Disappointing 1st time at the range with Kimber Ultra Carry

[Mike from Texas]

I finally managed to get to the range for the first time with my new Ultra Carry yesterday. I had heard of FTF and stovepipe problems with the 3" 1911s but was hoping mine would be different. I was wrong. Out of 150 rounds shot, I had a failure to go into full battery on almost every magazine . It would usually happen when putting in the 1st round into the chamber or when the last round in the mag was going into the chamber. One of the magazines was the factory mags and the other was a Kim Pro TAC mag. I was shooting 5 at a time so I shot roughly 30 mags through the gun so I would say that I had at least 25 hang ups. That's not good for a defensive weapon.

I don't know if it would have made a difference but I did not strip and clean it before taking to the range. I won't get terribly concerned until I get at least 500 rounds through it but I hope it gets better soon. BTW, this was shooting 230 grain ball ammo through it. I haven't even tried any hollow points or other ammo.

[HighVelocity]

I know it's disappointing but, you said it yourself, got to put 500 rounds down range first. (should've cleaned and lubed first too)

This is my only gripe when it comes to Kimber. For the price of the gun, they should either A. ship each new gun with 500 rounds of ammo or B. put 500 rounds through the gun BEFORE they ship it. Kimber is not the only company that states there is a break-in period for their pistols but they do seem to have more than their share of teething problems.

As I type this, my 3" Kimber Ultra is on my hip. I am 100% confident that the 8 rounds of 230gr JHP it's holding will cycle though the gun if the call comes. But, as with ANY defensive pistol, it must be thoroughly tested with the ammo you intend to carry in it and prove itself to YOU. I've owned a few guns that never earned that trust from me and I never carried them. My Kimber made the grade.

[TX Rancher]

Wow, that's not good...I wouldn't trust it as a defense weapon either!

It definately sounds like something could be wrong. Even marginal 45's seem happy with 230G hardball ammo.

Both my wife and I have Kimber Ultra's and they have been 100% reliable right out of the box.

If you bought it from a store, try going back and talking to them about the problem. Many gun stores would willingly help you find a solution.

If it appears to be the fault of the Kimber, and not the mags or ammo, I suspect Kimber would be interested in making good on their product. I can't speak from experience since ours have been flawless so far...

Good luck!

[nitrogen]

A friend of mine went to frontsight with a Kimber Ultra Carry, and had similar problems with hers.

Do your mags for the Kimber have the extended floor plate, or is the mag florplate flush with the well? We finally figured out her Wilson mags weren't seating properly, so she was getting FTF's like crazy. She ended up having to SLAM the mag in extra hard. I told her to get the extended floorplates and apparently that helped a lot.

EDIT: What kind of mags are you using, anyway?

[txinvestigator]

I finally managed to get to the range for the first time with my new Ultra Carry yesterday. I had heard of FTF and stovepipe problems with the 3" 1911s but was hoping mine would be different. I was wrong. Out of 150 rounds shot, I had a failure to go into full battery on almost every clip. It would usually happen when putting in the 1st round into the chamber or when the last round in the mag was going into the chamber. One of the clips was the factory clip and the other was a Kim Pro TAC mag. I was shooting 5 at a time so I shot roughly 30 mags through the gun so I would say that I had at least 25 hang ups. That's not good for a defensive weapon.

I don't know if it would have made a difference but I did not strip and clean it before taking to the range. I won't get terribly concerned until I get at least 500 rounds through it but I hope it gets better soon. BTW, this was shooting 230 grain ball ammo through it. I haven't even tried any hollow points or other ammo.

How are you loading the first round? Slide release or pulling back on the slide and releasing?

1911s don't use clips. They use magazines, and I strongly suggest Wilson.

Be sure you clean and lube the gun properly, use Wilson mags, and break it in. (500 rounds).

To chamber the first round you should pull back on the slide and release with a slingshot motion. Be sure you have a good hold on the weapon, a weak wristed hold can cause a malfunction also.

Good luck to you.

[kauboy]

Some people interchange the term. Not that its correct, but it won't destroy the world. He did correct himself later in the post; "30 mags"

We all know what he meant.

Is this a problem with the bigger versions of their 1911s? I've always wanted one and am curious.

