Kimber problems

ram1000 · December 09 2014 07:59:15 PM MST

I have been searching for input to my problems with my 10mm Eclipse 2 bought new a few months back. I called Kimber the first time with a couple hundred shots through as it would not feed PMC hollow point bullets but 50% of the time. I also used HSM FMJ and had about 10% FTF with these. Kimber told me to go away till I had 500 or so rnds through it. Well at about 700 rnds now I called them back since still the PMC and Underwood hollow points still FTF about 30-50% of the time. I had polished the feed ramp after my first call to Kimber and the FMJ bullets are now going about 98% of the time. My second call I was basically told that I have to expect this from a 10mm. I told the guy that I was not accepting that and he gave me a return authorization which I will send back tomorrow. In addition to the FTF the FMJ casings are flying back so abruptly that they are removing the finish on the slide just behind the ejection port. Is there any chance that I can expect Kimber to do right by me? Also I want to buy a threaded barrel for the Kimber, where do I go for that? I have previously owned a Glock 20 2nd. gen, 21 4th gen and 357 sig 3rd gen, and now own an XDM 3.8 45 that I would like to convert to 460 someday. I really love shooting the Kimber as it makes me a better shooter though I don't think the specific accuracy of the gun is any better than the Glock 21 or 357 Sig was.
Thanks in advance...

Wolfie · December 09 2014 09:31:12 PM MST

Had the same problems with my 10mm Eclipse and sent it right back. Failures to eject, double feeds, stove pipes and the slide not locking back after the last round was fired.

They changed the ejector and extractor on mine. It has been running like a top since. I suggest you "find" as many problems as you can before you send it in and have them look "everything" over.

Mike_Fontenot · December 10 2014 07:37:07 AM MST

I sent my 3-year-old Eclipse Custom II back to Kimber 3 or 4 times. Sometimes I felt like they did a good job, and sometimes I felt they did an awful job. I finally gave up on them, and took it to a local gunsmith. He improved it, but I still had problems. I've had work done by a total of 3 local gunsmiths, and all have had some successes. It's been running well lately ... maybe 10 mags of 8 rounds each, so far, without any failures and consistent (if distant) ejection (but the marks behind the ejection port are just going to be there). Kimber could certainly do a MUCH better job on customer support and quality control. But I DO think their design and feature choices were all the right ones. I'm going to continue trying to test and confirm it's reliability, and maybe I'll eventually be able to fully trust it, but lately, I've been carrying my S&W69 .44mag 5-shot 4-1/4" L-Frame DA/SA revolver almost all the time ... it's just SO simple by comparison.

Good luck with the trip back to Kimber. Hopefully they will solve your problems ... apparently some 10mm Eclipse owners have gotten a reliable gun, either initially, or after one trip back. But others haven't. Kimber should be doing much better by their customers than they are.

Wolfie · December 10 2014 10:27:37 AM MST

http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-custom-ii-lg-45-acp#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-target-ii

Looks like it was discontinued.

Mike_Fontenot · December 10 2014 11:42:41 AM MST

Quote from: Wolfie on December 10 2014 10:27:37 AM MST
http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-custom-ii-lg-45-acp#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-target-ii

Looks like it was discontinued.

WOW! Wonder when that happened? Do they now have ANY 10mm 1911's?

Wolfie · December 10 2014 01:45:45 PM MST

Target and TLE

ram1000 · December 10 2014 02:14:10 PM MST

Just found out that I have to spend $110.00 to send my pistol to Kimber- not going to happen. How can a business not be responsible for a product that doesn't work?

Wolfie · December 10 2014 02:29:54 PM MST

Wait 2 weeks and call back and "say" you ran the 1000 rounds and have the following problems.

1. Double Feeds
2. Stovepipes
3. Failure to Ejects
4. Slide not locking back after last shot

After the 500 rounds its on them anyway.

Mike_Fontenot · December 10 2014 02:32:16 PM MST

Quote from: ram1000 on December 10 2014 02:14:10 PM MST
Just found out that I have to spend $110.00 to send my pistol to Kimber [...]

That's really lousy! They always paid both ways, all the times I sent mine back. They seem to be sinking lower and lower ... too bad ... the gun I bought from them is STILL the only auto-loader that I want.

Maybe you can find a local gunsmith who can do a better job for you anyway. I'm not sure Kimber even HAS any gunsmiths working for them.

Wolfie · December 10 2014 02:37:41 PM MST

RZ 10 is a nicer gun than the Kimber and quite frankly I like the Delta better than both.

Mike_Fontenot · December 10 2014 03:01:20 PM MST

Quote from: Wolfie on December 10 2014 02:37:41 PM MST
RZ 10 is a nicer gun than the Kimber and quite frankly I like the Delta better than both.

I want a grip-lever-controlled firing-pin-safety, a fully-supported chamber, and no ambi-thumb-safety. So those two (and any other non-Kimber's, I think) are ruled out for me.

10mmfan · December 10 2014 03:44:12 PM MST

I thought the tle ii was discontinued

The Earl o Sammich · December 10 2014 06:22:07 PM MST

Wow.

I feel sorry for you for your bad luck. if I was in your shoes i would be definitely pissed.

Have you expressed that to Kimber (appropriately)? Tell them if they cannot make the gun work, you want a refund.

Have to add that Colt's customer service is second to none.

Wolfie · December 10 2014 07:46:24 PM MST

http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/custom-ii/stainless-target-ii#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/custom-ii/custom-tle-rl-ii

Kimber Target, TLE & TLE Rail still available. May add a TLE if my LGS gets one and I like it.

Mike, I run Buffalo Bore 180G and the new full power Federal 180's in the Delta and DW no problem. Broaden your view on other offerings.

my_old_glock · December 11 2014 10:44:12 AM MST

Quote from: ram1000 on December 09 2014 07:59:15 PM MST
...
Kimber told me to go away till I had 500 or so rnds through it.
...
I had polished the feed ramp after my first call to Kimber and the FMJ bullets are now going about 98% of the time.
...
My second call I was basically told that I have to expect this from a 10mm.
...
Is there any chance that I can expect Kimber to do right by me?
...

1) Typical Kimber. They build tight guns, but you need to shoot a crap load through them to loosen up the parts so they function correctly. This has been their excuse since they started producing 1911 pistols.

2) You spend $1000+ for a precision made gun, and you still have to do work on it to get it to work.

3) You have to expect it from Kimber, and not a 10mm. If their gun doesn't work, they shouldn't offer it for sale.

4) I have no idea what Kimber customer service will do.

I have a few friends who own Kimber guns. None of them work 100% of the time. They are the Ducati of gun makers: High priced and finicky.

.