Okay back to this Kimber...

3361 Views 23 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Machinist, Feb 7, 2009

Cast&Blast

Discussion Starter · May 23, 2008

I really have fallen in love with this as a primary carry weapon. But I keep going back and forth on some things and would like your opinions. Basically I'm going back and forth between various configurations of the Ultra Carry II and the CDP model of the same size.

For now let's not talk about cost. It is a factor but if this is a carry gun for, basically, ever, I shouldn't choose features I don't like in the effort to save money short term. But these are some of the things I'm deciding about:

3" vs. 4". I keep hearing that the barrel length has nothing to do with concealment, just the grip length. But certainly a shorter barrel would be more comfortable if it were inside your waistband, no? I have not fired either, but would the recoil be a huge difference between the two? On a revolver, maybe, but isn't the slide absorbing most of the recoil anyway?

Checkered frontstrap and triggerguard. This seems to be one of the biggest selling points of the CDP model. How important is this to gripping the gun? I assume it's to prevent slipping and allow the reacquiring of the target after an initial shot? The higher end Kimbers all seem to have this, but again, without shooting it, I can't assign an importance to this feature.

Night sights. Want 'em. They cost, but models like the CDP come with them.

.45ACP vs. 9mm. The Ultra Carry II in stainless comes in 9mm as well as .45ACP. I can't imagine it holds many more rounds, if any. Is the .45ACP so unruly that people would choose the 9mm for comfort/recoil reasons? Is ammo that much cheaper? Are there pros and cons I'm not thinking of?

Black/Stainless/two-toned. Honestly, of these the one I like least is the two tone CDP. I really dig the stainless with the black grip, but the black gun (especially with nice rosewood grips or something) looks awesome too.

Just typing these thoughts out makes me realize I am leaning toward:

Ultra Carry II
3" barrel
stainless
.45ACP
night sights

Biggest feature lacking is the checkered frontstrap.

Any feedback greatly welcome!

This is the Eclipse, nice finish and it has the checkering too. I don't like those grips but those are easily dealt with.

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4

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sheepdog

· #2 · May 23, 2008

I just hope it ain't like the guy what's fallen in love with his cars....nuff said....

gunman42782

· #3 · May 23, 2008

I can only comment on the Ultra Carry 2, as that is the gun I own. It is a 3 inch gun. I don't think there would be one lick of noticable difference between 3 and 4 inch barrels. The checkered frontstrap might be worth having, but I have no trouble what so ever with the smooth frontstrap of my Ultra Carry. And, you can send your gun back to Kimber to have the frontstrap checkered, at extra cost. I can't remember how much, but I am thinking it was about $50. Night sights can be had on either gun.

As for recoil, my wife is 5 ft 2 inchs and about 130 pounds. She has fallen in love with this gun so much I let her carry it. She can shoot it all day long.

Bountyhunter

· #4 · May 23, 2008

I don't know about those models, but for ammo, the 45 acp ammo is almost twice the price of the 9mm. I would think that a magazine in 9mm would hold at least 2 more shots. You already have a 9mm and that may be a plus. I really like the 45acp round. It's good or defense, offense, and plinking. Not that the 9mm is a bad round.

I don't think that there would be much difference between the 3" and the 4" barrels as far as recoil is concerned. I personally like the 4" barrels better. I think a 4" barrel balances the gun in my hand better. I like a 4"-5" barrel in everything I shoot though.

Your best bet is of course to handle them and see which one you like best. Tough choice because all of them are sweet little guns.

I'd get the SS finish. I like it and it'll hold up better on a gun that is in a holster a lot.

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Terry_P

· #5 · May 24, 2008

I'm kind of old school and like the bigger caliber. The 45 ACP has been stopping fights for almost 100 years.

A factor in recoil is weight so a longer bbl should be heavier and hence have a little less recoil. The shorter bbl will be easier to conceal so it is a trade off. I would go for the shorter bbl but you must decide for yourself. A good way is to hold them and a better way is to shoot both. If the recoil is significant then a lighter bullet like a 185 gr JHP should lessen it. Practice will allow you to adapt to it.

I like stainless. They are all excellent looking and the stainless is a little less maintenance worry.

Nite Ryder

· #6 · Jan 24, 2009

I've owned many, many different 1911 type pistols, and 4 different Glocks, today I still own many of the 1911 syle guns. I sold three of the Glocks, and gave away the last one (a 9 MM). My everyday carry pistol is a Kimber Ultra Carry with a Crimson Trace grip, I also have a Springfield V-10 which is about the same size, it also has a Crimson Trace grip. I didn't notice a great deal of difference in carrying these two pistol's, and a full sized Para Ordnance, except the Para was a bit heftier, but it had a double stack magazine. I can not understand why anyone would want to carry a 9 MM as long as 45 ACP's are available. Yes, I own two 9 MM, but only because I haven't shot up all of the 9 MM ammo I have. I have two 38 Super's and a 10 MM, they are all (higher velocity) better for self defense than a 9 MM, IMHO. Does old age just naturally make ya cranky?

