Posted: 12/19/2008 11:10:27 AM EDT
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I bought a Kimber Eclipse Ultra (3" barrel) locally and took it out for the first time today. The gun was said to have ~1000 rds through it. I was having some issues today where it occasionally wouldn't chamber a round properly. I put 150 rounds through it and this probably happened 15 times. Sometimes on the first round in the mag, sometimes in the middle. The previous owner said it's probably time to think about replacing the springs (since you have to replace them more often in these anyway), so I'm wondering if this issue could be caused by a weak recoil spring? I'm using the factory Kimber 7 round mag. I also experienced the issue using a Wilson Combat 8 round mag for full size 1911, so at this point I'm thinking it's not a mag problem.
I'd like this to be my carry gun, but not until it's running 100%. Here's a very bad mspaint diagram 
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I bought a Kimber Eclipse Ultra (3" barrel) locally and took it out for the first time today. The gun was said to have ~1000 rds through it. I was having some issues today where it occasionally wouldn't chamber a round properly. I put 150 rounds through it and this probably happened 15 times. Sometimes on the first round in the mag, sometimes in the middle. The previous owner said it's probably time to think about replacing the springs (since you have to replace them more often in these anyway), so I'm wondering if this issue could be caused by a weak recoil spring? I'm using the factory Kimber 7 round mag. I also experienced the issue using a Wilson Combat 8 round mag for full size 1911, so at this point I'm thinking it's not a mag problem. I'd like this to be my carry gun, but not until it's running 100%. Here's a very bad mspaint diagram http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/evo4620/1911.jpg Take it apart, see if it has one of those Wilson Combat spring buffers( little black or blue rubber on guide rod) Remove and reassemble, those buffers work good in 5" gov profile 1911s but can cause feeding issues in shorter barrels. This may not be the case, clean and lube well, what type of ammo are you using? |
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I have a Kimber. This exact feed problem happened to me.
Sent back to Kimber, not fixed. Several shops looked at it, no fix. Finally, went to a guy who worked on the internal extractor, filed off some of it, changed the tension (bent it) and it appears to work fine now. But this gun will have to go a while before I would trust it as a carry weapon (which is why I bought it). |
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I'd get rid of it, if you send it back to kimber the chances of them fixing it are slim.
You'll probably have to take it to an actual smith to fix it and even if they did, who wants a gun that's THAT sensitive? I had 2 different kimbers and kimber could never get them to run right. |
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Polish the throat and chamber.
Check magazine clearance, especially if you have an extended ejector. (sometimes the mag lips allow the cartridge to rub on the underside of the ejector and slow the slide chambering action) Install an Aftec extractor. (I just ordered a couple after reading reviews –– apparently they never fail) http://www.brazoscustom.com/magart/ejection%20perfection.htm |
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The guy I bought it from said it ran fine while he had it. I have no reason to believe otherwise. I'll try the springs and go from there. Obviously not. It's not like someone is going to say "ya I couldn't get it to run right" when they dump it off on someone. |
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Meh...whatever. He has a VM2 on order for it that should be here any time, I doubt he'd decide to carry it if it didn't run right.
But I digress...I ordered the Wolff spring kit. a 20lb and 24lb recoil spring, new firing pin spring, and hammer spring. $17 shipped. |
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Meh...whatever. He has a VM2 on order for it that should be here any time, I doubt he'd decide to carry it if it didn't run right. But I digress...I ordered the Wolff spring kit. a 20lb and 24lb recoil spring, new firing pin spring, and hammer spring. $17 shipped. Better order up some ammo also, cause people are going to tell you to "let it break in" if you replace those things and it still doesn't work(which is highly likely). |
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I bought a Kimber Eclipse Ultra (3" barrel) locally and took it out for the first time today. The gun was said to have ~1000 rds through it. I was having some issues today where it occasionally wouldn't chamber a round properly. I put 150 rounds through it and this probably happened 15 times. Sometimes on the first round in the mag, sometimes in the middle. The previous owner said it's probably time to think about replacing the springs (since you have to replace them more often in these anyway), so I'm wondering if this issue could be caused by a weak recoil spring? I'm using the factory Kimber 7 round mag. I also experienced the issue using a Wilson Combat 8 round mag for full size 1911, so at this point I'm thinking it's not a mag problem. I'd like this to be my carry gun, but not until it's running 100%. Here's a very bad mspaint diagram http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/evo4620/1911.jpg This is why I'm not a fan of short 1911s. You need to change the spring out,your slide is moving faster than the mag can feed a new round so it get pinched. |
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I have no problem changing the spring out every 800 rounds or so if that's all it is. I like the gun a lot, otherwise. It's a damn good shooter. I was putting tearing the 10 ring out in one big hole. I shoot it just as good as my 5" Sig 1911.
