Is Kimber Still Relevant? Kimber LW Night Patrol
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- linktr.ee/TNRay
Hey y'all! Thanks for tuning in and checking out my video review of this Kimber Light Weight Night Patrol 1911! Huge thanks to SMGA for making this review possible, make sure you go check them out!
Gun.Deals link: bit.ly/3hh8u75
Please feel free to leave a like, drop a comment below, and subscribe before you click off! Also check out some of my other videos, you might find something you like buried in there.
Thanks!
Make yourself better today!
My Kimber Classic Royale blue that I bought in 1998 will eat absolutely anything including lead semi-wadcutters. Sadly I would never buy any Kimber made after 2000. If there is a reliable Kimber made after 2000, it's purely by accident, not by design.
Lol this is the best comment on this video!
I had a Kimber pro covert II a few years back, it ate anything I fed it, cheap or quality ammo and even fed reliably with cheap $20 special mags from the local gun store. I listened to internet hype and sold it, wish I hadn't..
Sold mine for a PPQ45 never regretted it
I worked there you are right kimber is pure shit now
@@darthtyranus7683, love my PPQ M2 .45
I purchased that exact model to use as my EDC. Have put a couple hundred rounds through it on a couple occasions and have had zero hiccups. I rolled the dice with the mixed reviews Kimber receives. Glad I took the chance. Such a wonderful gun to shoot. Much nicer than the Glock I was carrying. I would say this 1911 is as enjoyable as my PT99AF.
Glad you’ve been lucky with it so far!
Make sure your family knows so they can sue kimber when your gun fails and you are killed by the bad guy
200 rounds, and you're confidently carrying it?
@@mattwhiteyanks1 On a couple occasions. I'm HOPING that means like 400. There is a break in period. I tried to send my Para Ordnance back immediately because it wouldn't shoot hp's. He laughed and said keep shooting. And something about finding the right ammo for me.... well it shoots anything now.
Own this same 1911. Never had an issue with it chambering rounds ball or hollow points, clean, dirty, dry, or fresh oiled up. only time I’ve had issues with loading is the factory mag. Went dented around where the 2nd round would sit. Caused it to double eject(spent shell& last live round). It’s had 2k rounds through it now and I trust it to save my life. Being a tow truck driver it has a rough life. The slide finish is my only complaint besides the factory mag I got with it.
That’s great man, I’m glad you’ve barely had issues with yours! Seems like you might be in the minority there though!
@@TNRay See.....
Have had this exact gun for a while now and only used Wilson Combat mags in it and it shoots any ammo I feed to it, fmj or hollow points. About 1200 rounds deep now no issue whatsoever
That’s awesome, you seem to be the minority though!
@@Dunlopster but why should I need to spend money on an aftermarket magazine for it to run? It should run from the factory 😉
i agree i have the same model for awhile now and only use wilson mags.. no issues whatsoever ..very nice shooting gun in 9mm..last week i bought another one cause they work great and decent prices..
@@TNRay most 1911 shooters tend to run Wilson Combat magazines for similar reasons. 1911s aren't Glocks or Sigs, they're finicky and picky.
I bought a kimber shadow ghost lw which is the aluminum frame in 45 acp. I’ve got around 600 rounds through it and I’ve run nothing but brass through it. The only hang up I’ve ever had was a failure to feed with a hollow point. Which 1911s are known for. The gun has done great for me. Very accurate. Knock on wood.
I’m glad you’ve got a good one! Hopefully it stays that way.
I have the shadow ghost .45 also and it is accurate and reliable with all types of ammo.
@larrnew awesome. I didn’t say all kimbers suck, I just said I don’t recommend them because their QC is notorious for not being good. As seen in the comments section here, some people get one that runs flawless and some people have to send them right back to the factory out of the box
@@TNRay I didn’t accuse you of saying that all kimbers suck…I simply stated the experience I have had with mine! Sorry if that offended you!
@larrnew you didn’t offend me at all, promise!!
I am just use to the comments on this video trying to take up for the gun’s issues, my apologies.
I bought the LW stainless and have put hundreds of rounds through it with no problems at all...I did buy a Wilson Combat mag...and use it.
Glad you got a good one!
I purchased the Kimber micro nine about a year ago. I wanted to use it as my EDC. When I first got it, the magazine kept dropping out. It would regularly misfire and misfeed. Sent it back to Kimber, and they practically redid all the springs, and replaced a few other parts. Got it back to me in less than a week. I was so pleasantly surprised that I wrote Kimber a letter thanking them for the work they did, but this is the way it should’ve come out originally. Summing it up, the gun has been absolutely flawless since I got it back, a little over a year now. I Carry it every day without a hiccup. Regards, Peter from Miami. 😎
Hey Peter thanks for the comment!
I’m glad they made it right for you, but these issues shouldn’t be as common straight from the factory! 👊🏼
First fired a 1911 for the first time when I was 10. When I came of age, I more than dabbled into Kimber:
5” Raptor blued, 5” Eclipse Target II, and the Gold Combat II Limited Edition. I ranged with them very often and they were mostly ok with small nitpicks in quality like the checkering looking like it was done on a Monday and the Gold Combat LE having to be sent back for bore being not totally concentric and having dead lamps in the rear night sight (bought new). I sold all the Kimbers after I got into Nighthawk Custom.
Man.. that’s awesome! The Nighthawk pistol I’ve had the opportunity to shoot was phenomenal. If you haven’t seen that video, check it out! The quality, fit and finish, and design are hard to beat
Bought this exact gun couple of months ago. Haven't had an issue with it, as far as feeding or firing goes. Minus the fact it shoots a little low and right, and the red fiber sight fell out within 150 rounds. Outside of that, she runs fine.
