Kimber Rimfire Target Conversion Kit Range Report

[Poogsdad]

I went into one of the local purveyors of fine firearms in my area a few days ago to purchase a $15.00 item. I ended up walking out with a $300.00 Kimber Rimfire Target Conversion Kit for my Kimber Custom CDP.

When I got home, I disassembled the Conversion Kit and inspected it. I then cleaned and lubed it in accordance with the included instructions. Quality and workmanship was as I expected from Kimber.

With the exception of approximately ½ inch of additional material to support the elongated recoil spring plug of the Conversion Kit, the aluminum slide is dimensionally identical to the slide on my Custom CDP. It is, however, noticeably lighter.

I was particularly impressed with the barrel. The outer diameter of the barrel is identical to that of the Custom CDP, including the slightly enlarged area near the muzzle that is fitted to the bushing when the slide is fully forward. The muzzle is crowned with a raised outer rim to further protect the crowned muzzle. With a .22 caliber hole through the center rather than a .45 caliber hole, the barrel is very heavy when compared to the barrel on the Custom CDP and in relation to the rest of the kit. By my guestimate, the barrel accounts for over 80% of the total weight of the kit. Total weight of the Conversion Kit and Custom CDP frame is 23 ounces unloaded and 25 ounces with a fully loaded 10 round magazine.

The ejector is attached directly to the barrel on the outside of the chamber opposite the ejection port on the slide.

The barrel bushings on both the Custom CDP and the Conversion Kit are identical stainless steel match grade bushings. Both bushings worked fine with both barrels and slides, however, the bushing on the Custom CDP did seem to be fitted slightly tighter than the bushing on the Conversion Kit.

I mounted the Conversion Kit on the frame of my Kimber Custom CDP. Though the Kit mounted easily to the Custom CDP frame it was a little tight where the slide engages the disconnect on the frame, with the slide occasionally failing to go fully forward without help. After cycling the slide manually approximately 50 times, this problem resolved itself and the recoil spring now has no trouble returning the slide fully forward on it’s own.

The fit of the Conversion Kit Slide to the Custom CDP frame was very precise. There was, however, a slight hint of barely perceptible lateral movement where the slide mates with the frame under the rear sight. By contrast, there is no perceptible lateral movement between the Custom CDP slide and frame.

Visually, the Conversion Kit, when mounted on the Custom CDP frame is very similar to the Custom CDP when the normal slide is mounted on it. So much so, in my opinion, that from a distance it would be very difficult to distinguish between the two unless you knew what you were looking for.

I purchased a value pack of Federal Champion Target 36 Grain Copper Plated Hollow Point High Velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition, a box of CCI Stinger 32 Grain, GLHP, Hyper Velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition and a box of CCI Velocitor 40 Grain, GLHP, Hyper Velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition. I did not purchase any Standard Velocity or Target Loaded .22 Long Rifle ammunition since Kimber recommends against using such ammunition unless a lighter hammer spring is installed in your firearm.

With this, along with about a hundred rounds of Remington Golden Bullet, 36 Grain Plated Hollow Point High Velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition I had laying around, I headed off to the range.

I have only the one magazine that came with the Conversion Kit. Additionally, my primary motivation for purchasing the Kit was cheap practice and reinforcement of marksmanship fundamentals such as trigger control, sight alignment, sight picture, breath control, etc.

Because of this, rather than the dynamic integrated defensive handgun drills I prefer, I elected to focus exclusively on static, slow-fire, precision target shooting drills. I set up a target consisting of a 2” by 2” yellow square inside a 6” by 6” black bordered square at 15 Yards. Rather than the 6 o’clock hold that is preferred by many target shooters, I prefer a center hold sight picture with my desired point of impact the same as my point of aim. All shooting was done two-hand unsupported.

I made no sight adjustments for the first 150 rounds, choosing instead to evaluate how the Kit grouped the different loads I was shooting rather than where it was printing relative to my aiming point. At 15 yards, the kit had no difficulty grouping every load into less than 2 inches. The Federal Champion and Remington Gold Bullet Bulk Ammunition both consistently grouped around 1½ inches. The CCI Stinger ammunition consistently grouped around 1 inch and the CCI Velocitor ammunition consistently grouped around 1¾ inches. Though group sizes varied, all loads tested printed in the same place relative to point of aim.

When clean the Conversion Kit fed, extracted, and ejected everything I shot through it. As it became dirty, however, I experienced some failures to feed, extract or eject. I never experienced a failure to fire, however. As the Conversion Kit is blow back operated and some amount of break-in due to the tight tolerances exhibited in the kit is to be expected, this did not surprise me.

