Range Report - Kimber Stainless 10 Series II
After about two months of playing with this thing...including sending it off to the Kimber Custom Shop for 3 weeks, I have finally been able to use the Kimber like it should be used...to throw lots of metal down range.
Here it is...
As this is a range report, I will recap the problems I had with this baby.
I got 5 slam-fires (doubles) in the first 200 rounds I shot. I disassembled it down to the trigger, cleaned everything, coated all parts with break-free, reassembled it....and still got one slam-fire in the next 50 rounds.
After three weeks at the Kimber Custom Shop, the pistol was returned with the cryptic note that the "trigger group" was replaced. After about 250 rounds since I got it back...no failures.
The pistol was used and was supplied with three mags. The Kimber OEM mag has experienced no failures to feed. The other two mags were MEC-GAR 13-45 and 14-45 mags designed for the ParaOrd...and work like crap on the Kimber.
I took it out for some drills today. 5, 7, 10, 15, and 25 yard slow fire. 5 yard rapid fire, reload, repeat... a point and shoot drill that I like to do. I shot 5 shots at each distance, and 15 shots in the point and shoot drill.
The following targets were shot off-hand. The upper target was at 5 yards and the lower at 7 yards. I was not wearing my glasses and you will notice I had to stick an orange aiming spot on the target to have something to aim at. I am not thrilled with the flat-black sights on this gun, and will need to replace them with something I can see. The dead black gets lost on a black target. Then again, 20 years ago it wouldn't have mattered.
The next targets were at 10 (upper) and 15 (lower) yards, again off-hand. I wasn't as thrilled with this effort. I got one serious flyer on the 15 yard target...and I didn't call it.
I moved the targets out to 25 yards and covered the NRA-B8 with a spatter target so I could see where I was shooting. As the 15 yard target had started to print high, I held at the bottom of the target. I took my time, but I expect this is about the best I will be able to do until the purpose-ground shooting glasses show up.
This pistol has a polymer grip as is noticably lighter than an all steel 1911. It is heavy enough to mute any recoil however, and is comfortable to shoot. I experienced no "bite", and the mags drop out with a push of the release. As with most classic 1911s, it has a grip safety as well as a thumb safety. Take down was the same as any other 1911 I have seen with the minor exception of not having grip panels to remove. The stainless has a matt finish and I removed some 'stick-on' grip panels the previous owner had installed.
The fixed sights are right on at 25 yards, but too dark. The fit and finish is what you would expect of a Kimber. The trigger is adjustable, but I left it where the Custom Shop set the thing.
I let one of the range-rats shoot the pistol...just cuz he admired it (that always works with me). He's got a 9mm, always shoots 9mm, and is buying a new SIG 9mm for his darling daughter. I thought I'd give him a chance to shoot a real pistol.
With my last 15 rounds, I loaded up 3 mags with 5 rounds each. At 5 yards (glasses off), I tried a point-and-shoot drill. 5 shots as fast as I could pull the trigger, reload, repeat. As you can see, I am getting the same oval group that I get with the Walther...with the bottom edge in the X ring. The only difference is 10 22's in a 3" oval, and 15 45's in a 5" oval. Practice, practice, practice.
All in all a simple, well-made gun. Not very fancy but a classic design with several modern and custom features...built to take punishment. New they go about $850. These models have 5-inch barrels with stainless steel match grade barrel bushings. The Kimber Tactical Extractor is standard on every ten pistol. Other features include stainless steel slide, polymer beavertail grip safety and mainspring housing. The polymer frame is almost identical in dimensions to a standard single stack. Kimber frame inserts are machined from the finest aluminum and steel, then molded into a polymer body.
Pre-ban 14 round magazines are also available. They are offered for sale (where legal) through Kimber Master Dealers and the Kimber Custom Shop. They have the same overall length as the standard magazine included with each Stainless pistol, and fit flush with the bottom of the grip.
I like it...its a cannon. It's also much more accurate than I am right now.
As this is a range report, I will recap the problems I had with this baby.
I got 5 slam-fires (doubles) in the first 200 rounds I shot. I disassembled it down to the trigger, cleaned everything, coated all parts with break-free, reassembled it....and still got one slam-fire in the next 50 rounds.
After three weeks at the Kimber Custom Shop, the pistol was returned with the cryptic note that the "trigger group" was replaced. After about 250 rounds since I got it back...no failures.
The pistol was used and was supplied with three mags. The Kimber OEM mag has experienced no failures to feed. The other two mags were MEC-GAR 13-45 and 14-45 mags designed for the ParaOrd...and work like crap on the Kimber.
I took it out for some drills today. 5, 7, 10, 15, and 25 yard slow fire. 5 yard rapid fire, reload, repeat... a point and shoot drill that I like to do. I shot 5 shots at each distance, and 15 shots in the point and shoot drill.
The following targets were shot off-hand. The upper target was at 5 yards and the lower at 7 yards. I was not wearing my glasses and you will notice I had to stick an orange aiming spot on the target to have something to aim at. I am not thrilled with the flat-black sights on this gun, and will need to replace them with something I can see. The dead black gets lost on a black target. Then again, 20 years ago it wouldn't have mattered.
The next targets were at 10 (upper) and 15 (lower) yards, again off-hand. I wasn't as thrilled with this effort. I got one serious flyer on the 15 yard target...and I didn't call it.
I moved the targets out to 25 yards and covered the NRA-B8 with a spatter target so I could see where I was shooting. As the 15 yard target had started to print high, I held at the bottom of the target. I took my time, but I expect this is about the best I will be able to do until the purpose-ground shooting glasses show up.
This pistol has a polymer grip as is noticably lighter than an all steel 1911. It is heavy enough to mute any recoil however, and is comfortable to shoot. I experienced no "bite", and the mags drop out with a push of the release. As with most classic 1911s, it has a grip safety as well as a thumb safety. Take down was the same as any other 1911 I have seen with the minor exception of not having grip panels to remove. The stainless has a matt finish and I removed some 'stick-on' grip panels the previous owner had installed.
The fixed sights are right on at 25 yards, but too dark. The fit and finish is what you would expect of a Kimber. The trigger is adjustable, but I left it where the Custom Shop set the thing.
I let one of the range-rats shoot the pistol...just cuz he admired it (that always works with me). He's got a 9mm, always shoots 9mm, and is buying a new SIG 9mm for his darling daughter. I thought I'd give him a chance to shoot a real pistol.
With my last 15 rounds, I loaded up 3 mags with 5 rounds each. At 5 yards (glasses off), I tried a point-and-shoot drill. 5 shots as fast as I could pull the trigger, reload, repeat. As you can see, I am getting the same oval group that I get with the Walther...with the bottom edge in the X ring. The only difference is 10 22's in a 3" oval, and 15 45's in a 5" oval. Practice, practice, practice.
All in all a simple, well-made gun. Not very fancy but a classic design with several modern and custom features...built to take punishment. New they go about $850. These models have 5-inch barrels with stainless steel match grade barrel bushings. The Kimber Tactical Extractor is standard on every ten pistol. Other features include stainless steel slide, polymer beavertail grip safety and mainspring housing. The polymer frame is almost identical in dimensions to a standard single stack. Kimber frame inserts are machined from the finest aluminum and steel, then molded into a polymer body.
Pre-ban 14 round magazines are also available. They are offered for sale (where legal) through Kimber Master Dealers and the Kimber Custom Shop. They have the same overall length as the standard magazine included with each Stainless pistol, and fit flush with the bottom of the grip.
I like it...its a cannon. It's also much more accurate than I am right now.
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