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Thanks for the heads up and for your service!



Luckily...I don't need to send it anywhere. It was suffering from a severely overused spring. To be safe I just ordered a new whole recoil spring assembly, and a pack of new springs. I polished the feed ramp slightly just to be safe, and installed the new spring and it's running like a dream. It was a pleasure to shot and it was driving tacks like a good 1911 should.

All in all, I must say it was an interesting process throughout. I learned a good bit about troubleshooting the 1911 platform (my Colt just works) and I got a ton of practice clearing malfunctions. I won't miss those times though. The gun is reliable enough now for me to carry confidently. I also feel clear selling it with a clear conscience, knowing that it's running right. I'm looking to pick up a Colt CCO (I like the commander length slide) so this one is going up for sale.

I'll post a separate thread in the for sale section, but anyone who wants to try it and see is more than welcome. I may talk myself into keeping it because I'm so happy with it. We shall see.

Will also try shooting from a rest. Results to follow.

Oldgringo wrote: I know how long you've wanted and then waited on this pistol. I certainly hope it all works out for you and soon. ITMT, please stick with your Glocks for carry purposes.

Without a doubt, but don't forget the Khar!

Oldgringo wrote:Folk, I'm sorry but IMO, a pistol costing as much as any Kimber costs shouldn't be having the problems y'all refer to in this thread. What's that Texas expression, "All hat and no cattle"?

Yes, I do own a Kimber but it sure ain't my CCW.

It's not new. All 3" 1911s have issues running long term without TLC. The timing has to be ridiculously perfect to work right. Since the round count on this gun was unknown when I got it, I'm having to work on it to get it where I want it....AND...it's looking more and more like I may be the issue. Hundreds of hours of shooting glocks in schools might be catching up with me.

Excaliber - I'll try that later tonight, I'm about to head out to the door to work off duty at the ER. I'll post follow up tomorrow.

I shoot right handed, and my left thumb rides under my right, and the right thumb is on top of the safety now, to prevent it from getting nudged while firing. When cycling manually it just seems sluggish or the round gets tripped up trying to enter the throat of the barrel. This is why I'm swapping the spring pack. I have 3 Wilsons that I'm running it with now, and the issue is across all 3. I was thinking about getting Chip McC mags but am hesitant to by more mags for a 3" 1911 when I'm sort of wanting to get a commander size now.

I'm using Speer Lawman, Federal, and Gold Dots, in Wilson Combat (I think 47c) mags. Thumb drag on the slide now that it's on top of the safety is possible, but I would recognize that I *think* because I'm analzying every aspect of this gun shooting. Im getting the malfunction at least once per 7 rd mag, never the first two shots, rarely the last. Lube is CLP during and after cleaning. I bring Militec 1 to the range for when the gun is hotter.

I'm off this weekend. I'll get the new spring pack, try it out, and then wait for the smith to get in town if that doesn't work. If anyone close wants to give it a run, I'm game, but I'd prefer a very experienced shooter. I've been shooting 1911s since I was little, and have been through weeks of firearms training and this has me stumped. That said...it is really getting in my head that she was able to fire it flawlessly. I'm leaning towards selling it just for the mental relief I have it listed on TGT to see what interest I'll garner, but I'd only close a deal after the buyer was able to shoot it and have it run.

Thank you Exaliber (and others) for your input! Keep it coming.

mbw wrote:There is probably nothing wrong with your barrel. Is it a new barrel or your old barrel that was fitted to your old slide?

It is a brand new slide assembly. It had an external extractor, and I was getting constant FTEs. I attached images from the top and bottom with a round in the extractor. It is not flush against the breech, but it is pretty snug. It is snug more on the left side against the frame, more so than the tension working against the breech face.

Break in is done, problem still lurking. Might be me, but I'm not sure. A few weeks back, one of the owners of my LGS tried it out, and she didnt' have any problems. We figured my thumb might have been nudging the safety up during recoil, which caused it to drag on the slide, slowing it down and making it not go back into battery.

Since then I've been riding one thumb on top and one on bottom to take that aspect out of the equation. I'm not limp wristing. It's been clean and extremely wet every time, and the problem remains. Since the round count was unknown, I have an entire new recoil spring assembly coming (swap the whole thing and be sure). I also noticed some fouling near the barrel. I believe the barrel, throat, and feed ramps need some polishing. Also the sides of the barrel might need to be opened up to assist in feeding hollow point ammunition. Bill Wiseman, the local gunsmith extrodainaire, is out of town for a week and a half, but I'm meeting with him when he gets back. Until then....any ideas from you folks?

Pics:
Live round almost chambered but slide stopped short:


Barrel throat and burr:


When it would fail to go into battery, I drop the mag, and the following round is pushed forward and has this dimple on it - every time:



Cycling rounds through manually is not smooth either. It's messing with my head though, that a few weeks back the store owner was able to run 3 mags through it no problem, and Kimber said their LE division tested it with 10 mags of various duty and ball loads prior to returning it. If it is me, I may be selling it. I've never had a problem with the previous Ultra I owned...this one is giving me a fit. It looks great thanks to the new slide from Kimber. I have a new spring assembly coming friday. Maybe that will help. So weird...

Well...

Traded one set of problems for another. New slide means new snug fit. Now it's failing to go into battery consistently. About once per mag, sometimes twice. I have a pic to share but I'll get to that when I can.

Oil helped. Need to find a good spring pack for a 3" Kimber if anyone has any ideas.

Also may try AndyC's fluff and buff too.

800 rds is nothing IMO for a gun. No cleaning, in the weather, maybe, but most modern handguns are capable of many thousands upon thousands of rounds.

This gun had the flawed external extractor design. No longer...it now was the standard internal extractor.

Kimber is in. I just woke up so I'll pick it up on the way to work.

Hopefully get to shoot tomorrow.

6.5 weeks later.

Just got the call. It shipped out today to my LGS and will arrive early next week.

Free, new custom slide installed w internal extractor.

Will eat my words after a range day and dept qual.

One month later...


The only updates I have gotten are when I called Kimber and inquired about the gun. But, things are looking brighter. Today I heard that they are making a new slide for it, and they haven't mentioned any cost to me, so that's nice.

Downside is it will take longer than originally planned. Upsides: the only holster wear was on the slide, and it should actually extract when it comes back.

Updates to follow.

Also...this is for off duty use.

On duty we are issued G21sf's.

I'd guess a couple thousand maybe?