Glad you’ve had a good experience with yours! Kinda shows that their QC needs to get back in check lol
@@TNRay Indeed! I was disappointed when I saw that front sight fall out. Guess that's why they sent 2 more front sight beads with the gun 😅
No kidding! I had an m&p performance center shield that wouldn’t retain them either
I just bought a Custom 2 and took it to the range yesterday. Shot about 100 rounds of two different brands of brass ammo. Had no malfunctions. It ran great
That’s awesome, glad you’ve had good luck out of it
Confidence built after 100 rounds? You're a trusting soul Mr.Brown.
i just bought a kimber LW arctic. gun runs great right out of the box. love it. shoots brass with no issues
Glad you had good luck with it
I own several 1911s. Two of which are kimbers and they have ran very good for me. I just had my Smith P/C 1911 out this past weekend. I ran every 1911 mag I own through it from smith, kimber, springfield and wilson combat without a hiccup.
I’ve heard wonderful things about the S&W 1911’s
Only issue I've had with steel in any of my .45's (including this pistol) is when i shoot steel first and then go to brass.
The steel cases don't expand as much as the brass cases, this is a fact in even high pressure cartridges and is even more pronounced in the low pressure 45acp.
This means you're getting all manner of fouling in your chamber from the steel case. Then, when you move to brass case you have problems.
Generally speaking, this isn't always the case (I've found anyway) it doesn't seem to matter as much in a "mil-spec" chamber variants.
But once you start tightening those tolerances, then the problems begin.
Hey Michael, that’s great info! But this 1911 had already been fired many times, many different types of brass case (and only brass case) ammo before I ever saw it. I honestly only tried the steel because I didn’t want to waste brass case if I was gonna have the same issues my friend did. Turns out, the steel case is the only thing it would run reliably, period.
@TN Ray
Ha. That's pretty cool in a way, i guess if i was gonna have a 45 that was picky on ammo types, better for it eat trash only over just the high end fodder.
Wish my Beretta was like that. I love it but dang, i wish it would eat the steel without hanging every 3rd or 4th round.
@@michaelrogers4157 lol right? It’s like an ak… but single stack 45 🤣 problem being, tula and wolf are gonna be no more pretty soon… so then you don’t have any of the junk to run through it unless you’ve stacked it up!
@TN Ray Need to double check but I'm pretty sure there are Romanian plants that have been exporting to the U.S. lately. Seems to be the same quality as Tula. This whole Russia deal should equate to a major boom for them. Look to see more of their ammunition once the pipeline catches up, though im not sure what all calibers they offer at the moment.
@@michaelrogers4157 let’s hope that’s what happens!
I got my Kimber Custom back in 2000. This was before the Series II (firing pin safety) models that I know of. Mine came with a cheap 7 rd magazine that on occasion would fail but I learned early that after market magazines are the way to go. Wilson Combat magazines (though pricey) have been reliably feeding my Kimber for many years. Chip McCormick mags are another one I hear is good. Not sure why Kimber has this reputation for making good 1911s but has cheap mags.
I’ll agree with you that quality 1911 magazines definitely make a difference. But this still doesn’t explain why this Kimber would function flawlessly with steel case and wouldn’t with brass case.
I had almost the exact same issues with mine(Kimber custom lightweight) however it wouldn't really shoot any ammo steel or brass. I wound up loosening the extractor (very easy job to do) and bought a Wilson combat mag because I heard they were good quality. The gun has been working great since.
Awesome!
My main issue is… I shouldn’t have to work on a gun out of the box for it to run reliably.
Thanks for watching and giving some feedback!
@@TNRay, Especially at Kimber prices
@moreme40 facts
@@TNRay I bet the new mags would have worked. Heard that scenario so many times...
I have a kimber custom lw Shadow .45. Great gun, fed over 100 rounds right out of the box with zero problems.
Im glad to hear that, but 100 rounds isn’t enough to call a gun reliable
I have a Kimber LW II Custom 1911, bought it 3 months ago. The barrel bushing was so incredibly tight I could barely move it with the wrench. Sanded it and greatly improved it. Fired 400 rounds of brass ball ammo and haven't had a single feed issue or cycling issue. One problem I have had is I was changing grips and grip bushing came out when unscrewing. Stripped the aluminum threads. I will either have to send it to Kimber or buy a repair kit. Very frustrating on a new gun and very much doubt I would have had this issue with a steel frame.
Oh man! Sounds like they really goofed that one up. They should fix it, if you send it back!
Man. You just saved me 800 bucks. I’m retired LE and all the firearms instructors like to carry 1911s but they all told me to stay away from Kimber because of the same issues. I was about to ignore that but after this, I’ll probably look for something else. Kimber needs to pay attention to the UA-cam community.
Thanks for the comment! Glad I could help out, hope you can find what you’re looking for!
@@TNRay I did. I bought a Springfield Garsan and it’s phenomenal
I own Les Baer, Colt Dan Wesson as well as this Model and a Raptor all pistols need to have a break in period. Glock in the 80s and early 90s had a break in period recommended by the manufacturer.
@@TNRay I found that a lot of times the factory mags leave a LOT to be desired. Been told in the gun store to throw out the mags and buy others..... I wish you could have tried...
@@motoknivesandgunsbyjt Well.....now that is NEVER a bad idea. Although I like the Ronin a little more. Really nice grips, to me.
I have not had any issues at all with mine. That being said, I have only had it a few months. And it about 400 rounds put through it. Still no jams or any other malfunctions.
Glad you’re not having any issues with yours, that’s part of the QC problem though. Some are great and some are not.
I agree with you on that.
Had a plain custom 2 for a while and I had no issues. Traded it for a spare AK. got another custom 2 two tone and lubed it up and it runs good. I also have the Aegis Elite Pro and got it well used for fraction of the MSRP and it’s had 0 issues. Every other one I’ve shot has had hang ups, including my buddies desert warrior. It’s a hassle, you gotta keep them clean and wet and polished otherwise you WILL run into reliability issues
I gave this one as fair of a shake as I could. Sounds like you should be buying lotto tickets, either that or all your luck has been used up on your kimbers 😅
I’ve shot and owned lots of 1911 Kimbers never had any problems, but the trick is not using the factory mags they suck “Wilson Combat” is the 1911 mag !!! they run flawless. This is a problem for many other 1911 makers not just kimber, that is why Wilson Combat designed a superior magazine to fix the feeding problem that plagued the 1911 platform. You would think for pride sake these companies would upgrade there mag design. And whether we like it or not there is some truth to a break in period..
