Kimber barrels

J

JimFox

New member
Recently I've been lucky enough to get two new Kimber autos. The Pro and Ultra. Fine guns, no complaint, lot of praise.

However - is it just my individual experience or have others noticed the amount of cleaning necessary on the new barrels.

I cleaned the first one up "pretty good" before shooting it (couldn't stand to wait). After that it took several patient hours with Hoppe's #9 and a LOT of patches and bore brush work to get the barrel really clean. (It did improve already good accuracy.)

The second one I figured to get really, really clean before I shot it. It still took several patient hours with #9, patches and brushes (over the course of a couple of days) before the bore was as squeaky clean as I wanted.

I've not had that amount of effort required on any other handgun that I can remember - and only a few rifles. (A Sako .375 H&H was the worst and that took about two weeks of overnight soakings before the last of the crud was out of the bore.)



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Jim Fox
 
I had some of the same problem with the barrel in my Stainless Gold Match the first few times I cleaned it. Then I started using Tetra Gun Oil in the bore after each cleaning and haven't had the problem since. Could be a coincidence, but Tetra claims that the oil floats the trash up and then fills and smoothes the microscopic imperfections in the metal. Now if could just find a bottle of the New Improved Tetra Oil that doesn't stink. Looking forward to hearing your solution(s). John
 
My Stainless Target barrel is also a bear to get clean after a range run. I bought Barnes CR-10 to get all the gunk out! Then I run a patch of CLP and then a dry patch. What gives, I thought this might be just mine?


Later
Daren
 
Appreciate the comments - it's nice to know I'm not alone.

Once I got the bore(s) clean it doesn't seem take more than the usual amount of cleaning to get back to the basic after a range session. The bores seem smooth and mirrow bright after cleaning. I will try the tip on the Tetra oil.

I'd learned years ago that, with rifles, an exceptional cleaning effort - often over days - would ferequently do more than anything else to improve accuracy. I've found this to be true of handguns as well, but not to the degree I've experienced with rifles. Maybe not as much bore to be rough in the handguns.

This seems to have paid off with both Kimbers and I suspect if I got my glasses changed (or a Ransom Rest) and did some load workup that the little stubby would be a real tack driver and the Pro would be close behind. If that proves out I'll be seriously in the market for one of their Gold Match guns.

It is good to know that my experience wasn't unique.

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Jim Fox
 
I myself like to have clean barrels,but it sounds like you guys are going a little overboard.A few passes with Shooters Choice and maybe a brush is all you need.Tight fitting jags seem to work the best.More damage is done by over-cleaning than under-cleaning.
 
Goat - I agree with you that more damage is done with over cleaning than under cleaning. OTOH - better groups are achieved through thorough cleaning than are achieved with under cleaning.

To paraphrase one of the gun sages; "The only interesting gun is an accurate gun."

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Jim Fox
 
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