Kimber 3" 1911 Jamming problems...

[johndoe1027]

I think Old Dog hit the nail on the head.

FWIW My GI 5" (all steel) is on the way as of this afternoon! Woopee! Couldn't afford a Colt this time around but I wanted something cheap to tinker with anyway. I'm looking to learn a lot of the skills that Old Dog mentioned. I kind of hope this one isn't perfect so I can learn more about them and be more proud of it once it does run perfectly.

I ran my Tac Ultra in a Ipsc Match last night and did very well (considering I was competing against guys with a 1 lb heavier gun and a 2" longer sight radius). Haven't got the official results yet though. Only hiccup was a screw loose between the trigger and the floor (didn't get the mag seated all the way) :banghead:

 

[Geno]

It isn't by accident that most Colts are full-size. I have read on several sites that Colt believed that the shortest, fully-reliable length for a 1911 is 4.25" as in Commander. I have heard precious-little good about any 3" 1911, including Colt's Defender. I have owned 3", 4" and 5" 1911s. The 5" have consistently been most reliable.

For what it's worth, your 3" Kimber is more reliable than my Kimber Ultra Eclipse..it jammed on average 70% to 80% of the rounds fired. Seriously! Then, it kaboomed. No great shocker.

 

[johndoe1027]

Yikes, sorry to hear about your Kimber. I hope mine continues to hold up. If not, I'll go to one of the "Compact" Kimber offerings (4" bbl w/ officer frame).

Again, thats what I was going to order before I stumbled upon a super bargain on the Tac Ultra.

 

[Geno]

For what it's worth, if you dead-set on Kimber, check the Pro TLE. I can't say I would buy it; I wouldn't. But, as I said, if you're set on Kimber. I personally suggest the Colt Commander.

 

[springmom]

Sorry to hear of your problems. I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II that has never once failed to feed/fire/eject/whatever. I use Kimber mags, not Wilson, too. Hope the gunsmith or Kimber can straighten this out for you.

Springmom

 

[MJZZZ]

When I first bought my Ultra CDP II it was a very finicky gun, after 1100 rounds I sent it back to Kimber (Dennis). They fixed 6 issues and since I got it back it has been a reliable shooter. Kimber paid shipping both ways, they do sometimes. Don't give up on it, it can be made reliable. The smaller guns have strict timing tolerances and the action needs to be smooth. Mike

 

[johndoe1027]

For what it's worth, if you dead-set on Kimber, check the Pro TLE. I can't say I would buy it; I wouldn't. But, as I said, if you're set on Kimber. I personally suggest the Colt Commander.

I'm not dead set on Kimber (wasn't even considering one actually) but they are the only company currently offering officer frames with a 4" barrel. I can't conceal a full size grip. Then I found this ultra at a smoking price so I ended up with the 3".

 

[AK103K]

"where are the threads and posts complaining about the older commercial Colt's and USGI 1911A1?" Since most of these have been around for a long time are older and have been used more, shouldn't there be more unhappy campers among their owners?"

I tend to agree here. I've had a lot of Colts (GM's and Commanders) and quite a few "other" 1911's, and the Colts rarely, if ever had any problems, where the others tended to be problematic. The problem with anything that isnt Colt or GI is the specs. They may look like a 1911, but thats about it. Springfield is especially bad here.

I had a Kimber Ultra Carry that fit into the problematic category. While it was accurate and pretty, it wasnt reliable. It had the problems of frame wear with the factory mags, and the Wilsons, while solving that problem, did nothing for the reliability. Changing the recoil springs (multiple times) seemed to help at first, but it quickly returned to working when it wanted to, and rarely made it through a full mag without some sort of stoppage.

I can't conceal a full size grip.

Just curious, but why not? I've carried them all, and there is really very little difference between them.

Here's a Colt GM, Commander, and the Ultra Carry on top of each other. See what I mean?

 

[kashton]

Dang, this is not looking good for me. Should I just sell the 3" and buy a nice 1911 that won't jam? Is Kimber a bad brand? I mean, from the comments I've been getting I'm getting a negative vibe... If Kimber isn't a good brand to trust my life with, what is?

