Todd Jarrett Wins \\World Shoot X - uspsa

The work I did was simpleenough for most any 1911 aficionadoto undertake and, happily,it didn't involve using specialtools, buying expensiveparts or doing tricky work withstones.The Kimber is pretty welldehorned, though the undersideof the trigger guard and theejection port, which is loweredand flared back, have somesharp edges. Another 15 minuteswith a jeweler's file andcold blue took care of them.Compared to Colts that haveleft me bleeding and blistered,the Kimber is pretty good, althoughNovak's carry bevelpackage is a lot nicer.The mag well has a 45-degreebevel, not as good in mymind as the 60-degree one Novakdid on my Commander, butit is beveled around most of themag well, so it is better than aEVOLUTION/://ACompetition Quality Semi-Auto & LongRange Bolt Guns designed for & by The World's TopIPSC, IHMSA, and Tham Challenge WinnersWe are primary manufacturers of benchquality rifles, barrels & receivers.Colt. Unfortunately, the front ofthe well isn't beveled, so I spenta couple more minutes on itwith a file, breaking what hadbeen a sharp edge.The magazine release is a bitlonger than issue, which I don'tlike. It isn't as exaggerated asrace-gun stuff, but I prefer theColt issue release. I'm lefthanded,however, and the Kimberrelease may be more to theliking of the right-handed.The grip safety is a beavertailthat has been built up, ensuringthat it will be fully depressedno matter how you gripthe pistol. Initially I thought itoverdone, but I found it doesn'tbother me after all. I've neverhad trouble depressing the gripsafety, even with my highthumb grip, but a lot of peoplewill welcome this feature. Thegrip safety is a high-grip design,but not quite as high asHome of the "CROSS CANYON RIFLE"tretMake your bolt gun or AR 15 shoot like a bench rifle.Try our Grand Master barrels and trued receivers.Call direct to the Custom Shop (208) 983-0494P.O. Box 154, White Bird, Idaho 83554the Brown; Kimber uses theBrown cut rather than the Wilson/Clark.The thumb safety is extendedand well shaped butisn't ambidextrous. I put on aBrown tactical safety thatworks on both sides.The slide-to-frame fit isquite good as is the rear barrelfit. The bushing can be removedby hand and is comparable infit to the Colts I've used.This Kimber pistol is veryaccurate. From 25 yards, shootingprone, everything I've triedin it will stay in the black of anNRA 25-yard pistol target. Federal230 gr. Hydra-Shoks willgroup about two inches whilecast lead H&G #68's over 5.4grains of WW231 will do thesame. I'm not a particularlygreat shot, either.Curiously, the firing pin stopis in so tight I can't get it out,though it should be possible todrift it out after I remove therear sight. The stop should beremovable by hand, however, asit is important to clean the extractorwhich, on the Kimber,has more tension than any 1911I've seen. The Kimber's ejectoris extended, but not as much asa Commander ejector.Frames, barrels and slidesare made from forgings. Kimbersays their parts are machinedto tighter tolerancesthan other 1911s using computer-aideddesign and machiningequipment. The pistol iswell finished and coated with amatte black oxide finish I findattractive. It seems durable sofar. A few hundred presentationshaven't hurt it, anyway.The round portions of the slideand frame were bead blasted.The Kimber eschews the firingpin block of the Series 80Colt and Para. There is a fulllengthguide rod. I had not ex-KIMBER continued on page 49.Page 44 MarchlApril 1997