'Elite Custom' Kimber Covert II from Elite Shooting Centre

[TheFull9]

TM MEU with HurricanE Kimber Covert II kit by ESC

 

 

Intro

 

To start off, let me highlight the fact that this review is not for a mass produced pistol from TM. Overall, it does cover a 1911, but since this particular weapon is a one-off, this article is more about a combination of the HurricanE kit used in the assembly, the service received from ESC and the quality of workmanship form Mike who runs ESC.

 

The story behind my acquisition of this particular 1911 started about a month ago at my last skirmish. It was a mostly woodland site, but with a fair bit of sand laid down in various bunkers my MEU managed to get pretty gunked up as I was rolling around. After I got back to the barracks that evening, I decided to strip it apart as much as I could with my limited tools and give the thing a really good clean to get all the sand out. Unfortunately, as I was doing this over the sink (like a twunt) and washing away at the parts, one side of the ambi-safety popped out and the teeny-tiny little metal sliver that connects the 2 sides of the safety lever fell down the plug hole, which meant that once the weapons was reassembled the right hand side safety lever was left flapping around quite impotently.

 

Not being entirely happy with this situation (to say the least) I asked around on here and was pointed in the direction of ESC with regards to finding a new connector piece. After e-mailing Mike to enquire as to whether he might have any of these pieces I was very glad to quickly recieve a reply back in the affirmative. Within a day of first contacting him, Mike had put the part I needed in to the post to me, all for the grand sum of £0.00 + zero P&P. Taking in to account that I had literally never had any previous contact or business of any kind with ESC, I was fairly bowled over by this, who actually does stuff like that now-a-days?

 

After this (highly positive) experience I did a bit more reading around about ESC and couldn't find anyone with anything but the highest of praise for the retailer, so I decided to have a browse through the stock. Upon seeing the basic version of the weapon I eventually purchased, I was instantly sold and I decided that I needed one in my life. Is it practical for most of the year skirmishing in England? No it isn't, but I decided that for those few precious weeks when it's actually warm, it'd be worth the price.

 

I originally contacted Mike regarding buying one of these on the Tuesday, discussed which parts I'd like altering from the advertised list, he began work on the Wednesday, completed Thursday and I had the pistol in my hands by Friday; I think you'll all agree, pretty rapid work.

 

Now at first I did ask for the Nineball outer barrel with tread and adapter to be fitted, but sadly, try as he might Mike could not get the gun to function to his satisfaction. He attempted milling and filing out the insides of the slide to make it work, but unfortunately during this process had a bit of a slip and put the tiny nick in to the slide that's visible in the picture at the top. He then e-mailed me to let me know exactly what happened, and offered to either acquire another new slide, or to let me have the slightly damaged one at £80 off the normal price. My initial reaction was going to be "are you freakin crazy mother freaker??", but in the end I decided to go with "why yes, that would most agreeable, thank you kindly good sir". Must've had some good Karma recently or something, as the end price came to £383 delivered with various upgrades, as opposed to the £463 it should've cost.

 

What's in the box?

 

Well first up, the box itself was previously used to house the stock TM MEU, so there were no worries that my delivery would get damaged along the way. Obviously there was the gun and the MEU mag, along with the fake box of .45 FMJ Ball, which in fact of course contains a small packet of BBs, a barrel plug and a tool for the removal of the 1911 barrel bushings. Also there was the standard TM manuals and other literature, the pistol length cleaning rod and the receipt/invoice:

 

 

 

On top of that lot were the instructions provided with the Hurricane kit, an ESC catalogue and a very handy maintenance guide written up by Mike that covers some important basics when it comes to lubrication of GBB pistols and looking after the magazines that go with them:

 

 

 

Stuff that it's made from

 

Let's start with some gratuitous two-tone 1911 pr0n0gr4phy:

 

 

 

More pictures in the 1911 picture thread. Here's the full list of parts that went in to it:

 

• Tokyo Marui M.E.U. Base gun
  
• HurricanE Kimber Covert II Aluminium kit (details of everything included in the kit here)
  
• Guarder Steel outer barrel in black
  
• Nineball Hop-up bucking
  
• PDI Raven 6.01mm Inner barrel
  
• TM Strike Warrior MSH and flared magwell
  
• COLT Rubber grip set
  
• TM Night Warrior Hex head grip screws
  

Now when you consider that the HurricanE kit is going to cost you a couple of tenners over £200 delivered to your door, that the TM MEU will be over £150 and the various upgrades add up to a fair whack more, I can't help but feel pretty happy with the price I ended up paying for this. I can certainly see myself shopping at ESC quite a bit more in future.

