Seems like new .45 ACP 1911 semiautomatic pistols just keep coming. Sometimes it's hard to believe that so many companies can offer so many versions of this classic pistol and sell enough of them to make a go of it. I guess it's a testament to just how great the old Browning design is. It's dependable, rugged, and can be extremely accurate.

The Ultra Raptor II's three-inch match-grade stainless-steel bull barrel is fitted directly to slides; there is no barrel bushing.

One of the newest versions is the Kimber (Dept. ST, One Lawton St., Yonkers, NY 10705; 800-880-2418; www.kimberamerica.com) Ultra Raptor II. After spending several days carrying and shooting this little beast, I can tell you that it is one reliable and accurate pistol.

This pistol obviously is not intended for bullseye matches, but my review sample is one of the most accurate short-barreled .45s I have fired. I'll get to the accuracy results of my thorough shootout with it in a moment, but first I want to tell you about some of the unique and not so unique features of the Ultra Raptor II.

Features
The Ultra Raptor II, like all Kimber 1911s, is a recoil-operated autoloader. It is a Kimber Series II pistol, which means that it utilizes Kimber's Series II firing pin safety. In operation, this system is engaged when the grip safety is depressed. That action raises an internal push rod that pushes the firing pin block up and allows the firing pin to move forward when the trigger is squeezed. Kimber's Series II firing pin safety is not operated by the trigger, as many other manufacturers' 1911 firing pin blocks are, so it does not affect trigger pull.

SPECS Kimber Ultra Raptor II .45 ACP Semiautomatic Pistol
Manufacturer:	Kimber
Model:	Ultra Raptor II
Operation:	Recoil-operated single-action autoloader
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Barrel Length:	3.0 inches
Overall Length:	6.8 inches
Weight, empty	25 ounces
Safety:	Manual thumb safety, grip safety, passive firing pin block
Sights:
Stocks:	Zebra Wood
Magazine Capacity:	7 rounds
Finish:	Matte blue with lizard scale serrations on slide, frame, and grips
Price:	$1100

The Ultra Raptor II comes with a three-inch ramped match-grade stainless-steel bull barrel that is fitted directly to the slide. It does not use a barrel bushing. The mainspring housing is the flat style. The beavertail grip safety is bumped and grooved, and the thumb safety is ambidextrous. The trigger is blackened aluminum.

The slide is steel and the frame is alloy, and the little Ultra Raptor II weighs in at 25 ounces (unloaded). Sights are green three-dot fixed dovetailed Meprolight night sights. Magazine capacity is seven rounds.

The Ultra Raptor II does not utilize Kimber's external extractor, which many of the company's newest models have. (The full-size five-inch-barreled Raptor and the four-inch-barreled Pro Raptor do feature the external extractor, which provides both tactile and visual indication of a loaded chamber.)

A Kimber spokesman told me the reason for going with the internal extractor on this version is that the Ultra Raptor II does have a loaded chamber indicator. Kimber calls it a Loaded Chamber Indicator Port, and it is a small opening on the top of the barrel hood. When a round is in the chamber, the rim of the case can be seen through the port.

Fit & Finish
The Raptor's defining characteristics are what Kimber refers to as the "lizard scale" checkering on the frontstrap and the rear of the slide, the "feathered" checkering of the zebra wood grip panels, and the "large scales" on the top of the slide. A description of these unique styling features does not do them justice, so take a good look at the photos. To me, they are definitely good looking. The checkering pattern on the frontstrap provides a sure grip without cutting into the fingers the way some of the sharper checkering patterns do.

When I conducted the usual 1911 fit drill (pushing down on the rear of the barrel and trying to wiggle the slide from side to side), I found that everything was very tight. The slide-to-frame fit allowed for just the slightest wiggle, and the barrel hardly moved at all.

Shooting Performance
To put the Ultra Raptor II to a sweeping shooting review, I rounded up 15 factory loads from Black Hills, Federal, Hornady, Magtech, Remington, Speer, and Winchester. Bullet weights varied from 165 to 230 grains (you can find all the load details in the accompanying chart).

Shooting Marlin's .17M2 Model 717M2
Factory Load	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	Standard Deviation (fps)	Extreme Spread (fps)	15-foot Accuracy (inches)
Federal 165-gr. Hydra-Shok	990	21	53	1.48
Magtech first Defense 165-gr. SCHP+P	968	36	75	1.35
Federal 185-gr. FMJ-SWC Match	702	22	51	1.22
Hornady 185-gr. HP XTP	805	11	25	1.12
Magtech 185-gr. JHP +P	1010	25	68	1.30
Speer 185-gr. Gold Dot	924	14	40	1.60
Winchester 185-gr. Silvertip	860	15	47	1.13
Black Hills 200-gr. SWC Match	770	26	45	1.25
Hornady 200-gr. Lead SWC	775	9	22	1.17
Federal 230-gr. Hydra-Shok	765	18	47	1.46
Hornady 230-gr. FMJ/FP	760	10	21	1.30
Magtech Cleanrange 230-gr. FEB	753	23	65	1.10
Magtech Guardian Gold 230-gr. JHP	886	14	32	0.97
Remington 230-gr. Golden Saber	770	17	44	1.20
Winchester 230-gr. SXT	800	20	50	1.48
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of hour five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest at 15 feet. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured 15 feet from the gun's muzzle.

I determined to fire the pistol at a self-defense shooting distance of 15 feet. After all, I reasoned, this pistol is designed for legal concealed carry and personal protection, so its accuracy at our standard review distance of 25 yards is not really practical.

As regards its self-defense applications, I was curious about three factors. Would the pistol function with a wide variety of ammunition? How accurately could I shoot the pistol at defensive distances? What would the felt recoil be like in such a short-barreled, relatively lightweight .45 ACP?