Kimber Failed Me :(

[dadoody]

I've been hearing good stuff about Kimber from a lot of people. It has a good reputation.

I finally got myself down to the LA gun club's range and rented a Kimber tactical.

Almost every clip I loaded had at least 1 jam. In inspecting the pistol, there wasn't anything that should have been causing the frequent jams. A round kept getting pushed up and turned 30-45 degrees. Each time, I had to pullout the magazine and pull the slide back to dislodge the round.

In a life threatening situation, the user of this gun would be in a bad position.

My current defense gun is a S&W Model 10 - a revolver that shoots .38 special. It's not the latest technology. It's not 'match grade'. It's not high capacity. But it will shoot without fail whenever I pull the trigger.

I'm kinda sad to say - this experience has turned me off to the 1911s. Was this just a rare occurance? I may go back soon and rent a different 1911 model and see how that fairs.

[XeRoFuN]

Not sure about how that range handles rented firearms in terms of cleaning, but up here at one indoor range, a person was having problems with a Glock and a Sig (I believe). Both were rented and when the renter asked the clerk, "How often do you clean these guns?" His answer was, "Never." The renter was shocked and so was I. So I guess it goes to show that they're not taken care of very well. Again, it may be different at your range, but I've noticed this lack of care at two ranges already.

[s281c]

I've been hearing good stuff about Kimber from a lot of people. It has a good reputation.

I finally got myself down to the LA gun club's range and rented a Kimber tactical.

Almost every clip I loaded had at least 1 jam. In inspecting the pistol, there wasn't anything that should have been causing the frequent jams. A round kept getting pushed up and turned 30-45 degrees. Each time, I had to pullout the magazine and pull the slide back to dislodge the round.

In a life threatening situation, the user of this gun would be in a bad position.

My current defense gun is a S&W Model 10 - a revolver that shoots .38 special. It's not the latest technology. It's not 'match grade'. It's not high capacity. But it will shoot without fail whenever I pull the trigger.

I'm kinda sad to say - this experience has turned me off to the 1911s. Was this just a rare occurance? I may go back soon and rent a different 1911 model and see how that fairs.

Sounds like a mag issue, did you try more then 1? most of the time the problem you describe is related to a problem mag. So if I were you I wouldn't let this color your judgement of 1911's until you try another.

[bwiese]

I've heard lots of jam-o-matic stories about Kimbers. They don't get fixed by putting in a new non-mfgr magazine, either and sometimes require multiple trips to the factory.

Frankly, I wouldn't buy one, although I'd buy the Sig GSR that some have complained about.

That said, this was at a range, and you might be having problems with range reload ammo. Did you experience this with factory ammo?

Generally these issues are not exclusively 1911 problems but can be brand or model specific. I have two Colt 1911s and a Springfield compact (Officer's ACP clone) that work flawlessly. I threw out the Springfield's factory mags: by general agreement, they are junk.

If you'd like a new-production 1911 with a flawless reputation, good accuracy, and don't wanna pay for the Colt horsey, take a look at the S&W 1911s. I've heard zero complaints and lavish praise for tack-driving accuracy.

[s281c]

I've heard lots of jam-o-matic stories about Kimbers. They don't get fixed by putting in a new non-mfgr magazine, either and sometimes require multiple trips to the factory.

Frankly, I wouldn't buy one, although I'd buy the Sig GSR that some have complained about.

That said, this was at a range, and you might be having problems with range reload ammo. Did you experience this with factory ammo?

Generally these issues are not exclusively 1911 problems but can be brand or model specific. I have two Colt 1911s and a Springfield compact (Officer's ACP clone) that work flawlessly. I threw out the Springfield's factory mags: by general agreement, they are junk.

If you'd like a new-production 1911 with a flawless reputation, good accuracy, and don't wanna pay for the Colt horsey, take a look at the S&W 1911s. I've heard zero complaints and lavish praise for tack-driving accuracy.

Bill, not to disagree with, since I usually tend to agree with your point of view.........

The majority of the time when a 1911 FTF's in the way he describes it's and issue with either the angle of the feed ramp or the lips of the mag, since it was a kimber and not a consistant feed problem it is doubtful that it is and issue with the feed ramp, especially with the angle that he describes the round would hang up.

All the Kimbers I've had, as long as I use quality mags I've never had a "jam-o-matic" issue with them, now the AMT's and Auto-ordinance's are a different story, although with a little work and a good ramp/barrel throat job usually takes care of them.

BTW, I do agree with you on the S&W's they're very under-rated and under-apreciated, the one's I have always perform flawlessly.

[chickenfried]

This doesn't make sense to me. A Sig is one of the last 1911's I would buy. Think about the number of kimbers out there versus the number of Sig 1911's and the number of complaints. The sig batting average doesn't inspire confidence. But hey at least they have great parts on there

Frankly, I wouldn't buy one, although I'd buy the Sig GSR that some have complained about.

