Kimber Stainless Target II 6" long slde...

[RJM52]

...anyone get one yet? They are certainly cheap enough... A couple of Sellers on GunBroker have been selling them for the $850-900 range delivered...

Bob

[Intercooler]

I think it's a new offering? 

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/758262819

Looks really nice!

[Canoe]

It does look nice.  A couple additional touches like front strap checkering and an undercut trigger could have really set this apart but it is a great price in fairness.

[RJM52]

The lack of front strap checking is why I like the gun...all the rest of the Kimber 10mm models have it...

[Sonny10MM]

Interesting. If it wasn't for that firing pin lock that works of the grip safety I'd consider it.

[RJM52]

I am not a big fan of firing pin safeties either but having two Kimbers and two Colts that have had zero issues I just ignore them...

Bob

[Tomcatt]

The 6" long slide doesn't have the FPS. It doesn't have the II suffix.
Tomcatt

[Grenadier]

Hello, I'm new here. I recently purchased a Kimber Stainless Target LS.

I am a big fan of 1911 pistols. I have been shooting them for over 35 years. Through those years I gained extensive experience carrying open and concealed, on the job and off.  The firearms were mostly various Colts, i.e. 1911A1, 1991Z, and 9mm New Agent. But the selection also included a .45 Olympic Arms Matchmaster, a .38 Super Llama, and a little .380 Llama. I have fired and owned other types of pistols too but to me, good as some were, none were as a good in my hand as a full size 1911. There are people who swear by Glocks. I recognize Glock has a fantastic reputation but they never did much for me and I just don't like shooting them. I like steel on steel, a real trigger, and a grip that doesn't feel like a 2x2 in my hand. I like traditional 1911s.

I provided that information so you have a little background, so you know where I'm coming from. Some may see that as a qualified basis to discuss the Kimber LS. Others may view it as 1911 bias.

Nevertheless, I have wanted a 1911 with a little more oomph for a while. I have full trust and confidence in the .45 acp for personal protection from human miscreants. But I saw the effect of the .45 acp cartridge on a couple of deer and I decided I needed something more powerful to carry into the woods for....whatever. I've heard good things about Kimber and the new Stainless LS looked like it would fill the bill and the price was right.

Here are a few of my initial impressions.

