Kimber Solo Carry Range Report

[G.A. Heath]

Gen 4 blocks? :skep

Funny my Gen4 Model 19 exhibited the symptoms of "too light a load" when it came from the factory, Glock CS said if I didn't want to wait on a new spring I could continue to break it in or shoot the 124gr. or heavier ammo it was designed for...

Gen 4 Glocks are not "real" Glocks

But seriously, I don't own a Gen 4 Glock. And I don't own any early Gen 1 Glocks that also had problems. Only Glocks I've ever owned have been Gen 2 and Gen 3 guns and every one of them has been as close to perfection as you can reasonably expect from a firearm. My first Glock 23, which I still own, has had one FTE in it's entire 13-year life (no idea on round count, but easily over 10,000) and that was with Blazer aluminum ammo because the extractor shredded the flimsy aluminum case head (looked like a can opener wedged into a beer can). Only other problem it ever had was some failure to lock the slide back on last round because of user error (I was unknowingly resting my thumb on the slide lock lever. Most of those estimated 10,000-plus rounds were on all original parts/springs. Only replaced them about 2 years ago just because ... figured why wait to see how long they'd run without breaking.

Only other problem I've ever had with any other Glock is my Glock 27 popped a recoil spring guide rod (metal flange bent backward and spring popped loose). Talked to a few Glock armorers and none had even heard of this happening before. Put in a new guide rode and about 1,500 rounds later it's never missed a beat.

The Gen 4 Glocks seem like a rush job and a mistake in replacing the recoil spring system without complete testing. But even with that hiccup, most of the Gen 4 owners are now quite satisified with the new recoil springs that Glock sent out to rectify the problem.

Glocks still have subpar grips (even the new & improved Gen 4s) compared to better guns in that department. But in terms of reliability and durability, comparing a Glock to a Kimber is far from fair .... like comparing the probability of the sun rising to the probability of being struck by lightning

I have to agree that its unfair to compare Glocks to Kimbers, my Kimbers have never malfunctioned which is head and shoulders above my Glock. Of course the Kimbers are a 100 year old design and have been properly serviced since I have owned them. I will say that I am less than friendly towards the Kimber Solo Carry, its a new design with an external extractor (Something kimber didn't get right the last time they tried it), and it represents the only completely in house handgun design they have on the market.

[pbwalker]

didn't take too long for the Kimber fanboys to come in here and defend their purchases...

[G.A. Heath]

Not a fanboy, but I'm not gonna stand buy while one brand is bashed and another is pushed as "perfection" when my personal experiences are the exact opposite regarding it. I don't form opinions on guns I have never shot, owned, or handled and I will call things like I see them. Simply pointing out that all of the Kimbers I have shot, when totalled together, have not had the number of malfunctions that my Glock (singular) has had doesn't make me a fan boy. If I went to each and every thread and told people forget the guns in question and get a Kimber that would make me a fan boy. However I am less than friendly towards this new Kimber model, for the reasons I stated above, and it will have to prove itself before I spend my money on one.

[pbwalker]

Not a fanboy, but I'm not gonna stand buy while one brand is bashed and another is pushed as "perfection" when my personal experiences are the exact opposite regarding it. I don't form opinions on guns I have never shot, owned, or handled and I will call things like I see them. Simply pointing out that all of the Kimbers I have shot, when totalled together, have not had the number of malfunctions that my Glock (singular) has had doesn't make me a fan boy. If I went to each and every thread and told people forget the guns in question and get a Kimber that would make me a fan boy. However I am less than friendly towards this new Kimber model, for the reasons I stated above, and it will have to prove itself before I spend my money on one.

was just playing around...

[Pawpaw]

didn't take too long for the Kimber fanboys to come in here and defend their purchases...

Just a little longer than it took the Block fanboys to start the Kimber bashing!

[jeeperbryan]

I have to say...I don't understand why Kimber came out with the Solo Carry. Seems like they could have just made a simple 9mm 3" 1911. I don't see the Solo taking off like other carry guns on the market. I find it interesting that the OP experienced so many issues with a firearm that is intended for carry.

As far as the comparison to Glock, here's the way I look at it.....How many law enforcement agencies and militarys (both US and foreign) use Kimber for their sidearms? How many torture tests have been done on Kimbers? There's a reason Glock is regarded as "perfection". Being an owner of both Glock and Kimber, I love both brands. But they have their place. If I wanted to shoot competitions, I'd take my Kimber. If I was going to battle, I'd take my Glock.

[Napier]

I have a Glock 17 Gen 4 that came back from warranty service a couple of weeks ago. My understanding is that it was designed arout NATO 9mm. Mine will not feed Hornady Critical Defense or WWB. But it loves the nine other brands I have fed it, most of them premium ammo. I have some NATO on the way to check that out.