 

Holster fitment

 

 

As you can see, the pistol has no trouble at all slotting right in to my Blackhawk SERPA, which means that any other Fobus/Safariland/IMI holsters you may have that already work with your TM 1911 series guns, would also be fine with the HurricanE kit.

 

Trademarks and Iron sights

 

Having compared this pistol against pictures of the RS Covert II, the trades do appear to be 100% present and correct, in terms of both the frame and the slide.

 

 

 

Having progressed from the 1911A1 (awful irons), to the MEU (better but still no dots), to the Night Warrior (excellent sight setup) I am really appreciating the Novak style 3-dot night sights. Very quick and easy to get your sight picture sorted.

 

 

 

I know everyone says this when it comes to reviews, always "first impressions when I picked it up out the box, felt really solid, and with a nice heft to it, not too heavy but definitely not like a toy". But in all honesty, having spent 4-5 years now using the stock plastic TM 1911 series, first time I grabbed this thing up (mag was already in) it really, really did surprise me. Between the aluminium kit, steel outer barrel and various other steel parts it feels so much closer to the RS than anything else I've used/played with in airsoft; and with the absolute beast of a recoil spring in there, racking the slide is just a huge amount of fun.

 

Slide locking lever, Trigger and Magazine catch

 

 

These 3 components are all replaced with upgrades as part of the HurricanE kit, aluminium 'match grade' trigger, steel for the slide lock and the mag catch. Trigger pull is, as with all my stock TM pistols, very light and short. Though this one does feel a tiny bit more 'fudgey', we're getting in to really nit-picky stuff there. It's only noticeable when you attempt to squeeze the trigger part way before actually breaking the shot.

 

The mag catch doesn't snag or require excessive pressure when attempting to release the fitted magazine, presses in smoothly and the mag falls free with equal smoothness from the frame. The design of the slide lock lever in particular is really excellent, the cleanly defined linear edge that protrudes out from it really helps your thumb/finger catch a secure grip when locking or releasing the slide, definite improvement over any of the standard ones I've used before. I'd also say that it's a very good move for this part to be made from steel, with the weight and bulk of the slide and strength of the recoil spring it really does need to be tough.

 

Hammer, Grip safety and Safety catch

 

 

 

Now these 3 are not replaced by the application of the kit, and hence are still the stock TM parts, which is just fine with me. The ring hammer with the serrations on the upper surface looks good and is extremely easy to drop using your thumb, certainly much more ergonomic than the A1 type. Quite honestly after I first picked this up and cocked it, I expected the voice of 50 Cent to come out shouting "*fruitcage*ing BANG! mother *fruitcage*r" instead of the usual sharp click the TMs make when you pull the trigger.

 

Not a whole lot that can be said about the grip safety, sufficed to say it works smoothly, feels comfortable in the hand and of course is shaped to give flawless interaction with the modern style hammer. The actual thumb safety is only half of the stock TM MEU ambi-safety. A small part of the HurricanE kit replaces the right side lever, meaning that you get a single sided lever but in the modern style, as opposed to the old style single side of the A1. My only slight criticism is that it's extremely easy to flick from safe to fire, i.e. doesn't lock very firmly in to position leading to accidentally setting the gun to safe while firing. I've remedied this however by simply changing my grip slightly to use the safety as a thumb rest for my right hand, which actually works very well with this kind of lever, so I'm rather glad for the problem truth be told.

 

MSH and Magwell

 

 

As mentioned this part is the same one TM released with the Strike Warrior, and as always the TM quality does show through. How Mike acquires these I'm not sure as the only similar product I've seen for sale separately is made by TSC, I hope he's not taking them off Strike Warriors, but I'm certainly not going to complain about it either way. The fitment is excellent and the grip texture on the back of the main spring housing is certainly aggressive enough to give you a solid hold on the weapon when firing. The bevels on the magwell itself add a good 16mm or so of width to the opening, as well as another 8mm to the length. When you're trying to reload fast, this is a significant improvement on the very thin port at the base of the standard single stack 1911 frame.

