Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry II 45ACP

[TBT]

First of all, I am doing this review because one does not exist for this gun
on this site and it is a rather popular model. A lot of people at least seem
to look at this weapon when considering options for concealed carry.

I will also indulge in my usual disclaimer when posting opinions. I am not
an experienced handgunner and have only the Glock 27, Kimber Ultra Carry .40
pre-series two, Taurus PT140, Ruger P94, and the Springfield XD9 to draw
comparisons. These are the guns that I have extended experience with and
feel comfortable with. I am by no means an authority on this subject.

I bought the Ultra Carry after much research and questions asked. It wasn't
a spur of the moment decision as I am not impulsive by nature (the PT140
taught me this hard learned lesson.).

After my decision was made, I was able to find the UCII for $767 at a local
dealer. With a cheap Uncle Mike's holster, (I can't help but love the IWB
from Mikes) and some bullets, I made it out the door for $850.

The ejection port is beveled front and rear; the match grade bull barrel is
fitted directly to the slide without the aid of a barrel bushing. The gun
for the most part is rounded on the edges to avoid snags; a dual-captured
low effort recoil spring design keeps the manual slide very smooth, and this
is noticeable in my opinion.

Taking it out of the box once home, I proceeded to fieldstrip and clean the
firearm. Following the instructions provided proved pointless and being a
novice who was stripping his first 1911, I could have used quality
instructions. Quality instructions while not included with the gun, were
easily obtained via DoubleAction at this site. After being walked through
the "at first daunting task", I practiced and am now very proficient at this
action.

My only point of complaint at this juncture is the sights on the weapon. For
near $800 it would be nice to look at dots when I point. The sights are run
of the mill plain. This is easily remedied from what I understand though and
one of my first and only priorities in altering this weapon.

The gun is as nice looking as any compact 1911 on the market in my opinion
and nicer than most. The craftsmanship is apparent with every curve and
point. The finish in my opinion is excellent, a mat stainless.

The weight is very manageable being an aluminum frame, enough so that I was
worried about the recoil and what I had gotten myself into. At the range,
this proved to be an errant concern. The 45 is known to be a punishing round
especially in small, light frame autos, but not this Kimber. I was
pleasantly surprised to feel more of a "push" than a "hit". Given this fact,
follow up shots are very attainable. Even someone such as myself who lacks
experience easily controls this pistol.

The gun now has around 600 rounds (give or take 20) through it and not so
much as one single miss feed has dampened my day at the range. The gun
cycles "every single time" and always goes "bang" when I ask it to.
Basically ... this is the meat of what you want in a gun for self-defense,
and it passed with flying colors for me.

Very accurate. Amazing accuracy for what it is. I have no problem cutting
down a beer can from 25 yards or so (I'm poor at estimating distance, but it
feels like about 25). Natural pointability and easy target acquisition.

The price is steep for some people, but I never took issue with it. When you
look at the price of quality guns on the market, most approach or exceed the
$650 barrier. Most 1911 compacts are right in the $750-$1000 range. I should
say as well that save a few bargains, you do get what you pay for.

So far all I have done with the gun is switch up the stock black rubber
grips with a pair of rosewoods. Looks ten times better in my opinion with
the wood grips. These were purchased through Kimber for $40 if I remember
correctly. Next up are the sights. I will post a picture as soon as I gain
access to a digital camera or buy one.

Overall, I would recommend this gun to anyone. I am very pleased with it.
Enough so, that I am hard pressed to find flaw or take issue with it.
Conceals easy, looks great, and goes bang every time you pull the trigger.
How much more is there?

Feedback is welcome ... can anyone add to this?

[vito]

I started a separate thread on this gun a few days ago on another forum, wondering why two gunshops tried to steer me away from buying this gun, primarily due to the 3 inch barrel. The majority of replies urged me to consider a 4 inch barrel, such as the Kimber Compact. My interest in the Ultra Carry was for concealed carry and self defense, and I didn't think the shorter barrel would make much difference if needed at 3 to 5 yards distance. I'm not sure now which to buy; I want a Kimber for quality and reputation, but think maybe I should heed the advice of so many and go with the compact. Most comments also stated that the size difference was not significant, and that concealing the 4in barrel Compact was no harder than the 3 inch barrel Ultra Carry. Whichever one I get, I will likely ask the gunshop to order it from Kimber for me with the Tritium 3 dot night sights, since like you, the plain sights on the Ultra Carry seemed inadequate, especially at the price.

