need help with my kimber

[dubya450]

Hey guys, I bought my first 1911 a month or so ago and love everything about it. Its a Kimber Custom Crimson Carry II and through 600 rounds so far its been 100% reliable and the most accurate out of the box pistol I've ever shot, BUT, I've noticed that when i chamber a round by racking and letting go of the slide it chambers the round pretty roughly but it goes into full battery. When i lock the slide open, stick a loaded mag in, and release the slide via slide stop release it doesn't fully chamber the round and gets hung up on something. It happens with both HP and FMJ ammo. Is it something I can solve with a little heavier recoil spring? Polishing the ramp? Or something else? Its not a big deal considering it runs flawlessly but it is very annoying that i cant just hit the slide stop release while reloading. Thanks for any suggestions.

Cory

 

[Hootus]

Polishing the ramp and installing stronger Wolff springs did solve the issue for me. HOWEVER, you have an aluminum frame - polish only the steel ramp portion of the barrel, do not polish the ramp portion of the aluminum frame.

$4 for some emery cloth and a wooden dowel to wrap around it, and $20 for a set of stronger springs. Cheap idea, nothing to lose, and may fix it. No reason not to try.

If you get a little more specific than hung on up "something" and explain exactly what and where it is happening more completely, you might get some better replies of help that may help if the polish/spring doesn't.

 

[dubya450]

Okay I kinda figured the spring and polish might help. I cant see exactly what its hanging up on but the slide stops about an inch before full battery and the round it stuck in about a 35° upward angle. What is a good brand of spring to buy and from what website? If by chance does anyone know whay # spring comes stock on the 5" crimson carry pistol? I'd check the manual but its all packed away currently as I'm in the process of moving into my new house.

 

[JohnBT]

I'd give it at least another 600 rounds before I started removing metal. Actually, I probably wouldn't worry about it because I like to grab the slide. It'll probably fix itself anyway.

When you pull the slide back you give it just a hair longer of a running start than if you hit the little lever to drop it. Or maybe it's the stiff springs in the mags keeping a death grip on the top round. Who knows.

You like the gun and you're going to shoot it, right? Don't get in a hurry to fix it. There's time.

 

[jim243]

Or something else?

Yes something else. I love my Kimber but the Kimber Mags are not the best. Try a different brand of mag first before doing anything else.

Jim

 

[BYJO4]

I would call Kimber and talk with a tech. Explain the problem and let them decide on how best to resolve.

 

[dubya450]

Thanks guys, ill probably try another mag first and let the pistol break in a little more. If that doesn't work ill try a spring and call Kimber. Polishing anything is the last thing I want to try. Any idea where to buy good springs? Ill need one or two down the road anyway.

 

[Hootus]

Yep forgot about the mags. Forget the Kimber one and get some good ones, then see what happens.

Wolff springs are great replacement springs. http://www.gunsprings.com/home

 

[dubya450]

Thanks for the link, I ordered two #16 and one #17

 

[coalman]

Annoying indeed. But, if it runs it runs. However, Kimber recoil springs suck. Replaced my with Wolff. Problems solved and the gun just feels like it runs better. And, I'd run at least 1k before fusssing with other stuff.

p.s. Kimber mags suck, too IMO. Not the Tac Pro, the regular ones. I'd run CMC, Tac Pro, Wilson or Tripp.

 

[amflyer]

If you polish the ramp area of this gun, you will likely ruin the frame. What appears to be a continuation of the ramp on the barrel is actually a clearance or relief cut and not a ramp. This sounds like a magazine issue, as others have indicated. Just remember to stay away from devel-type magazine followers.

 

[smalls]

Is it still under warranty? I'd be hesitant to start removing any metal if Kimber will fix or replace.

 

[dubya450]

I've been playing with it today and it seems that the magazine is part of the problem because when fully loaded it feeds rougher than with a half loaded mag. Its feeding so rough that the bullet's are being pushed down into the case literally by a couple millimeters which make them garbage as far as I'm concerned because I'm not taking a chance with a pressure spike. It probably shouldn't bug me so much since it runs great, but it does :banghead:

 

[dubya450]

Grrrr.... never mind lol it started doing it with 4 rounds loaded in the mag too. I'm calling kimber on Monday if i don't figure this out over the weekend.

 

[Skylerbone]

You can chase tail with possibilities forever and the reality is things don't fix themselves. I've yet to see an improperly cut angle change by a single degree with a few hundred (or 10,000) rounds or a cheap magazine spring magically increase spring pressure. Running isn't good enough in my book as it needs to run correctly at a given rate, say 600 rounds between cleanings. Having any firearm that rides the edge of function invites failure, especially when masking the problem with heavier recoil springs and the like.

The issue Kimber's 1911s generally suffer from are related to chamber dimensions. I would contact them for a return authorization, describe the feed issues you're having (and any others) in a typed note (use larger font) and politely ask that they address them. I don't recommend polishing the barrel ramp yourself as there are a host of potential problems if done incorrectly, and a +1 on not touching an aluminum frame. A well polished ramp done correctly will always aid feed reliability but without correct measurement and understanding a ruined frame or barrel or both will be the result.

 

[mmay1]

I have a number of Kimbers, both Series II and pre-series II, in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45. They all run perfectly as long as I keep a good recoil spring in them (Wolff +P) and give them mags they like. Tripp, Wilson and the ACT/Wolff mags all work for me (Springfield ramp MetalForms in the 9 mm). The Kimber mags work perfectly when I replace the followers with Tripp followers.

dubwa45, I know some people like to release the slide with the slide stop but I don't think that's the way it was designed to work. I respectfully suggest you have an operator issue not an equipment issue.

 

[Skylerbone]

Having any firearm that rides the edge of function invites failure, especially when masking the problem with heavier recoil springs and the like.

That's me repeating myself for you mmay1.

If you want to know if your 1911 is functioning correctly buy a 10 lb. recoil spring and test feed function with it.