agents choose to carry personal weapons instead of Kimber

[rugersol]

Thought this was more about Kimbers, than news ... but, whatever ...

from ... http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/06/2039969/costly-ale-guns-fail-get-traded.html ...

Since the Kimbers were issued to agents in the fall of 2009, Ledford said, his agents documented 289 malfunctions with the pistols during training exercises. Many agents chose to carry personal weapons instead, Ledford wrote in a memo Nov. 8 to Young.

In an effort to fix the problems, Ledford contacted Ralph Karanian, the chief operating officer of Kimber America of Elmsford, N.Y. Karanian promised to fix the problems and the company replaced a key spring on the pistols, according to the memo.

Agents also fired as many as 1,500 rounds with each pistol on the suggestion they needed to be "broken in."

But with the manufacturer's warranty expiring at the end of 2010, Chandler wrote Young that the best solution was to trade in the troublesome Kimbers for new Sig Sauer 220 pistols similar to what the agency had previously.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... z1DCBwarsR

[mnmike59]

Those d%^mn 1911's again.

[Ken]

Damn, that agency burns though firearms. Having Kimbers with custom engraved grips probably isn't the best use of of a departments budget either.

[farmerj]

Huh????

Classified as a "Class 3 machine gun" under federal firearms laws, the Sig 552 assault rifles traded by ALE can only be resold to the military, a law enforcement agency or a citizen with a special permit for automatic weapons.



Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/0 ... z1DCL40900

[bstrawse]

Dug around a bit - looks like they were carrying a custom made version of the Kimber TLE in an officer size (3" barrel) - not sure why they're weren't carrying a full size as a duty weapon.

I've had far more issues with officer sized .45's than the full size.

That said, I've seen issues with Kimbers surface before.. even though I own several of them - the only one that I would carry is my SIS Pro - and that's after working it over fairly well and understanding what caused issues with it.

Hilton Yam has published a pretty insightful look into some of Kimber's challenges with quality - see http://10-8performance.blogspot.com/201 ... rrior.html for more information...
b

[bstrawse]

Also, I find that swapping out weapons every few years is pretty ridiculous for a law enforcement agency. Well maintained quality weapons should last for years.

There's absolutely no reason that they dropped the Sigs for Kimbers to begin with..
b

[mmcnx2]

First I'm not a Kimber fan, OK I think they stink.

But how in the world does an agency buy something of this importance without a field test, a pilot run and feedback from the agents.

Government stupidity strikes again!

[hammAR]

Dug around a bit - looks like they were carrying a custom made version of the Kimber TLE in an officer size (3" barrel) - not sure why they're weren't carrying a full size as a duty weapon.

Anyone that buys a 3" 1911 in .45 is foolish, especially if they are going to use it for covering their own ass....................

[UnaStamus]

First I'm not a Kimber fan, OK I think they stink.

But how in the world does an agency buy something of this importance without a field test, a pilot run and feedback from the agents.

Government stupidity strikes again!

Yeah, no kidding. That's just idiotic. It's like they didn't even try.

Dug around a bit - looks like they were carrying a custom made version of the Kimber TLE in an officer size (3" barrel) - not sure why they're weren't carrying a full size as a duty weapon.

I've had far more issues with officer sized .45's than the full size.

That said, I've seen issues with Kimbers surface before.. even though I own several of them - the only one that I would carry is my SIS Pro - and that's after working it over fairly well and understanding what caused issues with it.

Hilton Yam has published a pretty insightful look into some of Kimber's challenges with quality - see http://10-8performance.blogspot.com/201 ... rrior.html for more information...
b

Enforcement agents in most states tend to wear "plain clothes"; usually suits, shirt and tie, or business casual. I suspect that NC ALE is likely similar, which could explain why they went with a smaller model. Just a theory, though.

[goalie]

Anyone that buys a 3" 1911 in .45 is foolish, especially if they are going to use it for covering their own ass....................

^
This

[Pinnacle]

I can understand the want for the smaller 1911 for a dual off duty as well as on duty carry, but a 3" 1911 is not at all reliable.

A Commander would be better. Better yet - anything other than a 1911 for Duty Carry

[tman]

Yeah. 1911's suck for any duty whatsoever. I'm surprised that the Army ever used it.

Stop ******* around with the parts, and let the dang thing shoot.

[Seismic Sam]

To get back to the original point of the thread, this brings a lot more quantification to the "Kimbers have problems" rumors that the random talk on any gun thread.

[MNBlackjack]

I'll put my 3" Kimber against any other carry pistol out there in .45 and see whose fails first. I have not had one problem with mine...ever. And I bought it used for $700.00

[goalie]

I'll put my 3" Kimber against any other carry pistol out there in .45 and see whose fails first. I have not had one problem with mine...ever. And I bought it used for $700.00

But, would you buy one new right now, clean it, lube it, and put it up against a brand-new Glock 45 of similar size at a 5-day, 1k round a day class to see which one malfunctions more/less for a LOT of money?

There are always exceptions to the rules.