 Dingo1890
Muhgz yo
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Joined: Jun 2010  VA, USA
 Posts: 122 Feedback: 0% (0) |
Posted: 3/8/2012 11:53:50 AM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I bought my Kimber TLE/RL 5 inch black .45 for around 1150. I was really excited to shoot it, I took it to the range the second day I had it with 180 grain American Eagle BS range ammo. Loaded up the factory kimber mag and got through it with no problems. 2nd mag: 4 hits FTE, 2 hits FTE 1 hit. Dissambled in the booth; cleaned inspected mag everything seemed normal. 3rd mag 5 hits, 1 FTE, hit. and so on... with one or two FTE for each mag for 200 rounds. I wanted to take the gun and smash it with a hammer. Went back to the gun store after ARF'ing and researching... bought 2 wilson combat 8 round mags and QUALITY 230 grain full ball ammo. Went to the range with 200 more rounds. Every.single.one.fired.flawlessly, no problems. I was really surprised that these weapons are so picky but it makes sense. You need good quality ammo for the spent cases to cycle out of the weapon. If you have a low explosive charge your slide and extractor are not going to operate as they should and the extractor will miss. I'd like to be able to fire anything I would want out of it like my glock or sig but this is not the case with my kimber... she needs quality ammo. Just some insight ... |
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backbencher
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Joined: Nov 2005 TX, USA
Posts: 978 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/8/2012 5:28:30 PM
bb <––- scratches head
You spent $1150 on a pistol & it won't shoot Federal? So then you went & bought two more mags, & are happy it shoots FMJ? I'm not surprised that my old AR-7 won't cycle, & that my $300? Kel-Tec SUB 2000 is picky, but $1150 & it won't shoot common store ammo from Federal? Is this a damning w/ faint praise thread? Gig 'em, backbencher |
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cms81586
Need More Guns...
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Joined: Feb 2001 AZ, USA
Posts: 7477 Feedback: 100% (41) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/8/2012 6:39:05 PM
[Last Edit: 3/8/2012 6:40:17 PM by cms81586]
Sounds like you need to have someone tune your extractor a bit thats all. Mags should have little to do with FTExtract/eject and a bunch to do with FTFeed. My guess is that slight tolerance differences in your factory mag and the WC mags are allowing it to function better, but I'd work a bit more on diagnosing the real issue. Either extractor tension, a recoil spring, or both.
CMS ETA: I see that you said FTF at the top of your thread...so it could have been a bad mag you got from Kimber. If the WC mags prove to be reliable with all ammo (Ball and JHP's), I'd simply call Kimber and request that they send you a new factory mag. |
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Posted: 4/15/2012 2:37:48 PM
truly it is the mags that either make these guns run or fail. I have two Kimbers, A warrior and ultra raptor. I only use Wilson mags. The Kimber brand mags are ok and will generally run but but Wilson Combat mags will make it reliable. I never have a single issue if I use them. Also make sure your recoil spring is good to go. If its weak that can cause an issue. I run a Wilson 18.5 lb spring for reliability. I have run my Warrior for over a thousand rounds with out a cleaning or failure at training classes.
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Posted: 4/21/2012 1:38:15 AM
Originally Posted By Dingo1890:
You hear alot of criticism about these guns and the FTF/FTE problems. Let me give you some insight to how I went from wanting to chuck mine in the trash to making it my EDC. I bought my Kimber TLE/RL 5 inch black .45 for around 1150. I was really excited to shoot it, I took it to the range the second day I had it with 180 grain American Eagle BS range ammo. Loaded up the factory kimber mag and got through it with no problems. 2nd mag: 4 hits FTE, 2 hits FTE 1 hit. Dissambled in the booth; cleaned inspected mag everything seemed normal. 3rd mag 5 hits, 1 FTE, hit. and so on... with one or two FTE for each mag for 200 rounds. I wanted to take the gun and smash it with a hammer. Went back to the gun store after ARF'ing and researching... bought 2 wilson combat 8 round mags and QUALITY 230 grain full ball ammo. Went to the range with 200 more rounds. Every.single.one.fired.flawlessly, no problems. I was really surprised that these weapons are so picky but it makes sense. You need good quality ammo for the spent cases to cycle out of the weapon. If you have a low explosive charge your slide and extractor are not going to operate as they should and the extractor will miss. I'd like to be able to fire anything I would want out of it like my glock or sig but this is not the case with my kimber... she needs quality ammo. Just some insight ... What's the 180gr AE ammo? A Kimber 1911 that runs with good 230gr ammo and quality mags is common place. Otherwise, not so much. |
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