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Kimber Ultra Carry....What gives?

88K views 79 replies 53 participants last post by  Freethought 
#1 ·
Hey, I'm fairly new to handgunning. I recently purchased my first Kimber, Ultra Carry 2 (aegis). The question that I have is why all the negative reviews about Kimbers? So far I have 600 rounds through it and no problems. It is EXTREMELY accurate. I own several other pistols/revolvers and the Kimber is without a doubt the nicest of them all.The only modification will be to have an amedextrious safety installed as I am a lefty. The pistol that I own is in 9MM. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
#4 ·
I have a Kimber Ultra CDP II and not one problem, has turned into one of my carry pistols, something I thought would never happen.
Two things I never liked, 3" 1911s and lightweight 1911s. A local range was having Kimber days and I stopped by and fired an Ultra CDP II and I bought one that day. I shoot very tight groups with my CDP, never had a single problem, the light weight is NOT noticeable when shooting but very noticeable when carrying all day (carries great and forget I have it on). Have never been a Kimber fan but I'm hooked on this pistol. BTW my other carry pistol is a Les Baer Concept VII Commander.
 
#5 ·
You rarely hear about the good ones. A thread that says "MY gun works" wouldn't get read. Anyway, most of the 3" guns run just fine, if they didn't, no one would make them since the repair costs would eat the profit and then some.

My Ultra CDP II has been flawless for years and is carried regularly.
 
#8 ·
It's true that threads that say "my gun works" won't be seen much. But in the course of my work at Galco, I talked to many unsatisfied Kimber owners. And of four shooting buddies who bought Kimbers in the last couple of years, three of them sold the guns because they didn't work. None of these guys were neophytes.

These conversations, along with watching various 1911s puke at Front Sight, made me dispense with the 1911 for defensive carry altogether. Now I carry Glocks. :mrgreen:
 
#11 ·
I considered it my "wish list" gun for a long time. I am starting to re-think that based on some of the posts I have read.
Keep it on your wish list. My Ultra CDP II is as reliable as any gun out there. I've put hundreds of rounds through it and my TLE II with very few issues (I get an occasional stovepipe due to limp wrist when I'm fooling with my grip). It's also thin and light and easy to carry. Much easier to carry than my XD SC9 was.

 
#12 ·
Regardless of what forum you read many of the threads about most brands will be about some type of problem. A happy owner tells one or two people, an unhappy owner tells everyone. Other times folks are just looking for a little help to solve a small function problem. Quite often the problem seems to be related to inexperience with firearms, particularly 1911's.

A Glock group is probably about the only one that you can read where all is positive. Glocks are all perfect and not one has ever failed. They all shoot x-ring even at super long distances and you can drop them out of airplanes and they will still work. Just ask them.:smt082
 
#13 ·
1911s are gorgeous.
The majority of 1911s work fine.
1911s are accurate.
1911s are slim.
1911s are romantic.

That said... 1911s where designed, ummmm, 90 friggin years ago.

1969 Camaros are gorgeous.
Professionally rebuilt 1969 Camaros USUALLY work fine.
1969 Camaros are fast, but not nearly as fast as a modern one.
1969 Camaros are light, for 1969...
1969 Camaros are romantic.... no doubt.

There are people who prefer to drive a 1969 Camaro, over a new one... But if we're racing around Willow Springs Raceway for pink slips... Give me the modern car.

MODERN Kimbers are still based in a nearly 100 year old design, that HAS been improved on, despite the rantings of the WWJMBD-crowd (What Would John Moses Browning Do)... You think Glock-Guys are bad?????????

I'll CARRY an ugly, cheap, MODERN XD, Glock, or M&P, over a 1911 any day. Same reason.

My 2 cents...

Jeff Ward
 
#14 ·
1911s are gorgeous.
The majority of 1911s work fine.
1911s are accurate.
1911s are slim.
1911s are romantic.

That said... 1911s where designed, ummmm, 90 friggin years ago.

1969 Camaros are gorgeous.
Professionally rebuilt 1969 Camaros USUALLY work fine.
1969 Camaros are fast, but not nearly as fast as a modern one.
1969 Camaros are light, for 1969...
1969 Camaros are romantic.... no doubt.

