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Kimber and Springfield 1911s…

I have a Dan Wesson Specialist and a Wilson Combat CQB. Both are excellent well made weapons and both are really accurate. I am mostly a Glock guy but over 31 years in LE I've had the chance to shoot many 1911's and recently just got into them so to speak but of all the ones I've shot I really dig mine although I do like the offerings that Springfield has. And the earlier post was right they are not cheap but before I purchased mine I did shoot many different ones and also a gunsmith that I am friends with told me I wouldn't go wrong with either. FYI he is a big time Springfield guy and thats all he personally carries. Just my two cents worth here.
 
According to my spreadsheet, I’ve had 70 handguns that I’ve purchased in 3 years. I can count on one hand how many of those were unreliable (before these).
70! I take you don't want to get killed by lack of shooting back! 😂 Well, not to worry. That .500S&W of yours alone would kill anyone just from intimidation!👍 Or you could just .500 pistol whip them with that huge gigantic chunk of steel! 😂 😉
 
70! I take you don't want to get killed by lack of shooting back! 😂 Well, not to worry. That .500S&W of yours alone would kill anyone just from intimidation!👍 Or you could just .500 pistol whip them with that huge gigantic chunk of steel! 😂 😉
I got all kinds. Wife, two teenage boys and an 8yo that just shot a 380 for the first time a few months ago. There’s a handgun in just about every major caliber for every application. Little bit for everyone. I sold a ton of polymer handguns and 1911s off last year. Getting ready to send the next wave of guns to auction.
 
Good new, then some bad news.

Good news, when I bought the first Kimber Stainless II, I bought two of them. I ended up transferring one to little brother. The problem 10mm is actually the third one I bought. The good news is, I have it here for evaluation as it has never been fired.

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It is pretty smooth much like the 45 version I have. Cleaned, oiled and ran 150 rounds through it. It ejected every time. The bad news is, it didn't run a single mag without chambering issues. 1-3 per mag. Usually 1 or 2. 50% of the time the last round would get stuck.
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In reviewing what was going on, I observed that the nose was in the chamber every time. In my mind that really left 3 things I could think of that could cause the issue, 1 not enough energy/momentum to push the round through (like the Springfield), 2 the chamber was too tight/sharp to make the turn, 3 the rim isn't getting behind the extractor when stripped from the mag.

I don't think its an energy/momentum issue. A light tap on the back of the slide will usually will send the round home. It only did so three times. I am not good enough to diagnose a tight chamber. Which brings me to the third possibility, the rim isn't getting behind the extractor. At least for the most part, I think this may be the issue. looking at it in the pics, it appears the rear of the round is pushed to the side.
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You can't really see it in that picture but the rear of the round is slightly depressed into the mag as well. If I pull the slide back just a little bit to take the tension off the round, the rear of the round will pop up and align with the chamber. If I let go of the slide from there, it will push the round in on its own. Its important to note that when I do that, the rim is now in front of the extractor, not behind the hook.

Here is another view. From here, it looks like the rim isn't clearing the extractor.
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In addition to the chambering issues, there was one instance at the end where the slide locked open before chambering the last round. It was a partial slide stop engagement like the previous 10mm but I noticed that in this instance, the round was already pushed all the way up to the feed ramp. I believe this was due to the round above it pushing down on it in an unnatural way due to being pressed down by the extractor and possibly caused the round above to drag the round below it forward. It is possible that the follower moved far enough up that it started to engage the stop. I don't believe it is the same as the previous 10mm. If you look at those pics, the round is seated to the rear of the mag where it belongs. I think this is a case of the same symptom, but different cause.
 
Kimber Rapide Dawn in 9mm is here. I was looking forward to sharing the good, the bad and the ugly, but I only have good things to say about this Rapide. The bad and the ugly will have to wait on another gun... I'd be lying through my teeth if I said this thing was ugly. Its beautimous!
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There will be some wear on the barrel right where that dark strip is. Its already worn through the gold color after 3 mags.
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Front strap texture
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Backstrap
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Great sight picture
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First, I was hesitant that this was going to run 9mm without a problem. Its tight and a little on the stout side racking the slide, for a 9mm that is. Still not as heavy as a 10mm or 45 but a little on the stouter side of 9mm. Trigger was beautiful. Very smooth pull and crisp on the break. no sponginess.