 

The only very minor draw back is that by removing the clearance you'd normally have around the baseplate, you do really need to follow the magazine up with your hand and push it fully home. I wouldn't recommend this for use with the A1 style magazines that don't have the extra bumper as it would be a hindrance more than a help, but when you're reloading at speed with the newer style silver magazines then it's a great part to add on.

 

Grips and Frame texturing

 

 

Going with a set of RS grips seemed the only thing that would really compliment this pistol as I wasn't a fan of the desert marpat style laser grips supplied by HurricanE. I did ask Mike about the range he had in stock, but it was mostly the normal TM stuff so I decided to order the weapon without any. Yet, he still stuck on a set from a TM A1 without the weights in just to hold all the external parts in place, all at no charge to me. I've gone with a set of Colt rubber grip panels, they're light, far less vulnerable to cooling than many other materials and the surface really sticks to your hands or gloves very firmly. The hex-head grip screws I again sourced myself by pinching them from a Night Warrior.

 

The surface on the front of the grip area of the frame is also immaculately formed and plenty aggressive enough to make a positive bond with your hands, without being so rough it's uncomfortable and turns your skin red raw or shreds your gloves.

 

Detractors

 

 

 

As you can see, the paint has already suffered quite a lot on some of the internal areas and points where there's a lot of metal clashing against metal whenever the weapon's fired/cocked. Also I've found that for some entirely inexplicable reason the slide tends to jam part way if you release it with the weapon pointed downwards from the horizontal. This however doesn't actually matter in the slightest seeing as I subscribe to the Magpul school of reloading techniques. Given how well everything else fits together and how often people have major issues with fitment on metal kits for pistols, I'd say that this being the only sticking problem is a testament to both the quality of the HurricanE components and Mike's workmanship.

 

Firing and Performance

 

Let's get realistic here folks, groupings on paper targets are great, they give you lots of in-depth info. But, this platform has been around for bloody ages now, the results that the Nineball hop rubbers and PDI barrels give is well documented, ESC wouldn't recommend them otherwise. Out on the skirmish field, if you're doing the usual thing and running an AEG assault rifle with a GBB pistol on backup, you need your handgun to work reliably and consistently hit a mans' torso at 20-25m.

 

Conveniently, 25m is about the maximum range I'm able to test here, and all I need say is that the above criteria are indeed met with ease using 0.2s, propane and a very quick 'yeah about there oughta do it..' adjustment to the hop unit. I look forward to taking this out on to the field and seeing how far I can get it to reach using 0.25s with some careful adjustment to the hop, after which I shall report back.

 

FPS wise it's kicking out around 300, again I'm going to have to get back later on this one as I'm currently awaiting delivery of a new (much higher quality) chronograph. End of the day it's nice and safe for the close ranges where you're going to be using it, while still managing to send a BB out to a very respectable range. Which is precisely what you want from a secondary.

 

Overall

 

I won't give this thing a score out of 10 or anything like that, I don't think any sort of numeric system of approval/criticism would quite fit to an airsoft weapon of this kind given its' unusual nature. It's not going to work terribly well in the winter, and purely by the nature of the parts used it won't fire off a huge number of shots compared to a stock plastic TM 1911. However, much like my G&P GBB rifles, as a weapon to use when the mercury's higher than usual and you really want to have some fun at a game (or even just garden plinking), you can't beat a pistol like this.

 

Anyone who's spent a fair amount of time on airsoft forums will know that metal kitted TM handguns are not common things. A lot of newer players will look at the £150 tag attached to a plastic TM, compare it to the £100 price tag on a 'full metal' WE/KJW equivalent, and to them the choice seems clear, though of course once you've done some reading around you do realise that you can't judge a book by its' cover. Add another £200 or so on to that £150, as well as the time and skill needed to create an all metal TM handgun, and you can see why most folks would rather buy a G&P AEG M4 (or maybe even 2 G&Gs) for that same amount of money. However, if you're in that position where you've been at this game a few years, got a couple of good, reliable AEGs, a brace of dependable sidearms, a plentiful stock of tac gear and you want something a little bit special, then I'd definitely recommend you drop Mike a line over at ESC and see what he can do for you:

 

Go on, have a look.

