My first impressions of the Kimber Camp Guard: Update 6/7

[Vandy58]

I want to say I love it but I can't.  As people already know some kimbers have issues right out of the box, I was unlucky enough to get one.  First issue was when I was trying to clean it before the first shoot, the barrel would not come out.  Luckily I live near a smith that has been doing 1911s for a long time.  He even was a smith at STI in the 90's and early 2000's.  He took it back and discovered a small burr preventing the barrel from coming out.  He filed it and it came out.  Secondly I like a tight barrel bushing but this thing is way too tight.  I buggered up my tool trying to get the damn thing off.  The barrel tap method won't go all the way.  These were the easy issues.  Sadly this gun has an extractor issue and a feed ramp issue.  I've had a single mag have three issues with either the feed ramp or extractor. The gunsmith looked at it and said it's about a $225 job to make it right.  I'm sending it to Kimber first which is where I am at now.  Just waiting on the UPS label.  I still have faith in Kimber but this bummed me out.  It's a strait shooting and has great handling though.  I will keep this thread updated.

[Bat Rastard]

Could you find your brass?
We shot mine the other day, and my wife said "it's shooting both directions!"

[sparkyv]

Yikes!

[Vandy58]

Could you find your brass?
We shot mine the other day, and my wife said "it's shooting both directions!"

The brass shoots out with almost as much force as the bullet.  My nephew was cracking up.  One ended up resting on my neck at my shirt line and it went down my back.  I keep brass but I was indoors and after watching what it did with the brass I won't shoot my own loaded ammo indoors.  However I would rather it eject the brass at 1300fps than stove pipe.  This is becoming a carry gun for hogs and people.  Only one will be concealed though

[Trapper6L]

Sorry to hear about your problems. I can't seem to trade into a Kimber that it isn't screwed up. Traded into another Pro Carry II yesterday. Thought I'd load up some middle of the road loads for it using the Sierra V Crown 124gr HPs. Nope, the slide won't close on it and it won't close on UMC factory ball either. I have to literally bury the bullets for OAL at 1.095 max or the slide won't close. I'd send it back to Kimber but I haven't had much luck there so it'll be at the smitty Monday next week. FWIW, per the dimwit at Kimber customer service, all of their barrels are now made by Smith & Wesson. Most apparently there's no checks and balances. Kimber just slams whatever barrels Smith sends them into their guns and you are the test dummy. Hope they take care of your problem. Nothing compares with the sinking feeling when the gun you paid good money for is crap. You'd think as dangerous as guns can be that they would have all kinds of quality checks. Apparently none have them within the common mans budget.

[Vandy58]

Okay so here is my update.  Kimber customer service get an A+.  In less than two weeks I shipped and got the firearm back.  They reamed and polished the chamber, adjusted the extractor, and replaced the recoil spring.  They sent it back dirty after firing 36 rounds through it but  o big deal.  I did a quick clean and shot 100 rounds of sig ammo.  Two different lots.  Of the 100 rounds, two had an issue at the feed ramp.  What's different though is I could drop the mag and put it back in with no issues!  It only did this with the Kimber mag and it was when the gun was really heated up.  It still ejects cases like a reward bullet.  Never stand behind somebody shooting one of these lol.  I'm glad I bought it and I do love this gun now that it's fixed.  Now I just need to get a threaded barrel...

[slayer61]

Could you find your brass?
We shot mine the other day, and my wife said "it's shooting both directions!"

The brass sho....snip This is becoming a carry gun for hogs and people.  Only one will be concealed though

Okay so here is my update.  Kimber customer service get an A+.  In less than two weeks I shipped and got the firearm back.  They reamed and polished the chamber, adjusted the extractor, and replaced the recoil spring.  They sent it back dirty after firing 36 rounds through it but  o big deal.  I did a quick clean and shot 100 rounds of sig ammo.  Two different lots.  Of the 100 rounds, two had an issue at the feed ramp.  What's different though is I could drop the mag and put it back in with no issues!  It only did this with the Kimber mag and it was when the gun was really heated up.  It still ejects cases like a reward bullet.  Never stand behind somebody shooting one of these lol.  I'm glad I bought it and I do love this gun now that it's fixed.  Now I just need to get a threaded barrel...

You're gonna carry a gun that has a 2% failure rate? Really?