Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP – Superb Night Sight 1911

Description

The Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP takes the scale pattern Raptor treatment and applies it to an all stainless gun instead of a black one. Frame and slide are satin silver stainless with brush polished flats, the grips are zebrawood cut in the scale pattern, and the sights are Tactical Wedge tritium three dot night sights. Underneath the styling it is a standard five inch full size 1911 with a match grade barrel and an aluminum match trigger.

Stainless Versus The Black Raptor

The mechanical package is shared with the black Raptor, so the real decision is finish and durability. Stainless steel resists corrosion at the material level rather than relying on a coating, and that makes the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP the better pick for humid climates, coastal air or anyone whose hands sweat through a finish quickly. A scratch on stainless is still stainless underneath.

Visually the satin silver with brush polished flats gives the scale pattern more definition than a matte black finish does. Light catches the polished flats and the raised scales differently, so the texture reads clearly across the front strap, the mainspring housing and the slide top. The zebrawood grips provide the warm contrast that keeps the gun from looking clinical.

The tradeoff is concealment and glare. Stainless catches light, which is fine on a range gun and less ideal if you want a pistol that disappears. Under a shirt it makes no difference, but in bright sun the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP is a more visible gun than a matte black one, and that is worth knowing before you decide.

Barrel, Night Sights And Trigger

The barrel on the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP is stainless steel and match grade, running the full five inches with a full length guide rod. In 45 ACP that gives the cartridge every bit of velocity it was designed to produce and it puts the weight forward where it helps settle the muzzle between shots. At thirty eight ounces empty this is a heavy handgun, and that mass is the reason 45 ACP feels like a shove rather than a slap.

Tactical Wedge tritium three dot night sights sit on a 6.8 inch radius. The wedge profile is designed to catch on a belt or a hard edge for one handed manipulation, which is a genuine advantage if you ever have to run the slide with an injured hand. The tritium means the sights work in the dark, and that is where a defensive pistol most often gets used.

The trigger is an aluminum match grade unit set at four to five pounds. An ambidextrous thumb safety comes standard, which matters more to left handed shooters than most catalogs admit. Combined with the grip safety, the manual of arms on the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP takes practice for anyone coming from a striker fired pistol.

Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP Specifications

• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inches, stainless match grade
• Overall Length: 8.7 inches
• Height: 5.25 inches
• Width: 1.28 inches
• Weight: 38 ounces with empty magazine
• Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
• Frame: Stainless steel, satin silver with brush polished flats
• Slide: Stainless steel, satin silver with brush polished flats
• Grips: Zebrawood with scale pattern and Kimber logo
• Sights: Tactical Wedge three dot tritium night sights
• Sight Radius: 6.8 inches
• Trigger: Aluminum match grade, 4.0 to 5.0 pounds
• Recoil Spring: 16 pounds with full length guide rod
• Safety: Ambidextrous thumb safety plus grip safety
• UPC: 669278921815

One eight round magazine ships with the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP. Factory magazines are worth buying in quantity for this platform, because worn springs and bargain magazines cause the overwhelming majority of feeding problems in any 1911.

Why Buyers Choose The Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP

Buyers choose the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP because it arrives finished. Match grade barrel, match bushing, tuned aluminum trigger and tritium night sights are all installed at the factory. Buying those four upgrades separately and paying a gunsmith to fit them would cost close to what a plain 1911 does on its own, so the value case here is straightforward.

The scale pattern is the other draw. It is functional texture, not decoration. The pattern runs across the front strap, the mainspring housing, the slide top and the grips, giving consistent purchase without the sandpaper feel that aggressive checkering produces. Long range sessions with the Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP stay comfortable on bare hands.

The fair warnings are weight and capacity. Thirty eight ounces and eight rounds is a real step back from a polymer pistol that weighs half as much and holds twice the ammunition. The weight is precisely what makes the gun pleasant to shoot, but a buyer looking for a light everyday carry pistol should understand that tradeoff up front.

Who Should Buy The Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP

The Kimber Stainless Raptor II 45 ACP is a strong choice for the shooter who already knows the 1911 platform and wants one built for hard use in a wet or salty environment. It fits range work, single stack competition, home defense and belt carry for anyone willing to run a proper gun belt and a quality holster. Collectors appreciate the zebrawood and brush polished flats. New shooters can learn on it, but the thumb safety and grip safety mean the manual of arms takes deliberate practice before it becomes automatic.

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