Kimber Question

[jimz68]

Hi All,
Picked up a new Kimber Tactical Custom II yesterday. Haven't had a chance to put any ammo through it yet. But I have a question. Is it normal to have the slide dang near impossible to cycle? Now I know I'm not the strongest guy around, but I can barely pull the slide back. This is my first 1911 type gun, and was wondering if this was normal until a few (hundred? thousand?) rounds have been put through it.
Thanks !

Jim

[kTC xDEICIDEx]

Yes it is! After you shoot I'd say over 300 rounds it should be easier to pull the slide back. Congrats on that Kimber and post some pictures up! 

[stormvet]

It may be a little stiff when new but nothing a grown man should have a problem with. Yes it will be easier after a few hundred rounds. But me think your just babying your new 1911. Get a good firing grip on the frame with your right hand and a solid grip on the rear of the slide with your left, finger off the trigger of course. Instead of pulling back with your left hand, push sharply with your right hand.

[chaseface]

Yes it is normal. I just picked up a new Kimber Raptor Stainless II last month and I was also suprised how much it took to pull back the slide. Just some info I found out while researching it... Do NOT sligshot the slide forward without a round in it. There are lots of people who say it will not hurt, but in fact it loosens the tolerances, which you do not want. If you want to play with the slide pull it back but ease it forward when there is no round in the magazine, or no mag inserted. When you have a loaded mag feel free to pull back and release the slide slingshotting it forward.

The hammer is a different story. Do NOT ease the hammer down while holding onto it. This will cause damage to your kimber if done too often. Dry fire it instead. Many people say dry firing your firearm will harm it but they are incorrect. It will not hurt a Kimber 1911, although I believe it can hurt some rimfire and various other firearms. My dealer told me to lower the hammer down and not to dry fire, so I did it probly 20-30 times and luckily nothing bad happened to mine but it says not to in the manual, and people at 1911forum.com have had issues because of doing it. Also the "half cock" that happens when you lower the hammer by hand is not supposed to be used as a half cock, it is only a safety incase your fingers slip while pulling back the hammer. Enjoy!! Heres mine:

[jimz68]

Good info!
Thanks everyone!

Jim

[fullspeed1]

It's normal. Even after nearly 1000rds through my Custom II, It's still tight as s**t. DO NOT slam the slide home on an empty chamber, OR bring down the hammer with your thumb. Dry fire to your hearts content, It will not harm your pistol. Enjoy your new baby....

[slick_711]

Just some info I found out while researching it... Do NOT sligshot the slide forward without a round in it. There are lots of people who say it will not hurt, but in fact it loosens the tolerances, which you do not want. If you want to play with the slide pull it back but ease it forward when there is no round in the magazine, or no mag inserted. When you have a loaded mag feel free to pull back and release the slide slingshotting it forward.

I don't know about it loosening the tolerances, though I guess that makes sense if you do it enough over time. The real problem with dropping the slide on an unloaded 1911 is that it puts undue stress on your internal parts (particularly on a high-end 1911 with a light trigger). That undue stress can over time cause the main sear notch on your hammer to shear off and you end up with a fully automatic 1911. Anyone that wants to say otherwise is welcome to their opinion, but I've personally seen it happen.

[Cyc Wid It]

The real problem with dropping the slide on an unloaded 1911 is that it puts undue stress on your internal parts (particularly on a high-end 1911).

So it shouldn't matter for Kimbers right?

[slick_711]

So it shouldn't matter for Kimbers right?

ZING!

It's bad for any 1911, it's just worse for the guns with highly worked over trigger components because your sear/hammer engagements are already light and minimal.

[chaseface]

I don't know about it loosening the tolerances, though I guess that makes sense if you do it enough over time. The real problem with dropping the slide on an unloaded 1911 is that it puts undue stress on your internal parts (particularly on a high-end 1911 with a light trigger). That undue stress can over time cause the main sear notch on your hammer to shear off and you end up with a fully automatic 1911. Anyone that wants to say otherwise is welcome to their opinion, but I've personally seen it happen.

I have also heard of it causing sear issues, although I wasn't aware that it would become full auto. Maybe I should be slamming it home on an empty chamber

[WishinIwerFishin]

I understand not slamming the slide home, and I never do on any of my 1911's...So why aren't you supposed to drop the hammer with your thumb? I though the only reason people don't suggest doing that is for fear of dropping the hammer and firing off a round and possibly breaking your thumb in the process, not in fear of damaging th gun...... Please explain this to me as I always drop the hammer on any of my 1911's with my thumb and have been doing so for years with no ill affect to my firearms.

[chaseface]

I understand not slamming the slide home, and I never do on any of my 1911's...So why aren't you supposed to drop the hammer with your thumb? I though the only reason people don't suggest doing that is for fear of dropping the hammer and firing off a round and possibly breaking your thumb in the process, not in fear of damaging th gun...... Please explain this to me as I always drop the hammer on any of my 1911's with my thumb and have been doing so for years with no ill affect to my firearms.

Well yes because of the reasons that you have said and also because it is so easy to engage the "half cock" when lowering it by hand, unless you keep the trigger retracted the entire time. And your not suposed to engage the half cock because the hammer can slip off of it and can cause damage to the sear, according to my kimber manual.

Edit: Quote from the Kimber Manual - "Do not "ease" the hammer down by holding or blocking it. Doing so can mar the sear tip which will result in a substandard trigger pull.