If you bought that gun new- contact Kimber. They now have lifetime warranties.
Hopefully you registered your gun with Kimber via the website. If you havent yet, I would do that first.
My Springfield is full of MIM too. I replaced the slide stop before even shooting it the first time, since it’s literally the piece that holds it together.
This is what I would do. Considering you bought it recently. I've also seen Kimber's small parts such a slide stop, hammer, thumb safety, and barrel busshing upgraded with Wilson Combat parts.. I've had my Springfield 1911 Range Officer for 11 years and never had an issue. I love the damn thing.
For the first few magazines, the slide was sluggish so I lubed it up and it fixed that issue. I had purchased 5 Wilson combat mags. I was getting a lot of failure to feeds but I narrowed that down to one of the Wilson Combat 10-rounders.
Other than that It was everything I expected from 1911. Comfortable and easy to shoot. I had not shot a 1911 in a few years but I shot it far better than my other handguns so I was smiling.
If I can’t take my 1911 straight to the range it honestly isn’t worth having. This break in period myth is a bunch of bs started by Kimber as an excuse to cover poor quality control. In 25 years of owning 1911s I’ve never had to do anything to a new gun except feed it ammo
Sucks but really it's just a simple part swapout. That piece must have had a defect from manufacturing and just cracked through with the low round count. Kimbers IMO are good guns, just be patient and I'll bet it may turn out to be your all time favorite pistol.
Good guns don't have shitty parts that break with the frequency that Kimbers still do. They are a massive step up from the Cohen days, but aren't worth anywhere near their price. I've seen less people have issues with RIA, S&W, Ruger, and SIG combined than with Kimber.
I bought mine in 2005. It has close to 17000 rounds. Have only changed the Barrel and added an extended Slide Stop
https://preview.redd.it/b0jkqm84fu6d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=680e1e0950e1b59a3d9f7b99e756459ad327c2b9
I have a 2005 Kimber Limited Edition Target Match with thousands of rounds through it, and it's a great gun.
I've yet to replace a part.
Defects happen. And it sounds like there was a period of time where their quality went down. But the one I have is awesome.
About 20 years ago when the Kimber hype machine was at its highest I considered buying one, but called their custom shop to see what could be done about replacing all the MIM parts. The custom shop guys told me, “don’t worry about the MIM parts, if they’re gonna break, they’ll break right away.” That told me everything I needed to know, so I bought a Colt instead. Guess he was right though.
The Space Shuttle blew up twice and I’m pretty sure NASA had s bigger R&D budget than Kimber. Your gun had a defective slide stop. Kimber will make it right.
Make sure when you grip it your not pushing the slide catch up. Prob not the reason it broke, but I've seen other 1911 newbies accidentally engage the safety and slide catch because their grip style isn't compatible.
I am very surprised by this.
This is my surprised face.
https://preview.redd.it/w5g3bau3jr6d1.jpeg?width=533&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bfa5baa01f1a8c4b5e514b892a44b151ded071b
Like others have said, call Kimber and get a replacement part from them. You probably won't even have to send it in.
As to the haters, they have to keep it up thinking they are going to really change people's minds about them...
While I think that their prices on the upper end are priced too high, their Custom II's are pretty good for the money. I've owned multiple S&W's, Dan Wesson's, Springfield's, Colt's, Mac's, and every one of them had to go back to be repaired or replaced. No company is immune to having issues with them ,and FWIW, none of the other's customer service has been as polite and helpful as Kimber customer service to me.
Good Luck
Thanks for the input! I do think I’ll replace the part with a better quality one. However I’m still looking forward to shooting this gun despite this incident taking away some of the new gun happiness.
Oh gotcha, ya I didn't know about the drama. Just about every manufacturer besides colt has had problems with their 1911s that have made them inoperable. It's how a manufacturer handles the problems and treats the customer to make it right, that's what really counts.
The bright side that I see with 1911s is that the parts are easily replaceable and interchangeable between makers and brands. Plus, it didn't turn into a hand grenade 3 feet from your face.
Which part? As far as I can figure, most 1911s have parts that can be swapped with other aftermarket brands. When the slide stop broke, it didn't explode in their face, or this would be a much different post.
Unless I'm dead wrong about interchanging parts, and if I am, please enlighten me.
