Posted: 11/16/2006 5:30:35 PM EDT
|
I just bought a new Kimber Tac Pro II and took it to the range today to fire for the first time. I followed the manual to a "T" as far as the break-in procedures. I cleaned and lubed it before firing, and did the same after ever 100 to 150 rounds. I put 400 rounds through it total. This thing shot beautifully. It was hitting really tight groups the entire day, however I had a re-occuring feeding problem. The slide occassionally does not move fully forward when chambering a round. It never happened on the first round in the mag. It basically would not move fully forward, but would stop about an 1/16 of an inch short and would not fire. I could easily push it the rest of the way forward with my thumb and it would continue firing. Initially this only happened once about every 40 rounds, but by the end of the day it was happening about every 5-10 rounds, so it was getting worse. I don't believe it was the ammo, I was using winchester 230 gr FMJ. So my question is, has anybody had this problem with a Kimber? Or is this a common issue during the initial break-in? Or should I contact the factory? One more question...is it normal for a kimber/1911 model to eject a spent shell casing directly into your forhead? That also happened to me several times today, and I don't understand how that can happen. It really hurts sometimes, hehe. Thanks for the help. |
Like I said, I don't think it was the ammo. I was using quality ammo and shot out of 4 different 100 round boxes, and the problem occured through all of them. It is possible it is the recoil spring, but you would think after time, the spring would weaken if anything, and the problem became more frequent as I was shooting. |
| Winchester is rather dirty and little on the light side.. Kimbers can be a little bitchy about being dirty, more so when they are new.. They can also get mad if you over lube them.. Jusy what I have found in my new Kimbers.. Light off another 500 rounds.. It usually only gets better from here on out! |
|
I don't think you mentioned if it has an internal or external extractor. A lot of FTE and FTF problems can be traced to the extractor. Also, any gun can be ammo sensitive. My ultra has the same problem not going fully into battery with certain brands of factory ammo. I'd try a different brand and see if that cures the problem. Kimbers’ also have a "match grade" chamber which is tighter than usual. A dirty chamber may cause problems going into battery. When you clean it, make sure the chamber is thoroughly cleaned. Remember, the chamber is of greater diameter than the rifling so a standard brush may not remove hardened fouling. If you have a series II with the external extractor and the problem persists, I'd send it to kimber and request a slide replacement with one with an internal extractor. Hope this helps. |
|
If it has the external extractor, just send it to Kimber now to get it changed out for a new slide and internal extractor. If it is an internal extractor, remove the slide and barrel and take a piece of brass and slide it up the breech face into firing position. There should be a very slight amount of tension and hold the brass in place, but not enough resistance to make it difficult to slide up the breech face under the extractor. Match chambers...........my Sig GSR did this and needed and extractor. The chamber was too tight for my reloads. I had to change to a Lee Factory Size die. I bet your problem got worse as the chamber became more dirty!  I have a Pro-carry and a Custom-Target Kimber that have never hiccuped, even without the Lee dies...... 
|
Would the external extractor (which my tac pro has) be causing this problem? Or would it be more of a spring issue? I have had the same problems exactly as described above - Failure to Return to Battery, slight nudge and bang no problem. Gets worse as it gets dirtier just like he described. I only have about 500 rounds through it but I think it should be improving by know. Should I give it another 500 or just send back to the factory? Thanks. |
I have a friend that recently got a Springfield 1911 Mil Spec that, like yours, would stop just short of going fully into battery. I've read the manual www.kimberamerica.com/downloads/Manuals/1911Fullsize45.pdf, but I like to put a little bit of Rig +P grease on my 1911's frame and slide rails, and suggested that he try that. After a good cleaning and lubing with grease, he hasn't had that problem anymore. Now, he runs out of .45ACP before he's ready to stop shooting.  |
|
I don't know what your experience level is with 1911s or .45ACP cal handguns in general but a long time ago I had bought a S&W 4516-1 and had this same problem. It was driving me crazy. I let my Dad shoot it to see what he thought (ex-Marine pistol & rifle team member and later USAMU instructor). He did not have the same problem. I was really annoyed at this point...I took the gun back, tried it again...same problem. This time he watched me fire the weapon. He informed me that I was "limp wristing" the pistol. He instructed me how to lock my wrist, saying this was important when firing a .45acp due to the muzzle flip. Once I was made aware of that...I have NEVER had that problem again. Like I said before, I don't know what level of experience you have but hey....this might help you as well. |
About two years ago when I bought my Kimber warrior it did that same thing. I called kimber and they said it was a problem they had been having. They said to send it back to them. In about 2 weeks I got it back with a list of the work the custom shop had done. It has not had a single problem in over 2500rds now. |
|
I am an experienced shooter and am familiar with the problems associated with limp wristing. that is not what is casuing this problem. This is my first 1911 however, I also own an HK USP .45. Semper Fi to your Dad. I talked to someone at Kimber earlier this week and he suggested that I lightly polish the push rod and that if that doesn't solve the problem then I should send it in. Anyone else ever try that? |
They polished the push rod, reamed the chamber, polished the feed ramp. There was A LOT more they did but I dont remember and the list is in my Kimber box back in florida. What ever they did it worked. |