Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super – Superb Stainless Commander 1911

Description

The Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super is a Commander length 1911 with a stainless steel frame rather than aluminum, which is what the HD in the name refers to. That choice takes the pistol to thirty five ounces and changes how it shoots. Chambered in 38 Super with a nine round magazine and finished in satin silver throughout, this California configured Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super is stocked at MAG5 Firearms for shooters who want steel under a four inch slide.

Heavy Duty Means A Steel Frame

Most Commander length 1911s use an aluminum frame, but the Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super does not to save weight for carry. A stainless steel frame adds roughly seven ounces over the aluminum version, and every one of those ounces goes into absorbing recoil rather than transmitting it to the hand.

Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super mass matters more here than it would with 45 ACP. The cartridge runs at high pressure and produces a sharp, fast impulse rather than a slow push, and a heavier frame turns that snap into something a shooter can drive through a long string without losing the front sight.

Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super stainless construction also resists corrosion without depending on a coating. A scratch through a finished aluminum frame exposes bare metal underneath; a scratch on stainless is still stainless. On a pistol that will be carried against a body, that difference shows up over years rather than months.

The 38 Super Cartridge And The Trigger

The Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super fires one of the more interesting cartridges still in production. It launches a 9mm diameter bullet at meaningfully higher velocity than standard 9mm Luger, which gives a flatter trajectory and more energy, and it feeds from a single stack 1911 magazine at nine rounds rather than seven. Competitors in some divisions have used it for decades for exactly those reasons.

The trade is availability. Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super ammunition is not stocked as deeply as 9mm or 45 ACP and costs more per round, so anyone buying a 38 Super pistol should confirm a supply of the load they intend to use before committing to it as a regular shooter rather than a curiosity.

The Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super trigger is an aluminum match grade unit set between four and five pounds. A 1911 trigger travels straight back rather than pivoting through an arc, and the aluminum shoe keeps moving mass low so the press stays short and predictable.

Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super Specifications

• Caliber: 38 Super
• Barrel Length: 4 inches, carbon steel
• Capacity: 9 plus 1 rounds
• Action: Single action, hammer fired, 1911 pattern
• Frame: Stainless steel with satin silver finish
• Slide: Stainless steel with satin silver finish
• Sights: Fixed low profile, 5.7 inch sight radius
• Trigger: Aluminum match grade, approximately 4 to 5 pounds
• Grips: Black synthetic double diamond
• Recoil Spring: 18 pounds with full length guide rod
• Height: 5.25 inches, Length: 7.7 inches, Width: 1.28 inches
• Weight: Approximately 35 ounces with empty magazine

Choosing between this and the aluminum framed Pro Carry comes down to how the pistol will be used. A stainless Commander 1911 is heavier on a belt and noticeably softer to shoot, so it favors range work, competition and home defense over all day concealment. A 38 Super pistol adds two rounds over a 45 and a flatter trajectory, at the cost of ammunition availability. Anyone weighing a stainless Commander 1911 against a lightweight version should be honest about how many hours it will actually be worn.

Why Buyers Choose The Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super

This configuration is built to meet California requirements. Buyers outside California should note that the standard Pro Carry HD II is offered separately and may differ in specific features, so confirm which version suits your jurisdiction before ordering.

Black synthetic double diamond grips are the traditional 1911 pattern. They hold securely without the abrasiveness of aggressive G10, which matters if the pistol is carried inside the waistband, and they are inexpensive to replace if a buyer wants wood or G10 later.

An honest caveat that applies to every 1911: the platform is magazine sensitive, and 38 Super more so than 45 ACP because the cartridge headspaces differently and the magazines are less common. Buy two or three quality spares and test your chosen load through all of them.

Who Should Buy The Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super

This pistol suits shooters drawn to 38 Super for its velocity and capacity, competitors in divisions where the cartridge is popular, home defense buyers who want a steel framed Commander, and anyone who prefers stainless over a coated aluminum frame. It is heavier than a carry optimized 1911 and it feeds a specialty cartridge, but for a shooter who wants both the Kimber Pro Carry HD II 38 Super is a well made answer.

Learn more about this pistol from the manufacturer, or see more firearms available at MAG5 Firearms.