I have been searching for input to my problems with my 10mm Eclipse 2 bought new a few months back. I called Kimber the first time with a couple hundred shots through as it would not feed PMC hollow point bullets but 50% of the time. I also used HSM FMJ and had about 10% FTF with these. Kimber told me to go away till I had 500 or so rnds through it. Well at about 700 rnds now I called them back since still the PMC and Underwood hollow points still FTF about 30-50% of the time. I had polished the feed ramp after my first call to Kimber and the FMJ bullets are now going about 98% of the time. My second call I was basically told that I have to expect this from a 10mm. I told the guy that I was not accepting that and he gave me a return authorization which I will send back tomorrow. In addition to the FTF the FMJ casings are flying back so abruptly that they are removing the finish on the slide just behind the ejection port. Is there any chance that I can expect Kimber to do right by me? Also I want to buy a threaded barrel for the Kimber, where do I go for that? I have previously owned a Glock 20 2nd. gen, 21 4th gen and 357 sig 3rd gen, and now own an XDM 3.8 45 that I would like to convert to 460 someday. I really love shooting the Kimber as it makes me a better shooter though I don't think the specific accuracy of the gun is any better than the Glock 21 or 357 Sig was.
Thanks in advance...
Had the same problems with my 10mm Eclipse and sent it right back. Failures to eject, double feeds, stove pipes and the slide not locking back after the last round was fired.
They changed the ejector and extractor on mine. It has been running like a top since. I suggest you "find" as many problems as you can before you send it in and have them look "everything" over.
I sent my 3-year-old Eclipse Custom II back to Kimber 3 or 4 times. Sometimes I felt like they did a good job, and sometimes I felt they did an awful job. I finally gave up on them, and took it to a local gunsmith. He improved it, but I still had problems. I've had work done by a total of 3 local gunsmiths, and all have had some successes. It's been running well lately ... maybe 10 mags of 8 rounds each, so far, without any failures and consistent (if distant) ejection (but the marks behind the ejection port are just going to be there). Kimber could certainly do a MUCH better job on customer support and quality control. But I DO think their design and feature choices were all the right ones. I'm going to continue trying to test and confirm it's reliability, and maybe I'll eventually be able to fully trust it, but lately, I've been carrying my S&W69 .44mag 5-shot 4-1/4" L-Frame DA/SA revolver almost all the time ... it's just SO simple by comparison.
Good luck with the trip back to Kimber. Hopefully they will solve your problems ... apparently some 10mm Eclipse owners have gotten a reliable gun, either initially, or after one trip back. But others haven't. Kimber should be doing much better by their customers than they are.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-custom-ii-lg-45-acp#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-target-ii
Looks like it was discontinued.
Quote from: Wolfie on December 10 2014 10:27:37 AM MST
http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-custom-ii-lg-45-acp#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/eclipse-ii/eclipse-target-ii
Looks like it was discontinued.
WOW! Wonder when that happened? Do they now have ANY 10mm 1911's?
Target and TLE
Just found out that I have to spend $110.00 to send my pistol to Kimber- not going to happen. How can a business not be responsible for a product that doesn't work?
Wait 2 weeks and call back and "say" you ran the 1000 rounds and have the following problems.
1. Double Feeds
2. Stovepipes
3. Failure to Ejects
4. Slide not locking back after last shot
After the 500 rounds its on them anyway.
Quote from: ram1000 on December 10 2014 02:14:10 PM MST
Just found out that I have to spend $110.00 to send my pistol to Kimber [...]
That's really lousy! They always paid both ways, all the times I sent mine back. They seem to be sinking lower and lower ... too bad ... the gun I bought from them is STILL the only auto-loader that I want.
Maybe you can find a local gunsmith who can do a better job for you anyway. I'm not sure Kimber even HAS any gunsmiths working for them.
RZ 10 is a nicer gun than the Kimber and quite frankly I like the Delta better than both.
Quote from: Wolfie on December 10 2014 02:37:41 PM MST
RZ 10 is a nicer gun than the Kimber and quite frankly I like the Delta better than both.
I want a grip-lever-controlled firing-pin-safety, a fully-supported chamber, and no ambi-thumb-safety. So those two (and any other non-Kimber's, I think) are ruled out for me.
I thought the tle ii was discontinued
Wow.
I feel sorry for you for your bad luck. if I was in your shoes i would be definitely pissed.
Have you expressed that to Kimber (appropriately)? Tell them if they cannot make the gun work, you want a refund.
Have to add that Colt's customer service is second to none.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/custom-ii/stainless-target-ii#http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/custom-ii/custom-tle-rl-ii
Kimber Target, TLE & TLE Rail still available. May add a TLE if my LGS gets one and I like it.
Mike, I run Buffalo Bore 180G and the new full power Federal 180's in the Delta and DW no problem. Broaden your view on other offerings.
Quote from: ram1000 on December 09 2014 07:59:15 PM MST
...
Kimber told me to go away till I had 500 or so rnds through it.
...
I had polished the feed ramp after my first call to Kimber and the FMJ bullets are now going about 98% of the time.
...
My second call I was basically told that I have to expect this from a 10mm.
...
Is there any chance that I can expect Kimber to do right by me?
...
1) Typical Kimber. They build tight guns, but you need to shoot a crap load through them to loosen up the parts so they function correctly. This has been their excuse since they started producing 1911 pistols.
2) You spend $1000+ for a precision made gun, and you still have to do work on it to get it to work.
3) You have to expect it from Kimber, and not a 10mm. If their gun doesn't work, they shouldn't offer it for sale.
4) I have no idea what Kimber customer service will do.
I have a few friends who own Kimber guns. None of them work 100% of the time. They are the Ducati of gun makers: High priced and finicky.
.
Good news- for me, Kimber called back and is going to fix and ship the gun on warrenty. Thanks for all your input...
Very glad to hear that!
Kimber has agreed to pay postage and I sent my pistol back waiting for the results now...
I have owned many Kimbers and look forward to a TLE II RL in 10mm.
Some issues that I have seen (and fixed) Some Kimbers have issues with the extractors, check the tension on it for the FTF. Normally if its too tight it wont feed, too loose it won't eject.
I break in all of my Kimbers with a somewhat unconventional method. I put old colgate toothpaste on the frame and rails (The kind with the grit in it) and run the action 200 times, clean, repeat, clean and lube and reassemble. You can also use flitz metal polish, but I have a big tube of the old colgate so there you have it. You will see and feel a definite difference.
Another issue you mentioned is the slide locking prematurely. I have had several Kimbers to which I had to take the file to the slide stop. I blacken it with a sharpy cycle the gun until I get lock back and file where the sharpy rubbed off. Normally a few passes with a light file does the trick. This normally happens with the Ultra models.
I look forward to hearing how your Kimber shoots.
fast eddie sends
Waiting to receive the gun back after Kimber looks at it but don't expect it till maybe after the first of the year since its Christmas. I would be afraid to do the break in your talking about for fear of Kimber denying to deal with it if they found out. As far as the ejector stuff that seems above my pay grade for now.
I have never sent one back. (Yet) It does work however. Let us know when it returns.