[Mike from Texas]

TX Rancher,

I'm going to give the gun the benefit of the doubt because it says in Kimber's manual to strip, clean and lube then start the break in period. I thought it might be fine because it was plenty lubed right out of the box. So, after my range session I went home and field stripped it and cleaned and well lubed the recommended parts per Kimber's manual. I know that if it is a problem with the gun that Kimber will make it right. Just kinda frustrating to pay that kind of money for a gun and have to jump through hoops to make it shoot right.

I really don't think the ammo was the problem, it was Blazer Brass 230 grain FMJ. The mags may be suspect, but the gun only came with one and my shop only had 1 more 7 round Kim Pro mag in stock. I've read good things about teh Kim Pro mags so I went ahead and got it. I plan on buying some Wilsons or Tripps to try out as well. If I can't get it to function right I'll get rid of it and order an STI.

Nitrogen While reading some 1911 forums, this seems to be a hit or miss problem with the Ultra Carrys. Like I said, one of the mags was the one that came with the gun with no extended floor plate and the other was a Kim Pro mag that I did install the small bumper on. I almost always slam the mags home when I load my pistols.

TXI

I fixed the "clips" to "magazines" or "mags" just for you. Picky, picky.

Anyway, I always slingshot the rounds in. I rarely if ever drop the slide via the slide release. I also plan on trying the Wilson and/or the Tripp mags as well. I could have been limp wristing a little but I don't think so. However I was trying a different grip style on the gun because if I really grip it, most of my shots seemed to go low/left. I'm having to adjust from a full size grip on my XD to the smaller grip of the UC. I'm sure I will get it worked out. It's darn sure accurate when it does shoot though. I shot a 50 shot round using the CHL range criteria and I only had 3 shots in the 9 ring, the rest were in the 10 or the X ring. The X ring was basically one big ragged hole when I was done.

Thanks for the input guys.

[yerasimos]

Just for reference, here is a program of thorough testing, akin to what HV was writing about earlier. What I like about this protocol is it gives the gun and ammunition a greater variety of opportunities to malfunction. It gets pretty dense/wordy, so get yourself a comfortable chair and beverage of choice:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs25.htm

[nitrogen]

I'd rather he get "corrected" nicely here, instead of say "clip" at a gun show and have some rabid nut draw down on him, screaming ITS A MAGAZINE FOOL! IT'S A MAGAZINE!"

[Mike from Texas]

Since we're talking about the WC mags, they show 2 different ones for the Officer's size 1911. a 7 round (47) and an 8 round (47D). On the 8 round, does the mag still sit flush with the bottom of the grip with only the base pad showing or does it actually extend beyond the bottom of the magazine well?

[BrassMonkey]

I thought it was called a "bullet holder thingy"... At least, that is what my son calls it...

[stevie_d_64]

I only dabble when it comes to .45 1911 pistols...

Since the only one I have I stole off muh Dad...(he tells me not to fall in love with it, so I only shoot it on occasion)...

Its a full-size clone made by Michigan Arms, and has had some really nice work done on it as I have been told...

Before I aquired it it had sat up on a shelf collecting dust for about 15 years...

So with a little attention, clean-up, new "mags" (Wilson Combat)...It shot so smooth it was like...like...buddah...

I have a nice C-TAC OWB holster for it now...So I am thinking I might take it bak to Dad someday...But I am not sure he'll use it for anything...

Dad is a tried and true S&W Model 410 .40 shooter for concealed carry...I've been trying over the years to get him to actually carry "something" on his person, but I do not think I have been too successfull...I may need some help from y'all...

He finally checked into this website and registered as "MRZEROG"...SO maybe some of y'all could bug him a little and get him to participate some...

Anyway that my .45 1911 story...Long, boring, and way too much information...

[BrassMonkey]

lol, "acquired"

[pbandjelly]

confiscated, more like it!

[fadlan12]

I bought my Kimber UC from a member on this forum, It has been reliable but it was broken in by the time I got it. It could use a trigger job but that does not effect functionality. Another friend had one and it was broken in or gone over at a smith and shot nicely. Several hundred rounds really polish up the feedramp and break it in.

Its a good gun.