[TBT]

vito said:

I started a separate thread on this gun a few days ago on another forum, wondering why two gunshops tried to steer me away from buying this gun, primarily due to the 3 inch barrel. The majority of replies urged me to consider a 4 inch barrel, such as the Kimber Compact. My interest in the Ultra Carry was for concealed carry and self defense, and I didn't think the shorter barrel would make much difference if needed at 3 to 5 yards distance. I'm not sure now which to buy; I want a Kimber for quality and reputation, but think maybe I should heed the advice of so many and go with the compact. Most comments also stated that the size difference was not significant, and that concealing the 4in barrel Compact was no harder than the 3 inch barrel Ultra Carry. Whichever one I get, I will likely ask the gunshop to order it from Kimber for me with the Tritium 3 dot night sights, since like you, the plain sights on the Ultra Carry seemed inadequate, especially at the price.

This is all everything that I have heard now too. I think it is common sense in 1911s that all things being equal, the longer slide is better ... so the 4" would be better if it isn't a problem to conceal.

But ... I'm upto 800 rounds through the Kimber without ONE SINGLE failure of any kind. How can you get better than that?

[TMan]

TBT, great review. I have the Kimber Ultra Shadow Limited Edition II, which is a variant, with night sights. I've only put 100 rounds through it, because I bought it for carry, not for target shooting. The first time, I noticed that it did mildly hurt my hand from the recoil. It was the most recoil I've felt from a pistol. Then I bought "Uncle Mike's Gloves" and took it to the range for another 50 rounds. I was amazed at how accurate I could shoot this little gun. Of couse size matters, but at 7 yards how much difference could the barrel length make.

I maintain that the gun is scary looking. It is an optical illusion, but when you look at that small gun, the size of that big hole in the barrel may make someone consider other options than being shot. Although I probably carry the little Kel-Tec .32 more frequently, pointing that at someone is not likely going to make them reconsider.

[MLB]

I'm far from an expert on the 1911 design, but from what I understand, the reason for concern with the shorter barrel is not a loss of accuracy, but the shorter travel of the slide. This requires a stiffer recoil spring, and allows a shorter amount of time for ejection and chambering of the next round. Feeding problems and frame battering can result.

If I understand the situation incorrectly, please set me straight...

[TBT]

MLB said:

I'm far from an expert on the 1911 design, but from what I understand, the reason for concern with the shorter barrel is not a loss of accuracy, but the shorter travel of the slide. This requires a stiffer recoil spring, and allows a shorter amount of time for ejection and chambering of the next round. Feeding problems and frame battering can result.

If I understand the situation incorrectly, please set me straight...

Hey ... I'm about as much as of an expert as you are. All I can say is that I think that you are correct in your post. I think that is the main issue.

["DoubleAction"]

TBT; 800 Rounds through your Kimber is excellent, considering you're still using the original factory recoil spring. I have a Colt Officer's Acp in the 3 1/2" barrel length that I replace the 22 lb. recoil spring every 500 rds, whether it needs it or not, because that is the recommended interval for this barrel length.
The first time I saw a 3 1/2" 1911 was in 1985, with the Colt Officer's ACP, and the first thing that came to mind was a sawed off Government Model.
The recoil and battering of these sawed off 1911s rests upon it's recoil and buffering systems, of which my 3 1/2" recieved by installing a Cominolli Dual buffer, with a single 22 lb. Wolff Spring, Reversed tapered plug, and full length guide rod. If the battering is evident with the 22 lb., I have the option of moving up to a 24 lb. spring but so far the 22 lb. does it's job.

[TBT]

DoubleAction said:

TBT; 800 Rounds through your Kimber is excellent, considering you're still using the original factory recoil spring. I have a Colt Officer's Acp in the 3 1/2" barrel length that I replace the 22 lb. recoil spring every 500 rds, whether it needs it or not, because that is the recommended interval for this barrel length.
The first time I saw a 3 1/2" 1911 was in 1985, with the Colt Officer's ACP, and the first thing that came to mind was a sawed off Government Model.
The recoil and battering of these sawed off 1911s rests upon it's recoil and buffering systems, of which my 3 1/2" recieved by installing a Cominolli Dual buffer, with a single 22 lb. Wolff Spring, Reversed tapered plug, and full length guide rod. If the battering is evident with the 22 lb., I have the option of moving up to a 24 lb. spring but so far the 22 lb. does it's job.

So I should be looking into replacing the spring in mine? I have around 1200 rounds through it at this time ...

[TBT]

A pic of the gun ...

