The main pros of the Kimber Ultra CDP II 45 ACP are its exceptional concealability, phenomenal match grade trigger, and premium snag free design, while the main cons are its high price tag, low ammunition capacity, and the strict maintenance schedule required to keep it running reliably. This subcompact 1911 pistol is produced by the Kimber Custom Shop and features a lightweight aluminum frame paired with a stainless steel slide. While it consistently delivers impressive accuracy for a pistol with a three inch barrel, it fires the potent .45 ACP cartridge from a very light platform, resulting in snappy recoil that requires a firm grip to control. Because it utilizes a specialized short action 1911 design, shooters must strictly adhere to a break in period and frequent recoil spring replacements to guarantee the reliability needed for a daily concealed carry weapon.
Kimber Ultra CDP II 45 ACP Pros And Cons
| Feature | Pros | Cons |
| Accuracy | Match grade bull barrel provides excellent mechanical accuracy at defensive distances. | Short sight radius makes precision shooting difficult for beginners. |
| Build construction | Aluminum frame and stainless slide offer a perfect blend of light weight and rust resistance. | Tight custom shop tolerances mean the gun must be kept well lubricated to run reliably. |
| Melt treatment | Aggressively rounded edges ensure the pistol will not snag on clothing during a fast draw. | The rounded aesthetic may not appeal to traditional 1911 purists. |
| Sights | Comes factory equipped with high quality Meprolight tritium night sights. | Fixed sights are not adjustable for elevation if your chosen defensive load shoots high or low. |
| Trigger pull | Premium aluminum match trigger breaks cleanly around 4 to 5 pounds with a short reset. | None. The trigger is the standout feature of this firearm. |
| Concealability | Officer sized frame and three inch barrel make it incredibly easy to hide inside the waistband. | The thick wood grips make the grip slightly wider than modern single stack polymer pistols. |
| Self defense performance | Chambers the proven .45 ACP cartridge for excellent stopping power. | Short barrel significantly reduces bullet velocity, meaning careful hollow point selection is required. |
| Capacity | Standard flush fit magazines hold 7 rounds of .45 ACP. | Seven rounds is very low compared to modern micro compact 9mm pistols holding 10 to 13 rounds. |
| Recoil management | Front strap checkering helps lock the gun securely into the shooter’s hand. | Firing heavy .45 ACP loads in a 25 ounce aluminum frame is snappy and can induce flinching. |
| Price/value | Includes custom shop upgrades that would cost hundreds of dollars to add to a base model. | The initial purchase price is very expensive and puts it out of reach for budget conscious buyers. |
| Best use | Premium concealed carry, backup duty weapon, and personal defense for 1911 enthusiasts. | A poor choice for a first time handgun owner or high volume range plinking. |
| Limitations | Unbeatable trigger feel and classic aesthetics in a highly concealable package. | Three inch 1911 pistols have a very narrow operational window and are prone to limp wristing malfunctions. |
Accuracy
The Kimber Ultra CDP II is highly accurate for a subcompact handgun. It utilizes a three inch match grade bull barrel that locks directly into the slide without the need for a traditional 1911 barrel bushing. This tight lockup, combined with the excellent trigger, allows experienced shooters to shoot very tight groups at 10 to 15 yards. However, the short barrel dictates a short sight radius, meaning any slight misalignment of the sights will result in a missed shot at extended ranges.
Build Construction And Custom Defense Package
The CDP acronym stands for Custom Defense Package, meaning this pistol receives premium upgrades straight from the Kimber Custom Shop. The frame is machined from 7075-T7 aluminum, keeping the unloaded weight down to just 25 ounces, while the slide is machined from durable stainless steel. It features an ambidextrous thumb safety, 30 lines per inch checkering on the front strap for enhanced grip, and beautiful rosewood grip panels.
Melt Treatment And Concealability
One of the most practical features of the CDP line is the Carry Melt treatment. Kimber heavily machines and aggressively rounds off every sharp edge and hard corner on the slide and frame. This prevents the pistol from digging into your side when carried in an inside the waistband holster and ensures that the gun will never catch or snag on a cover garment during an emergency draw. Combined with the short officer sized grip, it is a remarkably easy gun to conceal all year round.
Trigger Pull
The 1911 platform is famous for having the best trigger design in the firearms world, and the Kimber Custom Shop delivers on this expectation. The pistol features a premium aluminum match grade trigger that breaks perfectly cleanly between 4 and 5 pounds. The reset is incredibly short and tactile. This crisp trigger pull greatly assists the shooter in maintaining accuracy, as very little pressure is required to break the shot.
