Recon
8th August 2005, 22:04
Field Test of Kimber Team Match II in 45 ACP:
I’m a seasoned handgunner but this is my first 1911 and I chose it because it came with most of the features I wanted and was less expensive than purchasing a Stainless Gold Match and then adding the front strap checkering and magazine well. I plan to shoot this production pistol quite a bit and then move up to a custom made 1911.
Rounds fired to date: 5,233 reloads since Oct 2004, no factory ammunition fired.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII001.jpg
Break in Period:
With the exception of the ammunition, I complied with the break in procedure recommended by Kimber.
Instead of factory ball ammunition I used reloads. All loads were with hard cast lead SWC bullets in various weights and designs. I used mixed head stamp brass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/AmmoEdit003_edited.jpg
Field stripped, cleaned and lubricated with Shooter’s Choice FP-10 every 150 rounds during break in.
I burned through the 500 round break in period in two weeks so I hardly even noticed except for stopping a little sooner to clean and lube. Personally, I much more interested in how it will perform over the long run with lots and lots of rounds through it. Typically, I’ll shoot allot more than 500 rounds just trying out different load combinations before settling on a standard load anyway.
I couldn’t detect any difference between the pistols current performance and how it worked during the break in period.
Cleaning and Maintenance:
After break in I field strip, clean and lube every 250 rounds. Lubricant is Shooter’s Choice FP-10.
Recoil spring changes are done every 1,800 rounds.
Despite the use of lead bullets the chamber and barrel remain conspicuously free of fouling compared to all of my other handguns. I’m guessing this is in part due to the match chamber and barrel.
Plan to do a detailed disassembly and cleaning at least once per year.
Magazines:
I’m using the chrome or nickel plated 8-round magazine that came with the gun plus two after market clips that have the same patent number and resemble Chip McCormick clips except that there are no markings on them other than the round count. No problems noted with the magazines.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII004.jpg
“Tactical Extractor”:
Doesn’t seem to be a problem with appropriate ammunition. Old and worn brass with beat up rims may allow the extractor to slip off the case occasionally. When using reasonably good brass no problems were encountered.
I do like how easy it is to remove the external extractor compared to my other external extractor handguns.
My fellow shooters pointed out that the Kimber throws brass consistently in the same area despite using mixed head stamp brass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII002.jpg
“Loaded Chamber Indicator Port”:
This feature doesn’t seem to work. Despite clean and shinny brass in the chamber and direct sunlight I can’t tell that a round is in the chamber looking at the port.
“Premium Aluminum Trigger”:
Trigger pull out of the box measured 3 and 1/8 pounds. Small amount of creep but I don’t notice it on the range. For action shooting this pull weight works for me. If I was shooting for accuracy only I would prefer it to be somewhat lighter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIITrigger.jpg
Kimber Adjustable Sights:
I prefer adjustable sights because of my use of reloaded ammunition with a large variety of bullet weights and styles. The sights that came with the gun appear to be good. My preference would be for three white dots sights instead of the black blade and post but have no plans to change the sights.
Front Strap Checkering:
The front strap checkering seems to aid in maintaining my grip and I wish that the trigger guard had checkering on the bottom and front as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIITriggerGuard.jpg
Magazine well:
The gun came with this and it works well. I didn’t realize the advantage until I saw my fellow shooters doing reloads without one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIIMagWell.jpg
Series II:
I haven’t been able to detect any problem with the type II safety system.
Accuracy:
Generally, speaking it will shoot about a 1.1” group center-to-center at 25 yards. I plan to develop some accuracy loads to see if I can improve on these results.
Breakdowns or repairs:
So far none nor have I been able to detect any signs of wear or other problems. After it’s been cleaned up you can’t tell it’s had several thousand rounds through it.
OVERALL CONCLUSION:
I’m pleased with the pistol's performance to date. I like the additional features the pistol came with and I’m glad I got them. Since I haven’t had any need to contact Kimber I can’t comment on customer service from the company.
Update:
June 2006
Recently passed the 5,000 round mark without a problem. Weather and range issues have kept shooting to a minimum for now. Hope to get several thousand rounds through it before the 2006 season ends.