 

[MassMark]

Kashton - I wish I had read this thread before I replied to your PM. In my book, (take it with a grain of salt), you're well within the break-in period for this gun. If a trip back to Kimber does not do it - nothing will. I used to believe that the Ultra Carry was the "Holy Grail" of compact 1911's - could I have been wrong? I carried a Colt Defender for years and had thousands of rounds through it before it began having problems. Two trips to Colt did not remedy it, so off it went. I went with a Para Ordinance 6.45 LDA and haven't looked back since. I followed advice from other owners adn broke my Para in with a steady diet of 230gr hardball, (about 250 rounds), before I tried anything exotic. Since then, the gun runs like a top! It's as smooth as butter and gobbles up everything I feed it, (though now it's strictly Remington Golden Sabre 185's for carry and Winchester 185 FMJ for practice).

I'm sure you already know this, but I would be remiss if I didn;t say: Do not carry this weapon anywhere any time, until you're 100% that it's 100%. Stick to your 642 for now until you get this cleared up....

 

[Alphazulu6]

Sounds like it needs to be broke in a little more. Other than the techniques of the user you may have to call Kimber and see what they have to say.

 

[gudel]

did you send the gun back and get it fixed yet?

 

[kashton]

Alphazulu6 -- I've already put over 500 rounds through it with 230 grain FMJ (mostly white box)

gudel -- It's still at the gunsmith as far as I know.

 

[glockman19]

kashton,

Your Kimber 3" is a good gun made by a good and reputible company. Wait until it comes back from the smith and see how she shoots. If you're still not happy then by all means request your money back and get something else.

 

[Ala Dan]

Calling All 1911 Fans

Listen folks very carefully-

If you missed the concept that some 1911's have issues initially from
the start, you have missed the boat completely. Its highly unlikely that any
(including the high dollar custom jobs) will run like they are suppose to; the
first time out. These things take tweaking, some more than others in order
to get them too run the way they should. If you don't have the patience
to put up with these kind's of issues; then perhaps you need to invest in
a GLOCK~!

 

[johndoe1027]

Quote:
I can't conceal a full size grip.
Just curious, but why not? I've carried them all, and there is really very little difference between them.

Mainly because I carry at 3:00 IWB and I am 180 lbs @ 5'11". Either the bottom of the grip or the rear sight is poking out of the shirt. The officers grip just barely hides enough. I carry with a cant.

Something that doesn't show up in your pic is the difference in grip length. That is what I can't hide. I'd buy a 5"bbl with a officer grip if anyone made one.

One day I'd like to have a CDP compact. 4" barrel for a better sight radius but with the short grip that hides better for me. I saved about $250 by going ahead and getting the Ultra though. And I got it right then, no waiting, no tax... Or maybe I'll keep my peeled for a Colt CCO. Not holding my breath though.

 

[Old Fuff]

Something that doesn't show up in your pic is the difference in grip length. That is what I can't hide. I'd buy a 5"bbl with a officer grip if anyone made one.

Detonics USA do, or did. At the moment their website seems to be going through some renovations and isn't available. However I understand that guns are in the hands of distributors. Do a search.

 

[Ken Rainey]

Yep, it sure is aggravatin' to buy a pistol and it not function as it should. However, it probably just needs a few "finishing" touches done to it (that should've been done at the factory ) and it'll run fine.

My Ultra Eclipse had some issues: extractor needed adjustment & tuning, firing pin stop was too small letting the extractor clock, barrel throat had a sharp edge that would catch the mouth of the brass and the slide lock needed dressing back so that loaded rds wouldn't engage it during firing....just glad I knew what to look for so I didn't have to send it to the factory to get fixed - although I have faith that they would. If the smith looking at it knows something about 1911's, more than likely he can get it runnin' right for ya....

BTW, a nice rep from the factory told me that they used American Eagle ball ammo to test with......I've been using WWB 230 ball to practice with and carrying Winchester Silvertips, although with the short barrel, I may just stick with ball ammo for both.

Luck to ya

 

[AK103K]

Something that doesn't show up in your pic is the difference in grip length. That is what I can't hide. I'd buy a 5"bbl with a officer grip if anyone made one.

The difference in grip length is basically nothing, maybe 1/2". I'm 5-6, 160 and I have carried IWB at about 4 o'clock daily for over 30 years now, most of that with 1911's. Never had any issues hiding any size 1911, or any other full size handgun for that matter. I now carry SIG's, mostly a P229, but also a P220 or P226 on occasion. I think your either worrying to much about it, dont have a proper holster and belt, are not dressing around the gun, or all of the above. I've always found it just as easy to carry a full size gun as a smaller one, and the full size guns are easier to shoot well with and a lot more reliable.

My old Commander in its Blade Tech IWB. Theres a double reload on the other side you cant see. This easily conceals under an untucked oxford type shirt or a light sweatshirt, etc.