• Price I paid was $775.
• External fit and finish is very, very good
• Metal is STEEL, stainless steel. That's perfect for a woods gun, especially in the Pacific Northwest and especially if I make another trip to Alaska.
• Wood grips are attractive, functional, and the checkering is clean.
• No serrations on the front of the slide. I don't use them anyway when a pistol has them so I don't miss them on the Kimber. Still, some people like that.
• Conventional barrel bushing. I don't have a preference as far as operation but I find the barrel bushing guns easier to disassemble and reassemble.
• Nicely checkered backstrap. No checkering on the front of the grip. Again, it doesn't matter to me but some like it.
• Right hand safety - only. If you are a lefty then you will need to modify that. Because I am right handed I don't need, nor do I like, ambidextrous safeties. Just having the side I need is cleaner so this is a plus for me.
• All other controls are standard 1911 and function smoothly.
• Comes with one magazine. I immediately picked up a second. Advert and Kimber website say the capacity is seven rounds but the Kimber magazines hold eight beautifully. In fact, they hold nine rounds just fine but a magazine filled with nine can only go in the gun if the slide is to the rear. It is possible to load one in the spout and insert a magazine with eight for a total load of nine. You could also carry additional magazines with nine if you are going to reload after a magazine dump and the slide is locked to the rear. I verified that and it works without issue. However, I've settled on just loading eight in the magazines so I can insert both with the slide forward. Again, Kimber says seven but they should be saying eight.
• The magazines feed without issue. However, inserting a magazine slowly requires a healthy shove once the magazine reaches the release/catch. I expect that will smooth out over time. If it doesn't then I will have to take it apart and smooth it myself.
• Sights. The rear is a basic black, squared notch and is adjustable for windage and elevation. The front presents an orange fiber optic dot in a black square frame. I don't like the setup. If the back had two white dots to center the orange dot in then it would be fine. Alternatively, a square black post that could be centered in the square black notch would be fine. But I found trying to center an orange dot surrounded by a thin black frame in a rear square notch was difficult, especially for consistent elevation. It was driving me crazy. I've noticed other manufacturers are offering pistols with that configuration so maybe it's just me. I called Kimber and ordered a plain black front sight to replace the orange fiber thingy and give me a sight picture I can use. 
• The trigger is very, very nice. Single action pull is crisp and without creep.  Double action pull is horrendous and I never could get it to fire that way! Okay, that last part was for the Glock guys.
• Slide fit is really good, smooth and snug.
• Shooting is brisker than what I have been used to but not bad at all. I think the extra inch of barrel and slide at the muzzle is helping to tame things a bit. I can put a magazine of .45 acp into a target faster than I can with 10mm from the Kimber. It still only takes a fraction of a second to get back on target and fire the next round but I notice the difference. I'm sure that's not an attribute unique to the Kimber but rather is characteristic of any 10mm pistol compared to the same pistol in .45. 
• I've fired 270 rounds so far using four different types of ammo.
• I tried some cheapo MagTech 180gr FMJ that was dismal. The ammo really was junk - inaccurate, unrealiable, with noticeably different charges with some rounds giving heavy recoil and others very light. The cases were rough, the OAL slightly different.
• HSM 200gr lead (not hard cast) Bear Loads was not very peppy at all but was consistent with the manufacturers claimed velocity of 1041 fps/481 ft/lbs. Accuracy was okay but sometimes they would fail to fully actuate the slide. The Kimber seems set up for more traditional (hotter) 10mm loads.
• Sig Sauer 180gr FMJ and 180gr V-Crown. Wow, this stuff is really something. Smooth shooting, consistent, and accurate. I'm considering using these for my woods loads with alternating FMJ and V-Crown, one round after the other, in each magazine.
• Overall - Pleased! I am very happy with the pistol and it's performance. It is a very well made pistol with all the essentials. If someone wants things like forward slide serrations, checkered front grip, and tritium sights then those things can be added after purchase. But I don't need them and by not making them standard Kimber has been able to offer this pistol at a very, very reasonable price and to do so without sacrificing quality.

Things to do:

• Try more brands of ammo/different loads. Top of the want-to list are Underwood 200gr Hardcast and Colt branded ammo.
• Chronograph loads. I am curious just what the 6" barrel will do. My screen chronograph broke and I can't measure pistol velocities with my Magnetospeed chronograph. But I have a new screen chronograph on the way.
• Shoot from the bench for accuracy, measure the results, compare.
• Come back to this site and post the results of 1-3 above

[sqlbullet]

Excellent write-up.

And very bad.  Now I want a Kimber Longslide.

[The_Shadow]

Grenadier, welcome to the forum and congrats on your Kimber LS.  Sounds like you're really getting acquainted with it.
You may someday venture out to some Underwood and Fenix ammo to see how they test.  Those are higher velocity performance ammo, so try and observe the first fired cases on how you gun handles them.
Best regards! 

[gandog56]

I do have a long slide 1911 10mm pistol, but it ain't no Kimber. But it might have cost more since I had it custom made and had to wait over six months to get it.

[sep]

Excellent write-up.

And very bad.  Now I want a Kimber Longslide.

+1 

[RJM52]

"There are people who swear by Glocks. I recognize Glock has a fantastic reputation but they never did much for me and I just don't like shooting them. I like steel on steel, a real trigger, and a grip that doesn't feel like a 2x2 in my hand. I like traditional 1911s."

...my kinda guy...thanks for the great review...

Bob

[gandog56]

All I can say is a Glock feels unnatural in my hand. The double stack grps are too big around for my short fat fingers. The grip angle just feels wrong to me. I borrowed a guy's Glock once and did this. I didn't sight oon the target, I just shot where I thought I would hit him. I was shooting the Glock way high and to the right. Pulled out my 1911, did the same thing. All were chest hits. I'm sticking with my 1911's, of which I have three different manufacturers of, Dan Wesson, Fusion Firearms, RIA.

[BEEMER!]

I saw this over at Colt, looks like a good price to me, $860 shipped.


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