My experance with the ultra!
I have an Ultra CDP II currently but have done massive changes to it that fit's me better which is much closer to the Ultra carry now. I bought it used because I wanted the internal extractor and the CDP was the only one I could find at the time.
I would caution you against the UCDP or the Tactical Ultra for several reasons.
To start I would highly recommend that you find one that has the internal extractor! Kimber's external design was/is a poor choice in the less than 5" models. Kimber has had way to much problems with them, have gone through 3 different extractor designs and have all but given up on the Ex and are now starting to work the line back to the internal design that should have never been changed in the first place. Ex owners that have sent their gun in for warranty work for extraction problems are being sent gun's back fitted with a new internal slide altogether.
Why not the CDP or the Tactical?
Because there is a lot of unnecessary fluff on those models, just as you said in your post there is not that much of a difference in them and Kimber throw's the "CUSTOM SHOP" roll mark on the slide and charges the consumer 250.00 - 300.00 more for the gun.
The CDP's black frame does not have a durable finish and is easily marked up and will show the bare aluminum. The ambi safety is unnecessary for carry, the fat custom rosewood grip's are not practical for a carry piece. The CDP does have the melted slide but is the wrong gun to buy for carry IMO.
The Tactical is in the same category as the CDP, although they look cool and pretty there is no carry advantage to them, in fact there is more of a carry disadvantage with them.
Black Ultra Carry! nice gun but not a durable finish for carry, if you want the black and you don't care about the finish rubbing off in the area's of the slide that will rub the inside of the holster. Also just by use the finish will wear/fade in area's touched multiple times.
Best Choice,
The Ultra Carry in stainless steel internal extractor! to me is the right gun for carry in the 3" Kimber, it's light at 23oz empty, durable finish in stainless, no magwell for better concelability, night sites if you want and I can't see why you wouldn't for a carry piece. No ambi safety to get in the way of carry, and the price is right.
What I did to my UCDP! Like I said I bought it slightly used for the internal extractor @ $700.00 I couldn't find an internal SS-UC, took it home shot 500 rounds through it had perfect extraction but some FTF issues. The gun came with Wilson mag's as well as the Kimber. I ordered Tripp Cobra mag's to try and help the problem due to the Cobra mag angles the round slightly upwards aiding it into the barrel chamber. This still did not help with Feeding 1 out of every two mags would stick to the feed ramp. I then took it to my local smith (Otto Matyska) it also helps to have a smith like him close to you. While it was there I kept adding to it as the week's went by.
First'
I had Otto due a reliability tune, check the barrel alignment, and do a trigger job to 3 1/4 # pull.
After thinking about it while waiting I decided to change a lot more with the gun to make it what I really wanted. I then changed the following,
1) Changed out all MIM small part's.
2) Changed the plastic MSH to an Ed Brown MSH made from bar stock.
3) Brown single sided thumb safety, slide stop and mag release.
4) Replaced the FP to a Brown allowing the Series II Schwartz FPS to be eliminated.
5) Wolff springs throughout.
6) Added Slimline Aluma Grips.
7) Changed the extractor to a Brown and tuned to the gun.
8) Hard Chromed the Frame, internals and mag's.
I stayed with the Meprolight night sites because I like them and didn't see a need to change them.
I just got my gun back on Nov 18th and have shot it a few times with about 500 rounds through it and it's now 100% reliable.
Reason why I am telling you all of this is because I should have waited for an Ultra Carry in stainless with an internal-ex and night sites, done a reliability tune, 3 1/4 # trigger job, changed the FP, and new MSH, Wolff springs, Aluma Grips and called it good. MIM parts don't bother me that much but thought I would go all out the first time with my CDP. Doing the UC-SS would have saved me approximately $600.00, but I didn't know I wanted to change all what I did at the time.
You may not be like me and need to change things as I do/did, I want a reliable gun for carry and if I can make changes to make it better then I will, the big names do not offer a 3" model, a custom would have been more practical to do but as I said if I could have read the future I would have done that instead.
Sorry so long but I wanted to save you from a potential mistake, it could be that the CDP or Tactical could be for you, but maybe not either. I hope my experience with them can guide you in your decision process with a little more knowledge with them.
Ti.
Oh, I would love to post a pic of the finished product, but my camera has taken a dive on the concrete sending it to repair. I would love to change out all the plastic and MIM part's on that too. :biggrin: I will post a pic as I bought the gun the day I picked it up, look's nothing like it today.
