Getting work done on a 3" Kimber?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Getting work done on a 3" Kimber?

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:54:58 AM EDT

Any idea what it might cost to have a good smith make an aluminum frame 3" kimber more reliable by replacing critical MIM parts and doing other required relaibility work? I have one that doesn't inspire much confidence as it has failed to function many times, and broken twice in 3,000 rounds.

Posted: 9/18/2005 4:48:40 PM EDT

[#1]

One of these Guys should be able to help you out

Posted: 9/18/2005 6:05:53 PM EDT

[#2]

Yup, I've been going through the list over the last few days. I guess I asked the wrong question. What I meant to ask was, what parts do I need to have replaced and what work do I need to have done to make my Kimber reliable?

Posted: 9/19/2005 10:15:31 AM EDT

[#3]

What is breaking?
Lemme guess, slide stop?
Replace the slide stop with one of these:
Wilson Bullet Proof
Easy, you can do it yourself.
Get some of these:
Wilson Mags
Load 'em up and shoot.
I'd do the above before sending it to a 'smith, unless you want a trigger job too.
Reliability should not be a problem with a good slide stop and good magazines.

Posted: 9/19/2005 11:19:56 AM EDT

[#4]

Slide stop hasn't broken yet. So far, the ejector and the mag release have been the culprits. I swapped out to Wolff magazine springs to see if that would improve the feeding problems, but I don't have enough time on the new springs to know if they made a difference.

I've heard good things about the WIlson mags, I'll give a couple a try.

Posted: 9/20/2005 5:36:28 AM EDT

[#5]

I didn't realize that Kimber had gone to all MIM parts.
Basically, for whatever you paid you got a frame and slide, barrel and sights.
Replace everything else with quality aftermarket, Ed Brown, Chip McCormick, Wilson etc.
Then you'll have a gun.
Make sure to thank Kimber for the low prices...

Posted: 9/21/2005 12:07:26 PM EDT

[#6]

CT Brian is the Master of the 3" 1911. That is the man for the job.

[email protected]

Posted: 9/21/2005 12:16:04 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
CT Brian is the Master of the 3" 1911. That is the man for the job.

[email protected]

Posted: 9/21/2005 1:20:59 PM EDT

[#8]

C.T. Brian Custom 1911

Incredible work...

Posted: 9/21/2005 1:46:15 PM EDT

[#9]

Yup, CT Brian does beautiful work.

Uh, anyone but me noticed his work is a bit on the pricy side? I don't doubt for a moment that it's worth every penny, I just don't have that many pennies....

Posted: 9/21/2005 1:55:58 PM EDT

[#10]

CT Brian is good with the small ones. Otherwise I would send the gun back to Kimber for a slide stretch.

Posted: 9/21/2005 9:41:05 PM EDT

[#11]

Check out Marc Morganti at geminicustoms.com. He does some of the best custom 1911 work on the planet.

Posted: 9/22/2005 11:47:16 AM EDT

[#12]

I have a Kimber Satinless Ultra Carry (Officers model) with about 10k rounds thru it. No real problems to speak of. I did tune the extractor and polished the feed ramp to ensure reliability and put a new trigger in. No problems now. I shoot it in IDPA matches from time to time.

Most of the work on the 1911 is easy enough to do on your own. If you are having feeding problems, polish the feed ramp and use good quality mags (wilson), not just new springs.

D

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:34:42 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Most of the work on the 1911 is easy enough to do on your own. If you are having feeding problems, polish the feed ramp and use good quality mags (wilson), not just new springs.

D

That's an appealing idea. I just happen to have a really cheap 1911 that is also having some feed problems, and I'd love to try my hand at polishing the feed ramp on it. Any idea where to go to get specific instruction on what to do?

Posted: 9/24/2005 3:18:37 PM EDT

[#14]

I was haveing FTF issues with my recently aquired Para Warthog. I ended up replaceing the mag springs with ones from Wolff and it made all the difference. I then decided to polish the feedramp and it made it even more reliable. My feed ramp now looks like a mirror. I used some super fine paper to start it and then used the dremel , a 1/2" felt polishing pad and some jewlers paste and it now shines. Put a few rounds thru her today and she runs like a top...

Posted: 9/24/2005 5:14:57 PM EDT

[#15]

Wilson mags are tops. A little pricy but you're paying for reliability.
In other mags, the followers are often the problem, not the springs.
I've got two Springfields(Full size and compact) and neither will feed the extra capacity C. McCormick mags reliabily but I replaced the followers with some out of some old Springfield mags I had. I can't get the extra round in the mags now but they cycle without a glitch.
I don't remember ever having a problem with the extra cap Wilson mags.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Getting work done on a 3" Kimber?

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