AND
SHOOTS EVEN BETTER T
A few years back, LAPD SWAT
was looking for a 1911 pistol. They tested five major brands and ended up choosing Kimber,
thus the Custom
TLE/RL II was born. This was quite an accomplishment for Kimber, being chosen by the first, and arguably still premier, SWAT Team in the US. Al- most immediately Kimber made this gun available to the public, knowing its quality and features would make it desired by 1911 fans. They were right and the gun has literally flown off of dealer’s shelves. So what makes the Custom TLE/
RL II pistol any better or different than all the other 1911s out there? The short answer is “nothing and every- thing!” I know I sound like a politi- cian here, but the reality is the 1911 is 100 years old. This makes it pretty dif- ficult to come up with anything truly “new.” However, there is a reason it’s still the most popular handgun de- sign in the world. There is no end to the ways you can customize this gun. This is why Kimber has become the boss of the 1911 and why the Custom TLE/RL II is something special.
The Foundation Kimber starts by using the finest
raw steel for the frame and slide. I
WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM
like a steel frame on a 1911. Alloys are great for saving weight when it comes to carrying the gun concealed if you need that. Personally, I’d rather have a gun that shoots great; very few guns shoot better than a full-weight 1911. The Custom TLE/RL II weighs 39 ounces, which is one of several factors allowing this gun to shoot as sound as it does. The metal is finished in a high- ly durable, attractive matte black. Yes, I said attractive. As much as I preach guns should be functional, let’s face it, we like our toys to look good too. Kimber knows this and they make sure all of their guns are finished in- side and out to exacting tolerances with smooth lines and finishes. The barrel is the heart of any 1911,
and Kimber uses one made from a solid piece of match-grade steel with a 1:16" left-hand twist. This barrel is very accurate and will outlast most owners. The match-grade, stainless steel bushing provides consistent and positive engagement. At the rear of the barrel is a match-grade chamber. This is an area often overlooked on pro- duction guns. Kimber not only makes the chamber perfect, they have greatly reduced the chances of malfunctions by lowering and flaring the ejection port which allows brass to eject clean-
John Russo
of the 100-year existence of the 1911. When Kimber came on the scene in 1979, they did so with a mission: To make custom 1911s at production-gun prices. They did this so well, it is claimed they are now the number one seller of 1911 handguns in the world, with more models and variations to choose from than any other manufacturer; all while keeping their 1911 production right here in North America.
ly regardless of the load fired. Triggers are always a point of dis-
cussion when it comes to 1911s. Most shooters want a good trigger on their gun, but this can mean something different to each of us. I think we can all agree a good trigger should have a short take up, crisp break, little or no over travel and a decent pull weight. The Custom TLE/RL II has all of this along with a short and crisp reset. As for pull weight, it comes factory set at 4 to 5 pounds. Many shooters think they need a light trigger to shoot well. The reality is, a crisp and clean break will make a trigger feel lighter than it really is. Another area often overlooked is
the grip safety. The Custom TLE/RL II employs a beavertail design that extends far enough to fully catch the skeletonized hammer while fitting even the largest of hands. The memo- ry pad on the back of the grip safety is large enough to allow for easy disen- gagement of the safety regardless of grip technique, yet smooth enough to not interfere with the shooting grip. One point many shooters fail to grasp and many gun writers fail to men- tion, is that the extended beavertail actually aids in recoil management. This is a gun meant to be shot — shot
37
he Kimber name has become synonymous with the 1911, which is quite a feat for a company that has only been making guns for the last 32 years
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