Hey Vincent! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Here’s the thing man, I used multiple different brands of magazines, including some Wilson combats. I agree the Wilson magazines are better, but I still had the same issues with them. As for the break in, yes. I agree a break in is a legitimate thing. Slide to frame tolerances are tighter on most 1911’s than any polymer frame gun. That being said, there’s no reason the pistol shouldn’t still function at 90+ percent during that break in. It’s pretty hard to get through that first 1000 rounds when every other round is a malfunction. Have a great day man
@@TNRay that is good word
@@thetnpickers appreciate it! 👊🏼
@@TNRay yes sir!!
Follow up. It works well now even with hollow points. I like that it's a full sized lightweight and carries well and shoots great now.
Glad it works for you now!
Smoky mountain Gun Ammo shop was my favorite shop but not anymore since the price is usually more expensive than others and they charge around 7% sale tax for out of state customers. Many other online store still don't charge sale tax
I think they had to increase prices because their cost went up, much like other companies have during the last two years. As for the sales tax, all websites are supposed to be charging sales tax for whatever zip code you use for shipping/billing. If others aren’t in compliance with that, it’s gonna bite them on the butt in the future
Great vid sir! I have a RIA Ultra TAC and it did the same thing the first 500-1000 rounds. Now that we polished it up, traded out internals and hand fit stuff it runs good lol
Thank you sir!
That’s almost to be expected from a RIA, no offense. Glad you got it running right though!
A Kimber, for the money, shouldn’t have these issues out of the box 😅😅
@@TNRay exactly!
My son bought the 1911 .45 Stainless LW , approx 400-500 rds in so far & it has issues with brass & fmj ammo. Blazer, Hornady , Sellier & Bellot have been tried!!! Gunsmith friend has done some mild work to it...feed ramp area etc.....still trying but Dammit......makes me love the Canick I have recently fell into lol!!! thx for the info and honest opinion , was on here looking for any info/answers. Side-note , My Colt Commander remains Big Poppa Pimp in this house🤣and my son hates that
Oh man! Hate you’re having issues, hopefully you find the answer. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
Very nice! 🤣
Appreciate the time you take , forgot but will subscribe!!! Thx again cya soon! Rack Up / Stay Ready✌@@TNRay
Heck yeah, I do this because I love putting out information and helping people! Thank you again, stay safe!
This is going to sound really weird but for some reason TulAmmo 45acp is actually really good stuff. I think it's because Russia doesn't really have history with the cartridge so when their engineers decided to load it they knew it would be almost exclusively for North American and Western markets. I actually think they stepped up their quality control a little just to compete with other manufacturers so I'm not really surprised that it worked well in the Kimber. I have several guns that do not like Remington UMC 230 grain FMJ round nose but functioned flawlessly with Remington UMC FMJ & JHP in the 185 grain weight and the 230 grain JHP which is really strange and goes against conventional logic but also goes to show you that you got to get out and shoot your gun to figure out what it likes and remember what it doesn't like. This is important in all guns not just 1911's. Some people might point out that Glocks work with almost everything but that's not true just research glocks and their lack of chamber support resulting in blowouts and explosions I will acknowledge that the differences between CIP and SAAMI in several calibers have been a contributing factor.
I’m not sure about the first part, but would be cool if it’s true.
The rest though, I agree with. Some guns just won’t run certain types of ammo. However, they should run standard ammo. Which the 3 options I tried, including the Tula, are considered standard ammo. 230 gr fmj. If a 1911 is produced that can’t run 9/10 manufacturers loading of the standard loading… somethings is wrong with the gun.
4 Kimber 1911’s over 2k rounds zero malfunctions. Great pistols and look the shit👍🏼 Semper Fidelis🇺🇸
I hope this is all true
You need to learn more about how the 1911 operates so here is a lesson- that type of failure to feed can be caused by an extractor that is too tight. You could adjust it yourself on the range in 5 minutes. If it feeds one brand of ammo but not another then it is likely that there is a slight variation in the rim diameters as produced by the different manufacturers. Any 1911 can have this problem, in fact any plastic gun can have this problem too. It's easy to fix.
Funny enough, Bill, I know exactly how a 1911 operates. The problem is, this is a brand new gun out of the box. It shouldn’t have left the factory with an extractor that needs tuned. Don’t rush to the defense of the mighty Kimber, just because you’re a fan of their firearms. Every company makes mistakes and every company puts out products that shouldn’t have made it past QC. Some companies just do it more than others. You need to realize this is a review, not a “how to gunsmith” video. I’m taking the gun, as it is, out of the box from the factory. Sure, it’s not a hard fix. But it’s a fix I shouldn’t have to do on a brand new gun out of the box. Surely any logical person would agree with that, no?
@@TNRay My opinion too- on a Kimber or S&W I don't think you should have to make your own adjustments. On a Springfield or Ruger maybe. On a Colt or Girsan or other 1911 that costs less than a Springfield, I think you should expect to have to make adjustments. I've seen Glocks that wouldn't run right out of the box so I think you have to consider the price level of the gun, and Kimber is at the price level that it should work out of the box.
It would be interesting to take the steel case ammo that functioned and the brass cased ammo that was problematic and see if there is a measurable difference in the diameter, thickness or shape of the rims. That could pinpoint if it is an extractor issue.
Maybe I’m just blessed with my Kimber as it hasn’t given me any problems really yet and I have shot brass cased ball and hallow points in it in 230 grain and 185 grain.I think the problem is Kimber moving there manufacturing to Alabama and a new group of people having a learning curve there and the tolerances for the chambers are too tight.My kimber is a basic custom 2 gun with ambidextrous safety and Kimber walnut grips made in Yonkers New York.So far 450 rounds through it and only one failure to chamber completely and I think it was due to reloaded ammunition with rough cases.I own Springfield and colt guns too and if it didn’t preform I would get rid of it trust me.I’m a tool and die man and gunsmith also.