[gigag04]

If I wanted to shoot competitions, I'd take my STI. If I was going to battle, I'd take my Glock.

FYP

[Abraham]

I've found 9 mm Federal 115 grain FMJ's cheaper at Walmart than than the equivalent Winchester Whitebox - so that's the practice ammo I now buy. Plus, I think it's a bit cleaner.

I wonder if those having problems with the WWB might have better luck with the Federal ammo?

P.S. Does anyone know if the Gen 4 Glock 19 is also having problems cured by new springs or is it a hit or miss thing or ...?

Last year, before any Glock Gen 4 problems revealed themselves, I recommended a Glock 19 to a friend and she ended up buying a Gen 4 and has yet to shoot it - so I'm wondering if I ought to help her with getting the new springs before she shoots it? (yes, I've encouraged her to practice with it, but she's dragging her feet about it - she loaded it and keeps it in a drawer for home protection...plus she lives 5 hours away so it'd difficult for me to motivate her to the range)

[Abraham]

I clumsily worded below:

"P.S. Does anyone know if the Gen 4 Glock 19 is also having problems cured by new springs or is it a hit or miss thing or ...?"

I meant to say: Are ALL Gen 4 Glock 19's having problems, that is, each and every one of them - thus they all need new springs to cure their ailment?

[G.A. Heath]

Mine did, I can also say that you can sit and rack the slide a few hundred times and it will eat 115gr. ammo w/o issue, although ejection will be slightly week.

[fulano]

didn't take too long for the Kimber fanboys to come in here and defend their purchases...

I think you are right...at the risk of getting flamed I'll share my view.

I'm shopping for a 9mm carry piece. I'm a decade older since I bought my Model 27 and my skinny butt just needs relief from the double stack. Just like comparing wines before a purchase of a few cases; its best to open at least two different bottles of what you are selecting from and do a taste test. So (I'm coming to the point) I've been renting 9mm single stacks two at a time and doing compares.

Today it was a K9 and the Kimber Solo's turn. First off, I was told I had to feed the Kimber with 147 gr. JHP..defense rounds. I thought that odd but I'm on a mission so I bought a box and loaded up.

The K9 gobbled up the first five shot magazine load (just like the PM9 I rented last week ate the 115's). Then I racked the slide on the Kimber to chamber the first round and the slide didn't fall all the way. That was an omem. I found I had to use the slide release with the Kimber to load the initial round; an annoyance but there is a school of thought that that's the standard process anyway and I've been know to have bad habits so I proceeded using the release.

Out of 15 rounds there were 5 FTE's. Dealing with them with such a small "stiff" gun was awkward. Also it seems to want to hang onto the magazine (you really have to push hard to get it to eject the mag) so very soon I had all the fun I wanted and I had learned enough. I will say that is an accurate gun and sighting was easy.

I took the gun back and got the inside story from one of the range employees. They've been renting it for 4 months. It started out feeding 115's just great but then it started requiring heavier and slower loads until it ended up requiring 147's. They've called Kimber several times to discuss the issues and are expecting a statement from them.

I'd say this gun has been released to the public way too soon.

[gigag04]

Then I racked the slide on the Kimber to chamber the first round and the slide didn't fall all the way. That was an omem. I found I had to use the slide release with the Kimber to load the initial round; an annoyance but there is a school of thought that that's the standard process anyway and I've been know to have bad habits so I proceeded using the release.

While that may be faster for competition games, many working people advocate gripping the slide with your support hand, thumb pointing toward the body, and racking from there. That is a gross motor school, which is preferable once bullets start flying and your sympathetic nervous system activates (more info here). This also allows for greater torque using a push pull (push with weapon hand, pull with support (a useful tool too for women and children). Manipulating the slide release with your thumb is a fine motor skill, which deteriorate under an SNS activation.

I cannot consider any firearm which can only brought into battery after a reload via depressing the tiny slide release fit for defensive purposes.

[Aggie_engr]

I found I had to use the slide release with the Kimber to load the initial round;

Boy we've had a lot of new members join the forum recently. Usually when a pistol will not go into battery when racking the slide as gigag mentioned I am fairly certain trying to use the slide stop will not remedy the battery issue. In other words, your description of the way a gun funtions is backwards.

BTW may I ask what range already has the kimber solo to rent?

[fulano]

I found I had to use the slide release with the Kimber to load the initial round;

Boy we've had a lot of new members join the forum recently. Usually when a pistol will not go into battery when racking the slide as gigag mentioned I am fairly certain trying to use the slide stop will not remedy the battery issue. In other words, your description of the way a gun funtions is backwards.

BTW may I ask what range already has the kimber solo to rent?

http://www.bullettrapinc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They told me they've had it for 4 months.