Reliability And Break In Period
Micro 1911 pistols chambered in .45 ACP are notoriously difficult to engineer because the slide moves backward much faster than a full sized five inch model. The timing must be perfect. Kimber explicitly mandates a 400 to 500 round break in period using quality full metal jacket ammunition before trusting the gun for self defense. The tight tolerances require the metal parts to wear in together. Furthermore, you must keep the gun heavily lubricated for it to cycle reliably.
Self Defense Performance
The .45 ACP is a massive, heavy bullet that provides excellent energy transfer on human sized threats. However, self defense shooters must be cautious about ammunition selection. Standard .45 ACP velocity is tested in five inch barrels. From a three inch barrel, velocity drops significantly. If a bullet travels too slowly, a jacketed hollow point may fail to expand upon impact. Shooters should select lighter, faster hollow points specifically designed for short barrel performance.
Recoil Management
Because the frame is made of lightweight aluminum, the Kimber Ultra CDP II is very snappy to shoot. The 25 ounce weight is great for carrying but does very little to absorb the recoil of a .45 ACP cartridge. The aggressive 30 LPI checkering on the front strap is absolutely necessary to keep the gun from twisting in your hand. Shooters must employ a very firm, locked wrist grip. If a shooter limp wrists the pistol, the frame will absorb the energy needed to cycle the slide, resulting in a stovepipe or failure to feed malfunction.
Price And Value
This is a premium tier firearm. The Kimber Ultra CDP II carries a high price tag that reflects the custom shop features, night sights, two tone finish, and match grade components. While it is expensive, it actually represents a good value for dedicated 1911 enthusiasts, as sending a basic mil spec 1911 to a custom gunsmith to add front strap checkering, a melt treatment, and an action job would cost far more than the price difference.
Main Drawbacks
The most significant disadvantages of this pistol are its maintenance requirements and its low capacity. To ensure reliability, Kimber recommends replacing the dual captive recoil spring assembly every 800 rounds, which is a much shorter lifespan than modern polymer pistols. Additionally, a maximum capacity of seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber puts the carrier at a severe volume disadvantage compared to modern micro 9mm pistols of the exact same physical size.
Final Verdict
Is Kimber Ultra CDP II 45 ACP good?
Yes, it is a beautifully crafted and highly capable concealed carry pistol for a very specific type of shooter.
This handgun is best suited for experienced 1911 enthusiasts who refuse to compromise on trigger quality, prefer the stopping power of the .45 ACP, and are willing to put in the time to properly maintain and break in their primary carry weapon.
However, brand new shooters, budget conscious buyers, or those who want a low maintenance, high capacity firearm you can simply load and forget in a holster would be much better served by a modern polymer framed 9mm pistol.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does the Kimber Ultra CDP II require a break in period?
Yes. Kimber recommends firing between 400 and 500 rounds of quality 230 grain full metal jacket ammunition to properly break in the tight tolerances of the custom shop slide and frame rails.
2. How often do I need to replace the recoil spring?
Because the three inch slide travels so violently, the dual captive recoil spring assembly wears out quickly. Kimber officially recommends replacing the outer recoil spring every 800 rounds to prevent feeding malfunctions and frame battering.
3. What does CDP stand for?
CDP stands for Custom Defense Package, which is a specific line of pistols from Kimber that includes upgrades like night sights, a two tone finish, ambidextrous safeties, and the snag free Carry Melt treatment.
4. What is the capacity of the Kimber Ultra CDP II?
The flush fitting officer sized magazine holds 7 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. You can safely carry an eighth round in the chamber for a total capacity of 7+1.
5. Does it come with night sights?
Yes. The Ultra CDP II comes factory equipped with Meprolight three dot tritium night sights, which glow in the dark without needing to be charged by a light source.
6. Can I use standard full size 1911 magazines in this gun?
Yes. You can insert standard 8 round full size 1911 magazines into the Ultra CDP II, but they will protrude significantly from the bottom of the grip frame.
7. Why is my Kimber Ultra CDP II jamming?
Three inch 1911s are highly susceptible to limp wristing. If your grip is not firm enough, the frame moves backward with the slide, robbing the gun of the kinetic energy required to eject the spent casing and feed a new round. Proper lubrication and a firm grip usually solve the issue.
8. What is the Carry Melt treatment?
It is a machining process where Kimber takes the sharp, squared off edges of the slide and frame and rounds them down smoothly. This prevents the gun from cutting into your skin or snagging on your clothing while drawing from concealment.
9. Is this a safe gun to carry loaded?
Yes, provided you understand the 1911 manual of arms. It is designed to be carried in Condition One, meaning a round is in the chamber, the hammer is fully cocked, and the manual thumb safety is engaged.
10. Can I shoot +P ammunition through the Kimber Ultra CDP II?
While the aluminum frame and stainless slide are strong enough to occasionally handle .45 ACP +P ammunition, shooting high volumes of overpressure loads will significantly accelerate wear and tear on the recoil springs and the aluminum frame rails.