Glad yours works well for you
@@TNRay maybe that coating on the steel cased ammo may have worked it’s way into the chamber?Just a thought.Ed
@@edwardstokes1108 that’s not very likely. Somewhat possible, but not likely. If anything, the coating should’ve made the feed ramp slick and helped them feed better
@@TNRay just conjecturing but you may be correct as it something I find unacceptable and strange.
@@edwardstokes1108 hey Ed, I appreciate you having intelligent conversation with me regarding the issues of the pistol, rather than being foolish like some other commenters and only believing fault could be in my hands. I honestly thank you
I have the same exact gun and I had the same issue those kimber mags suck and got a Wilson combat mag and I feeds Soo much better
Good to know! But they shouldn’t sell a gun with magazines that prevent it from functioning 🤣
I got the same gun and it did the same thing. Turned out the extractor was to tight and now it feeds fine.
That’s good to know! I still say the issue shouldn’t happen from the factory, especially as common as it seems.
Bought mine and had the same issue with brass ammo. I won't shoot aluminum cased ammo if I can help it but I hear you on it should shoot all ammo. I had to slap the rear also to get rounds to fully seat in the chamber and a few stove pipes. Actually sent it back to Kimber then changed out the red fiber optic for a green one and have not had a problem since. I will shoot it again soon and let you know if it's still reliable but I agree on old vs newer Kimbers. I have two older models one a Procarry and one a Ultra SIS and both have never failed. You can't really make blanket statements about all the Kimbers.
Seems to be a common trend with this pistol for some reason…
I wasn’t saying all Kimber’s suck, I was just saying their QC is spotty at best and until they get it figured out, they’re not worth buying just to probably have to send back to the factory for warranty work.
Thanks for the comment!
I never had any issue with Kimber
That’s good!
I just put a Kimber costom ii lw with red front sight on layaway hopefully it doesn't suck like the ones I've been hearing about
Hopefully it’s a good one! Check back in and give me an update once you get a few hundred rounds through it
The third round on my brand new 2018 Kimber 1911 got the same situation. Didn't chamber, didn't feed. The round just stood there, half in the barrel, half in the breach. Embarrassing.
Seems to be a common issue for them! 😬
What recoil spring weight does Kimber use. I run 18 1/2 pound springs and I feel it helps with feeding.
Not 100% sure but it looks like they might use a 16lb spring.
That being said, if the recoil spring is a reliability issue, they should be changing that from the factory.
I have 2 Les Baers and 1 Ed Brown, 1 Colt, and 1 Springfield Ronin. Never had any problems with the high end 1911s. Not one problem with the Colt or Springfield. I'll stick to those and leave Kimber to the gamblers.
I’m not sure why the Kimbers are still so popular, sure they look nice but there’s plenty of better options on the market
I have the exact same gun and have had nothing but problems with it. I figured Kimber was a solid company. I will never buy another one. I'm hoping mine can be fixed. I have been shooting ball ammo 230gr
Man! Contact Kimber and hopefully they’ll fix it for you.
My 10mm tle did same think. Never would feed first round nor any other. Had to send it back and i still had to do a little polishing. I shoot the crap out of it with my reloads then ordered a 38 super sig barrel from cdnn for 50.00 and runs like a champ.
Crazy ain’t it!?
Its like they dont test fire their guns. I worked for a sporting goods store and a lady at thompson said they did not test fire rifles. We got one in in 7mm that was not head spaced and not chamber a round.
@@martyinthecounty you’d think a company would care enough to at least put 3-5 rounds through them… and especially check headspace!
I own several Kimbers and all are fantastic performers. I don't care for some of the Kimber creations over the last few years. Lightweight models don't appeal to me, regardless of manufacturer.
The old Kimber pistols use to be high quality. So much has changed. Especially, like you said, when aluminum frames are introduced.
Kimber’s historically don’t like Kimber magazines. Everyone I’ve ever had I just switched to Wilson 47d’s
See… that’s a problem in my mind
@@TNRay you are correct, I have 2 kimber classic stainless in 45. I have LOTS of rounds through them in IDPA matches with no issues ( unless I screwed up) but I can take those same guns to the range and use their mags and I will start seeing the same malfunctioning you experienced.
@williambarnette1049 nice! Just blows my mind that a company would ship out a gun that knowingly doesn’t function out of the box.
@@TNRay I know a gentleman who shoots for Kimber ( or shot) and he says that it’s all a trade off, higher end mag somewhere something is sacrificed.
@@williambarnette1049 oh no… I’d pay $50 more for a gun that comes with mags that run lol
Would y’all recommend the purchase still? Heard a lot of negative things about the gun.
I would absolutely not recommend this specific pistol… There’s plenty of options in the same price range that are way more reliable.
Check out Tisas, I’ve heard great things about them if you’re in the market for a budget 1911.
Saying fudds make you sound like a child. Your Dad and certainly Grandfather were not fudds. Respect and love because they made you aware and were people that made you.
Chris the noble, thank you for gracing me with your comment.
If you do not know my father or my grandfather, how can you speak to their life or their existence? I have a great amount of respect and love for my father. Clearly you haven’t watched any other videos on my channel and you’re making assumptions based on one experience.
The fudds are the ones taking up for a poorly performing firearm in the comments of this video because it’s the same platform they know and love. Regardless of this, the Kimber did not function as it should from the factory, and that’s the fault of the company. There’s no reason for people to become sore in their rear because of true comments I made regarding a material object created by man.
Just out of curiosity did you consider that it might have been the lacquer building up in the chamber that cause the brass ammo to have issues?
It's not uncommon for the lacquer on that kind of ammunition to ruin your headspacing because of buildup
Yes. This was taken into consideration. The pistol was cleaned after this and given multiple chances on multiple days with multiple different types of ammunition.
