I'm seriously considering picking one of these up while there are still some left. I'm not sure Kimber will make another, and I like the aesthetics of it more than the Eclipse with the black-out treatment. I've never owned a Kimber, and have heard both good and bad, which seems to be the case with any gun. So I'm wondering if anyone here owns one and what they think of it. Interested in reliability, break-in, accuracy, etc.
Thanks
Get one! Next best thing to a Dan Wesson.
I don't believe I have ever heard of someone with a problem that Kimber did not acknowledge and make right. There are people that have problems with some of the MIM parts Kimber uses, and it is true that those parts may only have half the life of solid steel....But when the solid steel part has a lifespan of 500,000 rounds, only getting 250,000 before the MIM breaks is still many lifetimes of shooters for 99% of the guns they sell.
Sorry I can't be of any direct help toward answering your question(s). Just wanted to mention that if I ever bought a 1911 style 10mm Auto platform, it would be the Kimber Stainless Target II. I also like the look of it better than the blacked out look of the eclipse.
One of the biggest attributes (IMO) of the Kimber Stainless Target II pistol is that it seems its barrel has the most supported barrel chamber of any barrel in any gun chambered for the 10mm Auto, and not only the most supported, but also the most amount of barrel steel surrounding the barrel chamber. Awesome if you're into souped up 10mm loads.
Anyway, hopefully you'll get some good answers to your questions. Hope it works out for you, then maybe you could be our 10mm Kimber authority around here. If it does work out for you I'll be interested in hearing about your experiences/likes/dislikes about it, as the case may be.
Happy New Year.
I had one and highly recommend it.
As Redline mentioned, the chamber support is phenomenal. The gun I had just flat out shot and shot well. The adjustable rear sight (the reason i chose the ST-II over the Eclipse) allowed me to dial it in with my chosen load and literally lose the center of the target. I shot what has been considered by some to be as hot a load that can safely be fired in 10mm and it handled them with ease.
I also punished this pistol on purpose by shooting 1500 rounds out of the box without cleaning it. Some here will remember. I was a Kimber skeptic and wanted to see what it would do. It didn't disappoint.
I sold the pistol last year and the new owner (and his wife) has been pleased since the day he got it.
Deadguy, gonna ask the obvious question. If you like the gun so much, why did you let it go?
(Not questioning that there may have been a motive, heavens knows I have my share of guns I either had to sell, or regret selling.)
Several reasons Sq.
The original reason i bought it was to shoot 10mm in a 1911 platform while waiting for my Fusion 10mm CCO to be completed. I sold it because I wasn't going to shoot it much after getting the CCO. I also had no need or desire to shoot nuclear loads anymore. Sort of a "been there done that" type situation for me.
I had also reached a point where if the gun wasn't carried or shot, it would be sold. 10-15 other pistols suffered the same fate for this reason. I pooled all of that money into 2 custom built 1911s that do get carried and shot. As a consequence, the CCO sits in the safe now. However, because it too was a custom build, and is my lone 10mm, I will keep it.
Quote from: Deadguy on January 05 2013 07:07:09 AM MSTThe gun I had just flat out shot and shot well.
I also punished this pistol on purpose by shooting 1500 rounds out of the box without cleaning it.
If you recall, how do you rate the trigger? Clearly you used it enough to get a good feel for it and have had many guns over time to compare it to, not to mention the two custom 1911s you make use of now. So again, with as much detail as you can remember, and from as many aspects (take up, over travel, break, weight...) as possible, in your well earned opinion, does Kimber use a trigger setup worthy of being on a +$1000 platform, or did they chince even a little bit?
Forgot to ask a general question about the Kimber 10mms. I probably knew at one time but forgot. Is the Kimber single action?
Single action only with Swartz (sp?) firing pin safety.
I'm VERY spoiled on these custom triggers. The Kimber trigger was comparable to most production 1911s I've had. I'd rate it around a 5-5.5# pull, with proper take-up and a crisp break. No creep or noticeable over travel.
It's on par with most pistols in this price range, and, with a small amount of work, could rival that of more expensive models.
Thanks for the feedback. 8)
My pleasure.
Thanks for all the good comments and feedback. Now that I'm hunting for a 1911, I'm also taking a look at the Tactical Hunter from Fusion, which I've seen recommended many times on this board. Has me wondering if I shouldn't just go the extra $. Hmmm
Quote from: arttyszka on January 05 2013 06:50:38 PM MSTThanks for all the good comments and feedback. Now that I'm hunting for a 1911, I'm also taking a look at the Tactical Hunter from Fusion, which I've seen recommended many times on this board. Has me wondering if I shouldn't just go the extra $. Hmmm
LOL Those are the funnest type of decisions to be forced to make! It's win win no matter the outcome. 8)
What barrel length is the Tactical Hunter from Fusion offered in? Longslide 6"?
