looking for a 3" 1911

[Captain33036]

Thanks!

And forgot to add: The Eclipse Ultra II apparently has a stainless steel slide AND a stainless steel frame. The base model Ultra II has a steel slide and ...Aluminum frame. SO, it is not 25 oz, but 31 (2oz lighter than the SA). Feels lighter, for some reason.

All in all....might actually be better to have the weight and a stainless frame and slide, rather than less weight and an aluminum frame.

Interesting. Anyway...either way...it worked out.

Thanks

J

 

[Ken Rainey]

Sounds good Captain...glad it ran right for ya...congrats..

 

[Noggles]

"only thing i have done is change the springs every 1k" ghitch75
As he said and from my own expeience with my springfield V10 make sure you maintain your recoil spring and if it has the 2peice guide rod like mine red locktite the threads. red will let you unscrew the rod to replace the springs when the time comes. if not the rod will eventually come loose and you will get nonstop ftf. my $.02 at least. hope you enjoy your new piece.

 

[The Capt]

Captain33036,
I think you made a great choice!! The stainless steel slide and stainless steel frame will help offset some of the recoil. I own two Kimber 4 inch pro models and love them both. Kimber makes a darn fine 1911!! Just enjoy!!

 

[12131]

My RIA Tactical works perfectly fine.

No reliability issues or anything. And less than 500 bucks in some places.

Amazing little pistol, isn't it? Love mine, especially with the VZ grips on.

 

[Prosser]

Sorry. Just went back through the thread. I had a Kimber Ultra Carry II, with the aluminum frame. Problem is they have a hard exterior, and once you get through the outside, you get into the softer material inside. This becomes a real problem if you shoot the gun alot, since you may end up having to insert a steel feed ramp. I noticed that your gun actually has a steel frame, which is, if you shoot the gun alot, very important. My Ultra Carry II had some really bad machine marks in the feedramp area that effected feeding. I had it smoothed out, but, it's new owner felt it prudent to have a steel feedramp inserted.
If you can find a Detonics for that price range, they are worth twice that money. NICE looking gun. Enjoy.

I would also consider replacing anything that is MIM with forged parts.

 

[ms6852]

I own 2 1911 springfields one the GI Champion with 4" barrel and the other the Target GI loaded with 5" barrel. I find both weapons very accurate but find that the 5" barrel is easier to get back on target. The 4" barrel the recoil is quite more noticeable and takes a little longer to get back on target. I feel that the recoil on a smaller barrel would be even more noticeable and harder to manage. I have no hard evidence to substantiate this opinion other than going from a 5 inch barrel to a 4 inch barrel the recoil is very very noticeable.

 

[Captain33036]

I Noticed that some folks have posted to this thread and so I thought I would give an update.

I have had my Kimber Eclipse Ultra in .45acp for about 5 months now. It is STILL my most favored side arm of any I have ever owned. I really enjoy the fit and finish of the Kimber, The balance of the Ultra and how concealable the Ultra is. A 1911 is my favorite platform and so to have a compact one suits me well. It is what I know and that is important.

I shoot it regularly and the gun has been 100% reliable. I do clean and lube after every session, as a side note.

I introduced a good friend who is also a 1911 enthusiast (and has several) to it. Let him shoot it as much as he wanted. He loved it and now wants one.

Both he and I have believe that the felt recoil is no more than a standard, full sized 1911. That may be because the Kimber Eclipse Ultra is all stainless steel and is 31 oz.

One thing I discovered that makes this weapon even better: because it is a standard 1911, simply shortened....you CAN USE FULL SIZE 1911 MAGAZINES! And...I found a little plastic produce called the "X-Grip". You slip this extender down a full size mag and it lets you use one comfortably in a compact 1911. SO...now I can have 8 rounds in a magazine in my 3" compact 1911. Very pleased with that.

With Hogue finger groove grips, it makes for an excellent grip. Here is a pic:



Thanks and all the best

J

 

[Prosser]

After carrying a Detonics for a long time, I tried an Ultra Carry II.

I put slim grips on it, from Chip McCormack. In Kali I am not in the elite that
has enough money or position to bribe our local Sheriff into giving me a CCW permit(It's not conjecture: He has been brought up on charges by either the Federal Gov. or the local DA, and his backers group that collected the money disbanded).
I bring that up, since if I carry, it has to be deep concealment, since if I have someone notice the gun, I get picked up by the police, and end up loosing the gun, and a misdeamnor conviction, IIRC. In Kali you never know. It could be a felony now. For my carry options, Carrying cocked and locked, and the beavertail on the Kimber makes concealment difficult, in particular when I sit down.

The Detonics was designed to be carried with either the hammer down, or on 1/8 cock, with a round in the chamber. The slide is scalloped out for quick cocking of the hammer on the first shot. This makes the gun a very small package. It is heavy, but, it works when it's cold for a carry gun.

I never followed up, since I sold the gun, but, I always wondered if I could get a grip safety without the beavertail, or, if I would have had to grind it off.
For what it's worth, the Kimber magazines went in the trash. The lips spread out, and locked up the gun. I wasn't able to remove, until I got a dowel, and pounded the magazine out from the top. Hasn't ever happened with Wilson mags.

I also had a very rough feed ramp, with a bunch of machining marks on the Ultra Carry II.

 

[nearmiss]

I have an Ultra Carry that I shoot quite often and that has given me no trouble. The recoil is less than you would expect from a small gun and the accuracy is better than you might expect. My only complaint was the pointy butt end, so I got a Fusion aluminum mainspring housing and did a little trimming on it and the gun. It is much more comfortable now.