moonrunner02
Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2011
- Messages
- 13
Shooters,
Just picked this up last week and got to the range today to test it out. Went out with a variety of ammo as shown in the picture and listed as follows.
- Federal premium 124grn. Hydra-Shok
- Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr. FlexLock +P
- Federal Classic Hi-Shok 147 Grn. JHP
- USA ammo REMAN 115 grn. FMJ
The first three fall into Kimbers suggested projectile weight and style, the USA ammo does not. Kimber suggests a 24 round break in period. I cleaned and lubed the gun per the owners manual prior to heading to the range.
At the range the factory magazine was loaded to capacity (6) the slide was then "slingshot" into battery. I fired 26 rounds of the Federal HI-Shok for the break in. The first three rounds ran flawlessly with failures to fire on two of the final three rounds. The second magazine was loaded and one FTF was experienced on the fifth round. The subsequent magazines fired without incident, however at this point the slide failed to lock to the rear after the final round and this problem continued throughout the rest of the range session.
I then fired a magazine of critical duty, followed by fed. premium, followed by USA ammo. The Critical Duty and Fed. Premium functioned without incident. The USA ammo caused multiple feed and ejection failures. I continued this cycle of shooting until the boxes of Critical Duty and Fed. Premium were exhausted both performed without incident. Multiple failures to feed and eject were experienced with the USA ammo with all subsequent firing sequences. This was not a surprise to me as this ammunition is out side of Kimber's specifications for reliable function. All told, 76 rounds of "good ammo" was fired with 3 FTF in the first magazine and none after. The 24 rounds of USA ammo that were fired induced more failures than I can recall.
The failure of the slide to lock to the rear after the final round continued through all firing sequences and when the magazine was inserted into the magazine well unloaded the slide would not lock to the rear. It appears that the magazine does not place enough upward pressure onto the slide stop there for failing to move the slide stop far enough upward to catch the slide. I called Kimber customer service and spoke to a man named Jerry who was very cordial and said in instance like this it is most likely a miss seat magazine follower, which I also believed to be the issue at hand. He then said they would ship me out a new magazine which should arrive by the weeks end.
Accuracy of this little pistol was exemplary and I could easily hold sub 4" groups at 21 feet, with occasional fliers due to my lack of concentration and abilities with a pistol. Recoil was stout as would be expected with a 17 oz. gun. The meprolight night sights are bright, easily acquired and shot to point of aim. The stocks and horizontal groves cut into the grip provided necessary purchase for the two finger grip that I was able to take on this small gun. The safety was easily indexed and provided audible and tactile assurance of its movements into the proper position.
Overall I loved the little gun. I will need to fire a few more boxes of the premium ammunition types through it and rectify the slide locking issue before adding it to my carry rotation but I firmly believe this will turn into a favorite!
MR
Just picked this up last week and got to the range today to test it out. Went out with a variety of ammo as shown in the picture and listed as follows.
- Federal premium 124grn. Hydra-Shok
- Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr. FlexLock +P
- Federal Classic Hi-Shok 147 Grn. JHP
- USA ammo REMAN 115 grn. FMJ
The first three fall into Kimbers suggested projectile weight and style, the USA ammo does not. Kimber suggests a 24 round break in period. I cleaned and lubed the gun per the owners manual prior to heading to the range.
At the range the factory magazine was loaded to capacity (6) the slide was then "slingshot" into battery. I fired 26 rounds of the Federal HI-Shok for the break in. The first three rounds ran flawlessly with failures to fire on two of the final three rounds. The second magazine was loaded and one FTF was experienced on the fifth round. The subsequent magazines fired without incident, however at this point the slide failed to lock to the rear after the final round and this problem continued throughout the rest of the range session.
I then fired a magazine of critical duty, followed by fed. premium, followed by USA ammo. The Critical Duty and Fed. Premium functioned without incident. The USA ammo caused multiple feed and ejection failures. I continued this cycle of shooting until the boxes of Critical Duty and Fed. Premium were exhausted both performed without incident. Multiple failures to feed and eject were experienced with the USA ammo with all subsequent firing sequences. This was not a surprise to me as this ammunition is out side of Kimber's specifications for reliable function. All told, 76 rounds of "good ammo" was fired with 3 FTF in the first magazine and none after. The 24 rounds of USA ammo that were fired induced more failures than I can recall.
The failure of the slide to lock to the rear after the final round continued through all firing sequences and when the magazine was inserted into the magazine well unloaded the slide would not lock to the rear. It appears that the magazine does not place enough upward pressure onto the slide stop there for failing to move the slide stop far enough upward to catch the slide. I called Kimber customer service and spoke to a man named Jerry who was very cordial and said in instance like this it is most likely a miss seat magazine follower, which I also believed to be the issue at hand. He then said they would ship me out a new magazine which should arrive by the weeks end.
Accuracy of this little pistol was exemplary and I could easily hold sub 4" groups at 21 feet, with occasional fliers due to my lack of concentration and abilities with a pistol. Recoil was stout as would be expected with a 17 oz. gun. The meprolight night sights are bright, easily acquired and shot to point of aim. The stocks and horizontal groves cut into the grip provided necessary purchase for the two finger grip that I was able to take on this small gun. The safety was easily indexed and provided audible and tactile assurance of its movements into the proper position.
Overall I loved the little gun. I will need to fire a few more boxes of the premium ammunition types through it and rectify the slide locking issue before adding it to my carry rotation but I firmly believe this will turn into a favorite!
MR
![WP_20141111_13_06_01_Pro[1].jpg](/data/attachments/150/150073-dfe54ebdd4624012cd230be30bd7263b.jpg)
