Kimber Pro Carry ?

[PUPP86]

Was at a local show today and found a Kimber Pro Carry in what appeared to be NIB (from what was stated). It appeared to be a Series 1. The finish was a dark blue / black and the trigger appeared to be some type of composite as well as the mainspring housing.

My questions are:

1) What would be the average price for one as described?
2) Is the Series 1 really more desirable than the Series 2 or is this all hype?
3) How durable is the finish? (wanted stainless but the dark finish kinda looked good too)
4) How well does the aluminum frame hold up?
5) There were 2 small tools (looked kinda like an allen wrench) in the box which the vendor said he thought was for disassembly as it has a bull barrel. How hard is the disassembly as he was not to sure and I have only had experience with a gov't model?

Any other comments are appreciated as I am kinda kicking myself for not getting it when I saw it, so I may go back tomorrow.

 

[Smoke]

1. Can't say. Prices are all over the map on these things. I've sen them from $500 to over MSRP (yes for used guns)
2. I have no expereince with the Ser.2 guns so really can't comment. But, the #1 guns won't have the trouble, hype or not.
3. All the finish on my Kimbers has held up very well.
4. I have 2 Pro Carry CDPs and an Ultra carry CDP. No frame issues after 5000+ rnds through one of the Pros. The other two are around 2000 rnds each.
5. I'm not a big fan of the disassembly process of the Bull barrel guns. The allen wrench is really just a pin to keep the spring compresssed while you take the gun apart. A paper clip will substitute nicely. If you are used to take down of 1911 style guns you will cuss this one more than others. Not really hard ...just different.

HTH

Smoke

 

[Monkeyleg]

Lots of questions.

I bought my Kimber (series I) Pro Carry in 1999. Paid about $600 or a bit under for it. I haven't kept track of current prices, so can't advise you there.

There's three Kimbers in my safe: the Pro Carry, a stainless Gold Match, and a series II Eclipse target.

I didn't think I was having any problems with the Pro Carry until a two-day course that involved hundreds of rounds with daytime temps in the +90 degree range. Plenty of failures to feed, failures to eject, failures to lock open on an empty mag, and other embarassing problems. Went to Tetra Lube instead of gun oil, got a new slide release from Kimber overnight, and bought some Wilson 47D's. Almost all problems were corrected after that.

Since then, I've had a pistol smith go over the gun and put in a new extractor, tune it, and replace the recoil spring. No problems since. (Knock on wood).

The Gold Match had a few feeding problems during the first 500-1000 rounds, mostly due to the magazines. Now, after 25,000+ rounds, I can't remember the last problem.

The series II Eclipse hasn't hiccupped even once.

From my own experience, and from posts on this and other forums, the problems with Kimbers are in this order: 1. factory magazines that don't interact properly with the slide release, resulting in a failure to lock slide after last round; 2. tight slide-to-frame fits that cause failure to go to battery until the break-in period is completed; 3. tight chambers, which will cause feeding failures; 4. MIM slide stops that are out of spec, or have air pockets that make the part fail prematurely; 5. poor or improperly tuned extractors.

The Pro Carry is now working just fine. The anodized finish has held up fairly well, considering the amount of time it spends in a holster.

I've found the paperclip tool takedown method to be much easier than the full-size pistols.

As for the price, I'd suggest you look at completed auctions on gunbroker.com or auctionarms.com. As Smoke said, prices are all over the place.

I know a number of dealers who promote themselves as having the lowest prices around. If you're not comfortable with the price the dealer gives you tomorrow, PM me and I'll give you the names and phone #'s of those I know who sell based on the lowest price.

Recognize, though, that by the time you pay shipping and transfer fees, you may be paying more than the price the dealer at the gun show is offering you.

 

[MK11]

I've got a Series One Pro Carry that would be my first choice for carry if I trusted it. Mine had the slidestop problem that kept the slide from fulling going into battery. It still doesn't function on par with other autos I have.

I've also noticed the feed ramp is scuffed up after a very small number of hollowpoints. I love the gun but it's extremely high maintenance.

 

[Fly320s]

Howdy, PUPP86.

I have a series I Pro Carry in .40SW finished in the black finish. I bought it new in 2001 for about $615.

Answers to your questions:

1. Not too sure. Do searches on Auction Arms, Gunbroker, etc to get a good idea. Also look at Kimber's website to see what they list as MSRP for a series II. Retail prices will be 10-20% lower than MSRP.

2. I don't think durability is different between the two series. The main difference, which may affect reliability, is the firing pin safety that is installed on the series II. Some folks say that the series II gun is a bit harder to disassemble/reassemble because of the extra parts.

3. The finish in my gun is holding up well. I have fired over 5,000 rounds through the gun and it is also my primary carry gun. I shoot it during IPSC competitions as well. The finish is worn a bit around the muzzle and the end of the dust cover due to holster rub. Also, the thumb safety shows a bit of wear from use. There is no rust anywhere on the gun and only a few minor scratches, even though I've tried to scratch it.

4. The aluminum frame on my gun is in perfect shape. I have never seen any signs of stress or fractures. Just so you know, I've only fired factory ammo through the gun, included lots of hot defensive-type loads (Speer Golddot HPs).

5. Disassembly is a piece of cake. After clearing the gun, pull the slide to the rear and lock it open with the slide lock. Insert the fancy bent paper clip (not an Allen wrench) into the little hole on the guide rod. That locks up the recoil spring. Release the slide lock and slowly move the slide forward until the half-moon shaped notch on the slide is lined up over the slide stop. Push the slide stop out then remove the top end like a normal 1911. The recoil spring and guide rod will come out as one unit. The gun can also be disassembled without capturing the recoil spring first. Be careful, though, so that the spring doesn't pop you in the eye or shoot across the room.

If the gun is in good shape, and is NIB as advertised, I'd buy it for $600 in a heartbeat. Probably up to $700 or more, actually That's because I prefer the Series I over the Series II.

Hope it helps.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I currently carry a Kimber Pro Carry II as my primary CCW piece. I picked it up on gunbroker for $550 and love it.

One thing about the aluminum frame, if you have mags with metal followers there is a chance that it will ding up the inside of the magwell just below the barrel when the last shot goes off. For that reason I use plastic followers in my mags. Actually, I got rid of the Kimber mag and use Wilson Combat mags.

I think there is a sticky at www.1911forum.com under Kimber about the followers.

 

[PUPP86]

Well didn't get a chance to get back on Sunday due to work , so I am hoping to see the dealer at the next show and maybe he will still have it. If not I'll be kicking myself for awhile not picking it up the first time. :banghead: Thanks for the replies so far and if anybody has anything to add, positive or negative, feel free.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Lesson learned, always get his business card before you leave a potential purchase behind.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Last winter I read about a number of Kimber problems related to MIM slide releases breaking, but I haven't read about such problems over the past year. Has Kimber worked out whatever issues it may have been having? Or were these reports just freak occurances with coincidental timing?