I have an ultra tactical that's been foolproof, and a short Eclipse that's been much less reliable. new slide tops helped, maybe extractor help would fix it completely.
How Reliable are the Kimber 3" Micro 1911's?
- Thread starter Lastmohecken
- Start date
- Status
Here's post about my 3" when a got it a few months back:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507686
The synopsis of the above link is this: finally tracked down the SIS Ultra I'd been wanting for a long time. It was my first experience with one of those guns that you pick up, look at, and wonder how the in the world it got through QC. Tons of problems, many of which affected reliability. Called Kimber, they had a shipping label in my email inbox about ten minutes after I got off the phone with them. They said repairs typically took 2-3 weeks, and it was back at my doorstep 2 weeks to the day after I shipped it, then it ran just fine for another 500 rounds.
Since I wrote the above linked report, the gun has had about 1100 through it, no hiccups. So that's 1600 rounds without a malfunction since it came back from Kimber. I know that's not much of an indication of reliability yet, but you have to give me a break, I've only had the gun a few months, so it'll take a few more to get it up into the 5k-plus range where you can start making substantive reliability claims. However the tritium vial in my front sight burst a while back, so right now I'm waiting to give Kimber a call about that until the custom holster for it that ordered for it comes in so I can make sure the gun fits it. No reason to get miffed at Kimber about another breakage, though. They didn't make the part, Meprolight did.
All in all, though, I've been extremely pleased with this gun. Lots of fun to shoot, reliable, and packable when in the rare occasions when I can't conceal a fullsize 1911, and an excellent backup for times when I can. And also, as M2 Carbine pointed out, they're accurate little buggers to boot:
That's fifty shots at just past 15 yards (as are the other bulls in the background, but naturally I took the pic next to the best on that target). I've put up some even better groups with the SIS at that distance, but I don't have pics. They are hanging in my living room though, if you'd like to stop by... I installed a 10-8 flat trigger and made new grips for it since the pictures were taken as well.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507686
The synopsis of the above link is this: finally tracked down the SIS Ultra I'd been wanting for a long time. It was my first experience with one of those guns that you pick up, look at, and wonder how the in the world it got through QC. Tons of problems, many of which affected reliability. Called Kimber, they had a shipping label in my email inbox about ten minutes after I got off the phone with them. They said repairs typically took 2-3 weeks, and it was back at my doorstep 2 weeks to the day after I shipped it, then it ran just fine for another 500 rounds.
Since I wrote the above linked report, the gun has had about 1100 through it, no hiccups. So that's 1600 rounds without a malfunction since it came back from Kimber. I know that's not much of an indication of reliability yet, but you have to give me a break, I've only had the gun a few months, so it'll take a few more to get it up into the 5k-plus range where you can start making substantive reliability claims. However the tritium vial in my front sight burst a while back, so right now I'm waiting to give Kimber a call about that until the custom holster for it that ordered for it comes in so I can make sure the gun fits it. No reason to get miffed at Kimber about another breakage, though. They didn't make the part, Meprolight did.
All in all, though, I've been extremely pleased with this gun. Lots of fun to shoot, reliable, and packable when in the rare occasions when I can't conceal a fullsize 1911, and an excellent backup for times when I can. And also, as M2 Carbine pointed out, they're accurate little buggers to boot:
That's fifty shots at just past 15 yards (as are the other bulls in the background, but naturally I took the pic next to the best on that target). I've put up some even better groups with the SIS at that distance, but I don't have pics. They are hanging in my living room though, if you'd like to stop by... I installed a 10-8 flat trigger and made new grips for it since the pictures were taken as well.
Last edited:
rswartsell
Member
Nice shooting Wiry,
I personally like Kimber simply because I shoot well with them. I currently have a 5" Custom II Target and in the first 400 rounds I had 0 ftf in WWB 230gr ball, 1 with Black Hills 185gr JHP, 3 with PMC 230 ball and 0 with Magtech ball. These split evenly, 100 each.
I'm currently believing the break in period, and would be pretty willing to bet it's going to settle in just fine avoiding PMC. We will see, but I fell in love with the way Kimbers shoot sometime in the '90s. I think that once you get them happy they are as good as it gets and that's still usually a pretty good deal in today's quality 1911 market.
I have shot 3" and they are not my cup of tea. My 53 year old eyes like 5". But I'm a big guy at 300# so that changes the carry situation somewhat, and I have no doubt in their performance for those so inclined. IMHO you have done very well.
I personally like Kimber simply because I shoot well with them. I currently have a 5" Custom II Target and in the first 400 rounds I had 0 ftf in WWB 230gr ball, 1 with Black Hills 185gr JHP, 3 with PMC 230 ball and 0 with Magtech ball. These split evenly, 100 each.
I'm currently believing the break in period, and would be pretty willing to bet it's going to settle in just fine avoiding PMC. We will see, but I fell in love with the way Kimbers shoot sometime in the '90s. I think that once you get them happy they are as good as it gets and that's still usually a pretty good deal in today's quality 1911 market.