[railroader]

Sounds like a mag problem or it could be out of spec reloads if that is what you are using.. Don't let one experience turn you off on 1911's. Try that gun or a different 1911 with a different mag. A 1911 that runs right are a joy to shoot. I have 2 kimbers that both run great and are really accurate. Mark

[6172crew]

Awhile back I went to buy a Kimber from a co-worker and was turned off by the pistol, turns out the thing had been back to the factory and had just about everything replaced but was still having the same problem, his was the older extractor model and the base line model but it was kinda a peice of junk compared to my other 1911s and the others Ive had the chance to handle.

When I started looking into the Kimber line I did find some of what Bill is talking about and heard that 1911 smiths are busy with Kimber $600-$800+ pistols most of the time...again alot of what Im saying wasnt my firearms so I could be wrong but I ended up going with a Colt 1991 and havent had any issues other than it needs a extended beaver tail becuase Im the guy who gets bit every round.

For the $$ Im going to lookinto a STI Spartan or maybe ask STI if they can make me double stacked spartan on spartan reatil price...(i already have the highcaps for a para-o and I think they work)?.?

[Schlamoo]

Again not to disregard Bills comments but I currently own at least 6 Kimbers and have no problems with any of them. Sounds like what has been said either a mag problem or better yet a fouling (lack of cleaning) problem. Kimber is not my first choice in 1911's but they are well made cookie cutter 1911's. Don't get turned off by one bad experience. Try again and you will become a 1911 addict.

[s281c]

To sum up, no that is not a rare occurrance with a 1911. It may be this or it may be that, but it will always be something.

If you enjoy dinking around with your gun trying to figure out why it isn't going bang, and maybe get the satisfaction of fixing that problem before another crops up then the 1911 is your gun.

Since you used the words "life threatening situation," then a more suitable gun would be a Glock, Sig, XD, HK, or Beretta (in no particular order.) A modern gun for a modern world.

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you on this, I've got some 1911's that have not required and work on my part or a gunsmith's part at all, and I've got some that I bought knowing full well that they were projects, but once the bugs were worked out they perform flawlessly.

Suffice it to say I have no problem trusting a 1911 in a life threatening situation.

BTW.......I do own at least one of each of those guns you listed, but would still go back to a 1911 in a "life threatening situation". The only thing that would stop me from using one in that type of situation is thought of the PD confiscating it, I'd rather give up one of my Glocks a XD or a Beretta.

[s281c]

LOL that's fine, just stirring the pot. I suppose a specific 1911 could be trusted to make it through all 8 rounds in the magazine...

Not just 8 rds, I've run a full combat course with multiple mag reloads without a failure, and I friend and I ran over a 1000 rounds through a 1911 in a single range session also without a failure.

[slick_711]

I've put 2500+ rounds through my SA Mil-spec .45 (only had it since October lol) and never had a SINGLE jam or issue. My new (to me) Colt M1991 9mm has only has a single hiccup in 1k+ rounds (since March) and that was the round that snapped the ejector. It has fired and ejected flawlessly since then, with the new ejector I ordered still in a bag in my locker.

There was something wrong with the Kimber you rented, either a magazine issue or it needed a cleaning. Don't let yourself get turned off of 1911s in general over such a thing.

[tankerman]

sounds like you were limp wristing. Can't blame that on the gun. Can not shoot a 45 auto like a 38 revolver, won't work.

[Schlamoo]

Can't let this one slide.....

To sum up, no that is not a rare occurrance with a 1911. It may be this or it may be that, but it will always be something.

Baloney!!!!!!!! Either you don't know what your taking about, or had a bad experience and never went back. I own or have owned many 1911's and would bet my life on them, no problem. AND before you ask, yes I have put my life on a 1911 when I was in the military, as a 95B (military policeman).
And yes I have and had other types of guns, Glock, Sig, Beretta, CZ, Walther, blah, blah, blah........

[xjrguy]

This doesn't make sense to me. A Sig is one of the last 1911's I would buy. Think about the number of kimbers out there versus the number of Sig 1911's and the number of complaints. The sig batting average doesn't inspire confidence. But hey at least they have great parts on there

I bought a Sig GSR Revolution a little over a month ago, brand new.

Before I bought I read up on all the posted problems people had with the gun, and still bought it.

Check this out.

Picked up the gun and went shooting immediately.

Didn't field strip the gun prior to shooting and 200 rounds later there were no problems.

Went home, did I clean it? Nope!

Went back to the range the next day and put another 200 rounds thru the gun, dirty. No problems and this was using reload ammo at the Firing Line range.

I finally field stripped, cleaned and oiled the entire firearm.

Just my luck it will jam now that its all clean and lubricated.

That's my experience with the sig. No problems with mine.