New(ish) Kimber 1911 Owners Sound Off!

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johndoe1027

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I'm interested to hear the experiences of people who have bought Kimber 1911's in the past year or two. Apparently they hired a couple of QC techs that have mild narcolepsy. I want to hear the experiences of Kimber owners and whether they were good from the get-go or not. If not, were they fixed in a timely manner?

I have decided that they have the most options for what I want in a new CCW. I'm a Springfield guy all the way but they don't have what I'm looking for. The 7+1 in an officer frame sure looks sweet too. I plan on carrying it everyday all day BTW. I was skeptical of Kimber for the longest time, but I'm willing to take a gamble (which I agree should not have to happen) to get the gun I really want.

Thanks for posting.
 
I purchased a Kimber Ultra Carry 2 about 2 months ago. It was my first 1911 so I have nothing to compare it to.

Before the Kimber I was strictly a Glock man. I had never heard anything bad about Kimbers until after I bought mine. Partially because I never looks for anyone's take on them. Before I had bought mine, I was always under the impression that they were high quality firearms.

Anyways, back to your request. Mine so far has been flawless. Although it is still very far from earning my absolute trust. I say this as it only has ~150 FMJ and 14 Federal 230Gr Hydra Shoks through it. However, in that limited time it has performed above my expectations.

I have been carrying it in an IWB holster for the last two weeks. I like it's size for CCW. I previously carried either a G19 or G32. Thus, the Kimber is noticably smaller to carry and conceal.

From what I have shot so far, I am amazed by its accuracy. I don't claim to be a sharpshooter by any length of the imagination. But with the Kimber, I seem to amaze myself.

Right out of the box, the slide has this amazingly smooth feel to it.

My ONLY complaint to this point is field stripping it/takedown for cleaning. I guess I have been spoiled with the ease of disassembly with the Glocks. For me, getting the slide lock pin (not sure if that's what its called) can be a real PITA to get back in. YMMV.

Hope this helps some. I'll keep you updated if I have any malfunctions as I get a chance to put more rounds through it. According to the manual it takes something like 350 rounds just to break in the pistol. From what I hear some people experience problems early in the break in period and those problems sometimes go away once properly broken in. I haven't had any problems yet.....
 
In December I bought a Raptor II. Love it. not one issue at all. Feeds everything and is easy to shoot & accurate.

In March I bought a Custom II because I wanted something similar to my Raptor. Only issue was rear sight was slightly out of alignment. $10 and a visit ot the local gunsmith and It's as accurate as the Raptor.

Since I've had such a great experience with the first two I decided to add to the collection with a Ultra Raptor II. I can't wait to shoot it. Can't DROS it until June 10th and will be able to pick it up 10 days later.

I'm looking for a private party transfer in CA so I can get the Pro Raptor next. It was never on the DOJ approved list so I need to find someone or a LEO who will sellit to me...in state of course.

Both the Custom II & Raptor II are tight fitting and I have had NO FTF's or FTE's. I think that Kimber makes so many 1911's over 50,000 a year you're probably hearing negative reviews from a small fraction of the happy owners.
 
I have bought 4 in the last year, an Ultra Carry II that I have since sold, a Pro CDP II, a Pro Raptor II, and an Eclipse Target II.

I have put about 1800 rouunds through the CDP, another 1300 out of the Eclipse and about 1000 out of the Pro Raptor. I had about 300 out of the UC before I sold it.

No problems, zero, none. All have worked flawlessly, well the tritium bar on the Eclipse rear target sight went bad and Kimber fixed it in a week. I carry the CDP, shoot IDPA with the Raptor and never question whether they will work, I trust them to do so in any situation.

The only reason I sold the UC is that I really don't like the officer size frame grip. It really doesn't work for me.
 
I posted a thread and range report a couple of years ago on another forum after I purchased my first Kimber. Here's the link if you'd like to read up on my opinion and first experience. To date I have only made minor changes (mostly cosmetic) but I changed out the trigger for a Chip McCormick, and added a Ed Brown magwell. Other then that my "Warrior" is stock and continues to shoot great.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=115806

RC
 
I bought a Warrior a year ago. It has been reliable, ate anyhing I have fed it( I used 200 rds of cheap Wolf) and a few other brands with no issues. I will buy another one.
 
That's what I wanted to hear. I know that people are much more likely to post bad experiences than good. Now that is confirmed once again.

To you guys and gals that have a 3" and 4", how much harder is the 4" to carry? I know that the 3" is going to be easier but the 4" should be more reliable and inherently more accurate. I like the look of a 4" better too so I want one of those really.