I have shot 3" and they are not my cup of tea. My 53 year old eyes like 5". But I'm a big guy at 300# so that changes the carry situation somewhat, and I have no doubt in their performance for those so inclined. IMHO you have done very well.
Seems the Kimber and Colts compacts run the best. I am not a Kimber fan but I would consider one of the compacts. If I was to ever sell all my Colt Compacts
rswartsell
Member
In the '80s I owned a Colt Combat Commander and a .380 Government Model. As a +1 for Michael T, they did very well, but the Kimbers I have fired and owned were better for me. I like the triggers and the accuracy has been outstanding.
My UCII has been perfect from day one, has about 800 or so rounds through it; I love carrying it when it's cold; too much gun to hide on one of those 80 or so 100+ degree days we have here in Texas every summer ....
steven58
Member
My Kimber Ultra Elite has run fine since day one. I have at least 6,000 round through it to date with zero issues. I have replaced the slide stop, firing pin and extractor with Wilson's "Bullet Proof" series and use Wilson's stainless 7 round magazines exclusively. Grips are by Esmeralda.
Picture is here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=511770&page=3
This gun is my EDC in a Milt Sparks VM2 on a 1.25" dress gun-belt.
Picture is here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=511770&page=3
This gun is my EDC in a Milt Sparks VM2 on a 1.25" dress gun-belt.
Not a Kimber fan, but some of us don't know when we're well off. The Commander size seems to be the best size for many, including myself.....
Colt Series 70 Combat Commander .45ACP.........it's not a .45 unless it has a Horse on it..............
Colt Series 70 Combat Commander .45ACP.........it's not a .45 unless it has a Horse on it..............
Well, it sounds like these little 3 inch guns can be reliable, but some do give problems. I do remember now, I had almost forgotten, that my first Kimber ( 4 inch Custom Compact) would jam at times, (failure to feeds). I changed to Wilson magazines and the problem went away, and I may have adjusted the extractor, but I can't really remember for sure.
I don't use the original magazines at all in that gun, and have had no more problems.
One thing I have read before on these little guns is that they require a stiff wrist, even more so then other semi's, to avoid getting stovepipes, but no one has mentioned it on this thread. Has anyone experienced issues possibly related to limp wristing of these guns?
I don't use the original magazines at all in that gun, and have had no more problems.
One thing I have read before on these little guns is that they require a stiff wrist, even more so then other semi's, to avoid getting stovepipes, but no one has mentioned it on this thread. Has anyone experienced issues possibly related to limp wristing of these guns?
A note on mags:
Both my 3" Kimber and the other two friends of mine own work great... provided you have the right mags. They're very very finicky about what they like to feed from. My friend's likes Novaks, and will feed great from the 8 rounders. Mine like Kimpro's, but the only 8s they'll feed from are Tripps. The other mags I have (Shooting Star, Metalform, Baer) literally won't feed at all, FTF on every round. The springs are just too soft. It seems that the stiffer the mag spring, the better, probably because of the super-fast cycle time. The 7-round officer-length Kimpros have the stiffest springs I've yet come across, stiffer even that the Tripps.
Both my 3" Kimber and the other two friends of mine own work great... provided you have the right mags. They're very very finicky about what they like to feed from. My friend's likes Novaks, and will feed great from the 8 rounders. Mine like Kimpro's, but the only 8s they'll feed from are Tripps. The other mags I have (Shooting Star, Metalform, Baer) literally won't feed at all, FTF on every round. The springs are just too soft. It seems that the stiffer the mag spring, the better, probably because of the super-fast cycle time. The 7-round officer-length Kimpros have the stiffest springs I've yet come across, stiffer even that the Tripps.
I tried to induce a "limp-wrist" malfunction with my Citadel (3.5") and couldn't. If something at Kimber's price-point is susceptible to limp-wristing malfunctions that would be highly amusing.
Love my Ultra CDPII...the gun is way more accurate than I am...I have had zero problems with prolly close to 1000 down the pipe...
I have a couple Kimbers, full size however, as usual there is this stigma about Kimber quality.
"You must have had GOOD LUCK..." This is a glass is half full/half empty scenario. He hasn't had good luck he just hasn't had any bad luck or knows how to inspect a weapon before he buys it.
I'd call it good luck if scored any of these at a great price.
My uncle has carried an Ultra CDP for years. He hikes in the wild ALLOT and has had reason to skin that short iron in defense from natures will. He tell the story of the day the weapon should NOT have worked yet it did and lived to tell the story.
quickly: He was hiking along a this river in WA state and the rain came, as it always does in Western WA. The river started to swell but he needed to cross it to reach a fav camp site. He took a spill during the crossing and was washed about a quarter mile down river before he could stop. When he stepped out of the water, furious and being loud about it, he came face to face with a very thin yet very long cougar, he says the animal was about 20 feet away. The Kimber went bang the cougar scurried off.
