In answer to the "why" inquiries,
I am having a FTF issue every once in awhile with JHPs. The nose of the bullet stops midway up the barrel feed ramp. When it happens I can barely tap the back of the slide and the round will then easily finish going into battery. I plan to do 2 things:
(1) polish the ramp lightly to hopefully smooth it up somewhat; and
(2) install a set of Wolff springs that are 3 lbs heavier than stock.
The Wolff springs are an attempt to give the slide a little more push to the JHPs on their ride up the ramp. So I have to disassemble the unit to install the different springs.
Thus, using an alternate guide rod or another new one from Kimber does not fix the situation I am trying to address.
Advice noted. If this does not work I'll try the PowRBall. However since I already have been given 200 rounds of Gold Dot as a gift, and prefer a weapon that is reliable as possible no matter the ammo, I hope this works. Plus, I don't use ammo for carry unless I test it in my firearm for many rounds... and that looks to be a pretty expensive exercise with PowRBall.
I'm going to the range next weekend, and see what happens.
Yeah I keep reading how many rounds are needed to break one in, which is sort of frustrating to learn after paying the amount of money that one of these things cost.... IMO a $1,200+ pistol should not need another brand's magazine, a third brand's springs, and another $500 in ammo costs before it can be trustworthy. The feed ramp on the barrel of my $300 LCP came from the factory smoother than this one.
I am attempting to save a couple hundred dollars of additional ammo breaking it in. I've got about 250~300 rounds through it so far.