Unfortunately I can't afford both for a long time so I have to get it right the first time. I shot a 4" alloy yesterday (SA not Kimber just to see if I could handle it). It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think I could definately handle a 3" but naturally the 4" will be quicker on follow ups. I also worry about the longevity and reliability of the 3". I do know that the recoil springs have to be changed out more often. Also, I have no problem with the officer frame, it fits me perfectly. :D

Thanks a ton for all of the thourough replies. This has made me much more comfortable about my decision. I started this thread because of a negative "across the board" statement about Kimbers. I hope that member finds this thread and gives me the other side of the story. I can tell already that it's not as bad as one would think after a quick search over at the 1911 forum.


edited to add; the warriors are dead sexy by the way. I think the eclipse series is my favorite though. Slap some smooth thin carbon creations grips on it....mmm...oops! I just drooled on myself a little. :eek:
 
I bought a NIB custom target II about 9 months ago, I have been marginally happy with it. When I first got it home I found light rust pitting on the top of the barrell just in front of the loching lugs, and the recoil spring has a burr on the end that scratched the guide rod. Instead of sending it back I filed off the burr, and cleaned off the rust so it is almost unnoticeable. With the factory mag, the first round or two from a full magazine would jam at about a 45 degree angle to the chamber as it was being fed, the magazine fit kindof loosely and if you just pushed it up from the floorplate slightly would be enough to keep it from jamming. Again instead of sending it back I got a couple of chip mcormick match mags, and they work fine. I replaced all the controls with extended/oversized wilson, installed a speedchute and v-grip housing and now it is finally the pistol I had wished it could be. It is extremely accurate, and now is plenty reliable with hardly a burp for the last 2K-3K rounds. I think the kimbers don't really have any more flaws than most quality mass produced guns, maybe even less than most. I have never heard of any problems with the high end wilsons and nighthawk 1911's, but thats what a couple thousand can get you, dan wesson, and RRA make decent pistols, but don't have all the available models, I think Kimber is probably the best quality/value even if they have the occasional problem.
 
I've had two and they're fine...!

I bought a next-to-new Kimber Grand Raptor II last year and it's been great. Accurate, comfortable, reliable--the whole nine yards. Before that (since been sold) I had a nicely tuned Kimber Stainless Target and it, too, was superb. Both guns consume(d) my reloaded .45ACP without so much as a hiccup. :cool:
 
To you guys and gals that have a 3" and 4", how much harder is the 4" to carry? I know that the 3" is going to be easier but the 4" should be more reliable and inherently more accurate. I like the look of a 4" better too so I want one of those really.
Click to expand...
I have a Compact CDP (4 in bbl) and a Government Model1911 that I use for CCW. I carry IWB and have found that the limiting factor for concealment is the grip size rather than the length of the barrel. The Compact with it's Officer's size frame hides a lot better than her big brother.
 
I bought a Custom CDP Pro about two months ago. I've put about 300 rounds of blazer brass thru it without a hiccup. I carry it with a cheap Uncle Mikes IWB holster, I have a Milt Sparks VM 2 on order. This is my second Kimber, I also have a Eclipse Target from the Custom shop (early limited edition). I've had the same reliability with it. My Kimbers were more reliable then my Glock 36! But I haven't owned one with the external extractor. I use the stock mags, although I just bought one of the Kimber pro mags and love it.
 
I've been carrying and training with my CDP II Compact for 8 months now. Only failures (3) have been caused by limp wristing during weak hand shooting drills. I have over 3,000 rounds through it and could not be happier.

IMG_2296.jpg
 
I bought a Kimber CDP Pro II for my 21st birthday back in January.

CDP.jpg

Beautiful gun, I love it. No problems at all. I have 750 rounds though it right now, with not a single failure of any kind. Mind you I did buy 4 Kimber Kim-Pro mags (7 rounders), which are fantastic, and no split follower for the aluminum frame (note: the above picture does NOT show the Kim-Pro magazines, it was the factory one). The gun’s fit and finish is done extremely well. I highly recommend it!

To you guys and gals that have a 3" and 4", how much harder is the 4" to carry? I know that the 3" is going to be easier but the 4" should be more reliable and inherently more accurate. I like the look of a 4" better too so I want one of those really.
Click to expand...

The 4” is no problem at all to carry. I don’t really like the 3” models, although more for the grip size. My hands just don’t fit the smaller grip well enough for my liking. The overall proportions look a little odd to me. Then again I like the look of the 5” even better, but the 4” was a compromise for carry.

I carry IWB and have found that the limiting factor for concealment is the grip size rather than the length of the barrel. The Compact with it's Officer's size frame hides a lot better than her big brother.
Click to expand...

I’d have to agree. Again my hands just don’t grip the compact frame as well, but I can definitely see it being easier to conceal. I also carry IWB, and my main issue is the grip poking out my shirt when I bend down to pick something up. As I have never carried any other size gun, I’m not even sure if this is even completely avoidable, but I think the overall footprint would be less noticeable on a compact grip/frame.

So no worries about Kimber from me. And I tend to be extremely anal about fit/finish. No QC concerns here! :)
 
I'll post a proper reply tomorrow (way past my bedtime but I just had to hear the replies :p). I'll have to look again but I thought I could get a 4" with the smaller grip (may be what your CDP Pro's are :)) I was decieved by the 7+1 designation but they are in fact officer frames / grips. That is what I want because I know too well how hard it is to conceal the grip (especially at 3:00). I had already decided on a Officer Frame but wanted a 4" bbl. That's how I got to a Kimber. They are one of few companies doing this. SA and Para were my first thoughts and neither have this configuration. SA has a 6+1 3.5" and Para only has 3" 6+1's. Kimber's have the Officer frame with an extra round crammed in there. Proper reply replies coming tomorrow. :cool:

You guys pretty much talked me back into the 4". I thought a 3" would be worth it for about 12 hours...... I've come full circle. That's exactly where I started. 4" bbl officer alloy frame. :)

Thanks!
 
