CDP Pro Range Report

[GunnDan]

Shot my new-used CDP yesterday. It did pretty well. I haven't been shooting as often as I should lately and I'm a bit rusty. It's capable of much better accuracy than I am right now! I just got some stitches out of my left palm (don't ask) and although the wound is mostly healed, it wasn't helping.
It definitely did not like the cheap CCI Blazer FMJ ammo I fed it - several FTRBs with that stuff. I think it's pretty lightly loaded as the casings weren't flying far at all either. The Remington Golden Sabers did fine, but I didn't shoot a bunch - it's almost payday. hehe.
Before I get too concerned my next step will be to replace the recoil spring, and obviously try some different types of ball ammo, then maybe some magazine maintenance - first dissassy and lube, then maybe springs, and THEN new ones.
Oh...and a set of .45ACP Lee dies and bullets is on the shopping list - this is gonna get expensive! (I'm used to 9mm, mostly.)
Questions:
1) Should I get the Wolff 20lb. springs? Thoughts? There's nothing in the manual about proper type of springs of course, since one's supposed to order from Kimber.
2) The checkered Cocobolo grips look nice, but my small hands don't like them much. A set of Pierce rubber grips came in the box with the gun. BUT, I can't figure out how to get them off! I took the allen screws out, but didn't want to jimmy the grips too hard for fear of breaking them and I'm thinking those bushings should stay put. Any hints? (I know that's a real "newbie" question.)
3) What's the best M1911 book for the money out there? That might alleviate my asking all these silly questions.
Sorry for the shotgun blast of questions - but I'm sure ya'll saw it coming.
Thanks.
P.S. - The new Avatar is my Bluetick Coonhound, P.R. Big Sandy Cove Tucker.

[Huevos]

Questions:
1) Should I get the Wolff 20lb. springs? Thoughts? There's nothing in the manual about proper type of springs of course, since one's supposed to order from Kimber. I use 22's in my SLE's, don't know about the CDP's though.
2) The checkered Cocobolo grips look nice, but my small hands don't like them much. A set of Pierce rubber grips came in the box with the gun. BUT, I can't figure out how to get them off! I took the allen screws out, but didn't want to jimmy the grips too hard for fear of breaking them and I'm thinking those bushings should stay put. Any hints? (I know that's a real "newbie" question. Try removing the mag and pushing out on the grips from the inside.
3) What's the best M1911 book for the money out there? Jerry Kuhnhausen's "The Colt 45 Automatic, a shop manual". That might alleviate my asking all these silly questions. No such thing as a silly question... :)

[John]

Shot my new-used CDP yesterday. It did pretty well. I haven't been shooting as often as I should lately and I'm a bit rusty. It's capable of much better accuracy than I am right now! I just got some stitches out of my left palm (don't ask) and although the wound is mostly healed, it wasn't helping.
It definitely did not like the cheap CCI Blazer FMJ ammo I fed it - several FTRBs with that stuff. I think it's pretty lightly loaded as the casings weren't flying far at all either. The Remington Golden Sabers did fine, but I didn't shoot a bunch - it's almost payday. hehe.
Before I get too concerned my next step will be to replace the recoil spring, and obviously try some different types of ball ammo, then maybe some magazine maintenance - first dissassy and lube, then maybe springs, and THEN new ones.
Oh...and a set of .45ACP Lee dies and bullets is on the shopping list - this is gonna get expensive! (I'm used to 9mm, mostly.)
Questions:
1) Should I get the Wolff 20lb. springs? Thoughts? There's nothing in the manual about proper type of springs of course, since one's supposed to order from Kimber.

Nope, for .45 ACP the 20 lbs is too heavy, unless this is a Commander-length pistol. There is an article about recoil springs in the Home Page, click on the "The M-1911 Pistols Organization" on the top, and from the drop-down menu select "Home Page", then there, go to the "Technical Issues".


2) The checkered Cocobolo grips look nice, but my small hands don't like them much. A set of Pierce rubber grips came in the box with the gun. BUT, I can't figure out how to get them off! I took the allen screws out, but didn't want to jimmy the grips too hard for fear of breaking them and I'm thinking those bushings should stay put. Any hints? (I know that's a real "newbie" question.)


I think that you will find the Pierce grips to be thicker than the Cocobolo ones. And yes, the grip screw bushings SHOULD NOT be removed to change the grips. If the grips didn't fall out after you removed the screws, put your finger inside the magwell and push them out.


3) What's the best M1911 book for the money out there? That might alleviate my asking all these silly questions.
Sorry for the shotgun blast of questions - but I'm sure ya'll saw it coming.


There are too many books on the 1911. While you are in the Home Page, check the "Literature" section. There are some reviews there too. What's the best? I would recommend the Kuhnhausen duo to start with.

Rgds

[IMA2X4]

As for the question about spring poundage, My CDP manual states that a 16 pound spring is required when replacing the spring. It also states that the spring should be replaced about every 1500 rounds.

Hope this helps,

Adam

[Nikolai]

Greetings,
Wolff springs are great, and for your Pro-sized CDP, a 20lb (I believe) is factory. You could email Kimber Customer Service and find the spring weights for sure, as well as other spring weights for future knowledge (mainspring, FP spring.. etc,.). With small(er) hands, you may want to consider changing your grip screw bushings to "slim" models, with coordinating slim grip screws and grips to fit. These can all be had through Brownell's, Kimber's custom shop may also offer this. It's a simple enough job, it will require a few tools. From Brownell's, a Magna-Tip driver, slim bushing bit, regular bushing bit, and BLUE LocTite. That's all under $40, I believe. Slim bushings and screws may be found in the Flea Market subforum for a good price, but Brownell's sells them also and are very reasonable. Thin grips will be necessary, and these can be found in many places, including our sponsors. As a matter of fact, you may also be able to find slim bushings and screws through the sponsors as well. Perhaps something to consider.

