KImber?

[marcinstl]

I went to the range yesterday. guy in the next lane asks if I could help him. he just bought a new Kimber upstairs and came down to the range for the first box of ammo. the guy is in his 70's and admits the only other gun he has is a .38 snubbie. what he needs help with is chambering a round. I've broken in 3 new Kahrs, I have Kahr muscle. yeah, bs, this Kimber is broke or welded shut. the slide lock doesn't work. what a hunk of junk. finally got the mag to release. then got the slide opened and locked back. no round in the chamber.
put the mag back in and let the slide go. click, nothing. repeat. slide is stiffer than 2 Kahrs. mag release is almost unuseable. the darn thing won't chamber a round.
the guy packs up and goes back upstairs to find his buddy the salesman. I told him to get his money back and shop a new revolver, they work without the drama.
any 1911 guys got a theory on what was going on there? what was I missing? does a 1911 need a 50lbs. recoil spring?

[gb6491]

"he just bought a new Kimber upstairs and came down to the range for the first box of ammo"
He probably needs to break it down and lube it.
When I bought my TLE II, I also took it from the register to the range. It appeared to have lube on it from the factory, but I had to failures to chamber the first round. I field stripped it and lubed it some more. I've had no issues with it since.
Kimber used to recommend a 500 round break in period (with frequent cleanings and lube), but I'm not sure if they still do.
I'd also try another mag if he's having trouble with the mag release.
Regards,
Greg
http://i42.tinypic.com/etd6it.jpg

[Bawanna]

Definitely not! Just like a Kahr some can be stiff when new but generally get very manageable in short order.

There's a wide range of recoil spring weights available for different stuff but even the stiffest shouldn't be that tough.

Not sure what the issue was here, be nice to know.

[b4uqzme]

...makes me wonder how many issues I've dodged by taking every new gun purchase (new or used) home and going through it first.

[downtownv]

My Kimber does take some hand strength to rack it, but that baby is deadly accurate. No Complaints, whatsoever!
My Kimber pen is much easier, however! :)

[smokersteve]

It would be wise to clean and lube a new gun

[berettabone]

It's just foolish to take a firearm from counter to range...........................I can understand why the guy needed help. I know he's up there in age, like a lot of us, but people like him scare me..................:o

[marcinstl]

It's just foolish to take a firearm from counter to range...........................I can understand why the guy needed help. I know he's up there in age, like a lot of us, but people like him scare me..................:o

that's kind of why I tried to help him, scared he'd shoot himself or me. the old timer was definitely not a gun guy and he didn't have the strength to manipulate the gun. if he takes it apart, we're all safe, I doubt he could get it back together. I don't know Kimbers, but I'll guess this had a 4" barrel. after a couple of tries at getting it to chamber a round I suggested he take it back to the expert salesperson who just chumped him out of whatever money those things cost. at that point I really didn't want to be there for the first launch of a .45acp out the barrel of that thing-- hang on grandpa! there's probably a real sweet profit margin on a gun like that, and maybe the salesman figured it would just end up in the sock drawer, so who cares. guess that's why I'm not a gun salesman. (if I was a gunstore salesman, I would have sold the guy the basic gun handling class and given him a list of guns to rent and shoot. ok, I might have missed a big sale, but maybe I picked up a repeat customer?)

[knkali]

that's kind of why I tried to help him, scared he'd shoot himself or me. the old timer was definitely not a gun guy and he didn't have the strength to manipulate the gun. if he takes it apart, we're all safe, I doubt he could get it back together. I don't know Kimbers, but I'll guess this had a 4" barrel. after a couple of tries at getting it to chamber a round I suggested he take it back to the expert salesperson who just chumped him out of whatever money those things cost. at that point I really didn't want to be there for the first launch of a .45acp out the barrel of that thing-- hang on grandpa! there's probably a real sweet profit margin on a gun like that, and maybe the salesman figured it would just end up in the sock drawer, so who cares. guess that's why I'm not a gun salesman. (if I was a gunstore salesman, I would have sold the guy the basic gun handling class and given him a list of guns to rent and shoot. ok, I might have missed a big sale, but maybe I picked up a repeat customer?)
I just want to say that after reading your posts that you are good dude. Thank you for trying to help.