I have this pistol’s brother - Custom LW Nightstar with the same FTF issues. Additionally, my slide is very difficult to rack. Kimber has in now for warranty work. If it’s fixed to my standards, I keep it. If not, I sell it and will buy a Springfield Garrison. Thanks for a good video!
Man I hate you’re having issues too! They need to get their act together
@@TNRay Agreed! But I am not holding my breath.... Sad part is I couldn't even fire the first round because of the issues.
@@timmccafferty8683 I wouldn’t either. But maybe they’ll surprise us. There’s been a few people say it runs great after they send it back
@@TNRay UPDATE: Kimber had my pistol for one week and returned it. While waiting, I called and spoke with a CS rep who told me the primary issue was the barrel bushing. Something about it being too tight, not to spec, etc. He stated the techs replaced the bushing, re-did the barrel lugs (huh?) and ran four mags of DoubleTap before sending my 1911 to QA for final inspection, cleaning and packing. The rep also stated, "we've had many returned with the same issue." While it appears they fixed my issues, the deeper question is if this problem is so prevalent, how/why are these passing Kimber's "rigid inspections" and being sent to FFLs for later retail sale? As usual, weather and work schedule are working against me so I haven't fired my pistol yet but hand cycling with various mags and various ammo types - no problems! More update after I test her at the range.//TM
@@timmccafferty8683 awesome! Thanks for the update. Since it’s such a common issue, you’d think they would offer a recall or something of the sort to those who purchased the firearm. And for those that will say “that’s not a safety recall”, you’d be wrong 😉 it’s certainly the reason I carry my firearm, for safety purposes… Anyways, thanks for reaching back out and giving an update. Hopefully it’s fixed now. Can’t wait to hear the next update after your range day!
I had the similar results I had. Mine shot hollow points better than ball Ammo.
Crazy isn’t it!?
Was the brass ammo you were trying to shoot flat nosed? Ive noticed flat nose ammo tends to do that on 1911s
No it was not flat nose. It was all ball ammo.
So I bought this same model yesterday on impulse shot brass case flawlessly for the 75ish round I put though it then started shooting super far to the right because the front sight drifted in the dove tail so yeah its on its way back to kimber but other then that happy with it
Glad it seems to be running well for you!
Yeah apparently I have a unicorn in that area for feeding hard to say if it will still be that way after it comes back from kimber after they fix the front sight issue
@@jamesprewitt1501 hopefully they get you fixed up and that’s the only issue!
I just bought the 1911 Kimber CustomII… can’t wait to go shoot it
Hopefully it runs good for you!
My first 1911 was a kimber government model. And it was acting up just like in this video. Kimber is good but their QC isn’t so great anymore. So all I did was polish feed ramp and throat, heavier spring and released some tension off the extractor. Now it runs great. So just a heads up. Might not happen to yours but just in case it does look at those issues.
@@firstimeshooter6590 hey thanks for the comment and good info based off your experience! Since this is a review gun for SMGA, I won’t be making any modifications that would void the factory warranty. Just wish kimber would get their act together lol
All the 1911's I've bought in the last few years seem to have tight chambers. Just run a finish reamer through the chamber, then mirror polish chamber and feed ramp. Problem solved. As far as a competition goes, the LW series has an ALLOY frame. You would never use an alloy frame 1911 for competition.
So the issue I have with this, Jack, is the fact I should not have to do work on a gun out of the box just to make it run reliable. That’s the manufacturer’s job.
And as far as competition, it all depends on personal preference. I know plenty of guys (and I shoot competitively) that prefer not to have steel frame guns because the extra weight is harder to stop on transitions. Sure it helps absorb recoil but there’s some downsides when you’re running the gun fast.
I think it's funny that the 45 is refered to as a fudd round, even though it's younger than the 9mm lol. I shoot both and see no advantage to either over the other. One gives you more capacity and a bit more speed, and one hits harder and puts a bigger hole, so why not do all of those and just get a 10mm lol. Or roll your own like I do and have a 45 going 1300fps without even being a +p.
Lol I only refer to it as fuddy five because it makes fudds mad. 45 is a more than capable round, but for concealed carry purposes it just makes more sense to carry a 9. Something that’s proven to do the job effectively and practically doubles the capacity.
@@TNRay yeah, I mess with the old guys a lot myself lol. Im fine with whatever is put in my hands. Hell, you hand me a revolver and I'll make it work for what I need. Most capacity issues are a moot point as every statistic of a self defense shooting has shown. This is coming from a guy that carries a p10f with +2 base pads so I've got a nice standard capacity of 21+1 lol. At my size, it's a compact lol. But I'd have zero issues carrying a single stack 45 and a couple extra mags. Long as the gun functions properly, it'll serve the purpose. Kimbers are so iffy though that it's just not really worth it anymore. But if you know how to Smith a bit, you can make them work fine with little effort. Shouldn't have to though. Bullet technology has had to help the 9mm be more capable, but that same technology has all but completely avoided the 45. Which is just sad. Reloading solves that issue.
Hey Dakota. Picked up my first Kimber last weekend. It's a 10mm Custom II. I sold a couple things at the gun show, but couldn't find a decent deal on a 10mm there, so I ended up at Bass Pro. The only full size 10mm they had was the Kimber. I, too, have heard mixed reviews on Kimber, but I've heard that new management has helped their quality immensely. After one trip to the range, the Custom II cycled and shot well, but the slide would lock back in the middle of a mag. Might be the Springfield mags or just needs more break-in. Thanks for the review.
Hey! Thanks for watching! Yeah I have a bad feeling it’s gonna be one of those situations where you don’t know what you’re gonna get when you buy. One might work flawless, the next will have issues. Appreciate you leaving a comment and engaging with me!
@@TNRay You bet. How long will you have this one for evaluation?
I only get them for about a month, so I’m pretty much done with this one. It’s got probably close to 700 rounds through it
@@TNRay Did it get better??
@@ibmoose13 it did not…
This comment may already have already been stated but forgive me for not wanting to comb through all the comments. Use wilson combat magazines.