There are people who prefer to drive a 1969 Camaro, over a new one... But if we're racing around Willow Springs Raceway for pink slips... Give me the modern car.

MODERN Kimbers are still based in a nearly 100 year old design, that HAS been improved on, despite the rantings of the WWJMBD-crowd (What Would John Moses Browning Do)... You think Glock-Guys are bad?????????

I'll CARRY an ugly, cheap, MODERN XD, Glock, or M&P, over a 1911 any day. Same reason.

My 2 cents...

Jeff Ward
I like the comparisons. Even better - the signature line about the fat checks! :smt1099
 
#15 ·
love mine

I own a stainless ultra carry II and love the damn thing, its accurate, flawless and never lets me down. fired over 1000 rounds of all kinds of crap ammo and premium loads, keeps on running like the energizer bunny. I carry it mostly when im on my bike and its ease of carry makes me glad I purchased it.
 
#17 ·
I love my Kimbers! :smt023 I used to carry my Pro CDP II & then I bought an Ultr CDP II & carry it all the time. I'm in the process of buying a Team Match II for the range. I have had ZERO problems with either gun but I'm anal about cleaning & logging usage. I just ordered replacement springs to have on hand when needed.
 
#18 ·
I currently have 3 Kimbers: Pro CDP II, Pro Raptor and a Pro Covert. I have put an aggregate of 4000 rounds through these guns and have NEVER had a feed/extraction problem ever. My very first Kimber stove piped a few rounds when it was new. I sent it back to Kimber and they fixed it and air expressed it back to me (over night) in ONE day! It never jammed again. I have owned Les Baer guns and I even owned a Wilson Combat Stealth at one time. ALL very fine guns but I must say that my Kimbers shoot every bit as well as any 45 I have ever used. When the chips are down and the excrement hits the fan I will put my Kimber up against any 45 out there. Thanks for reading my post. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 
#19 ·
Grew up around 1911s. My first real pistol was a revolver, but soon graduated to 1911s. It is my prefered platform because it is what I am most comfortable with. But that does not stop me from owning or enjoying other brands and types. Yes it has been around along time and that speaks for the validity of its design. All modern semiautos are reliable to a degree because of the computers used nowadays in their manufacture. But I don't really recall any new break through design wise other than to use different materials. Most semiautos still have a slide that reacts and moves the same way that the 1911 does.
 
#20 ·
I'm one guys th of those 1911 guys that don't much like a Kimber. For me it's a feel thing. I just don't get the lovin' feeling when I pick one up. I know several people that swear by them and have had no problems with them. I believe that they are good pistols. I just like other makers more. I really like Para Ord though and know a lot of people that do not. So I guess it's just a what you like thing.

I think many people that don't like Kimber or have had troubles bought a target model that is a lot tighter then tried to carry it. Most target models for any maker will be more picky about what it wants to eat.
 
#24 ·
One guy put a sour taste in my mouth about kimber and I don't think I will ever buy one because of it. This guy tried to rain on my parade when I ordered a Colt through my squadron that was engraved and my first pistol. This guy said "I don't know why your excited about a Colt when I get back I'm getting a Kimber they are twic$$$ and better than a Colt". I asked why and all I got back was Kimbers better and Kimber costs more.

I'll take my money elsewhere. Especially after seeing there release of there first Kimber designed pistol.
 
#25 ·
One guy put a sour taste in my mouth about kimber and I don't think I will ever buy one because of it. This guy tried to rain on my parade when I ordered a Colt through my squadron that was engraved and my first pistol. This guy said "I don't know why your excited about a Colt when I get back I'm getting a Kimber they are twic$$$ and better than a Colt". I asked why and all I got back was Kimbers better and Kimber costs more.

I'll take my money elsewhere. Especially after seeing there release of there first Kimber designed pistol.
the miracles of modern marketing ......

:roll:
 
#26 ·
I don't own a Kimber pistol, but would like to if I had the money. I am sure that out of 100 Kimber owners, one or two of them are going to get a firearm with some kind of problem. It seems to me that that can happen with about every make of pistol out there. Are they worth the money that one pays for them? I don't know because I don't own one, but lots of people do and seem to think highly of them. I would say they put out a good product. JMHO.
 
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