[smcintos]

Got my new solo and put 250 rounds of 147gr. Winchester Train through it. It shoots smooth and accurate but man did I have the FTE's. I did fire 2 mags of 147gr. Federal HST and those rounds ran perfect. With the Winchester I had about 2 FTE in every mag. I was going to send it back but I ordered 50 147gr golden Saber's so since that one of the recommended brands I'll see how it does before calling CS. I hope it was just the Winchester Train and not the gun.
Is this the route you would take and has anyone else had trouble with the Train ammo.

Thanks and love the forum.
Steve

 

[Islander]

First, welcome to the forum. The Solo owners will be around shortly. In the meantime read through some of the other posts here and you will find a lot of good information.

 

[Chuck43]

Welcome to the forum from northern Illinois smcintos, the FTE's you were experiencing with the Winchester 147gr. Train is probably the fault of the ammo, Train is a low recoil round.

 

[bigdog10]

Welcome and congrats on your new Solo....

 

[Marshall]

Please be patient with your Solo.
After the first 3 times at the range I was ready to throw my $800 paperweight.
I sent it back to Kimber and they adjusted the extractor and replaced the recoil spring.
After that it shot 600 rounds without a problem at all.
I used this ammo to break it in.
Winchester Nato 124
Winchester Ranger 147
Golden Saber 147
After I got it back from Kimber it would shoot anything, even 115gr.
The Solo is an awesome gun so try to get through the break in period and you will enjoy it..

 

[Nellybelle]

Mine works fine using proper diet.

 

[Warthogge]

smcintos,

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the forum.

This is not the first time questions about this ammo has cropped up on this subforum; http://www.kimbertalk.com/forums/kimber-solo-forum/1181-winchester-train-defend-w9mmt-147-gr-fmj.html

Sorry to hear about your FTEs, but knowing you had no problems with other ammo, I'm pretty convinced that the ammo is the prime culprit. As Chuck43 mentions, it's a training round meant for low recoil. The Solo does not like low recoil. It is a defensive gun meant to fire defensive type ammo. Once it is broken in and 'loosens' up a little, some have good luck with target type ammo such as the Winchester white box 115gr round nose. Good Luck and enjoy.

 

[Josey Wales]

smcintos,

Ditto what Wart said, try other ammo and let us know.
Of course read the manual and make sure everything else is in place like springs and such......

 

[smcintos]

Thanks everyone , I got a box of 50 golden saber 147 gr. and a box of 25 Hornaday custom 124 gr XTP. I'm gonna shoot all of these this weekend, if it goes smooth I'm just going to call the FTE due to the Train ammo. I post after shooting.

 

[Oreste]

Great. Looking forward to the results.

 

[jwrt19]

Please be patient with your Solo.
After the first 3 times at the range I was ready to throw my $800 paperweight.
I sent it back to Kimber and they adjusted the extractor and replaced the recoil spring.
After that it shot 600 rounds without a problem at all.
I used this ammo to break it in.
Winchester Nato 124
Winchester Ranger 147
Golden Saber 147
After I got it back from Kimber it would shoot anything, even 115gr.
The Solo is an awesome gun so try to get through the break in period and you will enjoy it..

How long did it take Kimber to send your Solo back?

 

[Marshall]

How long did it take Kimber to send your Solo back?

Each time it was 3-4 weeks..
The first was for the ambi safety that fell off and the last was for the fte issues..
I put 600 rounds through it and the guy I sold it to has put another 400 without a malfunction..

 

[Islander]

How long did it take Kimber to send your Solo back?

Welcome to the forum from Ohio!!

 

[Chuck43]

Welcome to the forum from northern Illinois jwrt19, why not stop by our New Member Introduction sub forum and introduce yourself to the membership.

 

[smcintos]

Just got back from the range here is the report. I shot 101 rounds of the following brands. 50 rounds of Remington Golden Saber 147 grain, 20 rounds federal premium 124 grain hydra shock JHP, 6 rounds federal premium 124 grain HST, and last 25 rounds of Hornaday custom 124 grain XTP.
Here are the results.
The first mag was the 6 Federal 124 gr HST and the fifth-round was a FTF, not a great start.
Next I shot the complete box of Hornaday and out of the 25 rounds I only had 1FTE.
Next I went through the Remington golden sabers box of 50, out of the 50 I had 1 FTF.
Last I shot the 20 rounds of Federal JHP and I had 1 FTE, and 1 light strike fail to fire.
So 1 seems to be the number. The gun definitely functions much better but is that too many failures to warrant sending it back. I'm no professional so some of the problem could've been me.
What would you all do ? is this too many failures for you, would you send the gun back to Kimber for repair.
Thanks for your answers and input I really appreciate it.

 

[Marshall]

I wouldn't hesitate to send it back if you have a few hundred rounds through it and still has issues.
You may also have someone else try shooting it just for piece of mind like I did and see if it does the same thing.
Ya can't trust it to carry if it doesn't go bang each and every time..
Good luck..

 

[Warthogge]

I second jms-stlou's comments. If you want to carry for defensive purposes, your Solo ain't there yet.

 

[Islander]

I wouldn't hesitate to send it back if you have a few hundred rounds through it and still has issues.
You may also have someone else try shooting it just for piece of mind like I did and see if it does the same thing.
Ya can't trust it to carry if it doesn't go bang each and every time..
Good luck..

Good advice!

 

[smcintos]

Called Kimber today I'm sending the gun back. A gun this expensive should go bang every time you pull the trigger, and with the failures i had I agree I can't trust my life to it. I'll post again when I get it back and let everyone know if it's fixed.
Thanks everyone
Steve

 

[Insta-Gator]

Your basic premise that it was expensive and should work can't be argued. If guns that cost less than $600 do it from day one, through thousands of rounds, and keep on running, why won't a $1,600 gun do the same?

Before anyone misunderstands, I love my Kimbers and wouldn't give them up, but IMO quality and reliability go hand in hand.

Good luck smcintos. I hope they turn it into a gun you can love AND trust.