Kimber Haters

[blasterp7]

This is very true, all handguns have a break in period, but for some reason, Kimber is not allowed to have one. I also own polymer pistols that state their break-in period in the owner's manual. The difference is that polymer guns have greater tolerances and the break-in really isn't much of a break-in.

With well made 1911's the tolerances are so tight that it is not uncommon for an out-of-the-box 1911 to at first seem unreliable, until after the break-in period (tolerances loosen up a bit and become just right) then the malfunctions go away. Engineers know how to calculate these things, it is called science. It happens with the custom guns too, just search any $3,000 gun manufacturer and FTE or FTF and see what you find.

I would respectfully disagree! I have 3 Ed Browns that, even new, I could disassemble and reassemble with NO tools. They are relatively loose and never needed breaking in. They all shoot as well or better than my three Wilsons, and two Colts that I currently own, and the Les Baer, Colt NM, Colt Gold Cup, and Remington Rand that I have disposed of. I have additionally shot SA's and Kimber's that have belonged to others (which is why I prefer to own neither of those).

Now I am sure I am a novice toward your level of experience. I have only been shooting 1911's since 1974.

[vliberatore]

No. 1 - Due to MIM parts, people started calling Kimber, Mimber
No. 2 - It's the Schwartz!!!
No. 3 - Barrel rust

Every firearm has MIM parts.
Schwartz is a legitimate complaint
Rust seems to be very mixed.

I've have my TLE/RL II for 2 years now without more than 1 or 2 malfunctions. Had a few thousand rounds through it. Maybe I got lucky?

[xfile]

Way too many, and better options for me to consider kimber. Just not worth it. "Just polish the feed ramp" ...too much fubar for me

[JamesH]

Long ago, I bought a new Kimber Eclipse Pro II. The thing would stove pipe every hundred rounds, had barrel rust and really beat the crap out of your hands if you didn't replace the springs as often as recommended.

I called Kimber about the rust and they told me it wasn't their problem.

When it was working, especially with new springs, it was really enjoyable to shoot.

A few years ago, I bought a Springfield Loaded. The thing was a total turd. Super heavy trigger, wildly inaccurate (confirmed by a much better shooter than I) and one side of the dust cover was rubbing on the frame.

I called Springfield, they sent a shipping label and did a bunch of work on it. Refininshed and refit the slide. Replaced the mainspring and sear. Replaced the front sight, etc...

Since then, it's been an awesome gun. Except the tritium insert falling out of the front sight, which I've been meaning to get repaired.

I don't dislike Kimbers. But I choose SA over them for the customer service alone.

[OldAudioNerd]

Own 2 Kimber's, a TLE Rl II & a Pro Raptor II. Trouble free from day one. I'm sure there have been some that were trouble monsters, the same can be said for most anything.

[shootbig]

Long ago, I bought a new Kimber Eclipse Pro II. The thing would stove pipe every hundred rounds, had barrel rust and really beat the crap out of your hands if you didn't replace the springs as often as recommended.

I called Kimber about the rust and they told me it wasn't their problem.

When it was working, especially with new springs, it was really enjoyable to shoot.

A few years ago, I bought a Springfield Loaded. The thing was a total turd. Super heavy trigger, wildly inaccurate (confirmed by a much better shooter than I) and one side of the dust cover was rubbing on the frame.

I called Springfield, they sent a shipping label and did a bunch of work on it. Refininshed and refit the slide. Replaced the mainspring and sear. Replaced the front sight, etc...

Since then, it's been an awesome gun. Except the tritium insert falling out of the front sight, which I've been meaning to get repaired.

I don't dislike Kimbers. But I choose SA over them for the customer service alone.

Kimber didn't start using stainless steel barrels in most of their 1911s until 2013. Almost all of their 1911s today have stainless steel barrels, except for a few models. Interesting fact, some of the CA approved models still have carbon steel barrels while their non-ca approved counterparts use stainless steel barrels. This makes sense since many of our CA approved handguns are older models, this is true with Glock, for example (Gen3 vs Gen4). Google "Kimber 2016 Catalog", it is all there.

[DArBad]

Carbon steel barrels are " better " than stainless. This was a hot topic many years ago. Kart's barrel are carbon steel. Les Baer of Les Baer fame was on record that he prefers carbon steel barrels over stainless and install them on guns where there there is the 1.5 inch guarantee.

I also read that Dave Williams, director of the Springfield Custom shop prefers carbon steel barrels on special ordered guns where the customer puts a premium on accuracy.

From the above, there is an advantage to the carbon steel barrel. They are easier to work on when fitting to tighter tolerance. They also intimated that a carbon steel barrel " holds " accuracy longer than stainless.

Where carbon steel barrels take a back seat to stainless is its propensity for easier rusting. Stainless, though are more brittle than carbon steel.

So, there you go, take your pick. I am not a metallurgist, just a reader of other people's work and experience. If you want to argue, don't argue with me. Argue with Les Baer, the makers of Kart barrels, and Dave Williams.

[Malmon]

Not only that, everyone else on the internet must only be a neglectful idiot with just the kimber, and none of their other firearms.

Rust is not exclusive to Kimber. Google search results below.

[Malmon]

Read: it didn't happen with my specific firearm(s), therefore everyone else on the internet must be a neglectful idiot. Cool reasoning, bro!

Cleary neglected... From the factory?

Read this thread bro! A brand new colt from the factory:https://www.1911forum.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=475802

[DArBad]

I wasn't able to take a picture, but my newly bought Springfield Loaded Model SS back in 1999 had a smidgen of rust underneath the right grip like above, though not as bad. Just a drop of WD 40 and some vigorous scrubbing took out the offending rust.

All guns, even stainless can rust when neglected. Springfield XDs, the earlier models were also prone to rusting. That is why the newer batch of XD are finished in Melonite.

[Chapped Hide]

If your guns are rusting it's because of neglect. I've got blued shotguns and rifles that are 30-40 years old and they have never rusted. You know why?

[Merc1138]

Rust is not exclusive to Kimber. Google search results below.

Did I say rust on guns was exclusive to kimber? No.

Did I say only kimber guns rust? No.

What I implied was that not everyone who has a kimber that has rusted, neglects their firearms.

[Mitch]

Well, you guys know the old saw: When a $400 gun malfs, it's a P.O.S; when a $2,000 gun malfs, it just needs breaking in.

100% accurate.

I became aware of this phenomenon a dozen years ago reading rec.guns. I was amazed how people would go on and on about their high dollar Kimbers and Les Baers that, well, didn't actually work, at least not at first. And this was supposed to be some kind of advantage! Proof of their innate superiority or something. It's the reason you pay so much for a gun.

I have one M1911. It was made by the Ithaca Gun Company during WWII. My father bought it through the NRA in about 1960. It's a fine pistol. When you shake it, it rattles.

As any military weapon should.

[nedro]

Rust is the fruit of neglect. Be it from the factory or the safe.
Even my carpie arsed Stevens 22lr is rust free.
Can you guess why?

[Cokebottle]

Even my carpie arsed Stevens 22lr is rust free.
Can you guess why?

Because it's not a Kimber?