Changing slide and barrel from 3” to 4”

[LeeR1911]

I have a .45 cal. Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II with a 3” slide and barrel. I have been thinking about changing it to a 4” slide and barrel as well as recoil spring, but I’m not sure if that can be done.
does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I have not contacted Kimber yet as the don’t publish a email address on their website.
so I thought I would get some expert advice about if it can be done and where to look if not at Kimber this 1911 has a aluminum frame if that matters.
I am wanting to make the change to be sure that I have abdicate velocity for expansion and penetration.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Ric4509]

LeeR1911 - are you going to replace the slide with a kimber 4" slide and barrel? I have done that with my Colt officers acp frame replacing the slide with a colt commander and barrel which is 4.25" and it worked with no issues at all. The officers acp frame's ejector is the same as the colt commander's ejector. I believe kimber ultra with a 3" barrel has the same ejector with a kimber compact 4" barrel.

[Ric4509]

LeeR1911 - you may want to try loading the kimber ultra with dummy rounds after you've replaced the slide and barrel with a 4" to determine how it loads and ejects the dummy rounds.

[LeeR1911]

Ric4509 -
thanks for the information!
yes I was thinking about going with a Kimber 4” barrel, same .45 cal.
I appreciate your response.

[Hawkmoon]

Since your Kimber is a "II" model, it has a Swartz type firing pin safety. I don't know if that can be made to work with standard slides, the way Colt Series 80 guns can use non-Series 80 slides by replacing the frame levers with a spacer. Which means if you buy a replacement slide, be sure it's a "II" slide, set up for the firing pin safety.

[LeeR1911]

Thanks Hawkmoon
i emailed Kimber customer service. Did not get an answer, so I called them.
they told me that don’t sell just slides, barrels, and recoil springs. That I would have to either buy a new pistol or go with after market parts.
so I guess my question is who would you guys recommend as a after market supplier? I really wasn’t wanting to go that way for the reason that Hawkmoon addressed.
I went on the google web and Colt is out of stock on every thing.

[Hawkmoon]

I would go to Caspian for a slide, but I don't think they are set up to do a Kimber firing pin safety, and you'll have to settle for a 4-1/4" barrel rather than a 4".

Quite candidly, considering the hurdles involved, IMHO you would be better off selling the pistol and buying another in the length you want.

[Hawkmoon]

I found a schematic for a Kimber "II" 1911. Unfortunately, it's copyrighted, so I can't post it here.

I can't tell from the schematic whether or not you can just remove the frame link to be able to use a slide with no firing pin safety. I'm leaning toward the idea that you would have to find a spare link and cut the top off it.

[LeeR1911]

Hawkmoon

I am begging to think that it would save a lot of frustration to just buy a new pistol.
thanks to everyone for the advice. It is appreciated.

[Peters]

I have a .45 cal. Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II with a 3” slide and barrel. I have been thinking about changing it to a 4” slide and barrel as well as recoil spring, but I’m not sure if that can be done.
does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I have not contacted Kimber yet as the don’t publish a email address on their website.
so I thought I would get some expert advice about if it can be done and where to look if not at Kimber this 1911 has a aluminum frame if that matters.
I am wanting to make the change to be sure that I have abdicate velocity for expansion and penetration.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I think I can offer some assistance. I have a Kimber Ultra CDP, and a Kimber Compact CDP, a 4” version of the Ultra, same stock size on both. As you know, the Ultra has a ramped barrel, good for an aluminum frame. The Compact does NOT have a ramped barrel. I can’t tell how Kimber protects the Compact’s aluminum frame in the ramp area, I don’t see an insert on the ramp, perhaps they harden that critical area?
I have put the 4” Compact slide on the 3” Ultra receiver. It fits on, but the gun will not function - dry fire, no ammunition loaded.
I’d say Hawkmoon has the correct answer: sell the 3”, and buy a 4” 1911.