identify that it is indeed the extractors fault. polishing the feed ramp never hurts. cheers, SS.45

 

[smartshooter.45]

double post

 

[Paul Kemp]

Still working?

smartshooter.45-
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry with the exact same issues. I've ran 500-800 rounds through the gun, used Kimber and Wilson magazines, and still have have FTF problems. I sent the gun off to Kimber and the factory ramped the barrel. I took the gun to the range and the first four clips worked perfectly. When I installed another loaded clip and hit the slide release I got the same old FTF problem. I struggled through another 100 rounds and averaged about two FTF per clip- usually with one occuring when releasing the slide so in my opinion that rules out the ammo or limp wristing...
Is your Kimber still working flawlessly after the extractor work? I love the gun when it's working but I'm at the point now I rarely shoot it since I'm so frustrated. Thanks for the help.

 

[feudalson]

change the tension on your extractor......... and watch for fouling along the feed ramp... and your right it shouldnt be limp wristing.. try some sand paper on the feed ramp yourself

 

[kimberprocarry11]

Failure to Feed pro carry 11

In response to "smartshooter45", I also have the same handgun and the exact same issue that you are having. I have installed a wolff extra power guide rod spring still the same issue. I called Kimber customer service and they told me classic case of dry gun and istructed me on how to properly lubricate the gun. I did this and still the same issue, so while I was at the range I lubricated the gun again and after twenty rounds or so the same issue. Now I am going to order a wilson combat extractor to try to fix the failure to feeds. I carry my kimber on duty and am thinking about switching back to my Glock. I noticed on a post someone recommended Winchester ammo. I have used this ammo along with many others and still have the failure to feed issue.

 

[kimberprocarry11]

I also noticed someone said use 800 grit sandpaper on the feed ramp, I read that the aluminum frame kimbers have an anodized finish (think thats what its called) and if you polish them you can destroy the frame is this true?

 

[gutterman]

FTF problems with Kimber Pro Carry 2

I have a Kimber Pro Carry 2 Crimson Trace on hold for me, that I was intending to trade for, but after reading about these FTF problems, I've just about changed my mind. I've never owned a Kimber, but have heard nothing but good things about them up till now. These are not cheap autos, and I sure don't want to trade into a problem. Someone out there convince me that this is still a good choice.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

I've never owned a Kimber, but have heard nothing but good things about them up till now

 

[JoeSlomo]

These are not cheap autos, and I sure don't want to trade into a problem. Someone out there convince me that this is still a good choice.

1. Kimber SUCKS at quality control for their extractors.

2. The overwhelming majority of Kimber "issues" revolve around their failure to properly tune the darned extractors, which leads to failures to feed and or fully go into battery.

3. This is NOT a major problem and is EASILY fixed by competent smith, or an owner with an understanding of the issue.

4. Kimber DOES make an accurate handgun, and they WILL run like a clock once a bad extractor is properly tuned.

Don't be afraid of the Kimber.

 

[kimberprocarry11]

Kimbers Finish

For the price you pay for the kimber I am not impressed with the kimbers finish.
I have been carrying mine for approximately one year and the finish is worn to the point that I want to send it away for sometype of better finish than what kimber uses.
Along with my failure to feed issues and kimbers pore finish I think Kimbers are well over priced.
One good thing I can say is that it is extremely accurate.

 

[ol' scratch]

It is a mag issue--Kimber mags stink.

Kimber Mags Stink!! Get a Wilson and see if that solves the problem. Both of my 1911s (a Kimber and a Rock Island) jam with Kimber mags. They do not jam with Wilsons-even while feeding 200 grain semi wad cutters.

 

[ol' scratch]

I have a Kimber Pro Carry 2 Crimson Trace on hold for me, that I was intending to trade for, but after reading about these FTF problems, I've just about changed my mind. I've never owned a Kimber, but have heard nothing but good things about them up till now. These are not cheap autos, and I sure don't want to trade into a problem. Someone out there convince me that this is still a good choice.