I ran 3 magazines through it of hand loads. These were moderate, barely subsonic 115gr round nose (I'm out of factory 9mm). It ran flawless. Mild and accurate enough during rapid fire to stay on target without even using sights. Handling is incredible.
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I will do an accuracy test tomorrow and check sight alignment. We were planning on a 1911 range day here but it got pushed until tomorrow. If it shoots groups anything like it handles, I'd recommend it without a hesitation. I have reservation about the Kimpro finish holding up but only time will tell that. It appears to be very well done and replicates a satin stainless very well. If I did not know it was Kimpro, I would not have known any better by its appearance.
 
Kimber Rapide Dawn in 9mm is here. I was looking forward to sharing the good, the bad and the ugly, but I only have good things to say about this Rapide. The bad and the ugly will have to wait on another gun... I'd be lying through my teeth if I said this thing was ugly. Its beautimous!
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There will be some wear on the barrel right where that dark strip is. Its already worn through the gold color after 3 mags.
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Front strap texture
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Backstrap
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Great sight picture
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First, I was hesitant that this was going to run 9mm without a problem. Its tight and a little on the stout side racking the slide, for a 9mm that is. Still not as heavy as a 10mm or 45 but a little on the stouter side of 9mm. Trigger was beautiful. Very smooth pull and crisp on the break. no sponginess.

I ran 3 magazines through it of hand loads. These were moderate, barely subsonic 115gr round nose (I'm out of factory 9mm). It ran flawless. Mild and accurate enough during rapid fire to stay on target without even using sights. Handling is incredible.
View attachment 27713
I will do an accuracy test tomorrow and check sight alignment. We were planning on a 1911 range day here but it got pushed until tomorrow. If it shoots groups anything like it handles, I'd recommend it without a hesitation. I have reservation about the Kimpro finish holding up but only time will tell that. It appears to be very well done and replicates a satin stainless very well. If I did not know it was Kimpro, I would not have known any better by its appearance.
Nice, very nice, on the one with the issues, do you think if you adjust the extractor it will help?
 
I ordered a set of these, a set of short bushings and screws and Kimber main spring housing with magwell. $150 total.

If it all works out well, I’ll do the 10mm I’m keeping the same way.
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I’ve really enjoyed following this thread and have learned a lot, the Kimber Rapide looks great however I’m not big on slide cut outs. To @Philmo11 and @Annihilator and anyone else what are your thoughts on the differences between 1911’s with a barrel bushing and those without such as my Emissary?
Which one is more accurate if there is a difference and which one is subject to eventual wear over the other?
 
I’ve really enjoyed following this thread and have learned a lot, the Kimber Rapide looks great however I’m not big on slide cut outs. To @Philmo11 and @Annihilator and anyone else what are your thoughts on the differences between 1911’s with a barrel bushing and those without such as my Emissary?
Which one is more accurate if there is a difference and which one is subject to eventual wear over the other?
My opinion, if you get a good fit with the bushing and barrel fit, very accurate, but a bull barrel like that’s on your Emissary is a very tight fit and should be very accurate for a longer period of time due to no wear between the older barrel/bushing setup. Many years ago I installed a bull barrel on my Colt 1911, personally, I prefer the bull barrel, but that’s me, my Kimber Pro Carry II has the bull barrel setup.
 
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My opinion, if you get a good fit with the bushing and barrel fit, very accurate, but a bull barrel like that’s on your Emissary is a very tight fit and should be very accurate for a longer period of time due to no wear between the older barrel/bushing setup. Many years ago I installed a bull barrel on my Colt 1911, personally, I prefer the bull barrel, but that’s me, my Kimber Pro Carry II has the bull barrel setup.
Thank you, great information.
Still learning.
 
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