Kimber Solo 9mm Review

I have finally gotten my hands on the Kimber Solo!  I have been eagerly waiting for any dealer near me to get one.  On Wednesday the Manager of Bill’s Gun Shop and Range in Robbinsdale, MN contacted me and told me that his dealer’s display model was in.  Rather than just have it sit in the display case they were going to make it a range rental pistol so perspective customers could actually shoot the thing before deciding to order one.  Wow…this makes a lot of sense!  Even better, he offered me the opportunity to be the first one to shoot the pistol.  It took about a nanosecond for me to accept that offer.

The first thing to strike you about the Solo is that it is a very handsome little pistol and “little” is the operative word.  

I have longed for someone to produce the Colt Model 1903/1908 (.32 ACP and .380 ACP) Pocket Hammerless in a 9mm platform.  
The resemblance with these pistols is uncanny; the Solo looks like the Darwinian evolution between the .25 ACP version of the model 1908 and the .380 ACP version of the same model.  The Solo evolved into a size "in-between" the two Colt pocket pistols chambered in a much more effective caliber.

Never have I so anticipated the arrival of a pistol which has received such a spate of negative chatter on the internet boards. 

·       

       “Five our of six rounds jammed" read one person's posting

·       “It’s just trying to be a Kahr PM9”

·        “I wouldn’t want one because the trigger is not as good as the Kahr PM9”

·        “I wouldn’t  want  one because it is striker fired”

Let me address these one by one:

Reliability

Six people total shot this pistol this afternoon.   The instruction booklet stated that the pistol should be broken in by shooting 24 rounds of 124 grain factory fresh ammunition.   I put 12 rounds of 124 grain PMC JHP ammo, followed by 20 rounds of Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point 124 grain ammo, followed by 12 rounds of Winchester Bonded 147 Grain PDX JHP ammo, followed by 6 rounds of Pow ‘R Ball 100 grain + P ammo, followed by 10 rounds of Corbon DPX solid copper 115 grain + P hollow point ammo, followed by 20 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 115 grain ammo, followed by 12 rounds of Hornady 124 grain XTP JHP ammo, followed by 50 rounds of Sellior & Belloit 115 grain FMJ ammo;  142 rounds and no jams.  After that I put another 100 rounds of Sellior & Belloit through the pistol and the jams began to occur.  In fact it became impossible to fire a full magazine without at least three jams.

It’s Just Trying to be a Kahr PM9

That statement is just silly.  Why would it try to be the same thing as a Kahr which is a popular pistol and well made pistol?   The Solo is trying to be better than a Kahr PM9…and it is!  Better trigger pull and better ergonomics aided by a 1911 grip angle--a subtle but important difference.

I Wouldn’t Want One Because It is Striker Fired

Oh grow up.  People have been singing that song since the Glock was first introduced.  Millions of Glocks, Smith & Wesson M&Ps, Springfield XDs and XDMs, and Kahr striker fired pistols have been sold and the striker fired platform has become the most prolific handgun operating system in the our modern age.

Since it is most often compared to the Kahr PM9 let’s look at the specifications side by side:

Specifications

Model	Caliber	Height	Length	Barrel Length	Width	Weight	Capacity	Sights
Kimber Solo	9mm	3.9”	5.5”	2.7”	1.2”	17 oz	6 + 1	3 Dot Fixed
Kahr PM9	9mm	4”	5.3”	3”	.90”	15.9 oz	6 + 1	3 Dot Fixed

There is not much difference between the dimensions of these pistols.  The difference is in the aesthetics and handling.  The Kahr PM 9 is butt ugly compared to the Kimber Solo.

Kimber Solo Performance “At-A-Glance”

Handling	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Fit & Finish	Terrible	Rough	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Sights	None	Too Small	Useable	Good	Excellent
Trigger	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent
Power Scale	.22LR	.380 ACP	9mm	.40 S&W	.45 GAP
Carry/Concealment	Too Large	Compact	Ultra Compact	Micro Compact	Pocket Pistol
Reliability	Unreliable	Somewhat Reliable	Fair	OK	Completely Reliable
Accuracy	Poor	Fair	Acceptable	Combat +	Bullseye

Let’s examine the individual characteristics of the Solo:

Handling	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

The handling is excellent.  For me the Kimber Solo has a better grip angle than the Kahr pistols.  She also sports ambidextrous slide safeties and melted edges including the ambidextrous magazine release.

In using the magazine release I found that I had to be certain that it was pushed in completely, almost flush with the frame.  The magazine would not drop free for me but I think that had more to do with my fat hands blocking the drop due to the small frame on this pistol than anything mechanically wrong with the pistol.

Fit & Finish	Terrible	Rough	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

The fit is fantastic with a dual tone Kim-Pro finish that provides the shooter with a black frames and stainless steel slide.

Sights	None	Too Small	Useable	Good	Excellent

The sights are very easy to pick up and the only drawback is that they are not night sights.

Trigger	Terrible	Poor	Acceptable	Good	Excellent

The trigger pull averaged 6.4 pound trigger pull but the smoothness of the pull made it seem like it was about a 4 pounds pull.

Power Scale	.22LR	.380 ACP	9mm	.40 S&W	.45 ACP/GAP

Well, it’s no .45 ACP but it is a sweet shooting 9mm and + P ammo was not at all difficult to shoot in this small package.

Carry/Concealment	Too Large	Compact	Ultra Compact	Micro Compact	Pocket Pistol

The Kimber Solo would disappear in a waistband holster and make you forget it was even there.  She could also be carried in a pocket holster with comfort and ease.

Reliability	Unreliable	Somewhat Reliable	Fair	OK	Completely Reliable

I have already discussed the reliability issues above.  Suffice it to say that I do not have any concerns over the reliability of the Kimber Solo.

Accuracy	Poor	Fair	Acceptable	Combat +	Bullseye

I give this a rating of Combat + due to the pistol’s ability to keep the shots within the center mass of the target at greater distances.  Ana seems to like the group she shot with Hornady Critical Defense ammo at 21 feet.

The following targets were all shot at a distance of 21 feet:

1.      12 rounds of 124 grain PMC JHP ammo,

2.      20 rounds of Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point 124 grain ammo

3.      12 rounds of Winchester Bonded 147 Grain PDX JHP ammo

4.      6 rounds of Pow ‘R Ball 100 grain + P ammo, this round makes the lightweight Kimber Solo bounce!

5.      10 rounds of Corbon DPX solid copper 115 grain + P hollow point ammo

6.      12 rounds of Hornady 124 grain XTP JHP ammo

7.      Followed by 50 rounds of Sellior & Belloit 115 grain FMJ ammo

The next three targets were fired from 35 feet, 50 feet and 75 feet using Sellior and Belloit 115 grain FMJ ammo.

There are a few opportunities to make the Kimber Solo even better:   

·        Maybe the moniker “Solo” was selected because, as usual, Kimber only sends their pistols with one magazine which is contrary to the fact that every instructor will tell you to carry at least one reload.

·        Night sights.  The Solo is crying out for them.

·        No short trigger reset.  The trigger must completely return to its starting point in order to fire the next round.  

The first and third points are doubtful to be addressed but I think the second point will eventually be rectified.  

With warmer months just around the corner small but powerful pistols will be all the rage.  Unfortunately I cannot recommend this pistol until Kimber solves the reliability issue.  Too many shooters have posted the same problems on various internet forums that myself and the range officers experienced.  The accuracy is better than expected but the reliability factor is a deal breaker.  Maybe Kimber released this one before they got the bugs worked out.