Kimber TLE new barrel

[twang35]

Has anyone replaced their stock Kimber Custom II TLE barrels? I looked at the kimber store and they don't seem to be selling barrels. Am I looking at the wrong place? I bought this gun used from someone and just noticed that there were some deep gouges in the rifling of the barrel. Thanks

[leelaw]

http://www.brownells.com

Go there for a 1911 barrel. You'll want a standard, non-bull, and non-ported barrel. Expect to do some fitting.

[Kruzr]

Has anyone replaced their stock Kimber Custom II TLE barrels? I looked at the kimber store and they don't seem to be selling barrels. Am I looking at the wrong place? I bought this gun used from someone and just noticed that there were some deep gouges in the rifling of the barrel. Thanks

Where in the barrel are they? If they are back far enough close to the chamber, they won't affect accuracy. Also remember that even if Kimber did sell barrels, you would have to fit it to the slide and frame or at least make sure it fits as it should and the timing is on.

Shoot the gun and see if it groups or not.

[buffybuster]

Deep gouges in the rifling? Have you cleaned it really well with a bore brush? There's nothing that you would normally put down the barrel that should cause gouges, Might be broach marks from machining (would have to see it).

How does it shoot? If it shoots good and doesn't lead up too badly then I'd just roll with it. If you still want to replace it, instead of getting a drop in barrel, go to a gunsmith and have them fit a barrel.

Barsto or Kart are top picks. Nowlin, Clark, Briley, Brown are also nice. Stormlake makes decent barrels at a nice price. Have the smith also fit a barrel bushing.

If the smith knows what their doing, you'll have a fine shooter. Infinitely better than any drop in barrel.

[twang35]

The gouges are near the end of the barrel. I shot it at 7 and 10 yards normally and the grouping is good for me (<1.5inches). I'm just wondering how much accuracy is lost when I shoot at 20+ yards. I'll try to get some pictures up soon once I find my stupid camera. Thanks for the inputs.

[Black Majik]

The gouges are near the end of the barrel. I shot it at 7 and 10 yards normally and the grouping is good for me (<1.5inches). I'm just wondering how much accuracy is lost when I shoot at 20+ yards. I'll try to get some pictures up soon once I find my stupid camera. Thanks for the inputs.

Benchrest it at 25 yards and see how it does. 7 and 10 yards doesn't really tell much. 1 hole, 20 rounds doesn't tell much at 7 yards.

[buffybuster]

The gouges are near the end of the barrel. I shot it at 7 and 10 yards normally and the grouping is good for me (<1.5inches). I'm just wondering how much accuracy is lost when I shoot at 20+ yards. I'll try to get some pictures up soon once I find my stupid camera. Thanks for the inputs.

Is it near enough to the end of the barrel that perhaps getting a dished crown would take care of it?

Bench it at longer range with known good ammo and see how it groups.

[twang35]

Attached is best shot I can take describing the scratch I'm talking about. Next trip to the range, I'll benchrest it and give that a shot. But from seeing this scratch, should I replace the barrel? Thank you!

[Kruzr]

Looks like the previous owner did something he shouldn't have. So long as the edge of the landing and the groove don't have a burr sticking up, it's ugly but shouldn't affect the accuracy. Most of the spin is already on the bullet and the muzzle and crown look clean. Unless that spot cuts an uneven groove in the bullet, it won't hurt.

I'd run a dental pick down the face of the landing and edge of that groove to see if it was smooth. A small chunk missing won't hurt if the edges don't stick up into the groove or on the landing where it imprints the bullet.

You could also send an e-mail of that picture to dennism@REMOVEkimberamerica.com and tell him you just bought this gun second hand and just found this when you cleaned it. Ask if there is a way to repair it. You have nothing to lose and might get a new barrel out of it for the cost of shipping.

[buffybuster]

Looks like someone put something down the barrel that weren't suppose to, like a phillips screwdriver or a steel cleaning rod without a endpiece.

If you can't get it repaired or replaced very inexpensively by Kimber and it shoots into 4"@25yds without leading too bad after 200-300 rounds, I'd just keep the barrel and shoot it. That's if you plan on never selling it.

A new barrel w/ bushing and fitting would run minimum $150-200 with a second tier barrel.

If you plan on selling it at some point, then a new barrel might be worth something, since that gouge might turn away buyers.

[twang35]

Thanks for the all the responses guys. I'll email kimber asap and see what they say about. I don't plan on selling this gun so if anything, I'll purchase a new barrel. Right now, I can't sleep knowing that this scratch exists . Thanks you all again!