Kimber Modification

[gotjohno]

i recently purchased a bnib kimber custom tle II and new to owning a 1911. i have already broke her in with 230 gr. fmj's. and was wondering what modifications i can do. all thoughts and input appreciated.

[Ziplock]

What are you looking to do or change on your Kimber? The first thing I do is add a set of VZ diamondback grips in black paper. I order all my guns with night sights and then the most I end up doing is the grips and changing the ambi safety to a single sided safety. It all depends on what you like and dislike and what your going to be using it for.

[Wolfpuppies3]

Sort of like your car - what modifications are you making on that and why if It does the job pretty well as the factory delivered it. Same holds true of a fine weapon designed and manufactured by a good manufacturer. It works fine, why modify it and potentially adversely affect it's reliability. Hopefully you bought the weapon you wanted and that it has sights that are proper for your intended use.

Lots of grip manufacturers will sell you grips (I like those works of art created by http://esmeralda.cc/) if you want to change the appearance and you can always use a dozen or so magazines but why fool with the rest of it until you have owned/shot it enough (years?) to detect a legitimate need for repair or modification?

If this was not a great gun for you right out of the box then you probably bought the wrong one.

[DANNO45]

I put new grips on my TLE. I didn't like the rubber ones. Other than that, I'm happy with it, though I have been tinkering with the idea of a mag well.

[genin]

As far as sights go, remember that Kimber uses a proprietary rear sight cut so if you're thinking of changing the sights, get a set specifically for the Kimber sight cut. The TLE II comes with Meprolight night sights, so unless you're unhappy with the three dot setup there's no reason to change.

Also, because the Kimber series IIs use a schwartz firing pin safety system, you should avoid the aftermarket firing pins. I've heard that using a Series 70 firing pin will bypass the Schwartz safety, but haven't tried it myself.

Not really much you can do if it's reliable (I have a stainless TLE II myself).

[kcshooter]

Yeah, mods are generally for less loaded up guns.
On that one, a non-ambi safety and short GI guide rod are all I'd do to it.
If you have an issue you are trying to solve, thats one thing, but messing with a perfectly functional gun is asking for a headache.

Edit: Wait, the TLE has a single side safety, doesn't it? Well in that case, I'd swap to a short guide rod, and spend all my mod money on ammo!

[Rick McC.]

I have four, and the only mods done has been "prettier" grips on one.

They're good to go out of the box! Use your money for ammo or reloading equipment.

Rick

[Greyswindir]

Hi Got,

Kimbers are usually good to go, but if you're set on changing things:

Swap out the hammer, sear, and disconnect, replace with top quality, none-MIM parts.

If you're a lefty then throw in an ambi-safety.

Install an EGW bushing, it will help out with accuracy, even though Kimbers are known for great accuracy right out of the box. Maybe an EGW OS firing pin stop also.

Besides that, maybe a new sear spring, plus some extra recoil springs (Wolff) to round everything out.

These mods aren't necessary, just like everyone has told you, but they sure won't hurt and will probably help out the pistol in the long run.

[proudpapa]

Got, the best I can offer is to tell you what I have done to my Warrior.

The first thing to go was the grips. I did not and still do not like the grips that came with it. Initially I put some wood grips on but now have Mil-Tac G10 grips. It was also because I knew it would be hard to mess that up.

Next, I swapped out the stock MSH for an Ed Brown Maxi-well with the "chainlink" treatment.

Next was the ambi safety for a single sided one. When I did that I also put in a solid trigger and switched out the hammer, sear, disconnector, and hammer strut with parts from Nowlin and C&S.

The stock bushing was replaced with a Briley "drop in" Spherical bushing.

I also replaced the recoil setup with a full length guide rod from Wilson, just because.

So, as it stands right now the only thing "stock" about it is the frame, slide, sights, and grip safety. Oh, and the barrel. It will not be that way for long. I've ordered a Kart barrel, rear sight from Heirloom Precision, and a slide stop from NH through Brownell's. I hope that gives you some ideas.



edit:
I suppose all of that would be pointless without something to illustrate where it is at right now.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f25/killingseason/100_1997.jpg

[Greyswindir]

Hello proudpapa,

Nice job!

Are those grips Micarta...or made out of the same material as Micarta (is micarta the actual material's name?)

I pretty much did all of the same mods to my Kimber...I went with Les Baer for the fire control group and will be getting a Kart barrel also. I also installed an EGW's thick-flanged bushing on my Kimber.

