A surprised new owner of a Kimber Micro-9.

[ApacheCoTodd]

Several thumbs-up to this little beast.

Shot it today and it was all-joy.

None of the different rounds would cause a stumble.

Accuracy was well beyond expectations.

Recoil is barely worth talking about. I've shot much worse *Makarovs* and a couple worse .380s as well.

Operation is wonderfully thought out. NOTE ON THE HALF-COCK WITH SAFETY IN SAFE POSITION REMOVED.

And the safety.... The single most deliberate and secure I've ever used in a 1911-like pistol.

Slide release on a loaded magazine convinced me to leave the stones in the tool chest.

The recoil, one handed delivers a decided rise and left cant but the return to target is swift and the light weight keeps the overtravel on return to target to nothing.

Two handed it is very easy to keep well on target.

Not really loud for the shooter but when I stepped back behind a pal to watch things - holy cow!

All things considered... I may yet buy another one as I've seen my wife eye-balling this since it came home.

Maybe one of the very much prettier ones for her for Christmas or her birthday.

I guess that our much loved Sig 230SL is approaching a decidedly fall-back position. I won't get rid of it but carrying has been rendered moot in the average scenario.



Todd.

 

[CDW4ME]

That is like a 9mm Colt Mustang.

 

[JDeere]

Yep got one for the wife awhile back with the ct grips and she is a fan. It's her edc and it will eat anything she feeds it. I'm a .45 fan all the way but when she let's me, that little pistol is sweet shooting for what it is...

 

[mxl]

Have you tried loading the mags/chamber +1, and if so, how is reliability? Mine is very reliable unless I load +1 and then the 2nd round frequently jams nose down against the loading ramp. This happens with 7 and 8 round mags using round nose ammo. I never see any ads claiming +1 capability for the Micro 9.

 

[Howland937]

I don't know that it makes a difference in the least, but I'm under the impression Kimber uses an aluminum trigger in these vs plastic in the Sig p238/938. That's a psychological advantage if nothing else.

I'd planned to get a p938 to accompany my p238, but after handling the Kimber micro 9, I'll likely go that direction instead.

 

[Dibbs]

I love an honest range report. My first Kimber was the k6s, and it is a little pricey, but impressive. Well worth every penny. It's good to hear the Micro-9 runs so well. Thank you, ApacheCoTodd.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I've purchased 3 Micro 9's and a Micro .380 in the last year. One 9 and .380 for the wife, a 9 for my daughter and finally a 9 for me after shooting the wife's.

I have the same impressions of it. Easy to shoot, minimal recoil, deadly accurate...just a fun gun to hold on to. I have close to 200 rounds thru mine of mixed ammo and zero hiccups.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

That is like a 9mm Colt Mustang.

Very much so. While never owning one, I've always had an affinity for them since seeing a Terry Tussey custom Mustang.

Do Mustangs allow the setting of the safety on half-cock too?

Todd.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Have you tried loading the mags/chamber +1, and if so, how is reliability? Mine is very reliable unless I load +1 and then the 2nd round frequently jams nose down against the loading ramp. This happens with 7 and 8 round mags using round nose ammo. I never see any ads claiming +1 capability for the Micro 9.

I have not tried that but will certainly look into it as it is how I carry the Sig and Kimber Pro Aegis.

Todd.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I don't know that it makes a difference in the least, but I'm under the impression Kimber uses an aluminum trigger in these vs plastic in the Sig p238/938. That's a psychological advantage if nothing else.

Mine, at least, is aluminum. I personally, and for no particularly rational reason, detest plastic triggers.

Todd.

 

[Howland937]

Mine, at least, is aluminum. I personally, and for no particularly rational reason, detest plastic triggers.

Todd.

Plastic trigger in a polymer frame wouldn't bother me as much. Plastic trigger in a $600 metal gun just seemed (and felt) cheap. There are options to replace plastic ones though.
The factory one was a bit of a finger pincher sometimes.

 

[Don_P]

......... One feature I particularly like is that you can chamber a round, lower the hammer, engage the safety and then draw the hammer back to the *half-cock* position. Thereby carrying it at half-cock with the safety on..........Todd.

Exposed hammer 1911 and similar functioning handguns were never intended to be carried in this fashion. The half cock is intended as a passive safety to stop the hammer from hitting the firing pin if the single action hammer hooks or the sear engagement fail. You're taking a heck of a chance by lowering the hammer on a live round. all it takes is a momentary lapse in concentration or physical dexterity to wind up with an accidental discharge. Cocked and locked is the way the safety system was designed and intended to be carried and is actually quite safe. You may believe you are placing the gun in a "more safe" condition by using the half cock but such is not the case.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Exposed hammer 1911 and similar functioning handguns were never intended to be carried in this fashion. The half cock is intended as a passive safety to stop the hammer from hitting the firing pin if the single action hammer hooks or the sear engagement fail. You're taking a heck of a chance by lowering the hammer on a live round. all it takes is a momentary lapse in concentration or physical dexterity to wind up with an accidental discharge. Cocked and locked is the way the safety system was designed and intended to be carried and is actually quite safe. You may believe you are placing the gun in a "more safe" condition by using the half cock but such is not the case.