Edit: and yes, i agree the factory mags should work... 100%
But since that ISN'T reality, unfortunately, it is what it is.
Thanks for the comment Greg!
@TNRay i just bought 2 10 round Wilson Combat mags myself, and also just bought a 1911 Kimber Shadow Ghost. I have not yet had the chance to shoot it yet. I'll post my experience soon.
@gregtoler9283 sounds good!
@TNRay so i just got back. I put 250 rounds of fmj through it, and I didn't have a single issue. I used the 4 mags that came with it, the kimber mags. 3 of them were 7 rounds, and 1 was an 8 rounder. It shot accurately and super smoothly. I am getting the 2 Wilson Combat 10 round mags, probably on Wednesday.
Edit: the 2 Wilson Combat is I bought from the Wilson Combat store, so they were being shipped.
@@gregtoler9283 glad you had good results, however, that doesn’t change the fact they have a QC issue across their entire lineup
Purchased that model of Kimber and haven’t shout it yet but I’ll be experimenting with different types of shell casings because of your video. I’m wondering if you just didn’t get a bad batch of brass casings. Did you shoot the pistol with another brand of brass casings?
Thanks for watching and I appreciate you leaving a comment!
I have shot those rounds in multiple different 45’s. They ran fine in the Glock 30S I had, and they run fine in my Auto Ordnance 1911 I own.
I’ve had my custom ii for a while now. The only problem I’ve ever had with it is when I try to rack it like this guy. Maybe I’m not pulling the slide back far enough? When I pull the slide back instead of push it back, I’ve never had a problem, and I’ve run all kinds of ammo through it.
It’s good that you’ve never had any issues, but it has got nothing to do with how I’m racking the slide. Read the other comments and see there’s many other people having the exact same problem I had
Aww I still got the rock island 1911 😞
If it runs, keep it! Lol
Did you try different magazines with the brass ammo? Is it an ammo issue or a mag issue? First thing on any 1911 take it apart and put some decent oil on it. Buy Wilson 8 round mags.
Yes I tried multiple magazines and multiple different types of ammo in all of them.
I have a Kimber Custom Royal older model. Shoots steel case and brass case ammo with no hiccups. 🦅🇺🇸
That’s awesome!
Kimber is not even close to what they used to be. People will go to great lengths to defend their purchase even if the damn thing doesn’t run worth a shit. They still make a good gun, so long as you can get one that actually works. And yeah I get the whole “break in period” argument, but other manufacturers of 1911s don’t have this high of a failure rate straight out of the box.
Yep, you basically expressed my thoughts to a T.
What holster are you using for that gun? I'm looking for one for the range.
I can’t remember what holster this was, but Fury Carry Solutions makes great holsters if you’re in the market!
TNRAY10 saves some dough
I have related my experience with Kimber elsewhere; no need to do it now. I got one of these "NIGHT PATROL" pistols BRAND NEW. Came with a 9MM extractor. Which means it could have never been test fired. Scam. The crap artists at Kimber got their last money from me.
Should’ve never made it out the door from the factory
Kimber mags kinda suck
Lol
People buy a ton of these because they don't do any research and the big-box sporting goods chains stock the shit out of them- "this .45 looks cool, I'll just put it on the Cabelas card!"
Lol you’re exactly right!
And then they go online and bitch that 1911s are unreliable because their shitty bass pro Kimber can't get through a mag without a malfunction..
Again, not wrong. I’ll just say, I’m glad I didn’t spend any money on this pistol 😅 there’s plenty of better 1911’s for the same price point
1911 is the father of all hand guns.. it's stil a classic.
I agree, 1911 is a great pistol. The problem here is reliability. Plenty of other companies have figured out how to make a 1911 run reliably. Kimber does it about 40-60% of the time. That’s what’s wrong.
$800 and it comes with only one magazine!? That is super disappointing. Not to mention the amount of bad reviews it has all over the net
Nailed it!
I have this exact gun and ran over 300 rounds Winchester brass hardball without a single issue.
That’s great!
Over 300 rounds!?
The chamfer on the stripper rail is too sharp and is biting into the top round in the mag. Steel cases are harder and the edge cannot bite into them.
Drop the mag when it is jammed and I will bet that the slide goes into battery.
That could very easily be the issue, but shouldn’t be happening still lol
I like supporting new channels im subscribing
Thank you! I appreciate it!
At the store now looking for reviews. Passing on this one today. Thanks. Any recommendations on 1911s about $1,000?
Glad I could help! I’ve heard/seen great things about the Desert Eagle 1911 series, If you’re wanting to stay under 1k. They’re made by Bul Armory. Which also means, I can recommend the Bul Armory Classic as well 😉
@@TNRay thanks for that. I had Taurus with the rail on my list to look at too.
@@Ninjalocalmarketing you bet! That’s part of why I love doing this!
I would probably avoid the Taurus. Some of them are flawless, but their qc is known to be hit or miss
At that 1k or below I’d say in order 1 Springfield 2 girsan/ tisas 3 rock island armory
What holster are you running in this video?
Can’t remember, think it was a borrowed holster. I use Fury Carry Solutions for everything now.
Kimber just feel slow i don’t know just me
That’s a fair assessment. Some guns are sprung differently and the slide to frame fit can make them sluggish
Colt was getting hate like Kimber is now back in the 80s. Hopefully Kimber gets things sorted out..
Definitely hate to see it, but we also need to hold them accountable
@@TNRay Exactly, they've dropped the price when they could have just upped the QC.
@@motherlovinsnuffstar 100% agree
90% of 1911s have feeding problems the first 500 rounds
This pistol had over 500 rounds
I am so glad my Kimber was built in 1991.
No kidding!
It's junk got it in December 3rd round got jammed in live no doubt took me 5 tries to get it to release. Broke down the gun tried again after 5 rounds same issue. Sent off in January still waiting for it to return paid 789.99. Should have stayed with Sig
Man I hate you had those issues! Hopefully you get your money back quickly
everybody wants to "run" their gun. not sure what you mean.
The number of people I personally know that own firearms, but rarely ever actually shoot or train with them, is astonishing.