 

 

[luvs2shoot]

Excellent write up!

 

I've been wanting a Kimber Project for a while now. but i couldn't settle for the "SWAT" version and they don't make RAPTOR conversion kits for the TM yet.

 

In terms of fitment between the slide and frame and the overall external finish of the HurricanE kit, how do you like it? If possible, could you compare it to the PGC kit? I might seriously consider going the HurricanE route since i'm tired of waiting for PGC to restock their Kimber kits (anything other than Warrior or Swat).

 

-Shin

[TheFull9]

Fitment between the slide and frame is.. well I don't like to use the word perfect since nothing's perfect, but there absolutely no issues with it. The part that sometimes causes the slide to stick a bit part-way is actually the outer barrel, for some reason the slide doesn't like to cycle at all if the main portion of the OB is tightened all the way on to the chamber block, but once it's set in a good place you're sorted. Probably just the price I'm paying for insisting on a different outer barrel, I'd imagine the HurricanE chrome one would've worked flawlessly.

 

Never handled anything PGC though I'm afraid, sorry about that.

[TheFull9]

In action video:

 

 

Skip to 4:48.

 

Performs without fault, great fun to shoot.

[Bladerider]

Nice piece,very well written mate. If you own a high capa ra-tech do a kit with co2 mag, alu slide and a few other bits so you can blast away all year round. They also do a ksc/kwa glock co2 mag and steel slide...emm steel!!

Sounds like you've been infected with the custom pistol bug.

[Dagonet]

Totally missed this write up from July.

 

Very good read through.

 

Mail ordered twice from ESC and made an appointment to vist as well for a Glock.

Mike had a special on Tan G17s (ages ago he dosen't do Glocks now) i ordered and was going to collect, i missed the last one but he converted a Tan G17c over instead (swapped the slides and removed the Cs magwell/thumbrest) so i still got my special price G17

 

Good one stop shop for 1911/2011 fans, quality service, always have a little look now then in case something interesting crops up from his custom specials.

[icolater]

Great Kit, easy to install and great value for the quality, dont get elite shooting centre to build

for you, you will probable do a better job your self.

[TheFull9]

Can't say I've ever tried to do a build myself so I can't compare admittedly, but ESC did an excellent job with my pistol. It functions absolutely flawlessy and has proven itself as a quality skirmishing tool many times now.

[hwagan]

Great Kit, easy to install and great value for the quality, dont get elite shooting centre to build

for you, you will probable do a better job your self.

 

Your advice is bad and people should not listen to it. Well, the second part is anyway.

 

Can't say I've ever tried to do a build myself so I can't compare admittedly, but ESC did an excellent job with my pistol. It functions absolutely flawlessy and has proven itself as a quality skirmishing tool many times now.

 

Whilst Mike is probably the best person to build a 1911, I do feel I should say he's not totally perfect. My Tactical Entry II came with the predictable, bog standard TM double-triggering issue out of the box, after paying the guy £458, and with a 15 day build time. I had to fine-tune the leaf spring myself, as well as tighten up the rear sight. Lastly, a friend of mine purchased a similar custom Kimber 1911 a week before; All stock parts were included in the package without being asked for or any additional postage charged for the extra weight, so I didn't feel the need to ask for them and assumed they'd be included - My spare parts, on the other hand, Mike didn't include and sells on his website. Whilst the kit itself was perfectly fitted and the action completely smooth, I feel I should point out that as great as he is, he's not *quite* the mythical being his reputation has made him out to be. Not far from it, just not quite there

Edited April 17, 2012 by hwagan

[TheFull9]

I'd certainly never claim that anybody is absolutely perfect, and I would hope my comments are not being taken as such.

 

All I've said (and am continuing to say) is that I personally have found the standard of workmanship to be extremely high, again, not 100% perfect, but certainly not far off. A point of view which I'm sure is shared by quite a few other people out there.

[PureSilver]

Gonna give ESC a buzz tomorrow regarding some non-1911 parts (gasp), nice to see that he's doing good work. Love the pistol, but I really don't like that magwell bumper. Is it really that hard to get mags in the first time?

