KIMBER ULTRA CARRY ?

Love the username, I left Bragg in 86 and I think I've STILL got sand from Sicily DZ in some of my old boots!

The recoil system isn't quite as fragile as it looks, but Kimber DOES sell replacements. (A little expensive, but that's what happens when you depart from 1911 interchangability.)

I suppose there are at least a couple different recoil systems the pistol could be modified to accept, but the cost would probably not be worth the slight advantage (if any) you would get out of the conversion.

As far as how long it will last, go ahead and shoot that puppy! I have an Ultra Elite that I've fired thousands of rounds out of with nothing but some wear to the finish on the frame rails.
One word of advice though.
Carry hardball ammo in your pistol. Over time, some HP rounds (depending on bullet geometry) can literally gouge a groove in the feed ramp and trash your frame.
Use hardball and you'll never have to worry about it.
(Lead SWCs are fine also)

I too have an Ultra Elite. I had about 10,000 rounds through it when the frame cracked. Kimber never suggested how often to change the recoil spring and as a newbie, I shot it until the recoil assembly broke, as it will do around 3000-4000 rounds. They should be changed much more often. I have heard the numbers be 1000-2000 rounds. I change the whole thing. I have tried changing just the springs, but the little base plate never seems to stay on, even with loctite, after I take it apart.

I like my little gun. It is very accurate and I have no qualms carrying it for defense.

The recoil spring system is durable enough for normal carry use, though Double Naught Spy has a point on changing them with use. The system is the only one thats really reliable with such a short cycle in a production gun.

For hollow points, make sure to test what you're going to carry, and avoid any rounds that seem to monkey up the feedramp. I read once (from Wilson's IIRC) that Silvertips were easier on alum-frame's, and my experience's shooting them have beared that out.

I have a '97 royal carry. It seems that even hardball will leave slight blurry marks in the feed ramp. Have you guys experienced this?

On 2001-04-20 03:24, Ken Cook wrote:

One word of advice though.
Carry hardball ammo in your pistol. Over time, some HP rounds (depending on bullet geometry) can literally gouge a groove in the feed ramp and trash your frame.
Use hardball and you'll never have to worry about it.
(Lead SWCs are fine also)

Click to expand...

I'd agree with most of this, but would advise that you practice with hardball, after select a reliable defensive HP load that will work in your particular gun. Determining that load would include accuracy, function, and of course not damaging the feed ramp!

Personally, I am more comfortable carrying HP's in a defensive role than FMJ. Once I find a load I am comfortable with (300 rounds minimum), I usually buy a box or 2 per year, shooting it up after 6 months & buying more for carry.