Buying a used Kimber

[Bidah]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Sorry gun noob here. What should the extractor look like and where is it exactly? I know the Kimbers have external extractors and I think that little "bar" of metal by the ejector port has something to do with it.

In the first generation of Kimbers, they used the original design of an internal extractor (hook on the breech face). They then went to an external design, which is still a hook, but now attached to a bar seen from the outside (yeah, pictures would help).

I know others that have had good luck with the series II. All of mine are series I, and I am happy to stick to those.

[Lazarus]

Damn, I just realized I posted in the wrong forum. Whose a mod so they can move this?

[xd-shawn]

i have a TLE 2 and it requires no tools to field strip for cleaning, i've also never had any problems with WWB

[Ske1etor]

My Custom II has an internal extractor. The gun requires one tool for the take down. It is a plastic "Wrench" to depress the guide rod cap and turn the barrell bushing.

So far, I have shot 200+ rounds through it without a single hiccup. 50rds magtech FMJ, 50 rds CCI Blazer FMJ and 100rds WWB FMJ 7rds Magtech Gaurdian Gold 165 gr +P JHP. All shot through the provided Kimber Mag. (I am ordering some Wilson Combat mags soon enough...)

It is reccommended to replace the recoil spring after 1500-2000 shots but the spring is only a couple of dollars.

[Brickboy240]

I have shot three Kimber 1911s. All three were well used and they all shot beautifully. I used WWB fmj ammo in all 3 and had no malfunctions. Blazer alloys? Well, my Springer GI and Colt Commander do not like them, either. I think the lighter cases screw with the timing of the action on the 1911, but I cannot prove this. Alloy cased Blazers are notoriously unreliable feeders in 1911s. The SIG P220 will eat them no problemo, but with the 1911s, its dicey.

I'd stay away from the external extractor Kimbers as a rule. Kimber has gone back to the internal extractor on the Custom IIs. The reliability is about 50/50 with the external extractor guns...you might get a good one...maybe not. Why chance it?

If the pistol is only slightly used, I would not worry about a thing. Somebody suggested spring replacement, but since I replaced my 1973 Commander's recoil spring for the FIRST time last year, I doubt a 2-5 year old Kimber's recoil spring could be bad.

If you like it, I'd definately buy it. Two of the three Kimbers I have shot were Custom IIs and they were VERY good shooters. My next 1911 just might be a Kimber.

- Brickboy240

[Ske1etor]

Yup. The Custom II ate up the Blazer Alloys like it was going out of style.

[Heathen-Yak]

Originally Posted by hiker-guy

An important thing to know about Kimber is that they generally don't respond well to cheap ammo like WWB and Blazer. If you use some better ammo they shoot great.

Dunno what kimbers you've been shooting, my ultra carry 2 was broken in with WWB and cheap remington hp's, no jams, no failures, maybe i got extremely lucky

Also, Kimber recommends for their pistols to replace certain parts after so many rounds through the weapon. I can't remember what it is but it probably differs from model to model.

I bellieve it's the recoil spring, they recommend replacing it every 5k rounds

The last thing is the way the weapon breaks down. The ones I've used require an allen wrench-like tool to break down and I hate using it so much I don't own a Kimber. But I absolutely LOVE shooting my buddies Kimber.

it's a paperclip basically. the store i bought my kimber from forgot to put the "tool" back in the box after showing me how to disassemble it, and it's a paperclip, i used a paperclip to take it down later. a paperclip actually works better because you can wrap it around the spring guide to keep it from falling out until you're done with assembly.

It IS a different feeling take down aside from the spring difference and lack of a bushing, but the guns are excellent.