I posted in early December or so that I was converting all my handguns to the 1911 platform.
http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/show....php?t=1164530
Everything is the same as posted with the addition of a Kimber SIS Ultra in layaway I pick up on March 20th and a Ed Brown Molon Labe I have on order.
So I finally got the time to head to the range to test out the 2 new 1911s I picked up spoken about in the post above. A Kimber TLE II and a Puma 1911-22LR.
(For those who do not know the Puma 1911-22 is a full size 1911 that fires the .22LR from a 10 round magazines. It retails for around $250-$270)
With the Puma I was able to put 140 rds downrange. CCI Mini Mags and some Winchester JHP. The 1st 90 rounds were flawless, the next 60 were full of rounds not firing on the first hammer fall. A quick resetting of the hammer by hand and every round fired on the second fall. Not sure if it was ammo or gun related. The rounds that did not fire the first time did have nice firing pin hits on them it seemed. Only more time and different ammo will tell the tale for sure.
The reliability of the gun was perfect. The feel of it was almost exactly like that of the 5" Kimber I was shooting at the same time. Of course recoil was non existent and it was a little strange going from 1 mag thru the Kimber then 1 mag thru the Puma. Both felt the same in the hand but the recoil was worlds apart. Accuracy was fine, the included documentation from the Puma states that the user is to file the front site to desired height. I did not do this today, but the groups were pretty good. The trigger reset is a bit different than a normal 1911 but still is very close to it's roots.
The overall fit and finish of the gun were what you would expect from a $250 1911. Not great but not bad if you keep in mind the use of the gun. It is a range plinker plain and simple but it would be a great gun to introduce a new shooter to handguns. It IMO is not a type of gun you would try to use in any type of formal training as a low ammo cost replacement for a true 1911, I would think a .22LR conversion kit on a true 1911 frame would be a better choice. The Puma is fun to shoot on the range and that is why I purchased it. Overall I am happy with the purchase and would recommend it. I mean it's a full size 1911 dedicated to shooting the .22LR
I made some changes to the Kimber TLE before shooting it. A Ed Brown Chainlink MSH, Ed Brown GI guide rod sand plug, solid short trigger and Magwear grips and magwell set up.
The Kimber TLE II was a jewel. In the past I have not been very kind to Kimber overall on these forums but this one is a keeper. I have owned 1 horrid Kimber (UCII with the EE), 1 decent Kimber (Warrior) and one great one (Raptor UC with the IE) in the past. I have mixed feelings about how the TLE II would perform on the range. The 500 rd break in period was what I was expecting with many FTE and FTFs during this time.
I fired 250 factory rounds (200 FMJ and 50 JHP, all 230GR) downrange thru a mix of Kimber, Kimber Pro Tac and Wilson mags (7 & 8 rd) with zero issues. Accuracy was great, I have never questioned the accuracy of any Kimber. The Magwear grips and magwell is an excellent set up for anyone looking to add a magwell to their 1911, I went with the carry version. This is the first Kimber I have owned that has had zero issues in the first 250 rounds fired.
I am very happy with the Kimber TLE. I still read too many issues with Kimbers and have questions about their customer service and QC but this one is a keeper. I will not hesitate to buy Kimber products in the future.
I hope the Kimber SIS Ultra I am picking up next month works out as well for me.
Yeah yeah I know pictures.
Yeah it a horrible iPhone picture, gotta get a camera someday!
And to top things off I got my $50 rebate from Eotech in the mail today...good gun day indeed!
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