The top group (Hornady's 200-grain XTP) measured 1.13 inches and the bottom (Federal’s 230-grain Hydra-Shok) 1.24 inches--he excellent accuracy you expect from Kimber.

As you can see in the accompanying table, accuracy was quite impressive with both sighting systems. Two loads averaged under two inches for six five-shot groups, and even the worst load averaged under three inches--pretty darn good for a production pistol of any type or price at 25 yards.

With the accuracy work out of the way, I went back to the seven-yard line for a bit of speed work. I started out with double taps to get a feel for the gun, then progressed to failure-to-stop drills. That exercise gobbled up 150 rounds of ammunition, but I still had 200 rounds left, so I loaded up all my magazines and proceeded to empty them as fast as I could find the sights. Through it all, the pistol performed without a hiccup.

I can't say I was surprised by my test results. As with most of the Kimber pistols I've shot over the last decade, the Crimson Carry was accurate and reliable. What did surprise me a bit, however, was how controllable it was considering that it lacks checkering and weighs almost a half-pound less than a steel-framed 1911.

Accuracy Results: Custom Crimson Carry II
Load	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	Avg. Group (in.)
Black Hills JHP	185	915	2.69
Cor Bon Match	230	828	2.13
Federal Hydra-Shok	230	816	1.98
American Eagle FMJ	230	831	2.85
Hornady	200	897	1.64
Winchester USA JHP	230	864	2.77
Notes:Accuracy is average of six five-shot groups fired at 25 yards from a sandbag rest. Velocity is the average of 20 rounds measured 10 feet from the muzzle on a Shooting Chrony.

I am so used to checkering on my 1911s that I feared the gun would slide around in my hand a whole lot more in the extreme Texas heat. It did slip a bit, but not until I was well into an extended firing string. In the real world, few shooters would ever notice the lack of checkering.

The controllability of the alloy-framed pistol was also a nice surprise. As I said earlier, the lightweight frame is the bee's knees for everyday carry, although lightweight guns are known for having a bit more recoil. But because that five-inch slide hangs out there a bit, I didn't notice an appreciable increase in muzzle rise.

Your mileage may vary, but a slightly slower shot-to-shot recovery time is, in my opinion, outweighed by the nearly half-pound weight savings the alloy frame offers.

After looking back at my notes and targets and taking one last, hard look at the gun that sits on my desk as I write this, I couldn't find a thing not to like about the Crimson Carry II. Though I'd like to see front-strap checkering and night sights just in case, the price would have to go up. And that would negate one of this gun's biggest assets: its suggested retail of $1,046, Crimson Trace laser grips and all.

Its high quality, low price and impressive standard features combine to make the new Kimber one of the most noteworthy 1911 introductions I've seen in a long time.