[ltxi]

that's kind of why I tried to help him, scared he'd shoot himself or me. the old timer was definitely not a gun guy and he didn't have the strength to manipulate the gun. if he takes it apart, we're all safe, I doubt he could get it back together. I don't know Kimbers, but I'll guess this had a 4" barrel. after a couple of tries at getting it to chamber a round I suggested he take it back to the expert salesperson who just chumped him out of whatever money those things cost. at that point I really didn't want to be there for the first launch of a .45acp out the barrel of that thing-- hang on grandpa! there's probably a real sweet profit margin on a gun like that, and maybe the salesman figured it would just end up in the sock drawer, so who cares. guess that's why I'm not a gun salesman. (if I was a gunstore salesman, I would have sold the guy the basic gun handling class and given him a list of guns to rent and shoot. ok, I might have missed a big sale, but maybe I picked up a repeat customer?)

Okay....careful with that old=lame stuff around here. I'm 72. My son is 50. He's already older than I am. :-)

I have three 1911 pattern Kimbers. They ain't Wilson but all have been solid, quality, reliable guns. All mine are early production but I see no indication new stuff ain't up to snuff....just relatively more expensive.

[muggsy]

Okay....careful with that old=lame stuff around here. I'm 72. My son is 50. He's already older than I am. :-)

Yer a man after my own heart, ltxi. I think that I can still beat my sons at arm wrestling. :)

[Bawanna]

That was kind of me when I did an on the job training program at a gun shop. They were set up like a car lot, sell the first thing they look at but I didn't adhere to that.

I was there probably 2 months as I recall and they didn't like it much when I'd suggest that a customer not buy anything today, but look and research and spend time with them and determine their needs. They might not buy today but when they did buy they'd come back and most would only talk to me.

I thought I was good at it and I would be, my downfall is being near deaf, just couldn't do the communication thing well.

The floor manager was a punk kid that didn't have any guns except one he won on a sale promotion for some company, don't even remember which one. Thought he was gifted but he was an idiot.

At least there weren't a pile of violets and the couple that were around were nice and not fat and they were useful.

[marcinstl]

"Okay....careful with that old=lame stuff around here. I'm 72."
next november I turn 70. right now I'm just a kid in his 60's, hehehehe.
anybody else needs their Kimber slide jacked, I'm going to go find a 30 year old.

[ltxi]

That was kind of me when I did an on the job training program at a gun shop. They were set up like a car lot, sell the first thing they look at but I didn't adhere to that.

I was there probably 2 months as I recall and they didn't like it much when I'd suggest that a customer not buy anything today, but look and research and spend time with them and determine their needs. They might not buy today but when they did buy they'd come back and most would only talk to me.

I thought I was good at it and I would be, my downfall is being near deaf, just couldn't do the communication thing well.

The floor manager was a punk kid that didn't have any guns except one he won on a sale promotion for some company, don't even remember which one. Thought he was gifted but he was an idiot.

At least there weren't a pile of violets and the couple that were around were nice and not fat and they were useful.

Used car lot sales philosophy, punk kid boss, obnoxious violets. Thank god I've never had to do any of that. Prolly would not have survived it. You be the better man.

[b4uqzme]

...been a salesman my whole career. It's not so bad. But there is a lot to be said for listening to your customer's needs vs. telling him what he wants. Mebbie that old timer really wanted a 1911. But a really good salesperson would have determined he also needs some instruction.

[b4uqzme]

Good job marc. You may have saved a life that day.

[Barth]

Only rented Kimbers.
But no trouble racking the slide or using the slide release.
IMHO SA 1911 guns take more training and practice than some other platforms.
Bad salesman for selling an older not experience shooter a 1911.
A nice DA revolver might have been a better choice.
My 82 year old dad has a Ruger Security Six 357 Magnum.

Full Disclosure:
I always strip, clean and lube any new handgun before range time.

[marcinstl]

Good job marc. You may have saved a life that day.
he was in the next lane at the range, when it comes to saving lives, it's mine first. (those lane dividers don't look like they'd pass the .45acp test).

[Barth]

he was in the next lane at the range, when it comes to saving lives, it's mine first. (those lane dividers don't look like they'd pass the .45acp test).

Normally I stay out of others business at the range.
If someone appears unsafe I usually just leave.
But watching someone teach a little teenage girl how to shoot a 12 gauge.
Her feet close together and the butt not against her shoulder?
I had to step in...