What's the deal with Kimber?

I know that no two experiences are 100% the same, but I've heard a few people tell me NOT to get the Pro Carry II that I was looking at. They suggested to get a SA instead. While some people rave by Kimber, do you happen to know of any typical issues that people have with Kimber 1911's?

Thanks!

Between the Springfield and the Kimber in 4 inch guns I'd go with the Kimber. Both Guns have features I don't care for. One being 4" bull barreled bushingless guns.

Both require a higher degree a maintenance to keep running properly than does a 4 1/4" or 5" gun.

Recoil springs for example have a 5-600 round service life vs. 2-3000 round service life of the larger guns.

If you love feed issues go with the Kimber. =)

I have an Eclipse Pro. Never had a feed issue.

i have a crimson pro kimber and i love it. the cs is great to i sent it out for minor adjustments not having to do with feed issues and they were great.

Sounds like a GD post, not worthy of a tech forum. While I'm no fan of the 4" guns due to the amount of maintenance to keep them running the couple of Kimber 4" guns I've owned never gave me feed issues with proper recoil spring replacement.

Of course if you don't replace the recoil spring in either platform at the proper point they will suffer performance issues.

get the kimber.make sure you break it in properly and you won't have a problem

i have had 4 kimbers over the last 10 years. never an issue with any of them.

My Target 5" and Compact 4" have run flawless. Wollf recoil springs are the best way to go IMO for the 4". The Kimber 4" factory spring sucks.

STI

I carried a Pro Carry II for nearly 5 years and fired over 2300 rds thru it. I had exactly 2 misfeeds at about 450 rds and nothing more since then. I used Wilson 47D mags and they worked 100% in the Pro Carry. I had to sell it to help pay some of my wifes medical bills.

I now have a STI Ranger II in 45ACP and it's a great gun also. But I will have another Kimber at some point, no question about it.

I have several kimbers. In the Ultras, Pros, and full size. I have them in .45 and 9mm and have 1000's of rounds down them all. No issues what so ever on them. But I do change the springs out like you are suppose to and I do keep them clean. I love the kimbers..

I have three Kimbers (oldest is 9 years old) and two SA no problems outta any of them

Every quality pistol I have owned needed some break-in to run smooth except for my Glocks.
Polish feed ramps to speed up break-in or buy Wilson Combat mags if you don't want to take the time
to properly break them in...........

Also watch out for limp wristing, Choke the mother

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I've come to realize the reason you see so many Kimber complaints is the main reason people come to the web about a weapon is because they had an issue. And if they had an issue, they like to drum it into the ground.
My Kimber Eclipse has been absolutely 100 % since the day I bought it. It has fed every ball and Hollow Point I have tried.
Best shooting 1911 I have personally ever owned.
Kimber customer service replaced the night sights after 10 years no questions asked.

I have Colt, Springfield, Kimber and Rock Island.
The RI and Springfield took some work to get them right.

YES, the same issue's that can occur with any 1911. Just now with the internet you hear more about the problem's. Since Kimber sale's more 1911's than anyone your chance's are higher of hearing negative issue's. The public tend's to Rant more than Rave.

I have two Kimbers...one is amazing..the other was a problem to get it right.

The MAIN reason why I see people (including myself) complain about Kimber...was HOW THEY handled issues or problems.

I understand that anything mechanical in nature can and will have issues....most people are patient and willing to work through issues with the manufacturer of the product. Unless you dealt with Dennis at Kimber and all his bull shit excuses / blame game....you have no idea how bad Kimber could be to deal with. The common approach from Dennis was as follows:

1. It is your fault...you must be gripping the gun wrong.
2. Break it in for 400-800 rounds. Unless you have done that...then we can't help you.
3. It must be the ammo.
4. Kimber is the leader...we don't make bad guns. It must be your fault.

He could be maddening to deal with. THANK GOD...a buddy of mine was on DET1 and knew the military sales guru at Kimber....HE made it right....Dennis can suck my balls.

People got ticked at Dennis at Kimber mainly. I still recall the Kimber forum...(long since taken down - where EVERYONE had horror stories about Dennis. Kimber would have immediately improved their reputation if they simply fired Dennis.

My CDP Compact is beautiful....works all the time. My first year of issue Pro Eclipse II (fixed by Kimber) is now reliable....did not start that way however. It took Kimber 2 YEARS to resolve it.

I have had good luck with Kimbers and bad luck. I have also bad good luck and bad luck with Springfield. I prefer the Kimber, but when it comes to CS, Springfield def. has better customer service in my experience.

I have a Kimber Stainless Gold Match that has been outstanding - one small problem (broken rear site blade) and their CS was also oustanding and crazy-fast to fix it.

My Ultra CDP II has been flawless and seems to like every kind of ammo I stick in it.
Clint

I've spoken to Dennis Madonia several times and sent a couple of Kimbers back to him for work. Every time I had a conversation with him he was polite and profession. And they fixed the issue I had w/the Kimber. And they called me as they were shipping the weapon back to tell me what they'd done to it. But I never copped an attitude with him.

Not sure about the 4" models but my experience with my 2 Kimbers, an Eclipse 5" and a UCII 3" have been great. 100% reliability since the first day using 230gr ammo in ball or
HP from various manufactures.

The only problem that I've had was with a mainspring housing. After about 500 rds- it broke and puked the spring out and into my hand. I should have replaced it at the beginning anyway.

I have a Pro Tactical 11 and have had no issues whatsoever. 4" barrel

Bought my Pro Carry II in 2001. Never changed the springs. Never had any issue.

I carried a CDP Pro for years. Wish I'd never have sold it. sniffle, sniffle....

no problems here with any of my Kimbers

I have a tactical ultra II. It had ONE feeding jam, which I attribute to my limp wrist from firing a hotter ammo for the first time. The remainder of my problems is the occasional ugly habit of bouncing empties onto my head or into my face. When you shoot a Kimber, wear a baseball cap

out of the 3 kimbers that i have owned ( still have 2 ), the only issues were FTF/FTE when they were new and breaking in. after 200 rounds or so, they all ran fine. as with any 1911, use a good mag. the one annoying thing is, for some reason with the raptor, i will get a "wake up " shell to the forehead every now and again.

My main carry weapon is my Pro CDP II.

It had a "break in" period. (premature slide lock) after several hundred rnds the issue went away and has been flawless for over 2K rnds. I have changed the recoil spring.

I had a Kimber Crimson Carry and it only took my very first time at the range to DESPISE that gun with an eye-bleeding passion. I was kicking myself for paying nearly $900 for that thing.

Nothing worse than an unreliable gun.

Well there is one thing worse; that's listening to the predictable horseshit from fanboys and the shop that sold it to me.

- You're using the wrong magazines

- You're holding it wrong

- You're using the wrong ammo

- You haven't fired the REQUIRED 500 rounds through it

- You have tinkered with the springs and other innards enough yet

- You haven't hit it with a dremmel tool

- You haven't polished the feed ramps

- You need a good gunsmith

It's your fault blah, blah blah blah.

I'm freaking estatic that that useless POS is out of my house forever.

450 flawless rounds and love every time I shoot it. My EDC

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