Kimber got a well deserved bad rep with the series of guns produced with external extractors & that rep doesn't seem to go away. Their mags during that time were a problem also & even today, I will rarely use a Kimber mag w/o extensive testing.
Their initial series was good & the current versions are OK; but anyone buying a Kimber today would be well advised to completely strip the gun & check all parts for fit & function & make what adjustments might be necessary.
Generally, at worst & for the most part, some minor tweaking may be needed but Kimber likes to attempt to imply that their guns are "custom" built & nothing is further from the truth...............they are assembled from parts bins by minimally knowledgeable people.
Kimber makes more 1911's than most other manufacturers combined, but they are not a higher end, semi-custom gun comparable to DW or even to S&W or Colt, IMO. They are pure mid-range at best.
Having said that, I have 2 of the newer versions, both TLE II's, a Pro 4" & a Gov't 5", & after a little tweaking/tuning before the guns were ever fired, bypassing the FPS, & with using good magazines, neither gun has ever hiccupped................not once, through several hundred rounds each.
MM
