heavymetalman

I have had my heart set on a Kimber Ultra CDP II but the more I read about problems with Kimber in general the more I wonder if its a good idea to buy one. I was thinking that people with problems will tend to talk about it more so I wanted to see how the numbers are in this forum.

"Problem" - I define problem as something that does not immediately damage the gun. Such as FTF.

"Broke" - I define broke as something that does damage the gun such that it requires repair or a part to be replaced.

Saint77

I voted "It broke once but its been great since repair" but theres a story behind mine. It didn't really "break" though.

I got mine used last year for Xmas. Its a Tac Ultra II. I gave her a thorough cleaning and hit the range, and began to notice feeding issues through a few boxes of ammo. changing ammo types didn't help much. A phone call to Kimber had me sending it in for Warranty repairs, which I was happy about since I got the gun used. They put about 7 mags through it, replaced the slide, did some parts matching, tuned the extractor, replaced the grip screws, put another 7 mags through it, and sent it back to me, no charge. Since then, ive had 0 issues.

mavrik46

I carry a Pro Raptor everyday and have had no issues whatsoever.

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Greg
Kimber Pro Raptor
Les Baer Extreme Tactical
Stoeger Cougar 8000
Ruger SP101

It's not what you go thru in life, but how you go thru it.

redrick

I have the dreaded external extractor on my compact stainless II with no failures and it is a tack driver at 25 yards.

SIXTO

I have a few Kimbers, and a few have seen hard use. They all have been flawless.

Saint77, I have to discount your experience slightly, as you bought the gun used, and by the parts that were replaced, it sounds as it the previous owner was a tinkerer without a clue.

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There is at least one troll claiming to be from Texas. Man up coward, confront me like a man.

limatunes

Which Kimber???

Collectively we've had four Kimbers: A Stainless Ultra Carry in .40, a Pro CDP II in .40, CDP Compact and an Ultra CDP both in .45.

The Stainless Ultra Carry and the Pro CDP II were both HORRIBLE and by horrible I mean HORRIBLE guns.

My first day at the range with that Ultra Carry made me want to throw it in a lake.

EVERY SINGLE SHOT through the thing was a failure to do something. A failure to feed, to eject, to extract. Double-feeds, stove-pipes, failures to go into battery, you name it. I was so frustrated with the thing I literally wanted to take it back to the store THAT DAY and DEMAND my money back.

I put $400 dollars into getting it smithed and when it came back it was better but it still had failures, jams and issues. Not wanting a gun that was simply not proving reliable, we sold it.

We put more than enough rounds through it for break in, we had it smithed, we changed mags, we did everything you CAN do to a gun to make it work and it never did (at least not to a defensive handgun standard). Who would want to keep such a gun?

My husband's Pro CDP II was about the same experience.

When I bought the Ultra CDP I was VERY (and I do mean VERY) skeptical. I swore that if the gun had so much as ONE hiccup in 500 rounds I was getting rid of it and never getting another Kimber for the rest of my life.

It has probably had three times as much through that and it still hasn't had a failure.

The thumb safety did break (or was about to break) and I replaced that, and the extractor did need tuning after I noticed my brass was getting chewed up and finding brass marks on my ejection port, but other than those two issues I've been very pleased with my little Ultra. I'll never get rid of it.

So, out of the four Kimbers we've had two (meaning 50%) have been lemons.

If I ever buy another Kimber, which is doubtful, it is going to get the full brunt of my skepticism until it has proven itself beyond a doubt. If it gives me even a fraction as many problems as I've experienced with other Kimbers I'm going to get rid of it faster than you can say, "Kimber."

I have other trusted friends who've also had both very wonderful and very poor experiences with Kimber and it only stands to prove that you can get either greatness or crap from Kimber, you just have to decide whether it's worth the risk or not upon purchase.

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Limatunes' Range Diaries

retsupt99

My Kimbers have been flawless...I might note that I seen friends with $2500 pistols that had to go back for work...no such thing as a perfect pistol.

My EDC is an Ultra CDP II, and I do trust it with my life!

Stay armed...everyone has an opinion (they're like belly buttons, or something, everybody has one...)...stay safe!

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"That I cannot do."

"Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks."


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NRA Life Member

bmwaddicted

I have have three Kimbers. I started with a Eclipse Pro Target 2. My first time to the range with it I loved it. Very accurate, reliable pistol. I liked it so much less than a month later I bought a CDP pro to have one a little less heavy to carry. Unfortunately, the CDP has had one jam since new. It has had 3000+ rounds through it, so I think that jam happened because I hadn't cleaned it in awhile. The last one I have is a ultra aegis in 9mm. I was skeptical about getting any 1911 in less than a 4" barrel. Im, so far, very happy with it though. I took it out to the range yesterday for the first time. I ran 250 rounds through it and had no problems. I think if you buy a Kimber you will be happy with it.

arawn

Nary a problem with my old girl, a Gold Combat stainless (pre-series II)



B.

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Diary of a Bad Dog

BentLink

'Got my Kimber .45 in 2002, some would suggest that their quality has been in decline recently. I'm pleased with its performance, particularly accuracy and trigger right off the shelf. I did find one Semi-Wadcutter bullet geometry that it objects to from time to time. With FMJ and a all the defensive options I've tried, it works with zero problems. I run Chip McCormick shooting star mag's and they tick right along.

The frame has a full cut for the slide catch that goes through the rails, in contrast to my Springfield 1911A1 that has a hole that leaves the rail intact. My engineering-cap thinks that Kimber's got a crack waiting to happen there, but their testing a few thousand rounds say not to worry.

Like any mechanical device, perfection is a tall order. Like any 1911, the design has potential to be great...but it may need a little expert tweaking.