Kimber feed problems - any ideas why it's doing this?

ranbur

ranbur

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Brand new Kimber Stainless II 9mm ... first 100 rounds flawless but now has developed a habit of not feeding properly ... have a look at the pics and you will see what happens.

At first I suspected the extractor tension needed tightening, I did that and the bullet hangs nicely on the extractor so I don't believe it's an extractor issue.

I'm starting to think it's a mag problem, seems the top cartridge in the mag is sitting too high and not allowing for proper extraction of the spent cartridge, I did tweak the mag slightly but the problem remains ...

Any ideas for a quick fix or is the next step to send it to Kimber ... don't want to have to do that if it's just a simple adjustment.

I get an issue every 2nd or 3rd mag ... annoying for sure ... especially from a new gun ...

Opinions and suggestions please ... Thanks!

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the live round stove piped up is due to the mag lips releasing the round too soon, and/or possibly the extractor not being fitted well and preventing the case rim from slipping under it. The fail to eject could also be the extractor failing to hang onto the rim, or a short ejector. FWIW, i have yet to see a kimber 9mm that worked out of the box, but it would be worth trying a good quality magazine, a wilson or chip mccormick would be my first choices. Then read up on tuning the extractor, for tension and beveling the lead in edges.
 
Could be extractor. Could be limp wristing. Could be magazine. Could be ammo. Try someone elses mag first along with different ammo. Try letting someone else shoot it.
 
OldFrankHog said:
Very constructive. Thank you for your input.

OP, what brand of mags are you using? Kimber is not know for quality magazines. First thing I would do is find mags known to work flawlessly and try those.
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Just have the factory Kimber branded mag that came with the gun ... yes, I'm on the hunt for another mag (another brand) this morning ...
 
Cocked&Locked said:
the live round stove piped up is due to the mag lips releasing the round too soon, and/or possibly the extractor not being fitted well and preventing the case rim from slipping under it. The fail to eject could also be the extractor failing to hang onto the rim, or a short ejector. FWIW, i have yet to see a kimber 9mm that worked out of the box, but it would be worth trying a good quality magazine, a wilson or chip mccormick would be my first choices. Then read up on tuning the extractor, for tension and beveling the lead in edges.
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I have had extractor problems on my Colt which I successfully adjusted and it works flawlessly now, so I do know a bit about extractor tension, this one on the Kimber seemed fine out of the box by doing the case/loaded round test but I did increase the tension a very slight amount, which did not seem to make any difference. Yes, a new mag is my first order of business today.

Who sells Wilson or chip McCormick in Canada?
 
T&G said:
Low powered rounds. Up the powder a bit. If factory rounds , make sure the chamber is clean,then a one pound lighter recoil spring.
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Trinimon said:
Are those factory 115gr ammo, like Winchester white box?
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PitBull1973 said:
Looks like reloads . What's your charge weight , from the looks of that spent case it might be alittle low
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SUPER TENERE said:
Could be extractor. Could be limp wristing. Could be magazine. Could be ammo. Try someone elses mag first along with different ammo. Try letting someone else shoot it.
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Ammo ... I did try different types ... I had with me Combat Masters reloads + 4 different types of reloads of my own (3.6 of tightgroup, 4.1 of tightgroup, 6.0 of HS-6, 6.6 of HS-6 ... all with 124 gr JHP) ... all produced the same issues ... which always seems to lead me back to a mag issue ...

Shooters ... three different shooters, each had the same issue ... one is an excellent IPSC shooter so I don't think it's a shooter issue.
 
All the loads you have listed are start or close to start loads. It's a new pistol that's probably fairly tight and light loads are short cycling the action. It could be magazines and it might not hurt to try a different mag but I've never had a problem with Kimber mags, their not top draw but their not junk. 1911 pistols need to run wet. Read any reference on cleaning or fully stripping a 1911 and count the drops of lube the various writers call for. Take a small bowl and drip that many into, it's not a minor amount. You can never over oil a firearm but you can under lube them. Give the barrel and chamber a quick swipe with a batch at the range before shooting and blast away, if after a mag of ammo there's not some minor leakage coming out here and there you don't have enough lube. Think this pistol just needs a little more break in time.
 
The first thing to do is get rid of the handloads for the time being. Buy a box or two of factory ammo and see if the gun works. If it does that will tell what the problem is.

I have the exact same gun and mine works better then my Cold match gun does.

Graydog
 
had a problem with the same gun. warranty service sent me a new extractor surprise it was wrong too. Kimber assembled these guns with a 40 S&W extractor. You need to bend the extractor and reshape the claw a little. if you need help doing this feel free to PM me
 
Sounds like mag now. But also try factory loads. Never had a problem with my Kimber .45 under lubing or over lubing. Also the recoil spring could be too stiff but it worked fine before so most likely the mag. Buy yourself a few. Any 1911 9mm mags will work.
 
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