I got a Kimber TLE for my birthday in April 2005, had an EE, took about 800 rounds before she "ran right"... she ran great for about 4k rounds, then it went south fast. One year latter She went in for failure to extract issues, kept in contact with Kimbers custom shop, they failed the repair work on the EE and sent me back a pistol with an IE slide 6 weeks latter, polished barrel, new FLGR, new Springs and a trigger job, I asked about getting an ambi safety installed and ended up getting thier ambi pinned safety for free and a tacpro mag. A year latter she's still 100% and I love every trigger squeeze out of her, some how she has less recoil in .45acp than most 9mm's I've fired.

The Only thing I don't like... and I still haven't done anything about it... is the plastic MSH, I should have replaced it with one of those cheap S&W black aluminum ones like I've done to my 2 Springer 1911's, but I don't want to change anything about the almost perfect trigger job. The only thing I've changed besides the addition of the Ambi Safety from Kimber was a GI guide rod and Plug. I'd buy a 9mm TLE if they'd make one, I've Emailed several times about Kimber Building me a 9mm TLE, but they won't do it for me.

If something happened to my TLE, I'd buy another Kimber. But I've gotten the 1911 sickness, the Springfields are just too good of a price for thier money, when you want a gun to build on. I'm still harassing Kimber to build a 9mm TLE, but it looks like I'm going with a SA 9mm and I'm trying to find a Commander 9mm, but I may just give up and buy a Kimber 4" in 9mm, and I'm looking for and will find a Stainless Champion or Commander used, to build a Bobtail out of.

I'll never sell my TLE. But I've considered and have sold other 1911's.
 
Proud owner of two Kimbers here, a .45 Tactical Ultra II and a 10mm Stainless Target II. Between the two of them, the only issue I've had was a feeding issue with the Tac due to a weak magazine spring. Both of them are more accurate than I am, and the Stainless Target II has eaten even my reloads like candy so far. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Kimber.
 
KC, I recommend tha SA 9mm. I had the Loaded Stainless full size. It was a dream to shoot. I kick myself everyday for getting rid of it and will have another again someday (maybe in 45acp if I start reloading but the 9mm was sooooo accurate and easy to shoot). Thanks for posting your service experience. It seems like they always make good on it eventually and that gives you a chance to get some custom work done for cheap or free. :)

alucard, I am sorry to hear that yours wasn't perfect out of the box. I have two other CCW's so if the Kimber shows up with any imperfections... back it goes! Maybe I can get some tuning done to it while its there. :D I want a single sided safety since I'm right handed (I'll get a left handed only for the matching CCW one day :evil:). The Shadow limited run gun is one of the few they offer with a single sided. I figure that is just one less thing to poke at my shirt. I understand that I could theorhetically need to fire weak hand one day but drawing from 3:00 with the wrong hand will be a bigger problem than operating the safety. That's why I'll get the lefty version for 9:00. Then no need to carry mags to balance the belt and no need to reload. And yes I am infatuated with the punisher movie and no I really wouldn't get a pair of 45's for daily carry. :neener:
 
CDP Pro in July 2006, Warrior in December 2006 - both flawless in function and application. Highly recommended!
Pk
 
Mine is an Ultra Raptor II and I can't say enough about it. Fit and finish, reliability and accuracy are tops.
 
Eclipse Custom II. Bought a couple years ago and was always annoyed with the last shot bonking me in the forehead or being pulled back into the magazine lips(and ruining magazines).

Fast forward a couple months ago...I sent it back to Kimber and the replaced the slide with an internal extractor. No Charge. After 200 rounds it is perfect. No more issues with ejection. I have also tried Kimber-Pro magazines and they are the cats ass. I had problems with the other big names. I never tried Colt or Metalform but I don't need to since the Kimber mag is so good.
 
sweet! I think I'm ready to make the jump. Now I just have to decide which one to get (I have a poll to help decide over at the 1911forum :)). Seems like that most of the differences are cosmetic and that they are all great shooters. I just have to decide between 4" or 3" and which look I want. Availability will have a lot to do with my decision as well. I'm going to try to call the shop today to check prices and availability. I want to buy it locally but if they can't get them quickly I'll probably just get it from Bud's or something like that.

I don't see too many for sale here, just on the auction sites. :cool: I'm sure there's a good reason for that.
 
Just bought a Stainless Pro Carry II -- at 200 rounds and just had two issues: one FTE due to limpwristing, and one FTRB due to crud at the end of a box of ammo.

Love it!!! Trying to decide on either a Custom TLE II or a Raptor II.

Get one; you'll enjoy!

Neal
 
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