I have put 1200 rounds through mine. I had some issues until I replaced the magazines with Wilsons. I knew it was a mag problem because the mag caused FTF with my other 1911 and a friends too. Get your Kimber, get a Wilson mag and use it to shoot holes in the rotten stinking Kimber marked mag. They are junk. Kimber doesn't actually make them, they are contracted.

I love my Kimber. It is accurate, reliable (I shoot reloads-including wadcutters and hollow points. I use Unique which is dirty.) and smooth. The slide feels like it is on ball bearings.

Kimber makes lots of handguns. I have read problems people have had will all handguns-not just 1911s. You should see what some people have written about Colts, Springfields, Smith and Wessons, etc.

 

[The Bushmaster]

And then there's my Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II. Over 3,000 rounds through it without a hic-cup. The first 250 rounds saw 7 stove pipes (Kimber's recommended "break-in period"). After that, nary a malfuction...Still using the Kimber Magazine and an after market Kimber magazine.

 

[kimberprocarry11]

I noticed someone mentioned the kimber mags are junk and to use Wilson mags and that would fix the failure to feed issue. Well from day one I have been using Wilson 47d mags. Still have the failure to feed issue usually three to four times during a shooting session of approximately 200 rounds. I have switched mags and used a buddies mags while he used mine. His ran fine, mine not so much. So anyway I havn't given up yet, I ordered a Wilson extractor the other day and will let you know if that fixes my issues.

 

[kimberprocarry11]

No More Kimber/Jamomatic

Ok I have tried everything and then some to fix the procarry 2 failure to feed. I carry my procarry on duty and no longer can trust the kimber to do the job. I have officialy sworn off Kimber, they area over priced and far from reliable. I have to resort back to my Glock, the Glock will go bang when I need it to and does not have any failure to feed issues. :banghead:

 

[dec41971]

I have an ultra covert II with 2000+ rounds both ball FMJ and ( HP & HP +P ). Never had any issues of any sort. I use the stock kimber magazine and 3 Wilson magazines and still flawless to this day. I do keep it spotless clean though. I heard tons of bad press for the 3" barrel 1911 which never really seems to check out on mine. Knock on wood I hope it stays that way.

 

[JDGray]

ok so i took some 800 grit sand paper to my feed ramp

This ones always dangerous advise

Not sure on the 4" Kimbers, but my 3" has a ramped barrel, and still would advise against sanding it. Touching the frame on a non ramped barrel design, is just asking for trouble. Kimber has a warrany, I'd use it first.

 

[ClearDark]

This ones always dangerous advise

Not sure on the 4" Kimbers, but my 3" has a ramped barrel, and still would advise against sanding it. Touching the frame on a non ramped barrel design, is just asking for trouble. Kimber has a warrany, I'd use it first.

Touching the feed ramp an a aluminum frame gun is dangerous.

As far as Kimbers warranty, it's only 1 year from the date of manufacture, not the date of purchase, or so the guy on the phone told me. If it's over the 1 year mark, then you have to provide a copy of the Form 4473, or the bill of sale proving you bought it when you did. Then, if Kimber determines it's a fault of the gun, they will fix it free of charge. Otherwise, you are stuck with the bill. Some warranty.

Go with Springfield Armory if you want a good product backed by a good warranty; they have a lifetime warranty and it's a great warranty at that.

 

[Clarence]

I've heard more Kimber owners complaining of this issue than any other. I had it myself on two Kimbers that I owned. The problem is too much extractor tension more often than not.

 

[ClearDark]

I've heard more Kimber owners complaining of this issue than any other. I had it myself on two Kimbers that I owned. The problem is too much extractor tension more often than not.

Unfortunately it goes deeper than that. Kimber has had various QC issues in the past. Usually the main issue is poor throating job on the barrel, as in not enough radius where the ramp meets the chamber. There is also the issue of basically no gap between the frame feed ramp and the barrel feed ramp. Then there is the issue of extractor rotation/extractor clocking. Then of course, incorrect extractor tension, which is easy to remedy.

Either way, for the price you pay for a Kimber, you should not have these issues.