Kimber builds the Custom II Next Gen as a full-size steel 1911 in 9mm, 8.7 inches long with a 5-inch match-grade barrel and a weight of 38 ounces. The two-tone finish keeps the traditional look while the slide is cut for a red dot. Trigger work comes from Kimber's GT Trigger and a sloped disconnector ramp, extraction from an external extractor. Controls are what 1911 shooters expect: a grip safety and an ambidextrous thumb safety, single action only. Two stainless magazines give 9+1.

This is a range and competition pistol for Connecticut shooters who already hold their handgun credential, and at nine rounds the factory magazines sit inside the capacity figure quoted above. Once the dealer has the DESPP authorization number in hand there is no further waiting period, so the time between order and first range session is set by the background check, not a calendar. Keep the three-handguns-in-30-days limit in mind if this is one of several purchases.

Key features

• Full-size 1911, 5-inch match-grade barrel, 9mm
• Optics-ready slide, two-tone finish
• Single action, 38 ounces, 8.7 inches overall
• Ambidextrous thumb safety and grip safety
• Two stainless 9-round magazines included

Delivery is to the Connecticut FFL dealer you pick when ordering; you collect the pistol there after the state authorization comes through.