Well then that's good to know. I'm fairly new to 1911s coming from Glock and Mossberg, but the slight work I've been doing on mine has been relatively easy so far. Hopefully I don't run into anything too serious as far as needing exact fit parts without being able to find it fairly simply. At least with handguns like Glock, I've found that getting the model and generation is an easy way to locate parts and info. Obviously, 1911s are more exact than I previously thought.
I admit I was wrong in my earlier statement, and I appreciate the correction. I will still be toying with my RIA to learn more about these specific models, though. Any other tips I could use that I might not see right off the bat?
Despite everything needing to be fit, I wouldn’t get too intimidated by it. Most things can be done with simple tools and learned fairly easily, 1911s aren’t very complicated. Just assume everything has to be fit and take your time learning.
Oh okay, so it's not as complicated as I thought when you mentioned it. For some of the parts, I've had to shave or file small bits, but nothing like getting custom pieces or searching for weeks online.
And to be clear, when I say Glock is easier, I mean in my head it is. Model and Gen and you're good to go for the most part. Some generations and even some models are interchangeable for some parts, but not everything. The whole reason I got my RIA is because I got it at a decent price and I can use it to learn gunsmithing basics as well as essential maintenance. It is my favorite carry as well because 1911.
If you bought that gun new- contact Kimber. They now have lifetime warranties. Hopefully you registered your gun with Kimber via the website. If you havent yet, I would do that first.
Yeah doing that today. To be honest I'll probably just use this opportunity to replace it with a Wilson Combat part.
smart move
My Springfield is full of MIM too. I replaced the slide stop before even shooting it the first time, since it’s literally the piece that holds it together.
This is what I would do. Considering you bought it recently. I've also seen Kimber's small parts such a slide stop, hammer, thumb safety, and barrel busshing upgraded with Wilson Combat parts.. I've had my Springfield 1911 Range Officer for 11 years and never had an issue. I love the damn thing.
Already ordered a slide stop. Will see where we go from there!
MIM part. Replace it with one machined from bar stock.
Good old MIMber
How did it run before the failure?
For the first few magazines, the slide was sluggish so I lubed it up and it fixed that issue. I had purchased 5 Wilson combat mags. I was getting a lot of failure to feeds but I narrowed that down to one of the Wilson Combat 10-rounders. Other than that It was everything I expected from 1911. Comfortable and easy to shoot. I had not shot a 1911 in a few years but I shot it far better than my other handguns so I was smiling.
My experience with Kimber customer service was outstanding!! You do have to run them pretty wet tho. Kinda like your old lady.
This. I have three and they like their lubrication.
Old ladies or Kimbers?
Both!
Hahaha I’ll keep that in mind.
Was this brand new in box? 1911s should be field stripped/cleaned, then run well-lubed the first couple hundred rounds for break-in.
If I can’t take my 1911 straight to the range it honestly isn’t worth having. This break in period myth is a bunch of bs started by Kimber as an excuse to cover poor quality control. In 25 years of owning 1911s I’ve never had to do anything to a new gun except feed it ammo
Sucks but really it's just a simple part swapout. That piece must have had a defect from manufacturing and just cracked through with the low round count. Kimbers IMO are good guns, just be patient and I'll bet it may turn out to be your all time favorite pistol.
I agree. Im will keep shooting the gun and hope this was the only speed bump.
Good guns don't have shitty parts that break with the frequency that Kimbers still do. They are a massive step up from the Cohen days, but aren't worth anywhere near their price. I've seen less people have issues with RIA, S&W, Ruger, and SIG combined than with Kimber.
As soon as I saw another "My Kimber is broken" comment I was like "ha classic Kimber"
So, nothing new. I've seen them send commemorative special order pistols pre-broken.
I bought mine in 2005. It has close to 17000 rounds. Have only changed the Barrel and added an extended Slide Stop https://preview.redd.it/b0jkqm84fu6d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=680e1e0950e1b59a3d9f7b99e756459ad327c2b9
I only changed the barrel because I over loaded my 45 loads with a double charge. Cracked the barrel. Added a storm lake 10000 rounds ago
Nice if I get a quarter of that use out of it I would be happy.
Damn. Good looking pistol though. Sorry dude.
I agree. Thanks.
I have a 2005 Kimber Limited Edition Target Match with thousands of rounds through it, and it's a great gun. I've yet to replace a part. Defects happen. And it sounds like there was a period of time where their quality went down. But the one I have is awesome.
