Are Kimbers More Reliable Now?

J

JJNA

New member
I had a Kimber Pro-Carry years ago (maybe 10-15 years ago) and it was a nightmare even after a trip back to the factory. Since then I read a lot about Kimber's poor use of the MIM parts (not a critique about MIM in general, but Kimber's particular case) as well as its customer service issues. But in the last several years, the complaints seemed to have dropped off.

Are Kimber's more reliable now?

I am considering purchasing a basic Custom II. I've looked at other "entry" level 1911's ranging from Ruger to Dan Wesson (the Heritage model). None seems to have the svelt feel and ergonomics of the Kimber.

I'd appreciate some thoughts from the more experienced 1911 shooters here. Thank you.
 
I don't think that they were less reliable than others , they just have bad customer service if you get one that needs some attention , unlike good customer service & warranty that Springfield has .

I had one of Kimber's external extractor models that worked great after I sanded the burr off the take down tool hole in the guide rod and was very accurate . It had such a burr it would hold the recoil spring back , just like the tool was holding it . I could remove the tool and the recoil spring would stay on the rod . I had a heck of a time trying to figure out why the slide would not go back into battery after I took it apart for cleaning , before I shot it for the first time . This was my first 1911 .

I also have a Dan Wesson that had to go back to the factory after the first range session . CZ handled the problem good , even though I told them to change the front sight while they had it there and they didn't ( they forgot ) .
 
My experience with Kimber customer service must be atypical. I bought a used Solo last year. I ended up having to send it back to Kimber, but all problems were resolved and the gun has been perfect ever since. See my "Kudos to Kimber" thread last April for details.
 
Bought a Kimber Sapphire for the wife last weekend at the gunshow, got it home and the slide was failing to lock back on an empty magazine, called Kimber and no questions asked they shipped me a new magazine out.

Wife has been busy at work so she hasn't shot it yet so I can't give a range report but from just visual inspection it appears to be pretty nice as far as fit and finish.
 
The only MIM part that broke on my 20,000 rounds fired Kimber Eclipse Target ll, 45 acp, was the ejector at around the 15,000 round mark.
 
I have an older pro carry....it's reliable if clean...which is fine for a range gun but not for carry. No I don't expect to have to reload a bunch but even little bits of dirt jam it. Even after 2 trips tonthe factory.
 
I have a 2014 Kimber Eclipse Target II. It is very reliable and a VERY good shooter. First 500 rounds or so it would sometimes not go all the way into battery after shooting maybe 8 or 10 magazines; apparently due to being dirty. Now that it is broken in this does not happen. That was my only quibble with the gun but it did not bother me because I knew that it was a break-in issue. The gun is extremely well-made and shoots great. I've put about 1500 rounds through it now and it is a shootin' fool.

 
Some of the early versions with external extractors had issues. My Custom II with the internal extractor is about 10-12 years old and has never had an issue.
 
I've also had failures to fully go into battery with my Kimber Eclipse --- but I solved the problem with the occasional use of Wilson Combat's 45 ACP steel chamber brush with handle. Will it scratch a polished chamber? No question...Wilson even warns about it --- but microscopic scratches in the chamber will not harm accuracy. If you shoot a lot, it certainly cleans out the crud. I even use steel chamber brushes in my high round count rifles; but you need a properly fit chamber brush for the task and Wilson's fills the bill.

It's most accurate with Winchester 185 grain semi-wadcutters.

I did not like the feel of the plastic checkered backstrap on my Eclipse, so much that I replaced it with a steel one, plus double ambi thumb safetys, extended magazine well, Chip McCormick magazines, G-10 grips and a heavy Kimber tungsten steel guide rod.

Some people have had problems with tungsten guide rods breaking, but I believe the Kimber model is full billet; but it is banned in certain competitions.
 
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I just got another one...

I picked this one up recently and am very pleased with it...


It was LNIB (I couldn't tell if it had ever been fired. Not a mark on any part of it. Ramp just like new)...

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It's a 9mm and what a hoot to shoot! It is really too soon to tell if there are any problems with it. I've only run 700 rounds through it (not one problem tho).
 
