Kimber CDP

[JSS]

I wanted to see if any of the members on this forum own a Kimber CDP and can share their experience with the gun.... Pros and cons? Thanks!

[valkylrie]

I have an Ultra CDP II, I really really like it.... Not very technical I know. But it is what it is!

[Exposed]

Yup. I have the CDP II pro. Love it! Super accurate, light wieght and reliable. I did change out the springs and am running the wolff springs, other than that, nothing and never had any issues.

[sholling]

I have a Compact CDP and it's beautiful. But there are a couple of downsides to buying a Kimber that you should be aware of. First is the really short warranty, second is the way they designed the firing pin safety. It's so easily damaged and designed and built so lightly that it's explicitly not covered under the warranty. But it should be okay as long as you're very careful when removing and reinstalling the slide. I bought mine because Kimber has the only aluminum frame CCO format pistols on the roster. I've also been a 1911 guy long enough to do most of my own work.

Despite the "custom" in the name the CDPs are produced on a assembly line and mine came with with the extractor set too tight and I had to adjust it so it would feed reliably. Kimber is big on telling their customers to just keep putting hundreds of break-in rounds through their products before agreeing to fix them. To be fair a few hundred more rounds might have solved the problem on its own but I'm not big on wasting expensive ammo to get a pistol to perform the way it should have performed right out of the box.

The important thing with any 1911 is to use top quality magazines. If you go with an aluminum framed 1911 then be sure you use magazines with an "anti-tilt" follower.

As an alternative I suggest looking at S&W SW1911 line as well. They don't have night sights but you can easily have those added later.

This is mine after I installed a short trigger and Esmeralda's thin grips (small hands).

[redcliff]

I have a Compact CDP and it's beautiful. But there are a couple of downsides to buying a Kimber that you should be aware of. First is the really short warranty, second is the way they designed the firing pin safety. It's so easily damaged and designed and built so lightly that it's explicitly not covered under the warranty. But it should be okay as long as you're very careful when removing and reinstalling the slide. I bought mine because Kimber has the only aluminum frame CCO format pistols on the roster. I've also been a 1911 guy long enough to do most of my own work.

Despite the "custom" in the name the CDPs are produced on a assembly line and mine came with with the extractor set too tight and I had to adjust it so it would feed reliably. Kimber is big on telling their customers to just keep putting hundreds of break-in rounds through their products before agreeing to fix them. To be fair a few hundred more rounds might have solved the problem on its own but I'm not big on wasting expensive ammo to get a pistol to perform the way it should have performed right out of the box.

The important thing with any 1911 is to use top quality magazines. If you go with an aluminum framed 1911 then be sure you use magazines with an "anti-tilt" follower.

As an alternative I suggest looking at S&W SW1911 line as well. They don't have night sights but you can easily have those added later.

This is mine after I installed a short trigger and Esmeralda's thin grips (small hands).

Nothing to add other than it's a bit hit or miss with Kimber; of 6 Kimbers my friends or I own, they've made a total of 3 trips backs to the factory for warranty work and one had a reliability tune done by a local smith in order to get them to run properly. And that excludes magazine or extractor tension issues.

[johnny_boy02]

I will tell you on the 8th after I pick mine up.

[blasterman88]

I have a Ultra CDP II as well and I absolutly LOVE it. My buddy has a Custom CDP and he loves his as well

[PRCABR4Christ]

I have a Compact CDP and it's beautiful. But there are a couple of downsides to buying a Kimber that you should be aware of. First is the really short warranty, second is the way they designed the firing pin safety. It's so easily damaged and designed and built so lightly that it's explicitly not covered under the warranty. But it should be okay as long as you're very careful when removing and reinstalling the slide. I bought mine because Kimber has the only aluminum frame CCO format pistols on the roster. I've also been a 1911 guy long enough to do most of my own work.

Despite the "custom" in the name the CDPs are produced on a assembly line and mine came with with the extractor set too tight and I had to adjust it so it would feed reliably. Kimber is big on telling their customers to just keep putting hundreds of break-in rounds through their products before agreeing to fix them. To be fair a few hundred more rounds might have solved the problem on its own but I'm not big on wasting expensive ammo to get a pistol to perform the way it should have performed right out of the box.

The important thing with any 1911 is to use top quality magazines. If you go with an aluminum framed 1911 then be sure you use magazines with an "anti-tilt" follower.

As an alternative I suggest looking at S&W SW1911 line as well. They don't have night sights but you can easily have those added later.

This is mine after I installed a short trigger and Esmeralda's thin grips (small hands).

Nice leather ya got there...looks familiar

[sholling]

Nice leather ya got there...looks familiar

I like TT Gunleather better than my Milt Sparks holster and ammo pouch (which will be on ebay soon).

[Write Winger]

The CDP II introduced me to the S&W 1911SC E Series two tone. I'll be SSEing this in a few months. One complaint I've heard for both is the ease in which the frame gets scratched up. I know in the grander scheme of things it's not a big deal, but to drop that kinda cash on a purdy gun you usually want it to stay purdy.

I have heard you gotta get better mags, like Wilson Combat and the like. But for comfort, weight, ergonomics, both seem to be great carry options. A bit more kick, but it is what it is.

[Miltiades]

Kimber Pro CDP

I've had a Kimber Pro CDP for about 7 years. I like the gun very much and have shot it quite a bit. I modified it slightly from stock with slim Alumagrips, Wilson magazines, steel mainspsring housing and a Brown single side thumb safety. The gun has been accurate and reliable for me.

[PRCABR4Christ]

I like TT Gunleather better than my Milt Sparks holster and ammo pouch (which will be on ebay soon).

Same here, it's pretty much all I wear...and since he lives locally, I keep my money local, and can just go pick up my rig rather than waiting for shipping

[CJJohn]

I carry a PRO CDP II almost everyday. I love it. The only thing I've done is shoot it, then I had the tail bobbed after I tried a friends and saw how much better the "printing" was for CCW. Here's how it is these days;

[Write Winger]

Gotta know, what had to be done to bob the tail?

[stormvet]

I have owned and carried a PRO-CDP for over ten years. I have bought many guns since, Glocks, FNP, XDm, Kahr, S&W, SIG to name a few. But none has proved it self a better carry gun. So after 10 years 75% of the time I still carry the CDP. I also bought the CDP Ultra a couple years ago, it has been great also. But the PRO is still the one I turn to the most.
Allot has been said about the finnish, all I can say the finish on my 10 year old CDP is fantastic. many thousands of rounds fired carried almost daily in a leather IWB holster or kydex outside and still looks near new. But it is a different finnish then my newer Ultra.

10 year old PRO and 2 year old Ultra.


Sorry about the crappy pic, all I have of the two together. I recommend Tripp mags, but the pro runs fine on Wilsons also.