ETA...are you saying the mag spring needs replacing, or the recoil spring? |
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extractor is too tight.. Ding! Too tight not letting the rim of the cartridge slip underneath the extractor. Remove and replace. Don't try to "fix" the extractor if you are not 100% sure of what you are doing. Get one of the Wilson Bulletproof Extractors. |
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hey do want another guy did yesterday or the day before................TRADE IT IN FOR A GLOCK!!! 
a thousand rounds and a glock is just starting to get broken in. 
Now just yesterday or the day before we had a thread about how them expensive 1911's were Gods gift to guns.... I chuckled. Maybe not too loudly, but I did chuckle. |
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hey do want another guy did yesterday or the day before................TRADE IT IN FOR A GLOCK!!!
a thousand rounds and a glock is just starting to get broken in.
People can cry call them tupperware guns all they want, but my Glock 23 and H&K can feed all ammo all day long with no malfunctions. If I had to put my life on a gun it would be a "tupperware gun" any day of the week over a 1911. |
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Which is exactly why you should have found a Series I Kimber. I have ZERO issues with my Ultra CDP. What's the difference? Two major differences. First is the Series 1 has an internal extractor. Much more reliable, period. Secondly, the Series 1 does not have an uneeded drop safety as does the later series guns. As far as the 1911 vs Glock issue, BTDT. personally don't like the way Glocks fit my grip. Had one, sold one. I do have a few plastic guns and still have an XD which fits me better. But nothing has the "feel" of a 1911. |
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hey do want another guy did yesterday or the day before................TRADE IT IN FOR A GLOCK!!!
a thousand rounds and a glock is just starting to get broken in.
People can cry call them tupperware guns all they want, but my Glock 23 and H&K can feed all ammo all day long with no malfunctions. If I had to put my life on a gun it would be a "tupperware gun" any day of the week over a 1911. i was being serious, my only large caliber handgun is a glock 22 and i wholehartedly agree with you. 
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I bought the same gun new and had the same problem. Tried Wilson and Chip Mcormick mags with no success. Sent it back to Kimber and they replaced a bunch of parts. Seems to work fine now but have lost confidence in it for ccw. good luck Same experience with a Springfield, traded it for Glock 19. EDIT: I'm the guy from the other thread! After the beating I took, I'm enjoying the irony of 1911's lack of reliablity being reported the next day. Not too mention all the different home remedies to make it run right. |
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My Stainless Ultra II runs fine.
A well known 1911 smith tried to talk me out of the little bugger.... But he said if I had to have it, move Kimbers 1500 (or 1800 or whatever it was) round increment spring change up to 1000 rounds to insure it always runs right. I have & it does. 
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Seriously... check this link:
http://www.brazoscustom.com/magart/ejection%20perfection.htm It is explained in simple terms... it, of course is not the only resource for tuning a 1911. but it is on topic. The pistol should have been fully functional from the factory but it wasn't. The good part is that it is not "rocket surgery". It is easy to understand and fix. I am not a smith, nor do I play one on TV... I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn. I bought my first Gold Cup in 1980. I did a number of refinements on it just because. But in your case and many other folks as well... problems appear. If your ramp, throat and chamber are are polished, they need not be reshaped and relieved (mine will feed empty cases)... and If your magazines are not el-cheapo welfare mags and the problem happens with a variety of different mags... then The problem is almost certainly the extractor. There are numerous sites that explain how to best shape and bend for best results. It isn't difficult, I have done several for my own 1911s. Or, just order an Aftec extractor and be done with it. |
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Glocks can have their own problems too, but it is unusual for them not to run.
I just do not like the trigger safety...personal preference. A 3 inch barreled "mini 1911" is a very different challenge. They seem to have an adversity to flawless function. There are many different sources of info to get them running correctly. Most tend to fix the problems with quality aftermarket magazines and sometimes you must fuss with the springs and followers too. Many other times the extractor tension and general smoothness can cause drag and interfere with feeding by slowing extraction or chambering. Sometimes relieving the underside of the protruding part of the ejector can help. That is also mentioned at the site that I already posted. You can buy a tuned ejector for a relatively small expense if that looks like an issue. The "mini 1911" designs greatly magnify any weak points in the operation. I don't have one but have looked into several discussions and reviews because I am shopping for one myself. You can always check in with the other 1911 specific forums for experienced advice. I have only worked on full size versions and the compact versions seem to require a special tuning tenaciousness. Don't give up! |