Kimber Pro Carry II Problem

[kccumm]

Just bought a Kimber Pro Carry II and have an issue with the slide closing fully once the magazine is loaded. The slide will close sometimes fully and sometimes part way, I will then push it close. Has anyone had this problem and any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks

 

[XavierBreath]

A few questions....

How many rounds do you have through the gun?

Is the round chambering? Where does it seem to be hanging up?

Will a smack on the rear of the slide make the round chamber?

Will a "Tap and Rack" make it go bang?

Does this only occur on a full magazine?

 

[kccumm]

About 60 rounds fired....The round is chambered and slide partially covers the round so when i lightly push the slide forward it completes and I can then fire the gun.....Since I think I only used full mags not sure if it wouldn't happen otherwise. This problem happend probably 5 out of 7 times.

 

[gunman42782]

Kimber recommends a 200 round break in at minimum for their guns. I have the same gun and mine did the same as yours maybe 6 times in that 200 rounds, and has been 100% reliable since that time.

 

[steelyblue]

The chambers are very tight. What kind of ammo are you using? Blazer Brass has done this in a few Kimbers I've heard of. If it does it after 200 rounds, I would call Kimber!!! They will make it right.

 

[kccumm]

I am using Winchester 230 GR FMJ from Walmart I also use it in my Springfield 1911 GI 45. So I should just keep shooting and it should resolve itself in 200 - 500 rounds then?

 

[rbernie]

Presuming that the slide is catching just before it fully goes into battery, this is a common issue with new Kimbers.

It's the Schwarz safety plunger hanging up; sometimes the plunger has a sharp edge and doesn't retract into its recess properly. You can either shoot it for a while and let it burnish itself, return it to Kimber and have them fuss at you for not following break-in, or find an alternate means of chamfering the edge of the plunger.

A little CLP on the plunger never hurt....

 

[steelyblue]

If you send it back to Kimber, tell them you followed all break in procedures to the T, be nice, and they will make everything right. I believe it will resolve itself, however.

 

[FlyinBryan]

try this simple test and you might be surprised.

let me know the results.

1st, clean and lube the gun.

then do this test without the magazine.

now point the gun upwards and pull back the slide, now let it slowly go forward, controlling the speed of the slide with your hand and see if the slide easily goes all the way forward and locks up into full battery. make sure you point the gun upwards the entire time.

now do the same test, but pointing the gun straight downwards.

what happens?

 

[tblt]

Many kimbers have poblems.
Maybe there too tight?
Maybe there not worth the high dollar everyone pay's for them?
They look good but if they don't work I don't want one.

 

[kccumm]

I tried pointing it up an down slowly let the slide close and it hung like when I had the problem with the magazines in them. What does this mean?

 

[FlyinBryan]

both directions? it does it when pointed up as well?

 

[kccumm]

Well I keep letting the slide snap and now it at least isn't doing it when I point it up and down. So heck if I know I will update when I go shooting at the range later this week. You guys are great though and I appreciate your help. I will keep shooting and give it a proper break-in period.

 

[Lonestar49]

Open her up

...

That's right, disassemble her, clean her, then give her a "generous lubing of good gun oil on the rails and guides, along with a tad of oil over the exterior of the barrel, guide rod and spring, and, as mentioned, clean up the interior walls of the mags, using either EEZOX or CLP for them, as these 2 products, used lightly, will not leave a film like oil does and will, then button her back up and give her the test again..

Make sure you clean and oil the pen and barrel link it goes thru.. that you take out first to remove the slide, and you put in last thru the barrel link slot/hole last..

They like to start off clean, and stay WET with oil, especially the rails and guides, along with keeping the mags interior walls clean..


Ls

 

[FlyinBryan]

im trying to figure out if its a barrel link issue, or something else.

try to make it hang up, with no magazine, by allowing the slide to go forward SLOWLY, MUZZLE DOWN, then, while it is hung, see if pushing on the end of the barrel makes it snap into battery.,,,,,,if this is the case,

if so, it most likely needs to be broken in.

many times bushingless 1911s are custom biulds, and very tight, such as the pro carry, and will do this when new.

usually the test where you try it pointed down vs pointed up will reveal the culprit.

the reason for this is that when pointed down, gravity holds the barrel at the end of the link, vs pointed up where gravity holds the barrel in the feed position, rearward.



im not a 1911 smith, but i lhave oads of experience with bushingless 1911s.

i think breaking it in will emiminate this prob though, as i suspect its just very tight barrel link/locking lug fit, since you say the round is already being chambered when it occurs.

 

[XavierBreath]

If your round count thus far is only 60 rounds in a new pistol, I would recommend a disassembly, a generous lube job, and shooting the pistol wet with lube for at least 300 rounds prior to making a judgement.

FWIW, I like Tetra grease or Slide Glide on the rails and barrel feet, along with Breakfree or Ballistol on the pivoting parts and barrel lugs. Wear eye protection when shooting the gun wet, you might get sprayed. After 300 rounds, the pistol should be leeching lubricant from every orifice. It should also be reliable. Clean it, lube it again, only not quite so much, and be happy.

Many people run 1911s dry as a bone. I think this may be the influence of pistols such as Glocks and HKs, which have frame tabs in lieu of full length frame rails. Greater rail length means greater potential for slide slowing friction. Slower slides mean greater potential for this kind of problem, especially when combined with a match chamber like what the Kimber has. Once things are polished a bit through shooting, the problem usually goes away. Consider the break-in process the final polishing.

I'm sure somebody will come along and say their Remmy Rand never had this problem, but the Remmy Rand ain't the same pistol.

 

[FlyinBryan]

ya, xavier and lone star speak truth. 60 rnds isnt much.

also agree with xavier on the grease.

good lithium grease is best for the slide rails.

also agree it will prolly go away, especially considering the round is in the chamber when it happens, just not fully in battery.

this is good advice.

 

[johndoe1027]

Many kimbers have poblems.
Maybe there too tight?
Maybe there not worth the high dollar everyone pay's for them?
They look good but if they don't work I don't want one.

Wow, that sure was a helpful post. Go read up on 1911's my man, they all require a little break in.

Good luck on the pro carry. My tactical ultra didn't have this problem so I'm no help other than encouragement. You'll be happy with it, don't worry. Tackdrivers the little Kimbers are.

ETA, I wouldn't even think of carrying a gun with less than 500 trouble free rounds through it anyway, but maybe that's just me. It might help to take out the recoil spring assembly, lube it up and rack the slide (easily) by hand a few (or fifty) times. I did that with my Baer and it quit having a FTRTB on the last round of mags. It's the downside of a super accurate 1911. They are extremely tight and no one is perfect when building a production gun.

 

[steelyblue]

My Kimbers have all been 100% out of the box, including my new one. 500 rounds now and no problems.