All of the failures to feed, extract, or eject occurred with the Remington and Federal bulk high velocity ammunition. I experienced none of these issues with the CCI Hyper Velocity ammunition. This did not surprise me given the greater back pressure created and more consistent cycling of the action provided by the Hyper Velocity ammunition. I have no doubt, however, that the same issues could materialize with Hyper Velocity ammunition if I allowed the Kit to get dirty enough.

While I did not perceive any increased recoil and Kimber does not caution against the use of Hyper Velocity ammunition, I believe a steady diet would cause quite a bit of slide battering over time.

From a training standpoint, the periodic failures to feed, extract or eject I experienced as the Kit became dirtier allowed me to practice type 1, 2, and 3 malfunctions with live ammunition. I normally only practice these types of manipulations when dry practicing since they occur so infrequently with my Kimber Custom CDP and Ultra Carry. Additionally, the slide does not lock back on an empty magazine on the Conversion Kit. Whenever I squeezed the trigger on an empty chamber because the magazine was empty, I treated it like a type 1 malfunction. Fortunately, Kimber says that dry firing the pistol while the kit is in use will not damage the pistol or the kit.

I disassembled and cleaned the Conversion Kit about every 100 rounds. The failures to feed, extract or eject became less frequent as the Kit became more “Broken in”. Part of this may also be due to my having expended all of the Remington Golden Bullet ammunition and using the Federal more exclusively. The Remington ammunition was noticeably dirtier than the Federal ammunition.

The adjustable sights are very positive and I had no difficulty adjusting them to ensure point of aim was equal to point of impact at 15 yards. They also appear to be the same sights Kimber uses on it’s adjustable sighted target pistols, other than the Eclipse Target models, which have adjustable night sights.

All-in-all another great day at the range!!! I am quite satisfied with the performance of the Kimber Rimfire Target Conversion Kit. In addition to meeting all my personal expectations as a training tool it is just plain fun to shoot. I will also be using it to help my daughter become more comfortable with the 1911 platform.

At $300.00 dollars it is expensive when you consider that you can buy an entire .22 caliber pistol for the same price. The greatest advantage I see to purchasing and using the Conversion Kit, however, is that it allows you to use the same controls, manual of arms, manipulations, and malfunction drills as you would with your own personal 1911 pattern pistol because the bottom end is your own 1911 pattern pistol.

I will be posting some pictures of the conversion kit shortly.

As usual thanks for allowing me to share this and dissenting opinions are always welcome.

[flyingm]

Thanks for the great write up! I have actually been eying this conversion kit lately. Your making it hard to stay on my budget.

[peanutlover]

thanks for that terrific range report. very helpful. i've been thinking of buying that conversion kit for my own kimber.

[BonoVox]

Great review! I purchased a Kimber Rimfire target about 4 months ago "the whole handgun". That has become my primary range gun right now. Took it out to Evans on Saturday. Had some left over targets. I am a member so no fee to shoot. I think all in all I spent $5.00 or so to shoot 200 to 250 rounds.

I work 5 minutes from Evans so it is nice to just drop in get some trigger time on a 1911 platform. While not breaking the bank.

I love mine!

[Poogsdad]

Thank you all for your feedback.

Hopefully, I will have the pictures posted shortly.

Thanks again,

[Poogsdad]

Here are the pictures!!!

Slideshow of Kimber .22 Rimfire Conversion Kit - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Hope you all enjoy the slide show.

Thanks,

[bdam1]

Thanks for the slide show and report. I also have been eyeing one of these kits for my Tac Custom II.

Thanks!

[OCRancher]

Interesting thought. If I bought a full Rimfire Target 1911 from Kimber, could it be converted to a 45 ACP version?

[Poogsdad]

Originally Posted by OCRancher

Interesting thought. If I bought a full Rimfire Target 1911 from Kimber, could it be converted to a 45 ACP version?

It is indeed an interesting thought, however, I do not believe such a conversion would work.

Though a .45 cal upper would probably fit on a dedicated Kimber Rimfire Target lower, I do not believe there is any provision for the frame mounted ejector normally found on a .45 ACP 1911 frame.

Additionally, if you are attempting to mount a Series II Kimber or Colt Series 80 top on the rimfire lower, I do not believe there is any way to disengage the Firing Pin Safety.

I have no idea how accurate this information is. Anyone who knows more about 1911 pattern pistols than me, meaning most everybody here, please feel free to correct me.

Thanks,

[hygyliac]

Thank you for the pictures, they really help me visualize the overall appearance. Sounds like a keeper . . . . I'll buy it from you after you braek it in.

[Poogsdad]

Originally Posted by hygyliac

Thank you for the pictures, they really help me visualize the overall appearance. Sounds like a keeper . . . . I'll buy it from you after you braek it in.

Thanks for the offer!!

Unfortunately, I like so much, it may take many years and many thousands of rounds, to "Break it in"!!!

Thanks,