25th Anniversary Kimber

[Dean Hoffmann]

Today, my adoring spouse accompanied me to my favorite weapons emporium, and in a flash of insight surprised me with a 25th Anniversary Kimber S/N 953. WHAT A WONDERFUL WOMAN!! She's been putting up with me for nearly 33 years and still likes to surprise me. Early father's day she called it. Uh Oh, I'm in big trouble now, I've got to get something incredibly cool for her for Mother's Day. Pics tomorrow night! Dean

[Dean Hoffmann]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/adiaphora/373984d3.jpg Here's the new baby. I don't know if I should shoot it, or keep it as an investment. It's going to be awfully hard not to shoot it.

[telcom911]

shoot it!


It deserves the experince, as do you.


If it was a Singer, then YOU might not want to shoot it- I probably would, but that's just me ;)

[Nikolai]

Greetings,
I still love those 25th Ann. grips. Great looking gun, Dean. Congrats on the pistol, but more so on the lovely bride you've been so blessed with.

We all love presents, especially when they're magazine fed, but let's not forget the most important, and beautiful gift of all.. our women. My best to you all.

-Nikolai

[Dissident]

Oh wow...I picked mine up on March 15 also. I have been waiting on pins and needles all week to shoot it. I've got the range bag packed with 300 rounds to go the range first thing in the morning. I changed out the grips with some old rubber ones that I had left over from a Custom II.

[Dean Hoffmann]

Congrats on a fine pistol. I had mine out today and it isn't just another pretty face. I fed it a variety of 230gr fmj, Remington golden sabers, gold dot and some Armacor HP, and she digested it all. 250 rds with no failures. At first I thought the grips were too slick, but once I got used to them, 3inch groups at 15 yds were pretty common. It is not quite as accurate as my Custom CDP II, but then again this was just the first trip to the range. I am considering changing out the sights for perhaps meprolights as the CDP has. I tend to have trouble focusing in that black on black format. Perhaps I will just try a dot of liquid paper on the front sight. Have a gas with yours Dissident and let us hear a range report. Dean

[John]

Congrats on a fine pistol. I had mine out today and it isn't just another pretty face. I fed it a variety of 230gr fmj, Remington golden sabers, gold dot and some Armacor HP, and she digested it all. 250 rds with no failures. At first I thought the grips were too slick, but once I got used to them, 3inch groups at 15 yds were pretty common. It is not quite as accurate as my Custom CDP II, but then again this was just the first trip to the range. I am considering changing out the sights for perhaps meprolights as the CDP has. I tend to have trouble focusing in that black on black format. Perhaps I will just try a dot of liquid paper on the front sight. Have a gas with yours Dissident and let us hear a range report. Dean
Thank God, you made the wise decision and shoot it. It would be a shame to keep this in the safe!

Congrats on the new toy and the oh-so-understanding better half.

[Dissident]

I went to shoot my Kimber today and got all jammed up at the range. They were having Smith and Wesson Demo Days. You could only use the range to shoot S&Ws and Pete Pi from Corbon was there doing ballistics testing. Very enlightening experience. Saw some Golden Sabre, Gold Dot, Power Ball, DPX and Glaser Safety Slugs being shot into gelatin. I will be here on out only using Power Ball and DPX in my SD guns. Needless to say, I didn't get a chance to shoot my Kimber. However, I did shoot a S&W 1911PD, and ultimately purchased one to compliment my Kimber. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to get the S&W 1911PC also. I'm not going to be able to pick the PD till next weekend, and I'm thinking that I might switch and get the PC instead.

Anyways, back to my Kimber. I've figured out through my past Kimber's that the black on black stock sights definitely need to go. I've been eye-balling some Heinie Straight Eights pretty closely. By the way, there was no pun intended there. I also think that I'm going to put in a short Videcki solid trigger along with an Ed Brown 20 lpi MSH. I can't decide if I want some Gunner Grips, some Ergo grips, or some VZ grips. In any event, the Kimber is a sweet piece. When I got it home, I took it down, and cleaned it up (even though I didn't need to) and oiled it up. I noted that it was A LOT cleaner as far as machining and fitting than any Kimber's I've owned in the past. I'm definitely happy with this one.

[Dean Hoffmann]

I had the 25th special out to the range after work again today, with the tiniest dot of liquid paper on the front sight, and it dramatically improved my sight picture. Now I have to decide if I want to invest in a new sight or just replace the liquid paper with a dot of Epilux. The liquid paper wipes right off so it is a good test medium. I've used Epilux on rifles before, but this would be my first try on a handgun. Adoring spouse says it is Epalux not Epilux. Anyway, it's epoxy paint. Dissident that must have been an interesting day at the range even if you didn't get to break in the 25th special. I agree with you on the machining of the piece. I don't know if I would say it is a lot cleaner, but the one thing that caught my eye immediatley was the almost mirror-like polishing job on the bolt face and the chamber. Not a tool mark in sight. I have never owned a S&W auto loader, but one of my best friends has 2 of them, and his only complaint is that he has to change recoil springs depending on what kind of fodder he is running through them. According to him, wrong spring=stovepipe. Let us know how you like shooting the 25th special. Dean

[John]

I had the 25th special out to the range after work again today, with the tiniest dot of liquid paper on the front sight, and it dramatically improved my sight picture. Now I have to decide if I want to invest in a new sight or just replace the liquid paper with a dot of Epilux. The liquid paper wipes right off so it is a good test medium. I've used Epilux on rifles before, but this would be my first try on a handgun. Adoring spouse says it is Epalux not Epilux. Anyway, it's epoxy paint. Dissident that must have been an interesting day at the range even if you didn't get to break in the 25th special. I agree with you on the machining of the piece. I don't know if I would say it is a lot cleaner, but the one thing that caught my eye immediatley was the almost mirror-like polishing job on the bolt face and the chamber. Not a tool mark in sight. I have never owned a S&W auto loader, but one of my best friends has 2 of them, and his only complaint is that he has to change recoil springs depending on what kind of fodder he is running through them. According to him, wrong spring=stovepipe. Let us know how you like shooting the 25th special. Dean
Since I just re-found the link to Bright Sights, here it is. I use it on my guns and it's very very nice.

http://www.smartcarry.com/products.htm

Tell them who send you, they will appreciate it.

Rgds

[Dean Hoffmann]

John, thanks for the info. That might just be better than new sights, and I will tell them who sent me. Even if it doesn't work out for me, I'm not out a ton of cash. Dean

[jwcollect@hotmail.com]

BrightSite paint works great and it's only a few bucks.

[LesBaerTRS]

I think I need one of these pistols. My plan is to break it in and get Novak sights put on it then take it up to Robar for a Roguard coating. After buying my Warrior I'm sold on non-series II pistols so I want to get one of these while I can. I'll also replace the grips. The 25th anniversary thing doesn't mean anything to me. They made enough of these that they are not exactly rare.

[VMFA 314]

Dean Hoffman,
I number 468. Put about 150 thru it without a sneeze, now I need to put some rounds thru my new Tactical Ultra.