Dunno about others but my two Kimbers have been bought in the last 5 years and both have been 100% reliable with everything I've fed them.

I trust either of them enough to carry.
 
Kimber Pro Carry HD II here and as of date have had zero malfunctions-I bought it used with very little wear over 3 years ago.I recently was going to replace the recoil spring for maintenance and decided to install a Wilson Combat flat recoil spring set.Very nice workmanship.I carry mine daily.
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Are there any functional or fitting/finishing differences between the basic Custom II model and the fancier models? I like the setup on the basic model just fine (except I'd add tritium to the FRONT sight only).
 
Is Kimber's customer service better post-Ron Cohen leadership there? (Sadly Sig's has gotten worse, it seems, at least in my experience).
 
I have a Kimber Desert Warrior thats probably been my most reliable 1911. I have sold 1000's of Kimbers with out issues. I don't understand all the hate they get from people. Are they the best? No... are they nearly as bad and people try to make them sound... no.
 
I don't understand all the hate they get from people.
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I cannot speak for others, but from my one personal experience, Kimber was unpleasant.

In the first place, my Kimber was unreliable even after a break-in period of several hundred rounds (this was the original Kimber Pro-Carry). I had failures to feed, to eject, to lock the slide back after the last round, and so on.

On my own dime, I had to ship the Kimber back to the factory. Then it came back with a note with one curt sentence: "Widened chamber."

The gun had the EXACT same problems as before. I sold it at a large loss to the local gunsmith (who fixed it up and kept as a personal carry gun).

Since then I have bought dozens of guns and a handful had problems (a Kahr, a Sig, and a Ruger come to mind immediately). BUT, all those companies paid for shipping back and forth, and all except Sig fixed the problems the first time (I bought a Sig P226 Elite SAO and that had to go back twice).

Ruger's customer service, in particular, was amazing. The customer service representative was very pleasant and thorough. Then, when the gun was shipped back, I discovered that, not only did the company fix the original problem, but it also took care of some minor issues and cleaned up the trigger too!

I guess I don't have a "hate" of Kimber, but it just seemed to me that Kimbers have had a lot of issues (perhaps because it also sells so many 1911's), and the company has had pretty bad customer service (my experience seems consistent with those of many, judging from the stories on the Web).

I am wondering whether Kimberly quality control and customer service have improved since Ron Cohen's departure.

By the way, I am debating between a Kimber Custom II and Ruger SR1911/SR1911 Commander. I don't know which has better quality, but I do know from my personal experience that I prefer Ruger's service.
 
my Kimber custom II has been absolutely perfect with over 5000 rounds. I gave up counting after 4000 rounds. I had some early issues with the stock magazines, replaced with Wilson combat Magazines, perfect since. Great trigger. I hear soo much hating on Kimber, i guess there has to be some truth to it. I dont know anything about their customer service cause I never needed them.
 
JJNA while I feel you on the issues, and it sucks you had so many other guns with issues (it happens, every company makes lemons) I had the opposite experience when dealing with Kimber, however I work for the dealer and am shipping guns back on behalf of customers.

I have dealt with their CS probably a few hundred times over the years for this and that and they have always been good to me, granted maybe its because were the dealer not the consumer. I got to shoot on the range with their reps a few times, all were nice guys.

I won't sit here and say they are perfect and have no problems all gun companies do.

However I have to ask... why sell it at a huge loss to a gun smith to have him fix the issues for himself, rather than just pay him to fix it for you? Not saying you did anything wrong and I probably know the answer but I am just curious.
 
Seems like most of this thread is about 1911s. I have a couple of months old Solo Crimson Trace, haven't used the laser, yet. So far, it has performed without flaw, if one follows their book; use use premium hollow point self defense ammo of the correct gr. It is extremely accurate. Mine hates round nose ammo. Supposedly, a couple of guys here have Solos that shoot RN ammo without a problem. That's not what Kimber recommends, but............ I've ordered some less expensive ammo with the correct specs and will try it soon.
 
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