Sorry about yet another thread on the continuing saga of my new Kimber Stainless Gold Match, but I thought some of the previous “posters” might want to read this. Besides, I need to vent and I am looking for suggestions.
To briefly re-cap. I bought a new Kimber in .45 ACP and posted a thread about what a great feeling and looking pistol it is. On the first visit to the range the pistol experienced failures to feed with several brands of factory 230-grain ball so I posted a rant under Kimber Jammamatic. I sent the pistol to Kimber and they repaired it post haste. I then fired a couple of magazines full of ball through the pistol. The pistol seemed to work and I more or less took Kimber’s word for it that the pistol was fixed so I posted another thread, Kimber Jammamatic-Conclusion in which I extolled the virtues of the Kimber repair/custom shop. In that thread Skorzeny posted that the remedies performed on my jamming Kimber were the same as the remedies performed on his jamming Kimber, but in his case, the fix didn’t fix the problem. Got me to wondering if maybe Kimber just routinely had a flunky do a standard set of protocols on repairs.
Well I took my Kimber out this afternoon and ran some more ammo through it. Five malfunctions in 50 rounds. First, the pistol will not even chamber a round of UMC/Remington 230 grainers (yellow box) when the slide is released with the slide stop. If I rack the slide violently the rounds will chamber. The gun also jams about every 25 rounds with yellow box. Next, I tried Winchester 230 grainers in the white box. They feed OK, but slide will not stay back after the last round is fired. By the way, accuracy sucks.
So I call the dealer and he offers to send the pistol back to Kimber and put some pressure on the repair shop. I ask about a refund or replacement and he waffles. So I tell him I am going to call Kimber and ask for the custom shop foreman or supervisor. The dealer tells me I can get more done with sugar and spice than with vinegar. I tell him that’s easy for him to say since I am the one who is out a thousand bucks…argh.
So here is the boat I am in. I have this new Kimber that I have fired about 400 rounds through since I thought I would try the break-in period route. Pistol has been sent back to Kimber for repairs but still malfunctions. I am out $1119.79 for the purchase price of the pistol plus $32.65 in shipping to send it in to Kimber. Now what? Send it back to Kimber again? Find a bullet configuration that will feed? Send it to the dealer and let him send it in? Send it to the dealer and tell him the only acceptable remedy is a full refund including shipping? Never buy another Kimber and badmouth Dean’s Sporting Goods on the Internet? Maybe send it to Wilson or Baer for repairs and send the bill to Kimber? I am at a loss.
Seriously guys, what do you think would be fair?
To briefly re-cap. I bought a new Kimber in .45 ACP and posted a thread about what a great feeling and looking pistol it is. On the first visit to the range the pistol experienced failures to feed with several brands of factory 230-grain ball so I posted a rant under Kimber Jammamatic. I sent the pistol to Kimber and they repaired it post haste. I then fired a couple of magazines full of ball through the pistol. The pistol seemed to work and I more or less took Kimber’s word for it that the pistol was fixed so I posted another thread, Kimber Jammamatic-Conclusion in which I extolled the virtues of the Kimber repair/custom shop. In that thread Skorzeny posted that the remedies performed on my jamming Kimber were the same as the remedies performed on his jamming Kimber, but in his case, the fix didn’t fix the problem. Got me to wondering if maybe Kimber just routinely had a flunky do a standard set of protocols on repairs.
Well I took my Kimber out this afternoon and ran some more ammo through it. Five malfunctions in 50 rounds. First, the pistol will not even chamber a round of UMC/Remington 230 grainers (yellow box) when the slide is released with the slide stop. If I rack the slide violently the rounds will chamber. The gun also jams about every 25 rounds with yellow box. Next, I tried Winchester 230 grainers in the white box. They feed OK, but slide will not stay back after the last round is fired. By the way, accuracy sucks.
So I call the dealer and he offers to send the pistol back to Kimber and put some pressure on the repair shop. I ask about a refund or replacement and he waffles. So I tell him I am going to call Kimber and ask for the custom shop foreman or supervisor. The dealer tells me I can get more done with sugar and spice than with vinegar. I tell him that’s easy for him to say since I am the one who is out a thousand bucks…argh.
So here is the boat I am in. I have this new Kimber that I have fired about 400 rounds through since I thought I would try the break-in period route. Pistol has been sent back to Kimber for repairs but still malfunctions. I am out $1119.79 for the purchase price of the pistol plus $32.65 in shipping to send it in to Kimber. Now what? Send it back to Kimber again? Find a bullet configuration that will feed? Send it to the dealer and let him send it in? Send it to the dealer and tell him the only acceptable remedy is a full refund including shipping? Never buy another Kimber and badmouth Dean’s Sporting Goods on the Internet? Maybe send it to Wilson or Baer for repairs and send the bill to Kimber? I am at a loss.
Seriously guys, what do you think would be fair?