I'd say that Kimber did its job that day. He has also had run in's with bears where his lil Kimber came in handy.
Well, I broke down today, and couldn't stand it any longer, so I went in to the gun shop and finished paying for my Kimber Tatictal Ultra II, and took it home, today.
Before I asked them to go get mine, I seen another one just like it on display. So, I asked to see it. I wanted to compare it to the one I had picked out. The one I had prevously picked out was probably fine, but did have a slightly rougher trigger then I would have preferred. When I examined the new one on display, I noticed that it seemed to have a little slicker action to the slide when I pulled it back, and definately had a much better trigger.
So, I asked for that one instead, and I was darned glad I did. They sold it to me instead of the one I picked out.
I live in the country, so of course I immediately grabbed some ear plugs and some 200 gr semi-wadcutters, and a second Wilson Maggazine and went outside to try it out.
Now, I got to tell you, that I am pretty picky and hard to please on guns, and anyone who has read my posts over the years on lots of different message boards can probably confirm that I am not bashful about bitching if a gun isn't up to snuff, or gives problems for any reason.
Anyway, all I can say is I am delighted with this little stubby 1911. Maybe I was lucky today, as I have certainally had my share of bad luck over the years on gun purchases, but this one is about as perfect as an off the shelf production gun could be, well close, anyway.
I know it's not much of a test, but I shot about 8 magazines through it, without a bobble of any kind. I couldn't make it jam, I even limp wristed it, and it never missed a beat. The sights are dead on, at 7 to 15yds anyway, granted I was only shooting at a couple of coke cans, but I almost never missed one, no matter how I held the gun, one handed, two handed, I even tried a couple of draws from the leather, in condition 3, where I would rack the slide on the draw, and fire on the follow through.
I know this isn't much of a test, but since I didn't get a single malfuction of any kind, I am pretty confident it will continue to serve me well, if I maintain it half way right. Also another thing I look for is how consistant the gun throws the emptys, and I was also happy to find most all of the brass in a very small consistant area, from where I was standing, while shooting.
Bottom line is I am sure glad I swiched guns at the shop, although it might not have mattered, and the other thing is, this just maybe the first 1911 I have ever bought, That I may not change a single thing on, unless it was just the grips or something.
Before I asked them to go get mine, I seen another one just like it on display. So, I asked to see it. I wanted to compare it to the one I had picked out. The one I had prevously picked out was probably fine, but did have a slightly rougher trigger then I would have preferred. When I examined the new one on display, I noticed that it seemed to have a little slicker action to the slide when I pulled it back, and definately had a much better trigger.
So, I asked for that one instead, and I was darned glad I did. They sold it to me instead of the one I picked out.
I live in the country, so of course I immediately grabbed some ear plugs and some 200 gr semi-wadcutters, and a second Wilson Maggazine and went outside to try it out.
Now, I got to tell you, that I am pretty picky and hard to please on guns, and anyone who has read my posts over the years on lots of different message boards can probably confirm that I am not bashful about bitching if a gun isn't up to snuff, or gives problems for any reason.
Anyway, all I can say is I am delighted with this little stubby 1911. Maybe I was lucky today, as I have certainally had my share of bad luck over the years on gun purchases, but this one is about as perfect as an off the shelf production gun could be, well close, anyway.
I know it's not much of a test, but I shot about 8 magazines through it, without a bobble of any kind. I couldn't make it jam, I even limp wristed it, and it never missed a beat. The sights are dead on, at 7 to 15yds anyway, granted I was only shooting at a couple of coke cans, but I almost never missed one, no matter how I held the gun, one handed, two handed, I even tried a couple of draws from the leather, in condition 3, where I would rack the slide on the draw, and fire on the follow through.
I know this isn't much of a test, but since I didn't get a single malfuction of any kind, I am pretty confident it will continue to serve me well, if I maintain it half way right. Also another thing I look for is how consistant the gun throws the emptys, and I was also happy to find most all of the brass in a very small consistant area, from where I was standing, while shooting.
Bottom line is I am sure glad I swiched guns at the shop, although it might not have mattered, and the other thing is, this just maybe the first 1911 I have ever bought, That I may not change a single thing on, unless it was just the grips or something.
Good to hear lastmohecken. It is very satisfying to end up happy after dropping several hundred $ on something. There seem to be alot of Kimber bashers on the net but funny thing is that I have never met a single soul in person that has ever had a bad thing to say about their own Kimber.
Well, of the four we have owned (two Stainless Ultra Carrys and two Ultra CDPs) all four have been perfect so far.
That's why we keep buying them...
That's why we keep buying them...
steven58
Member
After living with a Glock 19 for 7 years that was very sensitive to "limp wristing" and would jam or at least eject in my face if I was not locked in. I tried to induce this problem in my 3" Kimber by holding the pistol with my arm bent and loose as possible and pulling my arm back as the shot broke. Did it 20 times in a row, some were double and triple taps. No luck, the pistol would not jam.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