NR

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Caveman

· #7 · Jan 25, 2009

In a carry gun, I have absolutely no opinion on 45 vs 9mm anymore. I prefer a 45 simply because the guns I like are in 45. I also think it is heresy to chamber a 1911 in anything but 45. The Smith sigma is also just fine, and sometimes I like that.Sometimes I like a .38. It depends on what I am wearing, where I am going, and how I feel that day. I have never gotten really into the stopping power thing because in all likelihood, as a civilian, if I have to shoot somebody it will at such a distance that I have that barrel in their face. The ideal situation for me is if I am threatened, I simply draw and display my pretty little "Pez dispenser of death" and that is the end of it. Magazine capacity is another thing we can be realistic about. In a civilian shooting situation, magazine capacity should be an utter non-factor. You torch off more than two or three and you are probably going to prison. If you are in some sort of firefight while grocery shopping you screwed up somehow.

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SgtKnuckles

· #8 · Jan 25, 2009

Nite Rider,... Have you ever considered getting another Glock...??? The Lady's really seem to like packing Glock's...YUP
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Da ... aGlock.jpg

Bountyhunter

· #9 · Jan 25, 2009

:shock: :lol:

tx gun runner

· #10 · Jan 25, 2009

I carried a Detonic in late 70's for years which was the same size of Ultra Carry . Great gun for a CCW , hide easy , lots of fire power and accuracy is great also . And you can carry any 1911 mag for extra mag , it will work in it for the extra fire if needed .

Montanan

· #11 · Jan 25, 2009

Size Does Matter

[attachment=0:1pxrtkam]PistolCartridge.jpg[/attachment:1pxrtkam]

I just had to go with BIGGER!

tx gun runner

· #12 · Jan 25, 2009

Try the 50 GI if size matters .

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/03/27/50-glock/

Cast&Blast

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 26, 2009

rp_cavanaugh said:
In a carry gun, I have absolutely no opinion on 45 vs 9mm anymore. I prefer a 45 simply because the guns I like are in 45. I also think it is heresy to chamber a 1911 in anything but 45. The Smith sigma is also just fine, and sometimes I like that.Sometimes I like a .38. It depends on what I am wearing, where I am going, and how I feel that day. I have never gotten really into the stopping power thing because in all likelihood, as a civilian, if I have to shoot somebody it will at such a distance that I have that barrel in their face. The ideal situation for me is if I am threatened, I simply draw and display my pretty little "Pez dispenser of death" and that is the end of it. Magazine capacity is another thing we can be realistic about. In a civilian shooting situation, magazine capacity should be an utter non-factor. You torch off more than two or three and you are probably going to prison. If you are in some sort of firefight while grocery shopping you screwed up somehow.

I like this post, rp.

Montanan

· #14 · Jan 26, 2009

TN Gunner, I would love to try a 50 GI

1911 Custom Pistols:
#M150 Model No.1 50GI............. $2895 #M145 Model No.1 .45 ACP.........$2895
#M250 Model No.2 50 GI ...........$2895 #M245 Model No.2 .45 ACP.........$2895

BUT A BIT PRICY

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Deadeye

· #15 · Jan 26, 2009

If you want to go big, I'd get a 1911 with a .460 Rowland kit in it. (.44mag ballistics in a 1911)

tx gun runner

· #16 · Jan 27, 2009

Deadeye said:
If you want to go big, I'd get a 1911 with a .460 Rowland kit in it. (.44mag ballistics in a 1911)

I didn't find a price on a kit anywhere . Back in mid 80's there was a 451 Detonic which is close to the 460 Rowlland , it was a barrel and spring replacement and the brass was made from like 30-06 or 308 brass then you needed to ream it , which was a pain in the butt . I still have the reamer , I made 10 pieces brass and decided it was too much trouble . That 460 has perked my interest again .

Deadeye

· #17 · Jan 28, 2009

tn gun runner said:
Deadeye said:

If you want to go big, I'd get a 1911 with a .460 Rowland kit in it. (.44mag ballistics in a 1911)

Click to expand...

I didn't find a price on a kit anywhere . Back in mid 80's there was a 451 Detonic which is close to the 460 Rowlland , it was a barrel and spring replacement and the brass was made from like 30-06 or 308 brass then you needed to ream it , which was a pain in the butt . I still have the reamer , I made 10 pieces brass and decided it was too much trouble . That 460 has perked my interest again .

Starline makes brass for it.
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/rowland.htm

tx gun runner

· #18 · Jan 28, 2009

DEADEYE .. the kit is only $295 and the brass is $118 for 500 rds . That cheap for the fire power you are getting . There is 1 draw backs , I didn't want the muzzle brake , I still mite order it and way . Thank you for links and information .

Deadeye

· #19 · Jan 28, 2009

Everything I've read says that muzzle brake really works.
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt460r.htm

Caveman

· #20 · Jan 28, 2009

#11. Thou shalt fire 45 auto from all 1911s, lest ye incur the wrath of my other Son, John Moses Browning.

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