Author Topic: Kimber .22 conv. unit (Read 1876 times)

crash87 · « **on:** May 17, 2008, 04:33:36 AM »

Does anybody own/shoot a Kimber .22 conversion unit?
How do you like it?
How did you break it in? Ammo? how many rounds etc.?
Is it a reliable feeder with your ammo of choice?
I have one I bought about a year ago, and I finally have some time to play with it, (I know, I know). To say I'm not pleased is quite the understatement! I'd like to hear some opinions from some of you who have them installed and are shooting them before I get into the problems I am having. I also know my only fix is going to be sending it in, that's where I sit now. For what it is worth I have the blued version with adj. sights installed on a Kimber Custom Combat, .45 ACP. crash87

S.B. · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2008, 05:09:15 AM »

crash87, please doin't be shy tell us your problems with this conversion unit or are you looking for a band wagon to crawl onto?

Doc T · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2008, 05:51:44 AM »

I have a Kimber Rimfire, not the conversion unit. I bought it used. The only thing I found wrong with it was the sights were horribly off. The person who had it before I did obviously didn't know how to adjust the sights. Two points of advice, keep it lubed and shoot HV ammo only. It doesn't like target or subsonic stuff. Mine shoots great otherwise.

Doc T

crash87 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2008, 01:34:57 PM »

I've been firing CCI Velocitor, 200 of them, a cartridge rated at 1435fps and also, now $5.99 a box. Also tried Remington 36gr high velocity "golden bullet". I have a total of 400 rounds through it cleaning and lubing every 100, as the directions state. I still can't get it to cycle reliably more than once in a 10 shot clip. What that means is I assist the slide 8 times out of 10 shots. Sometimes it doesn't pick up a round, maybe once in a clip full, most times it just doesn't feed the round. It doesn't seem to want to break in as they say, as it is working the same after 400 as it did the first 10. My other problem is the one where I have to send it in to be fixed. THE SAFETY NOTCH IS IN THE WRONG PLACE! I cannot engage the safety unless I do a little grinding and fitting. I will be damned if I do that! I paid good $$ for this conversion from a reputable company, I don't see why I should fix it. The other thing that pisses me off is the fact I have to send it BACK! I got a pretty good deal on this one compared to others, do I hear you get what you paid for. I read a lot of test, all I could get my hands on about these conversions, settling on the Kimber because of the "glowing" satisfaction they (the writers whom didn't have to pay for them as long as they give it good press) got with it. Kimber is getting a call on Monday. I just wanted to know if others were having any problems with there units, and I don't really know what was meant by the "band wagon" crack so I'll do what I normally don't, and ignore it. CRASH87

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2008, 02:40:32 PM »

Do you have it on a Kimber lower?

crash87 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2008, 05:40:37 AM »

I called Kimber, they asked the pertinent questions about what ammo I was using etc. In shooting it some more it seems to me the feeding issue is associated with the clip itself. Why its not "breaking in" is beyond me. It just seems to be hanging up somewhat, not allowing the slide to move forward with enough momentum to feed. The safety issue "might be" because I have a older lower, circa 1998, and it seems they may have changed the safety lever since then. If that is it, a current one will be sent. If it is the unit, a new one will replace it. It will go back, conversion unit only, next week. CRASH87

S.B. · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2008, 06:06:57 AM »

All the best luck, in getting this worked out.
Steve

Cossack2 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2008, 04:27:38 AM »

I've got the Kimber conversion on a Kimber lower. It's very reliable and accurate but it took a lot of trying to find that out. It's very fussy about the ammo it will feed. Has to be full power loads. Fiocchi 38 grn. work well. As does the faster Aguila load. Velocitor too but, as you said, they are expensive. Power point is a no go, as are the cheaper Win, Rem and Federal ammo. Seems the load requires sufficient power to push the slide all the way back to work. Case diameter after firing (or rim thickness?) may be an issue as many Win. PP's don't extract.
On the bright side it has great adjustable sights and looks great in brushed aluminum.

Cossack2 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2008, 01:41:29 PM »

BTW, I had a similar problem when I tried to put the conversion unit the same way as I do the 45 ACP barrel unit. The safety would not work, even tho the slide went on. I reinstalled it exactly like the instructions for the 22 unit say (different from the 45) and all was well. Go figure.
Best luck

crash87 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2008, 02:24:56 AM »

It is now in transit to Kimber, Thanks for the tip on the ammo brands, but...... I've seen conflicting reports on what works as some have said the cheaper stuff works for some and not others. I guess I'll make that determination when the time comes. I'm not sure what you mean by the installation of the unit, but I'll now have to wait and see what Kimber says about the safety change. I also agree on the bright side of things, the sights and it is a quality looking unit. Thanks CRASH87

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2008, 02:47:46 AM »

I have had mine on a couple of non-Kimber frames and am pleased with it. If I let it get dirty, I'll have a cycling problem with low-velocity ammunition. The answer: use high velocity ammo! I haven't used any hyper-velocity ammo yet, but should give it a try.