Your grips shouldn't be "stuck" on the gun. They should be coming off with little effort, as others have said, an easy way to be gentle with them is to remove the magazine from the gun, and push the grip off with your finger, pencil, what have you.

The Kuhnhausen shop manuals are invaluable. They're not the 'literary read' that you may be interested in, but contain a wealth of knowledge on the M1911 pistol and are worth their weight in gold, in my opinion. As John suggested, the literature section of this forum will be a good place to look.

Thanks for the range report.

-Nikolai

[Huevos]

Maybe I'm missing something here. Both my Pro sized Kimbers use 22# springs. They're not Pro CDP's (as indicated in GunnDan's title), but Pro Carry's, still I don't see them being that much different. The Pro sized gun has a 4" bull barrel and full size grip. Correct me if I'm wrong but my 5" guns use 16 - 16.5 # springs and I think a 4" gun would have some serious issues with these springs. Maybe I'm wrong, it almost happened once before... :)

[Nikolai]

Greetings,
Thank you for the correction and insight, Huevos. Apparently, a 22lb recoil spring is what this CDP calls for. Wolff has them on their website, GunnDan. I own no Pro (Kimberspeak) sized pistols, all of my 1911s are Govt. sized. I believe IMA was referring to his/her fullsized CDP, in which a 16.5lb recoil spring is the Kimber standard, also available through Wolff.

-Nikolai

[Huevos]

Thanks Nikolai. I wasn't trying to correct you, your first reply wasn't up when I started my reply (see my edit). Your answer was very informative, even answering questions that weren't actually asked, like the grips. That was very good, I had to go back and re-read his post before I picked up on it.
GunnDan, I think another good source of information, if you're like me anyway, is some of the AGI or Bill Wilsons videos. Nothing like seeing it and having it explained, it's good for us slow typers anyway. And yes, you are correct, it is going to get expensive... :)

[Kruzr]

Kimber factory spring ratings for a Pro Size is as stated a 22#. It is an Officer's size spring NOT a Commander. You need to order a full diameter 22# Officer's size spring from Wolff. Wolff has recently come out with a spring made specifically for Kimber Pro Sizes. It is slightly longer than the Officer's size and should give a longer life. I haven't tried one yet but will on my next order. Kimber recommends changing a Pro size recoil spring every 800 rounds. I get about 1100 out of mine.

And, FWIW, Kimber factory springs for Gov't size pistols is 16# not 16.5.

[Nikolai]

Greetings,
Thanks, Kruzr. ;)

-Nikolai

[Huevos]

And, FWIW, Kimber factory springs for Gov't size pistols is 16# not 16.5. Agreed, but I use 16.5# springs in my Colt. It's a 5" gun so I threw it in... :)

[GunnDan]

Thanks for all the discussion, folks. I was going to reply about the 16 pounder that I was REALLY confused, since I also went to the Wolff website and they said "22# for Commander-size". Of course, Pro = Commander.
I got the cocobolo grips off - just used the end of a Sharpie for leverage and popped out one side. Now the Pierce grips are on and they do feel much better. Some day I *might* spring for some Crimson Trace laser grips, which should be about the same size and feel as the Pierces. That's way down the line, of course and I'll probably be replacing the Tritium sites before that since the Mepros seem to be getting dim.
I bought some Remington UMC FMJ 230gr. ammo, and a box WinClean BEB - I'll shoot them tomorrow and see how it goes. Like I said, if I still get FTRBs, I'll go to the magazines next. Midway has Wilsons for $25 - is that a good price? I need to get a .45ACP die set from them anyway.
-Dan

[Huevos]

Gunndan, Kimber will replace those Mepro's for free as long as you didn't damage them somehow, give them a call. You'll have to pay shippng one way, but since you're only sending your slide it's not much, it was $15 to send mine from Idaho. $25 for Wilson's isn't bad, they can be found a little cheaper if you really look. Good luck.....

[GunnDan]

Huevos,
Thanks, the guys at the shop where I bought the gun said the same thing. I'll give Kimber a call and see what they say. Honestly, this is not only my first 1911 but the first I've owned with tritium sights (not the first I've actually fired).
I guess I just assumed that since -- a) I bought it used b) It's a series I, therefore, at least a couple years old and c) the standard Warranty is 1 year -- I'd be stuck with paying for some new bright sites.
I'll need to go and compare to a new gun - and get the guys at the shop to see what they think. They aren't "dead" yet and do glow in pitch dark - I'm used to seeing brighter sights that REALLY stick out in the dark, and even shade - like the ones on SIGs (don't know who makes them for the Euros), so maybe I'm expecting too much? Anyway, I think they're dim compared to others I've handled.
Thanks again, I'll let everyone know what I find out.
--Dan

[Huevos]

Meprolights are pretty bright. I also bought my Gold Combat used and told Kimber that when I called them. They told me that if they weren't damaged they would be replaced at no charge. The meprolights are supposed to be warranteed for 12 years and Kimber hasn't been making 1911's for that long. I heard that they got a bad batch and have been replacing a lot of them.

[GunnDan]

Roger that! Like I said, "Bright" to me is they create a "backblast" glow in total darkness. These you gotta look for. The good folks at Shooter's Paradise (the shop/range) said the same thing about replacing the "bad batch". Apparently the PO (previous owner) was a regular "range shooter" and wasn't worried about it then had some health issues that now preclude continuting maintenance, etc. That's ok with me - I got the gun and it has a 'good home'.
First I want to see if I can go through several mags of Rem FMJs without an FTRB like I had with the 'CCI Brass Blazers'.
Then - I'll contact Kimber and arrange shipping my slide to get some new Mepros.
v/r -- Dan