I’m not talking about going in the back yard once a year and shooting a magazine through it, I’m talking actual training and improving marksmanship skills and speed
Is Kimber *still* relevant? Kimber's always been a dumpster fire.
They were at least known for being better a decade or two ago than they are now 😂
New Kimbers do that. I have 2 when new did that. if you wanna be a real gun tester you would understand why.. But you jumped down the rabbit hole like a rookie. Run 100 rnds through it. Then you won't have problems. Kimbers are still made tight and all of them do that a few times. Did you clean and lube the pistol before you shot it. That means take it apart and clean it lube it. Fire 100 rounds through it. After that it will run flawless. Don't be a rookie youngster get educated learn you won't embarrass you self.. I carried one in the military. Capt. Young USAF
Hey “Capt. Young USAF”, your military rank has no bearing on your intelligence level or experience level. And besides, if you wanna go all gung-ho military expert on me, you should know that I’m Combat Arms.
Clearly I ran well over 100 rounds through this pistol, and yes it was cleaned and lubricated properly before firing. Get out of the comments if you’re actually listening to the information I’m providing in the videos, rookie.
I have the same one and same feeding problems.
Hate to hear it! Thanks for leaving a comment 😎
I got mine back works good now. Now to do some upgrades.
@@rainkydex1198 that’s great! Glad they got it fixed up for you
I just looked at this at rural king really nice but after this review and others no for me.... I'll pass... I will stay with sig or Ruger I'm not a big 1911 fan only have 2 and are rock island 10mm but was thinking about a 45 one guess I will stay with sig or Ruger.
I recommend checking out the Bul Armory and Desert Eagle 1911’s too, they’re pretty slick for the money!
@@TNRay will do thanks 👍
Friends don’t let friends buy Kimber… My 1997 Pre-series 2 is fantastic… Anything Post 2000, Series 2, fugget about it…
Heck yeah! Get ‘em Lee! Lol
Best damn 1911 I have ever shot period. You people need to stop listening to this guy period. Rookie. Go buy a plastic gun
You’ve clearly never shot any 1911’s worth more than $1,500. Ever shot a nighthawk? You should watch my video on that one. Light years better than this Kimber could ever dream of. “You people” need to stop commenting with your emotions instead of facts. Go buy another Kimber that doesn’t run “rookie”
It didn't have any extractor tension.
The extractor has nothing to do with rounds not feeding from the magazine
@@TNRay it does though…….
@@mrbfox1775 it causes problems with chambering, not fully seating the round. These malfunctions were before the extractor would even touch the base of the case
@@TNRay 6:20 that is your extractor. The controlled feed action of the 1911, the rim slides under the extractor hook before chambering.
@@mrbfox1775 then please explain the difference in the steel case feeding and the brass case not
No. No they are not. Too many other Quality 1911s at a GREAT price with GOOD Customer Service and less issues available these days.
Nailed it! 🔨
Wow, glad I saw this. I Almost bought this exact model today and glad I didn't. Think I'll go for a Springfield or maybe a high end Turkish clone!
Thanks for watching! How much are you wanting to spend?
I’d say go with dan Wesson. Materials are better. Buy a bulk pack of 45 acp shoot at least 500 then shoot a few hundred hollow points and enjoy your gun.
@@hasgunwilltravel6840 great suggestion, depending on Ro’s budget
@@TNRay Well, I decided to buy the Girsan MC1911 Commander 9mm. IMO the quality to price ratio is very good. Been shooting the MC Regard (M9) and it is very accurate and functional. So we'll see how it goes with the MC1911.
@@Chieflywaze I’ve been seeing great things about the Girsan pistols, I’m sure you’ll be happy with it!
You cleared the gun for the camera…thats silly….
I clear any firearm any time I handle it to make sure it’s in a safe configuration. I think the s word you meant to use is safety rather than silly… good day
Rub some oil in your hands, take some rounds and roll the rounds in your hands like your rubbing your hands together. Get a layer of oil on your brass
That won’t fix the poor machining…
@@TNRay It seems with these kimbers are a lottery because some people never have a problems with them.
@@aaronwilkinson8963 yep, that seems to be the case!
So many things wrong with the way you handle a 1911. You should probably learn how to before reviewing them or stick to hi points or glocks that don’t require anything close to firearm competency to manipulate.
Please, internet gun expert, enlighten me. Provide me with examples of where I have strayed. If you mention anything about dropping the slide on an empty chamber, you’ll prove your true lack of knowledge my friend.
@@TNRay Only newbie 1911shooters drops the slide on an empty chamber it's a hundred year old designed pistol not meant for that kind of abuse. This is from 50 years of owning and shooting and reading about the 1911you have live and learn my friend.
@@william1918 listen Terry, I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but just because you’ve been told something about the 1911 doesn’t make it true. It has everything to do with the materials used and the sear engagement if they have a trigger job…
1: modern, mass production 1911’s are perfectly fine to drop the slide on. They’re loose enough to handle it and the engagement should be enough to prevent hammer follow
2: if this was a hand fit, custom, or high-end 1911, then dropping the slide would be more of an issue because of the tighter tolerances and reduced trigger weight…
hey buddy, first time i've run across ya, we're a new channel down in chattanooga, we're up for a collab anytime my friend. We'd love it, you guys close?
Hey there! Thanks for checking out my channel. I’ll sub to your channel for sure, always wanna support local guys!
I’m up near Knoxville, so not too far away!
@@TNRay i'll return that we gotta work together.