Yep, 6" long slide. Seems to be the same frame as an STI? I'm debating buying the kit and really learning how a 1911 goes together. The only thing close I've ever had was a Belgian Pre-war Hi-Power (that I sold and now regret) but never spent much time with it.
I always tell myself and friends "you can't put a price on your family's safety." ;D I've never bought a handgun this nice (or expensive) so it's not going to be an impulse buy like usual.
Building a 1911 is fun, at least to me. The Fusion kits are great since the hard fitting is already done (Frame-slide-barrel). That is definitely a great way to go. But, based on my price sheet last time I ran the numbers I was several hundred above the cost of a Kimber.
I own a Eclipse and it has been a great gun. Very good chamber support. Handles all loads thrown at it. I looked at several Kimber 10's including a couple stainless II's. I bought this one because it had the best trigger and fit and finish of them all. There was quite abit of difference even with the same models.
I love my Kimber stainless target II! I got it as soon as it was available! I haven't shot it nearly as much as many here shoot, but it's performed flawlessly for me! I'm not an expert shooter, but i find the trigger is very nice! It's a pistol i will never sell.
I'm beginning to believe the Kimber line of 10mm pistols are one of the best kept secrets going.
I have the Kimber Eclipse 10mm and is one of my favorite pistols. It's a joy to shoot.
Welcome to the forum Stkx66! Good to have another 1911 10mm fan here.
I went to the LGS to drop off my Supercitation for some trigger work and this was sitting in the case. At $1048 it was like an omen since I've been seriously considering it and watching them on Gun Broker. Unfortunately I have too much to do today and tomorrow getting ready for a snowmobile trip to get to the club and shoot it, will have to sit unfired until next weekend which is killing me. Looks like 100% chamber support to me, though I don't load nuclear.
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And the chamber support.
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Just measured the trigger, a clean 4.25 pound break. The only odd thing is that the mag that came with it doesn't like anything over 1.255. I had some GDHPs loaded up at 1.26 and they get stuck in the middle of the mag, usually by the 4th or 5th round down. That's something I didn't expect.
Quote from: arttyszka on February 09 2013 11:08:59 AM MSTThe only odd thing is that the mag that came with it doesn't like anything over 1.255. I had some GDHPs loaded up at 1.26 and they get stuck in the middle of the mag, usually by the 4th or 5th round down. That's something I didn't expect.
I wouldn't have expected that either. Otherwise it sounds like a very nice handgun.
Yeah, I'm not sure if that's a bad magazine or typical of a 10mm 1911. Kimbers only come with one mag and of course the LGS was sold out and I can't find any online so it may be a bit before I can try another mag.
I had a friend here locally with a Kimber 10mm, and his was not favorable to stuff loaded 1.260 either. In fact, that is how I came to have my one non-Lee bullet mold. The WFN design wouldn't feed in his Kimber.
Quote from: arttyszka on February 10 2013 08:30:08 AM MSTYeah, I'm not sure if that's a bad magazine or typical of a 10mm 1911.
Yeah. It does just seem weird though, at least to me. I wonder if there is reasoning behind Kimber keeping that magazine spec so tight. Anyway, both my Glock 20 and 29 model magazines are good for an honest 1.270".
Yep, my Glock 20 will eat just about anything. At some point I'll try a couple other magazines and see what happens. For now I've field stripped, cleaned and oiled it 5 times in the last 24 hours. More than just a little OCD. :-X
Quote from: arttyszka on February 10 2013 10:58:01 AM MSTMore than just a little OCD. :-X
Nothing wrong with that. 8)
I ordered 3 magazines from Fusion, they're Metalform mags and don't have the OAL issue the Kimber mag does. BUT two of the 3 were too tight in the lip area, the stamped ridges were pinching the brass and were so tight they wouldn't feed reliably. So I disassembled them and bent the lips out a tad, all is good now, except for the fact I still haven't shot it. It's cold as hell here in MN at the moment, so I may break down and go to the indoor range, but recovering my brass there isn't easy and I'm not crazy about waiting an hour or two to get a lane. Man am I spoiled . . .
It's not so much the end of the world when we can simply adjust feed lips. What sucks is the first issue you brought up where even cartridge overall length within spec is hampered. Glad the Fusion mags are good to go now.
The Fusion (Metalform) mags seem to be ok with the slightly longer rounds. Running a couple hundred rounds through it at the range will be the only way to really tell. I'll report back as I get some range time in with this beautiful piece of steel.
Quote from: arttyszka on February 18 2013 09:19:22 AM MSTI'll report back as I get some range time in with this beautiful piece of steel.
Can't wait to hear about it.