Kimber 2K11 in .45 ACP: Full Review

Though Kimber started building rifles in Clackamas, Oregon in the 1970s the brand is best known today as a leader in the highly competitive 1911 market. Though the pistol design itself is over a century old trends have altered the 1911, and today’s pistols look very different than the original John Browning design.

One noteworthy feature common to many of today’s hottest 1911s is a double-stack magazine. The primary complaint levied against the 1911 in .45 been that its single-stack seven-round magazine couldn’t match the capacity of 9mm double-stack pistols. Lower capacity is one of the primary factors that led to the Beretta M9 replacing the 1911 as the U.S. military sidearm in the 1980s. As the best-selling 1911 manufacturer it’s no surprise that Kimber launched their own double-stack 1911 pistol in 2023, the KDS9c. Now Kimber is offering up yet another DS 1911 pistol, the 2K11.

Though the KDS9c and 2K11 pistols are double-stack 1911s, you won’t confuse one for the other. The KDS9c is a double-stack 9mm, the perfect high-capacity carry 1911. The new 2K11 is far racier, with a five-inch barrel and striking color scheme that was meant to be shown off at the range and not tucked away under a cover garment. The 2K11 is a race gun, and it’s perfectly designed for that task.

2K11 pistols are chambered in .45 ACP and 9mm. The .45s hold 13 rounds in the magazine while the 9mm 2K11 holds either 17 or 20 rounds depending on the magazine, and all 2K11 pistols come with three magazines (three 13-round magazines for the .45, one 17 and two 20-rounders for the 9mm). The Staccato-style magazines are made from metal, and they are very high quality.

Though this is a 1911 pistol it seems that every feature on the 2K11 has been thoroughly revised and upgraded. The slide features bold geometric serrations and cuts that not only look good but function well when you need to run your 1911 hard. The frame is made from DLC-coated stainless steel, and an aluminum grip module accommodates those extra-wide double-stack magazines, replacing the traditional 1911-style grip. The module features wraparound texturing that offers full control of the pistol under recoil and comes with a matte black Type III hard coat anodized finish. One feature found on 1911s since their inception is the grip safety, but the 2K11 grip safety features a large memory bump and extended beaver tail. The extended 1911-style safety is ambidextrous, and the skeletonized hammer features a flat, serrated top surface that makes it easier to manage than the traditional rounded hammer spur.

The aluminum flat-face GT trigger is skeletonized as well and offers one of the lightest, crispest breaks available in a factory 1911. The test pistol’s trigger broke at under four pounds and felt as though it had been tuned. It’s not hard to make a race gun run quickly, but speed and accuracy are only possible with a very good trigger. It’s why so many competition shooters are so particular about the trigger design, feel, and break weight, but the Kimber’s trigger will appease even the most demanding shooters.

There are two different versions of 2K11 available. The standard OR (optics ready) model comes with a black DLC coating on the stainless steel slide, contrasting Coyote PVD finish on the five-inch bushingless barrel, and a TAG FiberLok 2 green front sight. The rear sight is built into the cover plate, and C&H optic plate adapters are available for a variety of popular red dot optic footprints through Kimber. In addition, there’s a Target OR model with the reverse color scheme (Coyote PVD finish on the stainless steel slide, DLC black on the bushingless barrel) and it comes with an adjustable Bomar style rear sight built into the removable cover plate and a TAG FiberLok red front sight. Like the standard model, the Target version accepts C&H optic plates. The third 2K11 offering is an OI (optic installed) version of the 2K11 target which comes with a Trijicon SRO optic installed. Both target models (OI and OR) come equipped with custom Stan Chen magwells.

2K11 bushingless barrels are fluted and ramped and feature a target crown. Bushingless barrels do reduce the number of parts, but most bushingless barrels require a special tool or paperclip to disassemble. Kimber’s 2K11 pistols, however, come with a tool-less guide rod that makes disassembly simpler. By eliminating one less part and the need for one more tool Kimber simplifies the shooter’s life.

An external extractor and accessory rail also come standard on all 2K11 pistols. These double-stack 1911s weigh around 40 ounces and carry an MSRP between $2,025 and $3,095 which makes them very competitive in the premium DS 1911 market. In fact, when you consider the build quality and lost list of standard accessories the 2K11 pistols are actually a great value considering the level of performance and quality components these guns offer.

At the Range

I tested the 2K11 standard OR, but even though it’s the “entry” level 2K11 this gun feels extraordinarily buttoned-up. The slide-to-frame fit is excellent, and Kimber has not overlooked minor details like the cover plate/slide fit and the overall finish of the gun. As I said, it’s not a pistol that most buyers will consider carrying concealed, but it’s one you’ll want to show off to your friends.

The 2K11 is anything but a safe queen, though. This gun was built to be battered while wending lots and lots of rounds downrange. Reliability is extremely important on a race gun (No one has the time or inclination to clear jams on a $2K gun when you’re trying to win a match where thousands of a second per split might matter), and the Kimber has no issues throughout testing. That beefy external competition-grade extractor certainly helps ensure reliable performance, and the internals of the pistols are all designed for problem-free cycling.

The 2K11 was accurate enough for serious competition. At 25 yards I could punch 1.5-inch groups with .45 ammunition, and that was using iron sights. Speaking of irons, the blacked-out rear notch/fiber optic front sight layout is superb. It drives focus to the forward sight. However, if you want to mate a red dot to your Kimber 2K11 that’s no hassle, and the C&H plates guarantee a proper fit and secure platform for the optic.

If fast and accurate is what you’re after (and if you’re shopping race guns I’ll bet I’ve pegged you) you’ll fall in love with the 2K11. Kimber understood the mission behind the design of this gun, and they reached their goal. The grip is comfortable in the hand even after long shooting sessions and the grip design offers excellent control over the muzzle when shooting fast. The trigger is, as stated, exceptional and the smooth-operating slide cycled as if it were on bearings. When you pick this gun up in the store you’ll like it, but you can’t truly appreciate it until you’ve burned through a few mags.

For years, Kimber fans have been begging for a double-stack 1911 race pistol, but we couldn’t be certain the company was listening until the release of the 2K11. With this gun it’s clear that Kimber listens to their customers but that they also plan to remain atop the list of 1911 manufacturers for the foreseeable future.

Kimber 2K11 OR

• Action: Single-action semiauto
• Chambering: .45 ACP (tested). 9mm
• Barrel Length: 5-inches
• Overall Length: 8.56-inches
• Weight: 40.1 ounces
• Height: 5.74-inches
• Finish: Coyote PVD/DLC
• Capacity: 13+1 (.45 ACP ver.)
• Grip: Aluminum Grip Module
• Sights: Cover plate with integral notch sight, TAG FiberLok 2 Green Front, Optics Compatible
• MSRP: $2,125
• Manufacturer: Kimber, Kimberamerica.com