Kimber Ultra woes

[velobard]

About a week and a half ago I was seduced into buying a Kimber Crimson Carry Ultra. I've been wanting to move to a .45 for awhile and this one looked like just the ticket. Before taking the plunge, since this store has a range with a rental program, I tried out several other .45's and found that I could shoot the Kimber better than most of the options on the shelf.

I currently have about 700 rounds through it. I have cleaned it after each session and lubed it well. I've shot a variety of ball ammo. I used two mags, the stock Kimber mag and a new Wilson Combat. The problems seemed consistent with whatever ammo or mag I was using at the time.

I have has numerous times where the slide locked back when the mag was not empty. I also had a couple times where I had jams where a round would not chamber correctly, but this only happened at the end of a long range session (200+ rounds), so perhaps that was a factor. I shot 200 rounds after the last time my slide locked back so I figured it was finally broken in well enough to carry. Then I went back to the range today and went through about 60 rounds when it locked back yet again with a half full mag. I had a couple different guys assess my grip and shooting, as well as try it out themselves.

This is frustrating. I have spent a boatload on ammo lately trying to assure that the gun was broken in, but it's still having issues. I spoke to Kimber and they will pay to have the gun shipped back, but they say it will take 3-5 weeks to go over it after they have it in hand. I hate to have to give up a new gun for a month to have it sorted out, especially after dropping a couple hundred just to try to break it in. I still enjoy shooting the gun, I'm just frustrated with the problems.

 

[1832]

I had to replace the slide stop on my Kimber Gold Match shortly after I bought it many moons ago. It wouldn't engage the mag followers on some magazines. The replacement slide stop did have a different tab that the follower pushes up on. I have heard of similar problems from others with a variety of Kimber models. All that said, double check your grip to make sure your left thumb isn't inadvertently pushing the slide stop up, or that either thumb isn't pressing against the slide to slow it and cause the feeding problems.

 

[Cuzzin]

It is worth it to send it back to Kimber - one of my Kimbers was FTFeed, they made it perfect - and, sent me an additional magazine, one of the newer promags. My other Kimber was perfect from the first round. They say 2-3 weeks but probably it will only be a week before it comes back.

 

[JDGray]

Take your slide stop out, and remove material where you see the copper race strip. It took me a few times, but I finnaly fixed it. The new one kimber sent, did the same thing. The second round in the mag is hitting it, during recoil.

The one on the left is modified, the right is a new Kimber

Now the one on the right is modified

 

[crebralfix]

It's a Kimber Ultra. Kimber's QC could be better. I had tons of trouble with my Tactical Ultra II (and its replacement).

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=105608&highlight=Kimber+tactical+ultra

Perhaps Kimber has changed things, but you may want to have a gunsmith look at it. I found Kimber's Custom Shop to be inadequate.

 

[velobard]

Thanks for the responses. I spoke to a couple of local gunsmiths who were recommended to me, but I think first I'll give Kimber a chance to set it straight. When the slide locks back the slide lock just barely engages. I've tried tweaking my grip and have been very careful about my thumb placement, with no changes. I also had an experienced 1911 competitive shooter experience the same problems. It usually seems to happen with only 2 or 3 rounds in the mag. It happens a lot less now than it used to, so I'm hoping they can find what's wrong and not just ship it back saying they don't see anything wrong.

Before this year it had been a long time since I had owned a handgun. Now I've managed to collect a few, but this was intended to be my daily carry gun. My next option for conceal carry is a full-sized M&P9, with a cover shirt, which isn't a problem when I can dress casually. The only other gun of an appropriate caliber that I can conceal with more discretion is my wife's Bersa, so I really don't want to go long without my Kimber.

It's weird, this is the only handgun I've had any problems with, but I still really like the gun. It points very naturally for me, I love the laser grips, and it carries well. I just really hope they get this sorted out. I think I'll take it back to the shop and have Kimber send the shipping tag there so I don't have to worry about missing the delivery guy.

 

[CWL]

Officer's size M1911s are just more prone to operational problems.

Kimber Custom Shop is nothing more than a mass-production facility.

I bought a NIB Kimber Ultra CDP. Went back to kimber 3 times before I had a local smith make mine work.

 

[VegasOPM]

Check our grip also. If you keep your support hand forward and high, you might be pressing up on the slide release. As for the FTF's... check your grip again. After 200 rounds, you may be tired enough that you are limp wristing the gun. It is recoil operated and if you let the gun move too much it can'tr cycle completely.

I'm not saying that you are doing these things, but I would make sure that the gun is the problem before I parted with it for a month.

 

[rob45]

It's a Kimber Ultra. Kimber's QC could be better. I had tons of trouble with my Tactical Ultra II (and its replacement).