I have a kimber lw in 9mm and it runs 100 percent out of the box I have 0 malfunctions in the 2 year that I have it with all kinds of ammo I put through it it's all In the maintenance I don't understand how people expect a gun to run dry or with a random drop off oil here and there you won't buy a new car and drain the oil and drive it hard to prove your Honda Toyota or whatever you dressed up station wagon mom mobile SUV can run why do it with guns if you don don't like a gun from the beginning its not hard to make it fail sure the plastic soulless and classless run good and hold more ammo than a standard 1911 but you can make them fail too I am not bashing them I really like my polimer guns they run great but a 1911 can run just as good if that makes me fud so be it I rather be of the generation this weak video game soy boy generation I am not saying you are but the fud generation put God above all and have a sense of values that this generation just wants to ignore
Listen buddy… I don’t know who you are or who you think I am… but the gun got some lube out of the box and wasn’t running. This wasn’t like I ran 2k rounds and started having problems. I absolutely prefer a 1911 over Polymer guns. Are they the most practical in all situations? Absolutely not. But they’re fun to shoot, and quality 1911’s are absolute machines. This one, however, was obviously not a quality version and that shows a large problem Kimber has been having in the past several years. Go check out my Nighthawk GRP video. That gun is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, but it also runs like a top. Kimber just needs to get their QC under control.
Dropping mags is not a pathway to reliability.
🤣 ok
I drop the mags I run in my Nighthawk on the ground all the time, and it doesn't cause me any issues. A quality gun (not Kimber garbage) with a quality magazine will run even if you do dump the mags on the ground.
^^^ this…
@@sgtwright14 You must be tactical then. Nvm.
@@ge-8135 or maybe he uses his firearms like they’re intended… as a tool not a show piece
Dropping a 1911 slide on an empty chamber? shame on you!
come on now… it’s a $700 kimber not a $3000 nighthawk…
Kimber is Grade A garbage. I’ve seen nothing but issues year after year after year. Change my mind.
You won’t see me trying to change your mind 😉
Do I ever feel stupid. And after more than 50 years of .45s too. I made the mistake of buying a Kimber .45 Custom LW Night Patrol. Just under $800 with the tax. This turkey came with a 9MM extractor! Would not feed ANYTHING in .45 caliber. When I replaced the extractor with a Colt .45 it seemed to run OK. But only 20 shots. Later, during field stripping and cleaning, I found the frame rails are wearing through to shiny aluminum. After 20 shots! This was too much. NO WAY this one was test fired. NO WAY it was ever Hard-coat anodized. I have photos of the extractor and a witness. Calling the factory gets me nothing. I have a letter going in. I am asking for a refund. Will likely get nothing. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER COLT.
It’s crazy to think a company that use to be held in such high regard could completely do a 180 on their reputation. Reminds me of Remington almost
I worked for Kimber for a short time. I’m certain it at least got test fired. They do have a LOTTTT of issues though to be sure.
Tom Goodwin, what type and brand of oil did you put on the rail? i have same model and use wilson universal and grey is on all the rails after 1000 rnds .
I use Rig on just about everything I can. Here’s the thing, yours can run flawless for 1000 rounds, then me and the next guy who got one have serious issues, and then the next guy’s runs fine… it’s a Kimber issue, not an owner issue.
Don't drop the slide on an empty chamber.
Ok Fudd 👍🏼 Don’t rely on old wife’s tales as facts
@@TNRay Stay classy as you have.....Even when right.....Excellent honest review.
@@surgeeclipse6323 thank you
Kimber is the most overpriced chunk of shit made in America
I’m not gonna argue with you 😉
@@TNRay then you know guns!! I worked there and one thing I learned is kimber customers know nothing about guns or they wouldn’t buy that shit
@@laksivrak2203 that’s good to know….
My favorite is the ones who defend them without ever shooting one or better yet, theirs has issues and they still defend them!
@@TNRay every kimber customer since 2000 for sure
it didnt feed because you pulled the slide back like a girl 😆
Or maybe it didn’t feed because the gun sucks and kimber needs to be better
@@TNRay i doubt that... 😆 these guns are cnc machined
@@sparky_-mf2cs I don’t doubt it in the least. Cnc machines cut out to a spec, within a certain tolerance. Look through the rest of the comments on this and you’ll find plenty more that had the same issues. Stop simping for a company that doesn’t care enough about you to make you a reliable gun
@@TNRay i have 3 kimbers and they all work perfectly fine... and everyone that has problems from what ive read kimber resolves them and they have good costumer service( never met anyone with a problematic kimber)...i am not "simping" watever that means to you...my first comment was just a joke but now i see you just wana slander a companies name off of one experience...by no means is kimber bad quality company...its quite the opposite if you do enough of your own testing
I’m glad you got lucky. And sure, customer service has solved most of their issues, because the guns need more work than what they send them out with. I’m not slandering, I’m speaking from years of experience and many different guns than just this one review. It’s a tool, what happens when a tool is known for having poor quality? People usually recommend against buying those tools. Have a great day bud
Let's see, the magazine didn't like the brass cased ammo but the steel case ran fine. did you try maybe changing the magazine and trying that? I noticed that after you ejected that first magazine and put in the 2nd one, there was o more malfunctioning. Is this any sort of a meaningful review? I think not. I would be more interested in seeing how that alloy frame holds up after 1000 rounds. If you can shoot 1000 rounds of .45 ACP and then come back with a review, it would be more meaningful to me. Just saying. Kind of like when Car and Briber does a review on a brand new car and advertises it as better than pockets on shirts. Bring that thing back after even 25,000 miles and see then if it's still running fine like it was in the beginning. I heard that Kimber actually had a "middle-year set of problems until the original owners bought it back from the guys who weren't doing such great work. Try again later man!
You gonna send me a thousand 45 acp rounds to conduct my next review? I didn’t think so.
And yes, I tried multiple magazines and had issues out of every. single. one. You clearly weren’t paying close enough attention, and it’s even more obvious you have no clue how this specific review process works. I received the pistol from a local shop, to test this gun directly out of the box how a consumer would receive it. And this pistol failed from a reliability standpoint, which is obvious from watching the video. I give every gun a fair test. I wipe them down and lubricate them out of the box before range days. It is comical how many ill-mannered comments I have received on this specific video from people who have zero valuable videos on their channel and have never attempted to share their experiences with the world-to help other people out.
Would you like more cope with your seethe? Move along now, if you don’t like the content it’s extremely easy to click off and let rational people continue watching.