If you missed the concept that some 1911's have issues initially from
the start, you have missed the boat completely. Its highly unlikely that any
(including the high dollar custom jobs) will run like they are suppose to; the
first time out. These things take tweaking, some more than others in order
to get them too run the way they should. If you don't have the patience
to put up with these kind's of issues; then perhaps you need to invest in
a GLOCK~!

This would be correct if the 1911 you have doesnt have a "Prancing Pony" on it. Otherwise, NOPE!

Truthfully, the Colts (and GI guns) always worked out of the box for me. Some of the older ones needed a little help to feed all bullet types, but that was usually an easy fix, the newer ones took care of the T&P issues. Like I said, I've owned a LOT of different 1911's, but the only ones I trusted to carry were my Colts. I tried the Glocks, didnt work out. I'm one of the few that had BAD problems with one, so their time in the holster were short lived.


One issue that kind of bugs me about "break in" with the Kimbers, and others that use different than standard springs that have a shorter life is, by the time you get them broke in, its time to swap the springs again and start all over, so you never quite get there. My Ultra Carry did work better with new springs, but that didnt last long, and was no where near where Kimber said they should changed.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you missed the concept that some 1911's have issues initially from
the start, you have missed the boat completely. Its highly unlikely that any
(including the high dollar custom jobs) will run like they are suppose to; the
first time out. These things take tweaking, some more than others in order
to get them too run the way they should. If you don't have the patience
to put up with these kind's of issues; then perhaps you need to invest in
a GLOCK~!

Probably true if you are refering to most of the stuff that's being marketed today. But during both World War One and Two, Colt and other contractors built literally hundreds-of-thousands of 1911 and 1911A1 pistols that didn't require any tweeking, other then that done by the final assemblers.

Additionally Uncle Sam didn't have to waste valuable ammunition shooting 200 or more rounds through each gun to get it to function. Up until the middle-1960's no one ever bothered to "break in" a service pistol - because it wasn't necessary too do so. No one had to have any patience with "issues," because it was very seldom there were any.

If wartime contractors could turn out consistantly reliable pistols, why can today's so-called makers do the same?

If it requires tweeking and breaking in, it ain't a weapon - it's a toy, and a poor one at that. :banghead:

 

[kmtirish]

Love My Kimber

im sorry u are having trouble with your kimber i love mine and the only thing ive done to it after about 3000+ rounds the only thing that i have done to it was install the "shock-buff" system it seams to help with the recoil but i think in all those rounds i have only had 1 jam (stovepipe due to limp wrist) but the guys at the gun club seem to shy away from kimbers due to "jamming" and frankley it kinda hurts my guns feelings....lol

 

[Cousin Mike]

Much respect to the Old Fuff...

...and Ala Dan, and the many others who know much more about the 1911 platform than I could ever hope to.

But the 1911 guys seem a little split when it comes to the reliability thing.

I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but in my honest-to-Gods experience, I've seen more Glocks jam at the range than 1911s. The two I've owned have been 99.98% and 100%, right out of the box (respectively)... and my first 1911 was (to be blunt) a cheap POS, but it ran.

I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think I'm THAT lucky. The more 1911s I get to shoot, the more I start to think that they're generally reliable weapons.

 

[targatop]

JohnDoe, how do the Kimber mags damage the alloy gun? I have two Kimber mags for my Kimber Ultra CDP II and they seem to work just fine.

 

[AK103K]

My original Kimber mags had a metal follower, which started wearing a groove in the feed ramp of the aluminum frame. I ordered a couple of Wilson mags, and Wilson follower's for the factory mags and the problem went away.

 

[Old Fuff]

The more 1911s I get to shoot, the more I start to think that they're generally reliable weapons.

Well I’m glad that some owners are satisfied….

But that doesn’t explain the endless parade of threads and posts from others who have bought guns (and often expensive ones) that don’t work – at least out of the box. Their supporters come up with more excuses than a politician running for reelection, and even go so far as to suggest that new buyers have no right to expect their recent purchases to function before going through a long ritual of tweaking and test firing to get their toy broken in.

There are numerous suggestions about what magazine to use, what and where to polish this or that, and what weight recoil spring will make the difference. Meanwhile no one comes forward to explain how government contractors in the middle of a war could turn out pistols that became legendary for their reliability, and yet require none of the monkey business now considered standard and required procedure by those poor folks that continue to lay their money down for a half-finished product.

In the automobile biz such products are called “lemons,” and there is even a federal law to help consumers seeking redress.

Unfortunately, gun buyers aren’t so lucky…