First review : WE desert kimber

[viking9934]

hi

so this is my first review and it will be on my new WE desert Kimber.

In this review i will talk about:

Performance/accuracy.

applicability.

aftermarket part compatibility.

quality and real steel comparasion.

Let's first introduce the Real steel and is specs.


Height (90° to barrel) ......................................... 5.25 inches
Weight (with empty magazine) .................. 40 ounces
Length .................................................. ......................8.7 inches
Magazine capacity .............................................. 7 rounds
Recoil spring weight .......................................... 16 pounds
Frame
Material .................................................. .................... Steel
Finish type .................................................. .............. KimPro II®
Finish color .................................................. .............Desert tan
Width .................................................. .........................1.28 inches
Thumb safety .................................................. ....... Ambidextrous, extended
Guide rod .................................................. ................ Standard military
Special features .................................................. ... Lanyard loop
1913 Picatinny rail
Slide
Material .................................................. .................... Steel
Finish type .................................................. .............. KimPro II®
Finish color .................................................. .............Desert tan
Barrel
Type .................................................. ............................Match grade
Length .................................................. ......................5 inches
Material .................................................. .................... Steel
Twist rate (left hand) .......................................... 16
Bushing .................................................. .................... Stainless steel, match grade
Sights
Type .................................................. ............................ Tactical Wedge™ 3-dot
fixed night sights
Radius .................................................. ........................6.8 inches
Grips
Material .................................................. .................... G-10
Type .................................................. ............................ Tactical
Trigger
Type .................................................. ............................ Solid aluminum match grade
Factory setting .................................................. ..... 4–5 pounds

Real one:


WE one


So the difference:
- The We colour is lighter more on the brown side, the hammer is not stainless and they're no marking on the frame, but personally really don't care about the marking, i focus more on the purpose of the tool than the look.

- For the weight kimber announce 40 ounces(2.5 lb) and the WE one weight 2.2 lb. So it's pretty accurate and you feel the mass in your hand.

- the length of the kimber is 8.7 inch and the WE is 8.725 inch so almost perfect.

-The kimber grip is G10 and sadly the WE grip is made of abs.....(future project to make one in G10)

-Both have the two safety system.

-the We have the working hammer second position(locked at half the travel of the hammer) to neutralize the trigger, but allowing you to load a bullet in the chamber and holster it HOT and after by just pulling back for half the gun is ready to fire.

-The We doesn't have the full length spring guide Rod and for me it's a big issue. Because the WE have a half rod and a crazy long spring , it make the slide/outer barrel a bit ''loose'' and it affect the overall potential of the accuracy(will talk about that later). The outer barrel is just to free to move so the barrel is never really always in the same spot. Fortunately this problem is easily solvable buy installing a nova(or other brand) full length spring guide.

-the magazine(will talk about that at the end)

Aftermarket compatibility:

At first i tought buy looking around the forum that WE 1911 wasn't compatible at all with TM parts........Ans it's false.

You can use almost any part made for the TM since the WE is a clone.
Guarder/shooter design/nova and other make part that will fit.
I personally have installed shooter design outer barrel and hybrid chamber, also nova full length spring guide rod and spring plug without problems.

Other than that CQB master(We hight end side) make 4 different slide assembly that fit 100% on the Kimber. The 3.8/4.3/5.1 and 1911 custom hyper speed. Those come with slide/outer barrel/chamber/hop-up unit/loading nuzzle/spring guide and spring.

Performance and accuracy.

All my test have been made out from the box, no cool down between mag/mag feed at 22 Celsius and in fast and very fast fire rate. I have used crappy canadian tire .20 bbs(ultrasonic sniper black.....and they explode on hard surface impact) and propane.

first test 25 feet no hop-up adjustment with full mag(15bb)


By viking9934 at 2011-09-21

second test 25 feets no hop-up adjustment with 7bb mag as the real steel


By viking9934 at 2011-09-21

full picture of the test


By viking9934 at 2011-09-21

Also did it at 60 feets. 18 hits on 21 shots with one adjustment before firing without test shot(put it in the middle) the target mesure 7 inch by 10,5 inch.



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So for the accuracy because of the spring guide sometime you get flyers. But overall considering the quality of the bb's and the wobble(due to the spring rod and the spring....easily fixed with the full rod and 140% spring) i give a 8/10 for the accuracy. The iron sight is perfect for what it made for.....fast target acquisition. Only complain , i they could have made the dot phosphorescent.

The recoil is strong and crispy, perfect in my opinion. trigger pull is light but not too light.

With a bull barrel , a full length spring guide rod and 140% spring 90% of the wobble is gone and i now shoot 4-4.5 inch group at 60 feet( wait to see if i can do better with tight bore longer barrel)

Applicability.

It's a handgun so she make her job(ya named it.) as a handgun , perfect for CQC and transition when i have issue with my main or out of ammo. In the other hand if needed in extraordinary situation(more desperate) i know that i can hit at 60-80 feet accurately(depend on variable but..)

Now last point the Magazine.

I really don't know what to think about them.....they are cheaper to buy than the TM , but i don't have experience with TM mag... So i don't know if other brand mag fit inside We 1911(if someone know i really be grateful for the info)

Toughness side: they are made tough but they have a weak point ...the base plate seen to crack int the front near the spring. Mine broke about 10-15 reload still use it but they're a play since the front is not old anymore, but it's now 30 reloads and still working so it's why it say they are tough

here pics:



Broken but working like this:


By viking9934 at 2011-09-21


So that's it, i really love this gun, perfect in my hand. They Have somehow weak mag, but depending of the problem they can take punishment like mine. Need and upgrade for the spring guide, but you can live without. you can switch slide assemply for shorter barrel for cqc or concealment for pretty cheap and i found this handy. Full Metal. I recommend it!

Kevin