Kimber Pro Carry II, Worn out spring?

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First, I hereby apologize to the terminology police.

My Kimber Pro Carry II has recently started to fail to go into battery - the slide doesn't fully lock up after ejecting a round. It gets within 1/8 to 1/16, and can be pushed closed.

Does this mean the recoil spring needs to be replaced?

It doesn't seem to be hanging up on anything, it just seems like there isn't enough force to close the slide.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
 
Assuming the gun has been running fine for a few thousand rounds, I'd say its the most likely cause based on my experience. This is what triggers a recoil spring replacement for me.

If the gun has light use, under a thousand rounds, its likely something else, although the recoil spring is the easiest thing to try, a stronger spring could just hide the problem again for awhile.

Change in ammo? I have an RIA Match Long Slide that was 100% out of the box with Wolf ball but had some failures to go into battery with my reloads. Extractor was fine, turned out there was a burr on the slide on the opposite side of the extractor that the factory loads slide by, where my reloads sometimes hung. Checking the extractor is here I found the issue.
 
The pistol has about 1000 rounds through it, and the factory extractor. The problem has only started happening recently.
 
I'm not sure what Kimber offers as a OEM spring, but it sure looks likes it's time to replace it. I'm going to guess that the original spring is a 12 pounder, so maybe consider going up to 18 pounds. Personally, I use a Wilson 24 pound spring in my Colt Officers Model with standard shelf ammo, and change it every 3,000 rounds.

Good luck.
 
Recoil springs should not fail after 1000 rounds, but Kimber does not use the best quality small parts, so I would replace it with a good spring, eg Wolff, and see if the problem is solved.
 
My 1911's eat recoil springs. And my Kimbers springs were toast before 1000. I use 18lb Wolf recoil springs in my 5" 1911's. I don't have any compact 1911's.

My Kimber would not allways go completely into battery when it was new. I changed that spring, switched to proper mags like Tripp Cobramags, and polished the feedramp and throat of the barrel. After 400-500 rounds, now the gun has flawless reliability. The rough machined finish on the outside of the barrel takes a while to smooth out. My Kahrs do the same thing.

Also use good ammo. Federal 230gn FMJ is a good benchmark for reliability testing. None of my 1911's will run on Rem UMC.
 
i assume that lube is not an issue? doubt it is a magazine prob if it is stopping just short of closing. proper sized reloads? no chamber mung/obstructions?

some more details will likely narrow down the answer faster.

gunnie
 
The pistol has about 1000 rounds through it,
Click to expand...
Kimber recomends replacing the spring every 800 rounds. Didn't you read your owner's manual? In case you don't have it here is the blurp:
Compact & Pro Models:
Recoil Spring: .45 ACP & 40 S&W/22 lbs., .38 Super/18 lbs.
CHANGE EVERY 800 rounds.
Click to expand...
Your manual can be found here.
 
Ultra carry models are difeerent than Pro carry models. See post # 11 and page 7 of the Kimber manual.
 
The Real Mags said:
Kimber recomends replacing the spring every 800 rounds. Didn't you read your owner's manual? In case you don't have it here is the blurp: Your manual can be found here.
Click to expand...
I'm sure I read the manual when I bought the gun several years ago, or at least leafed through it. I guess I either didn't notice or didn't remember the recoil spring changeout frequency on the one useful page amongst 50 pages of legal CYA.

Although, I just learned that when I pull the trigger, I need to "be prepared for loud noise and recoil" on page 27, so maybe there are 2 useful pages.
 
Internal or external extractor? Magazine worn or bent at the feed lips? Ammunition fouling the chamber? Is it possible that you have miss counted expended round and have exceeded the 1800 round mark? By The Way. I have over 3,000 rounds through my UCC II and still have not replaced any springs and am not having any problems...
 
A general rule with Kimbers is that as soon as you get the gun broken in and running smoothly, you will need to change out the springs because they will be worn out.
 
I'm not a Kimber expert, but this pistol has fired (and cycled) everything ever put in it until recently with the problem I mentioned. I bought a cheap mag once that caused some problems and was trashed, but that doesn't really count.

I don't think I'm anywhere near 1800 rounds, but I don't have a journal or anything like that. I think it's between 800 and 1000 rounds based on the 100 packs of WWB through it. It's an external extractor.

I guess some folks have had problems with Kimbers? I bought it to get a premium 1911 and so far have not been disappointed. Hopefully with the new spring we'll be back in action.

Thanks for all the help.
 
1800 rounds is for the outer spring on an Ultra. The recommended replacement interval on a Pro is indeed 800 rounds if you use a full diameter Officer's spring at 22#. Wolff has a special spring made for the Kimber Pro and Compact size guns that will give you a life of about 1200 rounds. It is a few coils longer and fits the 4" gun better than the spring made for a 3.5" gun.

The Wolff part number is 32725. Wolff is at www.gunsprings.com
 
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