Ruskin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2008, 03:32:45 AM »

I have a Ruger pistol. I have problems with it also. I am about to conclude some of the problem is the ammo. In rimfire ammo the primer has to go all the way around the base. I have had strike on the rim without ignition. Hs anyone noticed the same with rimfire ignition?

I have sonw spring work, worked on firing pin, and still have problems. I've had it happen on my 10/22 also.

PMC ammo gave good results in another. I have not tried it in my rugers yet.

S.B. · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2008, 06:18:37 AM »

Quote from: Ruskin on June 05, 2008, 03:32:45 AM

I have had strike on the rim without ignition. Hs anyone noticed the same with rimfire ignition?

Yes, with cheap Federal, years back.
Steve

Savage · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2008, 11:16:05 AM »

I have had strike on the rim without ignition. Hs anyone noticed the same with rimfire ignition?

Are you kidding? Anyone who's fired more than a brick of .22 rimfire knows about misfires! Just ONE of the reasons the .22 rimfire is not a good defensive round. I shoot rimfire falling plates once a month, depending on the number of shooters, there will be anywhere from 3k to 5k rounds fired. It is not unusual to witness 6-8 misfires in the match. Currently, Remington is the worst offender. I shoot Federal Bulk and have an occasional misfire. When I shot the CCI Mini Mags, I don't recall having a misfire. I went to the Federal due to the price. It works pretty good for me. Don't have a Kimber .22 conversion unit, but I do have a Ceiner that I sometimes shoot on a Kimber lower. Mine works good, and is pretty darn accurate. No cycling problems with the bulk ammo.
Savage

crash87 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2008, 05:05:00 AM »

Well I just got it back from Kimber, I will need to install a new safety lever as it was changed sometime after I bought mine. A new one was sent,yes, no charge. They also polished sufaces and gave it a clean and oil. Soooo........... I went out and shot some CCI velociter and some Remington's golden bullets, I like strawberry jam, not .22 rimfire jam, every one of them the slide did not come forward. I can see where I might have 2 potential trouble spots. It drags on the clip and where the rear of the slide contacts the hammer. It stops before its allowed to contact the rear of the cartridge. I can fix that. Kimber recomends CCI mini mag 40gr ammo. I'll need to get a few boxes and have at it. Am I still disapointed in the conv. unit? Not at all, making it feed is just a matter of breaking in and fine tuning, but you need to see where the problems lie and take it from there. I now know where they are. My real concern was not being able to operate the safety, that now, thanks to Kimber is also taken care of. CRASH87

S.B. · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2008, 09:39:09 AM »

Savage, try switching to quality (better)ammo?
Steve

Savage · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2008, 12:22:44 AM »

SB,
As I mentioned, the CCI Mini Mags seem to be the most reliable of the "Non Premium" ammo. Even the expensive stuff, ($6-$7 per 50) has an occasional misfire. It's the nature of the beast with rimfire ammo. It's no big deal in a rimfire plate match, just causes the shooter to lose a couple of plates. Most shooters can't remember the last time they had an ammo related misfire with factory centerfire ammo, but rimfire misfires are quite common.
Savage

wyohandi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2008, 03:44:21 AM »

I bought one cause I had to have it. Here's what I finally figured out.
Mine is on a RIA frame needed a little fitting but not to hard.
It wouldn't cycle with anything I fed it. (real good for malfunctions drills)
I took the hammer spring out and cut off about one coil, now it will feed and shoot
cheap Wal-mart bulk ammo just fine. I got another mainspring housing and full power spring
and just swap them out.
I really like it now that it goes bang all the time, good accuracy, cheap to shoot, and it's a 1911!

crash87 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2008, 04:07:00 AM »

wyohandi, I finally found a box of CCI 40gr. C.R.N. mini mags. My local farm and hardware store has been out oif them for quite a while, so as I was passing by one of those impersonal chain sporting goods store on my way to the north woods, I stopped and picked some up. I don't normally shop at Gander Mountain anymore because of there ridicuously high prices, they didn't disapoint me this time either, 2 bucks over what my farm & hdwe store charges. I needed to stone the underside of the unit as there were two high spots that seem to have been hanging up, I also stoned and polished the hammer where the slide rides on it. I can see where a lighter mainspring will be the answer to my problems as it still will not feed the first 2 rounds of a full clip and then work fine after that. I say that because when the slide hangs up I'll take a small screwdriver and with the grip safety depress, take light pressure down on the hammer and it will then slide forward. I'm was going to get a lighter spring from Kimber, the same one they use in their .22, but after reading your post I'll take a coil off and try that, then, order the new parts. And I agree with the accuracy, very good to excellent. CRASH87

9x19 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 07, 2008, 12:47:31 AM »

I have both the .22LR and .17HM2 conversions, and both have run fine right out of the box. I shoot mostly Remington ammo in the .17 and mostly Federal Bulk in the .22