[vito]

Kimber seemed to solve the FTE problem in my Ultra Carry II by replacing what they said was a defective extractor. When I got it back from Kimber I went to the range and fired about 50 rounds of Federal 230 gr without problem, but when I loaded the same type ammo from Winchester I had a few FTE's still occur with the first 30 or 40 rounds (thats all I had time for). I'm hoping that by just staying away from Winchester I will be OK. If the problem is not the ammo, its back again to Kimber or I'll just give in and sell the d**n thing. I find myself thinking about getting a S&W 625 so I can have the 45 acp round that I rely on, and have it in a gun that will likely NEVER give me any problem with reliability.

["DoubleAction"]

TBT said:

So I should be looking into replacing the spring in mine? I have around 1200 rounds through it at this time ...

TBT; My 3 1/2 inch Officer's has a single recoil spring, and the inner and outer buffers prevents any metal to metal contact when the slide recoils. Your pistol has something like the Sprinco recoil system, where you probably have duals springs, with one acting as a buffer when the slide goes into full recoil. I would call Kimber's customer service to find more out on the life of the springs, the manufacturer of the system ( If it is Sprinco), and the ratings of the springs.

[TBT]

DoubleAction said:

TBT; My 3 1/2 inch Officer's has a single recoil spring, and the inner and outer buffers prevents any metal to metal contact when the slide recoils. Your pistol has something like the Sprinco recoil system, where you probably have duals springs, with one acting as a buffer when the slide goes into full recoil. I would call Kimber's customer service to find more out on the life of the springs, the manufacturer of the system ( If it is Sprinco), and the ratings of the springs.

I'll do that Da, thanks for the tip.

BTW -

Had my first FTF with this gun. It was the first time that I ran considerable JHP ammo through it, 250 rounds of White Box, and three FTF's. It was the cheap stuff ... but still.

I loved telling people that I never had one issue, and now I can't.

[vito]

Welcome to the Ultra Carry club. But with the new extractor put in by Kimber, and using McCormick magazine, I am now having no problems. If I fire a few hundred more rounds without an FTE or FTF I'll then consider the gun safe to carry and rely on. Otherwise, I'm out of the Kimber club as soon as I can sell this gun.

["DoubleAction"]

I admit that the 3" barrels is testing things a bit, as far as compacting the recoil system on these pistols. For the most part, these pistols are geared for those looking toward a smaller and lighter .45 acp, in the 1911, for concealed and carry rather than for extensive range use. I know some people who will not trust their life with a gun until they see the first 500 rds. without a single failure to fire or feed; I'm one. If something goes wrong after that, make the required adjustment and do another 500 rd. test.

[vito]

Good advice. Thanks for the help. Keep up the good work running this forum. I find it invaluable as a relatively ignorant gun owner.

["DoubleAction"]

Vito; Your not ignorant about guns, your just like the rest of us who wants a gun they might have to bet their life on to work.
Is a 500 rd. functional reliability test too much to ask for in a defensive carry pistol?

[TBT]

DoubleAction said:

I know some people who will not trust their life with a gun until they see the first 500 rds. without a single failure to fire or feed; I'm one. If something goes wrong after that, make the required adjustment and do another 500 rd. test.

I agree with this completely. I had 1200 through my UCII without a failure of any kind and I was absolutely confident in it’s working when I needed it. I wasn’t however running JHP ammo at the range or using it for carry. I bought 250 rounds of the JHP to see what would happen because it is obviously better. I got poor results so I’m taking the following action this weekend:

I’m going to replace the spring like you suggested if Kimber advises that the life of the spring is exceeded or close to being so and then I’m going to pick up some Federal or Gold Dot JHP and rerun the test. I was doing a 250 round test last week, but your right, it should be 500. It’s going to be expensive though … but worth it.

[TBT]

Just an update here.

I replaced the recoil spring with a Wolf and went to Wilson mags and ran 400 rounds of PowR’Ball through it without failure. After that I ran about 200 of the WWB though it, also without failure.

The gun has about 2500 rounds through it now and with the exception of that one day when the JHP WWB wouldn’t feed right, it has been flawless.

The gun will now be brought out for minimal training about once a month so as to not beat it up too much. I once again have utter and complete confidence in this firearm with my life on the line.

It’s still my favorite of all my guns ...

[somery]

what is JHP and WWB? is this brand of ammo? i have only used winchester 9mm. is this a bad bullet? 150 rounds proved accurate, as far as i know.

[TMan]

JHP is Jacketed Hollow Point, and by jacketed is meant the copper jacket covering the lead bullet.

WWB is Winchester White Box like they sell at Walmart. I use it a lot because it goes on sale at Bass Pro Shops. That is one of the things I like so much about shooting 9mm - it goes on sale. As far as accuracy is concerned: its good enough for me, but I have no plans of ever shooting in competition.