First Look: Kimber Camp Guard 10mm

by
posted on May 24, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
camp_guard_better_f.jpg

Being in the backcountry can be unpredictable. When scouting, setting up camp, carrying water from a creek or butchering an animal, it’s not always easy to have your rifle within reach. The threats posed by bears, mountain lions, wolves and even ill-intentioned humans, though remote, are serious business when you’re on the wrong side of the probability curve. The ability to have a powerful firearm within reach at all times can be crucial, and is just the niche that the Kimber Camp Guard was designed to fill. Here are five things you need to know.

It's the 10mm Auto cartridge on the 1911 platform.
Though the Camp Guard is built on the familiar 1911 design, it is chambered in the powerful 10mm Auto cartridge. The 10mm Auto offers superior penetration over the .45 ACP and has been used successfully on some of the largest and toughest game on the planet. Heavy loads from companies such as DoubleTap Ammo push 180-grain bullets at nearly 1300 feet per second. 9 rounds (8+1) of 10mm is serious business when things go bad.

It sports RMEF rosewood grips.
The Camp Guard is a collaboration between Kimber and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a fact that is celebrated by the handgun’s rosewood grips that are engraved with RMEF’s logo. Besides looking good, these grips provide a firm purchase.

It features stainless steel construction with two-tone finish.
The slide, frame, barrel and other assorted parts used on the Camp Guard are built from stainless steel to keep corrosion at bay in nasty weather. The slide and barrel bushing are finished with a black KimPro II finish which provides an additional layer of protection and adds to the overall good looks of the handgun.

It has a round heel frame for compact carry.
Compact guns can be hard to shoot under duress, but a full-size handgun can get in the way when you’re working hard. Kimber went for a best-of-both-worlds feel by bobbing the frame on the Camp Guard to a give it a round heel. Not only does this make the pistol easier to carry and to conceal, it eliminates some sharp edges that can catch on clothing and gear.

Custom features come standard.
The Carry Guard comes with a bunch of slick features. The grip frame’s frontstrap is checkered at a fine 30 LPI and the mainspring housing is serrated, both offering a firm grip during recoil. This handguard also uses a ramped barrel, a beavertail grip safety, a skeletonized hammer and trigger, an extended thumb safety, full-length guide rod, snag-free sights and front cocking serrations. The top of the slide is milled flat between the sights, which is a very nice touch.

Latest

W H2026 03 Elkdraw RE345 Elk Copyright Mark Kayser
W H2026 03 Elkdraw RE345 Elk Copyright Mark Kayser

5 Steps to Win Your Next Elk Draw

Want to find success in your next elk lottery? Get some tips from Mark Kayser on how to beat the point creep, find less-applied for honey holes, and more.

Savage Arms Expands Model 110 Line

Savage Arms has added three new rifles to its Model 110 lineup: the 110 Core Predator, 110 Core Tactical and 110 Ultralite Predator. In addition to the all-new AccuFit V2, these rifles feature a beavertail fore-end that incorporates an ARCA rail with M-Lok slots. The Predator and Tactical rifles also have higher capacity magazines, holding up to ten rounds.

Zander's Exclusive TriStar Setter LT

Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, has announced the release of an exclusive new shotgun offering in partnership with TriStar Arms: the TriStar Setter LT, featuring a custom black engraved receiver designed specifically for Zanders dealers and customers.

Behind the Bullet: .450/400 3” Nitro Express

Among the lot of Nitro Express cartridges—a term coined by James Purdey to compare the power of these cartridges to a locomotive and newly loaded with smokeless powder—the .450/400 3” N.E. represents one the best blends of hunting power and ease of shooting. Curious? Read on, as Phil Massaro goes in-depth on this classic, though esoteric, favorite.

TriStar Arms to Exhibit at 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

TriStar Arms will exhibit at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, taking place April 17–19, 2026, in Houston, TX. Attendees are invited to visit TriStar Arms at Booth #3103 to explore the newest firearm offerings and learn more about the brand's continued commitment to the shooting sports community.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.