12 replies to this topic

[mgmcaleer]

Lately my Kimber Custom II has been jamming. The spent round is still held by the extractor but will not eject (still straight forward, not stove piped). The extractor and ejector seem fine. I am down to the spring possibly being to heavy for the reloads and every once in a while it will not fully cycle the gun (at least that is what I am thinking). I am using a Wolff 16lb. standard spring. My loads are 4.7 grs of V V N320 behind a 230 gr Zero RN bullet. Velocity is 768 fps making 175.5 PF. This happens with both a clean and dirty gun so it is not the dirt factor. Out of the 10 stages at the Summer Blast this weekend the gun jammed 8 out of the 10 stages. Some stages I had multiple jams. I'm also using mixed headstamp brass. The gun is only 6 months old and has about 3k rounds through it. When I compared the 16lb spring from the gun to a new spring it was compressed about 3/4 inch.

Any suggestions?

I am going to try a Wolff 13lb. variable and 13lb. standard to see if this does anything.

Thanks,

Mike

[Rufus The Bum]

So the spent round isn't hitting the ejector? I know you said the ejector seemed fine, but look extra careful at it, compare it to another .45 to see if it's not broke off. I doupt it is a spring problem, but you could try a lesser power spring, I use ISMI 14lb spring and never have any problems, even with minor or major PF loads. I installed an extended ejector myself (I have minimal mechanical skills) so that is something you can do, I have had ZERO ejection problems since. I'm curious as to what you find. Keep us informed.

[mgmcaleer]

I compared it to a new ejector and the ejector in the gun is in perfect condition. It does appear that the spent round is sometimes not hitting the ejector.

I played with it some more with empty cases and duplicated the problem. It looks like the extractor is turning just a bit which is allowing the case to rise up as the slide moves back and the case misses the ejector. If I look at the back of the slide I can see that the extractor has turned and it will jam. If I line up the extractor properly the round hits the ejector every time.

[InTheBlack]

I have had the same sort of problem with a Pro Carry. The casing would be horizontal but very high on the breechface. The slide would then go forward until the mouth of the case stopped forward motion by hitting the slide.

This has not happened lately, and I can't say if Kimber quietly fixed a loose extractor when I sent it in for a new barrel, or if its because I've stopped using a batch of 10 round mags which seem to have too much spring pressure and loose feed lips.n

[Northern Xtreme]

I am having the same problem with my Kimber team match 2. It has the external style extractor. I was wondering if that is what your Kimbers had for an extractor and if you ever solved the problem.
I bought my Kimber 45 last fall and have shot about 5000 rounds through it. It hardly ever malfunctioned in the first 4000 rounds, but now it is happening far to often, about every 100-200 rounds. It cost me a State IDPA match, and a local match in the last two weeks. I am ready to chuck it into the woods. Please Help!

[EricW]

External Extractor Thread

I went through the same sh*t with my S&W. Let me guess, it doesn't extract on the last round in the magazine, right? If so, the above thread will help you with a "fix".

FWIW, the external extractor has been so piss poorly implemented on the 1911, I will never buy anything but an internal extractor gun.

[roby]

well, on the kimber w/ external extractor, i have some info. i have a friend who had one, his would jam from the get go. our smith, initially believed reshaping the extractor and throating the barrel would work, it did, for a time being. problems persisted, so eventually 2 extractors later from kimber and a lot of reshaping and retuning, the gun finally worked. i know its little help, however, check the extractors contact area (tooth) and request a new one from kimber if faulty.

[motochris]

Old thread, but I had the same issue yesterday at my first match. Not sure if the problem was me (not seating the mags fully) or the gun or the magazines... or the new ammo.
The gun (Kimber CDP) only has about 350 rounds thru it. Most guys at the range said to go shoot the crap (1000-2000rds) out of it before worrying about changing anything. So the gun is fairly new, the mags are brand new 8rd Kimpro Tac Mags. I ALSO was shooting DC Ammo for the first time thru the gun vs. Winchester white box before that (never experienced this with the Winchester stuff). So it could be almost anything...
It typically jammed on the second or third magazine... but once it jammed on the first one, last round of the magazine. I couldn't say what round it jammed on the other times as I would just clear and change mags and continue.
The gun is well lubed and started the day clean.
Anybody got recommendations on what to look for?....or should I just go shoot a bunch of rds thru it?

My current plan is to not touch it and go run more white box ammo thru it and see if the issue goes away. If so... then maybe the recoil spring is too firm for the softer DC loads and it's not cycling fully?

Edited by motochris, 21 May 2012 - 11:49 AM.

[Seeker]

I have 4 Kimber 1911's (3 .45's and 1 .9mm) and only one had a properly adjusted extractor from the factory. (Stainless Target II) The other 3 were not adjusted to spec. Two were too tight (feeding issues) and one was too loose (extraction issues). I recommend that you verify that the extractor is properly tensioned ASAP. I bought the gauges and followed the instructions on this page and never looked back.

http://www.brownells...ctor_Adjustment

[motochris]

I have 4 Kimber 1911's (3 .45's and 1 .9mm) and only one had a properly adjusted extractor from the factory. (Stainless Target II) The other 3 were not adjusted to spec. Two were too tight (feeding issues) and one was too loose (extraction issues). I recommend that you verify that the extractor is properly tensioned ASAP. I bought the gauges and followed the instructions on this page and never looked back.

http://www.brownells...ctor_Adjustment

Thanks. I just finished watching a video on extractor adjustment too. Looks like I'll start there.

[818-DVC]

Just get an AFTEC and be done with it. Get the tensioning right, and chuck it in the spare parts bag in case you miraculously break the claw off. It's happened before.

Jl

[Bshooter]

I have a Grand Raptor II that started doing the same thing, not extracting. I guess a tension gage or a new extractor is in order. Thanks for the infor.

[motochris]

I went to my "gun guy" to pick up a new gun last night and told him about the issue at the range. Without even knowing what class or gun I was shooting he said "shooting a Kimber?" Yup.
He shook his head and said it happens to most of them. Improper extracter adjustment.