I have the Yo-Bo rear sight, professional grade. I guess the one you ordered from heirloom Precision will have "Heirloom Precision" stamped on ot instead of Yo-Bo, like mine. Ted makes a very solid and nice looking rear sight, they look way better than the Novak "Evel Knevel motorcycle ramp" styled sights, at least IMHO.

What kind of groups are you shooting with your Warrior at 25 yards? I haven't test fired mine yet since installing the EGW bushing, but before that I was getting anywhere from 2"-3" groups at 25 yards, offhand.

[proudpapa]

I've never shot for groups so I couldn't say. I just got the parts today and the sight has Yo-Bo stamped on it.

[Greyswindir]

They must still be running through their old stock, either that or they don't plan to change the stamp. I think it was Bonitz who designed the rear sight anyway, so Yost must be keeping the old Yo-Bo markings on them, even on the newly ordered sights.

Even though you may not shoot for groups you should still have some sort of idea how the gun groups.

[mpv]

Hi all

What gripsafety does Kimber use? If I want to change my GS for another, which one would be the "drop-in fit" manufacturer (what radius) ??

Has anyone done this, and if so how much alteration GS/frame required?

Thanks for any input :)

[thejeepster]

Kimber offers grip safeties on their web-site. Maybe you could find one of theirs that suits your fancy.. ...

[kcshooter]

I'm not entirely positive but I think the radius is .250 on Kimbers. If that is indeed correct, and I'd want to have this verified by someone else before you went with it, I would recommend a McCormick extreme control safety. I have tried several different ones and these seem to have the best drop-in fit. They also have a memory bump that I personally find to be just right, not too big, not too small. Wilson Combat and Ed Brown will also drop in, as far as the frame tangs are concerned at least.

Remember that the actuation tang will need fitted to make it function properly on any grip safety you decide to use. I have only had one drop in with no filing necessary one time.

[log man]

Correct it's a .250 radius on the tangs and requires a Series 70 grip safety.

LOG

[mpv]

Thanks guys. I knew you could be trusted :)

I pretty much got the info I needed.
I'm aware that some minor modifications might be needed for the new GS to fit and function properly. With my luck, there's no way I could buy a part that is "drop-in fit" out of the box.
But then again, I guess there are no real drop-in parts either ;)

Thanks again for the quick answers!

[amd5007]

In my opinion the only thing a TLE II needs is replacing the plastic mainspring housing with a steel one, I did. I got it through Midway. A good investment.

[kcshooter]

But then again, I guess there are no real drop-in parts eitherYeah, I think I heard John say that once....

[Greyswindir]

KC,

I think Kimbers BTGS's are Chip McCormick's to begin with, so you were spot on in your recommendation! If they are indeed CMC BTGS then I would have to say they are my favorite also. Wilson would be a close second though, followed by the Ed Brown BTGS.

[log man]

Kimber GS are not made by Chip McCormick.

The best GS for a Kimber Series II is an ED Brown Series 70. Chip's will work well in a non Series II, even though Brownells says Chip's GS is a Series 70 it is in fact a Series 80 and will work with many other Series 70 or 80 guns except for Kimber because the push rod rides on the arm and it needs to be the full thickness of the Series 70.

LOG

[Greyswindir]

Why is the best GS for a Kimber the Ed Brown Log?

I guess my stock GS in my Kimber was made by Kimber then?

If that is the case then, at least for me, comfort wise, the stock GS that came with my Gold Match is the best in my opinion. My hand likes the feel of the gradually increasing thickness of the stock speed bump instead of the abrupt speed bump the Ed Brown GS offers.

What effect does a series II gun have on GS selection and function?

[log man]

Why is the best GS for a Kimber the Ed Brown Log?

I guess my stock GS in my Kimber was made by Kimber then?

What effect does a series II gun have on GS selection and function?

1. Availability
2. High handhold
3.Available in Series 70 configuration
4. Fits the Kimber tangs well

Yes, Kimber makes their own.

Due too the push rod of a Kimber SeriesII the GS must be a Series 70, the rod rides on top of the arm. The Series 80 arm is thinned so as to clear the Series 80 levers and will slip past the push rod of a SeriesII Kimber.

LOG

[kcshooter]

Brownells says Chip's GS is a Series 70 it is in fact a Series 80Huh, I did not know that. Good info. I think CMC themselves even calls it a S70.
The only thing I wasn't real crazy about on the EBs is the textured swell. Not really textured, but it's got these lines that run across it, just never enjoyed the feel myself.

[Greyswindir]

Log man,

Thanks for the clarification Log, I appreciate it. I don't want to be spreading bad information to people! For some reason I thought that Kimber guns came with CMC BTGS. I'm sure I read that somewhere...doesn't mean the info was accurate though.