That's an understatement! I have seen stainless Kimbers brand new on the store shelves with rusty barrels (and I used to work part time in my favorite gun store). I started to buy a Desert Warrior and the one we had on the shelf had rust on the barrel. We happened to have a Springfield Operator on the shelf as well and having had very good luck with Springfield went that route and it's by far my favorite pistol after several hundred rounds. I gave in and bought a Kimber Compact Stainless II (about the size of a Colt Officers Model) because it looked good and felt good in my hand and I wanted a good compact 45 1911. Not only did the muzzle end and hood of the barrel as well as the hammer start turning black and rusting with CONSTANT maintenance and oiling, the gun wouldn't hit the broadside of the barn, not even from a rest. It never malfunctioned on me one time and was dead nuts reliable but it wouldn't group under 8" at 25 yards and for every seven rounds three would go about 4' in front of me into the gravel and grass at the range, two would go to the rear and right of me and the other two would test my safety glasses with vigor! I started to send it to a real gunsmith and have him put real stainless bar stock parts in it (sear, hammer, disconnector, etc.) and replace the barrel and extractor. I got to thinking about it and that would be about the same as buying a slide and frame and building a complete custom gun. I sold it and bought a box stock Para SSP 5" that WILL by-golly shoot and is absolutely perfect. This is my third Para btw and I have been very pleased with every one of them and it won't be the last one I buy. Also, I bought an SA XD-9 for the compact carry gun duty and so far it's performed perfectly as well. I won't ever buy another Kimber again. This was the only one that I've had problems with but I do have friends that have had real problems with theirs that I've seen first hand. I have heard from several sources that Kimber does not have a test facility. I don't know if that's true if it is it may account for why they have so many QC issues.

 

[Pat-inCO]

First thing is to go to Kimber. dennism at kimberamerica dot com. Be calm and polite. Tell him what has been happening ASK his advise (far too many people try to tell them how to fix the gun - big mistake).

Chances are it will be fixed faster than you can believe.

 

[velobard]

I've read plenty of posts from folks who weren't thrilled with Kimber, and the same for people who had nightmares with guns from Colt, Para, Springfield, etc. etc. I'm irritated at how much I've spent to break in this gun, but I'm sure I'll get the problems worked out. No rust problems, nothing else.

Yes, it's possible I was limp-wristing when I had those jams that one day. It was a long session with a small gun. I'm not about to claim there's no chance that I messed up. I have asked much more experienced 1911 shooters for advice on my grip, thumb placement, etc, as well as have a couple of them shoot the gun. I've tried a few different variations. Problems were fairly consistent. The first hundred rounds only had one glitch, and the last 300 rounds have only had 2. Most of the problems manifested during the few hundred in between.

 

[JDGray]

My UC was perfect on target loads, my slide locked back the first time, using factory ammo. If the copper is on the slide stop, its sticking in too far, and taking a little off will fix it. Give your gun a test before you send it in, only load the mag with 2 rds, chamber one, and shoot. It will never happen again. There needs to be at least 2 in the mag, and one in the chamber to fail.

1. You need strong enough ammo for it to happen.
2. You need at least 2 rds in the mag, while firing,for it to happen.

Good luck, there great little guns, went you get the bugs out

 

[loop]

If you just want to fix it and $30 is not outside your budget order an EGW oversized slide stop. I put them on all my 1911s as routinely as I replace all the springs with Wolff. I do it because they work. They also improve the lockup of the barrel to the slide and therefore yield improved accuracy. Although my Kimber is more accurate than I am.

 

[velobard]

Sounds like you guys suggesting the slide stop might be right on track. I just got off the phone with Kimber and instead of having me ship the gun back, they said they'll send me a new slide stop that should fix the problem. I'll should have the part here next week, so hopefully that will be the end of my issues with the gun. Then I'll have another excuse to go out and spend some more time on the range.

I'm not quite sure what you meant by copper on the slide stop. The stop on mine matches the matte finish alloy frame, with no copper color visible.

 

[JDGray]

I'm not quite sure what you meant by copper on the slide stop. The stop on mine matches the matte finish alloy frame, with no copper color visible.

Hopfully you can see it on the pointed edge

 

[Lonestar49]

Quote:
I'm not quite sure what you meant by copper on the slide stop. The stop on mine matches the matte finish alloy frame, with no copper color visible.

Hopefully you can see it on the pointed edge

...

That shows (it should) that as each rim (the rear) of any cartridge left in your mag holds the *catch lever down, (as they chamber) *and from popping up and locking one's slide open as, without any ammo, the catch lever then pops up and locks the slide open because of no bullets, sliding up and over the lever (holding it down) leaving their brass marks that show in the pic..

Great PIC JDG


Ls

 

[velobard]

Thanks for the pic, that clarifies things pretty well. I just cleaned my gun this morning so I may have unwittingly cleaned off any copper that was there without even noticing. If I didn't have my reading glasses on at that stage, i easily could have missed it. :scrutiny

 

[velobard]

Follow-up. My new slide stop arrived today. Here are a few pics to tell the story.

New one on the right.




It looks to me like they radiused this one like they shoul have done to begin with. I'm a little curious if they tweaked this one specifically before sending it to me because they recognize the issue.

I also tried both stops in the frame and inserted loaded mags to check for clearance. Thanks to a member one another thread for pointing out this tip. I noticed that with the old stop sometimes I'd get paper to snag a little between the bullet and the stop, but not with the new one.

Here's the new stop.


Here's the old stop. Hard to see, but just a touch of interference.


BTW, this is with the new Taurus Hex ammo I just received today. It uses the copper Barnes XPB bullet. Here it is with 1) WWB ball ammo, 2) Taurus Hex, 3) Remington UMC JHP.

 

[SwampWolf]

Let us know if the replacement solved your feeding problem.

 

[JDGray]

It looks to me like they radiused this one like they shoul have done to begin with. I'm a little curious if they tweaked this one specifically before sending it to me because they recognize the issue.

Wish kimber would have tweeked the replacement they sent me. Would have saved me some homesmithing, but I enjoy working on guns Hope she works for ya! You can see the obvious clearance gain in your pic, with the new part, nice shot!