I’m a seasoned handgunner but this is my first 1911 and I chose it because it came with most of the features I wanted and was less expensive than purchasing a Stainless Gold Match and then adding the front strap checkering and magazine well. I plan to shoot this production pistol quite a bit and then move up to a custom made 1911.
Rounds fired to date: 5,233 reloads since Oct 2004, no factory ammunition fired.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII001.jpg
Break in Period:
With the exception of the ammunition, I complied with the break in procedure recommended by Kimber.
Instead of factory ball ammunition I used reloads. All loads were with hard cast lead SWC bullets in various weights and designs. I used mixed head stamp brass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/AmmoEdit003_edited.jpg
Field stripped, cleaned and lubricated with Shooter’s Choice FP-10 every 150 rounds during break in.
I burned through the 500 round break in period in two weeks so I hardly even noticed except for stopping a little sooner to clean and lube. Personally, I much more interested in how it will perform over the long run with lots and lots of rounds through it. Typically, I’ll shoot allot more than 500 rounds just trying out different load combinations before settling on a standard load anyway.
I couldn’t detect any difference between the pistols current performance and how it worked during the break in period.
Cleaning and Maintenance:
After break in I field strip, clean and lube every 250 rounds. Lubricant is Shooter’s Choice FP-10.
Recoil spring changes are done every 1,800 rounds.
Despite the use of lead bullets the chamber and barrel remain conspicuously free of fouling compared to all of my other handguns. I’m guessing this is in part due to the match chamber and barrel.
Plan to do a detailed disassembly and cleaning at least once per year.
Magazines:
I’m using the chrome or nickel plated 8-round magazine that came with the gun plus two after market clips that have the same patent number and resemble Chip McCormick clips except that there are no markings on them other than the round count. No problems noted with the magazines.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII004.jpg
“Tactical Extractor”:
Doesn’t seem to be a problem with appropriate ammunition. Old and worn brass with beat up rims may allow the extractor to slip off the case occasionally. When using reasonably good brass no problems were encountered.
I do like how easy it is to remove the external extractor compared to my other external extractor handguns.
My fellow shooters pointed out that the Kimber throws brass consistently in the same area despite using mixed head stamp brass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII002.jpg
“Loaded Chamber Indicator Port”:
This feature doesn’t seem to work. Despite clean and shinny brass in the chamber and direct sunlight I can’t tell that a round is in the chamber looking at the port.
“Premium Aluminum Trigger”:
Trigger pull out of the box measured 3 and 1/8 pounds. Small amount of creep but I don’t notice it on the range. For action shooting this pull weight works for me. If I was shooting for accuracy only I would prefer it to be somewhat lighter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIITrigger.jpg
Kimber Adjustable Sights:
I prefer adjustable sights because of my use of reloaded ammunition with a large variety of bullet weights and styles. The sights that came with the gun appear to be good. My preference would be for three white dots sights instead of the black blade and post but have no plans to change the sights.
Front Strap Checkering:
The front strap checkering seems to aid in maintaining my grip and I wish that the trigger guard had checkering on the bottom and front as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMII007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIITriggerGuard.jpg
Magazine well:
The gun came with this and it works well. I didn’t realize the advantage until I saw my fellow shooters doing reloads without one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Recon/TMIIMagWell.jpg
Series II:
I haven’t been able to detect any problem with the type II safety system.
Accuracy:
Generally, speaking it will shoot about a 1.1” group center-to-center at 25 yards. I plan to develop some accuracy loads to see if I can improve on these results.
Breakdowns or repairs:
So far none nor have I been able to detect any signs of wear or other problems. After it’s been cleaned up you can’t tell it’s had several thousand rounds through it.
OVERALL CONCLUSION:
I’m pleased with the pistol's performance to date. I like the additional features the pistol came with and I’m glad I got them. Since I haven’t had any need to contact Kimber I can’t comment on customer service from the company.
Update:
June 2006
Recently passed the 5,000 round mark without a problem. Weather and range issues have kept shooting to a minimum for now. Hope to get several thousand rounds through it before the 2006 season ends.