My Custom Eclipse is pregnant!

[DanP]

I have a newer 5" Eclipse for use as a target gun only.

Absolutely love it but so far reliability sucks (FTF's mainly) so I will not tag it for defense duty. It only has ~700 rounds by now so I won't be too harsh or pretend to be representative of this fine gun.

Anyway, I took a friend to the local store over lunch yesterday and I saw a "baby" Eclipse on the display, tiny thing but 100% 1911 Eclipse. Not on the Kimber site though.

I'm guessing something along a 3.5" barrel and < 30oz. I did not ask to handle it because knowing me I would have just taken it home right then and there, along the lines of buying a cute kitty at the store.

I am parking my little Sig 239, so looking for carry options. Top choice is an STI Ranger, that is until I saw this baby Eclipse thing. The Kimber is significantly more $$ but then again it has the appeal of a nice piece of jewelry.

But then again a carry item has to be as reliable as reasonably possible. So with this is mind (unless I go back to the revolver route), any thoughts STI Ranger or this new "baby" Eclipse?

 

[croyance]

I've heard and read bad things about the Kimber "II" models, especially in shorter barrel lengths. I guess the firing pin safety mechanism doesn't work so consistantly.

Have you tried McCormick, Wilson, or Wolff magazines? That might be the cause of your FTF's. The factory Kimber magazines are notoriously bad, although mine works fine.

If it is giving you trouble in the full size model, why would you stake your life on the Ultra model? It is your carry gun after all.
It is true that often the sight of a gun will scare of the BG, but how about the times you have to shoot? Even a single shot from a .45 ACP is not a dependable man-stopper. There are many recorded instances of guys absorbing many shots and still going. You might have to do this, and the FTF would worry me. If a new magazine does not fix it, and Kimber doesn't, I'd look elsewhere.

Personally, I like the Kimber I have, but then, it never gave me any problems. I am leary of the "II" models though.

 

[notbubba]

I don't know anything about either the STI Ranger or the new "baby" Eclipse.

I just love the title of your thread.