[TheFull9]

Compared to (for example) my P226 which has a very wide mag housing and magazines which taper significnalty at the top, then the 1911 design is trickier, particularly at the kind of speeds I try to reload. The mag housing is narrow and the tops of the mags prohibit any sort of inward tapering that would assist in the insertion, so for the sake of about 10 grams I find it worthwhile, plus I like the aesthetics myself, which is all that matters end of the day because it's my weapon; nobody else has to use it.

Edited April 23, 2012 by CKinnerley

[Wingman]

Being a old IPSC and Combat Pistol shooter or realsteel 1911's, I can verify for a fact that magwells on 1911 style pistols save a major amount of time when reloading in a stress situation. The only reason why high capacity pistols can get away without it, is because their magazines are already tapered and are smaller at the top. The 1911 doesnt have that feature.

[Libris]

I've bought quite a lot from Mike at ESC and have to say the service has been excellent. I haven't gone down the route of buying a custom gun preferring instead to build my own but that Kimber is niiiice...

Despite being pretty competent with AEGs I can't really say I've had great success with pistols . My Zeke kit Desert Eagle is okay but I've decided that metal slides and barrels are out - far to much hassle with fit, barrel scratching and steel barrels beating lumps out of alloy slides. I'm sure Mike has much more experience than me and despite his skill I still see the scratches on the barrels and chamber. So, I now do the standard gun, possibly with some gucci (or modded) bits - like the cut down MEU double safety on my Detonics, generally a PDI barrel and Nine Ball hop valve routers if they're compatible.

Still, hasn't stopped me looking at the custom stuff. Then I come to my senses - well, as much as that's possible. I need (yes, need) to buy a 1911 but I figure for the price of a custom gun I could get a TM family - M1911A1, Colt Government and the MEU. Of course, I'd have to add PDI barrels and Nine Ball Hop Rubber.

 

Blatant plug. Check out my latest blog on some Hi-Capas

Edited April 24, 2012 by Libris

[Wingman]

I'd like to see some pictures of that Detonics

[Libris]

I'd like to see some pictures of that Detonics

 

To be fair, it looks like a standard black Detonics but with a duplicate right safety so us lefties can work the little b*gger. It does have a PDI 6.01 stainless inner barrel with hammer, trigger, recoil rod and recoil bushing by PDI as well. I've been looking at fitting the M1911A1 main spring housing with a lanyard loop...

[icolater]

Sorry "MANBEARPIG"but my advice is good, the hurrican kits are easy to install (if your not an stup) and why pay someone to put together a gun for you when Its half the fun (and price) to do it your self. I would only get Mike(a great guy) to build me a gun If the parts were expensive like Nova and I had no experence building 1911,s myself. Hurrican Kits are budget kits that you learn how to build with and are EASY to install, simple as. They are not as easy to install as Nova kits but for the price they are great quality, miles better then the likes of guarder. So people dont be a *beep* like MAN BEAR PIG(cool name...... not) do it your self.

[Im going space]

Sorry "MANBEARPIG"but my advice is good, the hurrican kits are easy to install (if your not an stup) and why pay someone to put together a gun for you when Its half the fun (and price) to do it your self. I would only get Mike(a great guy) to build me a gun If the parts were expensive like Nova and I had no experence building 1911,s myself. Hurrican Kits are budget kits that you learn how to build with and are EASY to install, simple as. They are not as easy to install as Nova kits but for the price they are great quality, miles better then the likes of guarder. So people dont be a *beep* like MAN BEAR PIG(cool name...... not) do it your self.

I think what he was getting at was that you said CKinnerly could build a better pistol than mike. Whilst entirely possible, i doubt it (sorry CK).

Mike has made some of the best customs ive ever seen and used (a few )

[TheFull9]

No offence taken at all. I can barely bend a leaf spring in a 1911 to get the thing working reliably and all my pistols are essentially in stock condition. Mike at ESC has built hundreds and hundreds of custom guns, his craftsmanship in that department is clearly going to be whole levels above my own.

[TheFull9]

Thought I'd update this thread seeing as I've picked up two more 1911s from ESC since posting it.  Service was just as good on both occasions as with the first purchase and both sidearms are put together to an extremely high standard.

 

TM-Parts Skirmishing Build

 

 

 

HurricanE Kimber Desert Warrior