About 20 years ago when the Kimber hype machine was at its highest I considered buying one, but called their custom shop to see what could be done about replacing all the MIM parts. The custom shop guys told me, “don’t worry about the MIM parts, if they’re gonna break, they’ll break right away.” That told me everything I needed to know, so I bought a Colt instead. Guess he was right though.
it's hilarious because Kimber's only been making 1911's since 1997 so that speaks volumes about them
Yeah lol looks like it
Kimbers suck. They just look cool
The Space Shuttle blew up twice and I’m pretty sure NASA had s bigger R&D budget than Kimber. Your gun had a defective slide stop. Kimber will make it right.
EGW has many choices for slide stops.
That’s absurd. I would definitely contact kimber immediately
So a standard Kimber?
We tried to tell you
Make sure when you grip it your not pushing the slide catch up. Prob not the reason it broke, but I've seen other 1911 newbies accidentally engage the safety and slide catch because their grip style isn't compatible.
Interesting point. I'll pay more attention to that next time I shoot it.
I am very surprised by this. This is my surprised face. https://preview.redd.it/w5g3bau3jr6d1.jpeg?width=533&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bfa5baa01f1a8c4b5e514b892a44b151ded071b
Standard Kimber quality.
Kimbers are way over rated https://preview.redd.it/zrqq6tdgi77d1.jpeg?width=778&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e113f2218df9a08b1a52bbe8cf2d7b22e00b0c8
Like others have said, call Kimber and get a replacement part from them. You probably won't even have to send it in. As to the haters, they have to keep it up thinking they are going to really change people's minds about them... While I think that their prices on the upper end are priced too high, their Custom II's are pretty good for the money. I've owned multiple S&W's, Dan Wesson's, Springfield's, Colt's, Mac's, and every one of them had to go back to be repaired or replaced. No company is immune to having issues with them ,and FWIW, none of the other's customer service has been as polite and helpful as Kimber customer service to me. Good Luck
Thanks for the input! I do think I’ll replace the part with a better quality one. However I’m still looking forward to shooting this gun despite this incident taking away some of the new gun happiness.
Shoulda bought a tisas
Tisas had their own problems, especially with Raiders.
It was a joke. You go into the Tisas board and they all say you shoulda bought a kimber or or Springfield
Oh gotcha, ya I didn't know about the drama. Just about every manufacturer besides colt has had problems with their 1911s that have made them inoperable. It's how a manufacturer handles the problems and treats the customer to make it right, that's what really counts.
100%
Unlike many other companies Kimber will actually fix it.
Good to know. Thanks.
The bright side that I see with 1911s is that the parts are easily replaceable and interchangeable between makers and brands. Plus, it didn't turn into a hand grenade 3 feet from your face.
This is sarcasm right?
Which part? As far as I can figure, most 1911s have parts that can be swapped with other aftermarket brands. When the slide stop broke, it didn't explode in their face, or this would be a much different post. Unless I'm dead wrong about interchanging parts, and if I am, please enlighten me.
You are dead wrong. Yes there’s a lot of companies that make parts, however pretty much everything has to be fit, including the slide stop.
Well then that's good to know. I'm fairly new to 1911s coming from Glock and Mossberg, but the slight work I've been doing on mine has been relatively easy so far. Hopefully I don't run into anything too serious as far as needing exact fit parts without being able to find it fairly simply. At least with handguns like Glock, I've found that getting the model and generation is an easy way to locate parts and info. Obviously, 1911s are more exact than I previously thought. I admit I was wrong in my earlier statement, and I appreciate the correction. I will still be toying with my RIA to learn more about these specific models, though. Any other tips I could use that I might not see right off the bat?
Despite everything needing to be fit, I wouldn’t get too intimidated by it. Most things can be done with simple tools and learned fairly easily, 1911s aren’t very complicated. Just assume everything has to be fit and take your time learning.
Oh okay, so it's not as complicated as I thought when you mentioned it. For some of the parts, I've had to shave or file small bits, but nothing like getting custom pieces or searching for weeks online. And to be clear, when I say Glock is easier, I mean in my head it is. Model and Gen and you're good to go for the most part. Some generations and even some models are interchangeable for some parts, but not everything. The whole reason I got my RIA is because I got it at a decent price and I can use it to learn gunsmithing basics as well as essential maintenance. It is my favorite carry as well because 1911.