That's as may be but I've been lowering the hammer on rounds in 1911 platforms goin on half a century. I've had far too many 1911 platforms automysteriously cease to have their safeties engaged to ever trust one again in cocked&locked fashion. Here, please do not tell me about correctly operating parts and trust I know what I'm talking about on more than a theoretical basis.

So, thanks for your input but try to not extend this into a debate and note that we will merely disagree.

Todd.

 

[Don_P]

Here, please do not tell me about correctly operating parts and trust I know what I'm talking about on more than a theoretical basis.Todd.

Apparently not....



Just trying to help someone with similar interests from causing an unintentional discharge / embarrassing moment / serious injury / death.
You must know better, enjoy your gun(s)

 

[BC17A]

That's as may be but I've been lowering the hammer on rounds in 1911 platforms goin on half a century. I've had far too many 1911 platforms automysteriously cease to have their safeties engaged to ever trust one again in cocked&locked fashion. Here, please do not tell me about correctly operating parts and trust I know what I'm talking about on more than a theoretical basis.

So, thanks for your input but try to not extend this into a debate and note that we will merely disagree.

Todd.

The design also incorporates a firing pin block so there's never a chance of a UD regardless of hammer position. The ejector, which serves two purpose, is spring loaded in the up position and engaging the FP block until the trigger is pulled. When the trigger is pulled the trigger bow will rotate the ejector downward and disengage the FP block.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Have you tried loading the mags/chamber +1, and if so, how is reliability? Mine is very reliable unless I load +1 and then the 2nd round frequently jams nose down against the loading ramp. This happens with 7 and 8 round mags using round nose ammo. I never see any ads claiming +1 capability for the Micro 9.

I've heard of that problem. I load mine +1 and have had no feed issues. My Micro 9 has run like a Swiss watch since day one.

Have you contacted Kimber with this issue?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

AFTER @Don_P NOTED THE ISSUE WITH THE HALF COCK. I WENT OUT FOR SOME MESSING AROUND AND FOUND THAT WHEN THE FIREARM IS IN HALF-COCK WITH THE SAFETY *ACTIVATED* - IF THE TRIGGER IS PULLED IT WILL PRESENT A LIGHT-STRIKE TO THE PRIMER.

WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIGHT-STRIKE MAY NEVER PRESENT AN ISSUE - I'LL NOT BE DOING THAT ANYMORE. I HAD READ THE INSTRUCTIONS LIKE THE ONES DON_P LINKED BUT HAD PUT IT DOWN TO APPEASING THE LAWYERS. NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE.

A HEARTY THANKS TO @Don_P FOR MAKING ME REEXAMINE MY PRACTICE MORE CLOSELY.

*HIGH ROAD* INDEED!

Todd.

 

[Howland937]

Always nice to see a person willing to admit a mistake.
I WILL be checking my P238 when I get home. For some reason I was thinking that if the hammer is in "half cock" it wouldn't travel in any direction with the thumb safety engaged whether the trigger is pulled or not. It's typically pocket carried with an empty chamber anyway, but now I'm intrigued.

 

[Cornhusker77]

Love my Micro 9
Still need to find a nice holster for it though.
What do you guys use?

 

[Howland937]

My p238 definitely will not allow the trigger to drop the hammer from half-cock with the thumb safety engaged, and will not allow the hammer to be fully cocked either.

Is this different from the situation you were discussing @ApacheCoTodd ?

 

[wmgeorge]

On a 1911 the safety also stops the slide from moving does it not?

 

[Clipper67]

I have been enjoying mine for at least two years...glad you found yours.

 

[Howland937]

On a 1911 the safety also stops the slide from moving does it not?

Yes it does. Not the case on the micros, though.

 

[mxl]

Have you contacted Kimber with this issue?

Yes and was told by some lady in customer service not to expect it to perform as +1 and that it was not advertised as such. I thought that was BS and still do. It's the first semi-auto I have ever owned with this problem. Feed ramp has been polished and it still won't feed 2nd round [when loaded +1] probably 1 out of 10 times--just enough I would not trust it for carry in +1 condition. I do clean it after shooting. Otherwise I really like the pistol. It handles good and looks good.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Yes and was told by some lady in customer service not to expect it to perform as +1 and that it was not advertised as such. I thought that was BS and still do. It's the first semi-auto I have ever owned with this problem. Feed ramp has been polished and it still won't feed 2nd round [when loaded +1] probably 1 out of 10 times--just enough I would not trust it for carry in +1 condition. I do clean it after shooting. Otherwise I really like the pistol. It handles good and looks good.

WoW! She's a real confidence builder for Kimber products. It almost sounds like a mag issue. From what I understand Kimber's are built to very exacting tolerances... I'm not sure the mags are held to that standard. For what one pays for a new Kimber, a hap hazard, matter of fact answer just doesn't cut it. I'd call Kimber back and demand to talk to a service tech about the issue