[ss396cars]

That is a great looking pistol. I may have to check one out.

 

[RLB]

Where do the bullet tips hit on the ramp?
Low, Middle or high on the ramp?
Let's say with nato ball or any ball ammo

Wondering that regards to feeding geometry.

If it wouldn't be to much trouble! Maybe a photo of the lide locked back with a full mag inserted
so we can see where the first round looks in relation to the feed ramp.

Also what is the measurement between the bottom of the trigger guard and the bottom of the grip where the mag sits.
Wonder if my 3 meat hook fingers will fit there!

thanks
Neil

Here you go, 15 rounds of Winchester 124 gr NATO. Hope these help.

And for comparison side by side to a Sig P229 Legion. They are pretty much equal in measurement in every way. The longer beaver tail on the Kimber makes it just a bit longer. The barrel length on the P229 is 3.9" while the Kimber comes in at 4.09", so if anything the Kimber is just a hair longer by maybe a quarter of an inch because of the barrel and longer beaver tail, but hardly noticeable. If you fit a P229 you'll fit the Kimber. The main difference between the Sig and the Kimber is their width. The Kimber is much slimmer than the chunky Sig.

And with a ruler showing the grip length. It doesn't look like it in the picture but the ruler is exactly even with the bottom of the mag on the Kimber. The P229 is identical.

And finally, my pudgy paws on the Kimber. Again the P229 is exactly the same and I can get a full grip on it.

 

[jcc7x7]

Thank you very much!
For your time and effort!
You mentioned both 229 and 226 just trying to clarify which?

On the phone earlier today with my dealer, he's got them ordered and I'm on his list !
So hopefully soon I'll be doing my own tests !

 

[RLB]

Sorry for the confusion. I meant to say P229.
I probably should have mentioned a couple of weird things about the Kimber. For one thing it doesn't come with an owners manual. You have to download one from Kimber's website. Weird. It does however come with a twenty something page booklet in multiple languages filled with nothing but various warnings.
But what's really strange is that the rear sight is elevation adjustable only. There is a top Allen screw that you use to adjust the blade height after using the side Allen screw to unlock it. When you finish adjusting the elevation use the top screw to lock it.
According to the manual to adjust the windage the FRONT sight is driftable. Weird. I haven't taken mine apart yet but it appears that the rear sight is removed from two screws from the underside of the slide. When the sight is removed then you can remove the the plate covering the optic mount to install an optic plate, sold by Kimber, and then a red dot. Since the rear sight is bolted down solid, that's why you have to adjust wind age by drifting the front sight.
Not a big fan of this setup but I guess it is what it is and if you're going to install a red dot it's really no problem except that there's no rear sight for cowitnessing. I'm guessing that the optic plate will have a rear sight on it but I can't confirm that as I haven't seen an optic plate yet.

 

[Harley B Rider]

First shots, range time, and some additional information. I spoke with Kimber Customer "Service" yesterday and they confirmed that they aren't including owner's manuals with any new guns. Sad, as not everyone has good Internet, nor can everyone print out 40-some colored pages. CS also said that optics plates "should be available in six weeks or so".

 

[RLB]

First shots, range time, and some additional information. I spoke with Kimber Customer "Service" yesterday and they confirmed that they aren't including owner's manuals with any new guns. Sad, as not everyone has good Internet, nor can everyone print out 40-some colored pages. CS also said that optics plates "should be available in six weeks or so".

No owners manuals with valuable information on disassembling, cleaning, and parts diagrams but Kimber can print and include a over 20 page booklet in multiple languages with nothing but warnings listed in it.

How about Kimber reverses that and start printing owners manuals that will benefit the owner and letting people download the useless warnings booklet that no one reads anyway? I know, it's a legal thing that Kimber does to eliminate possible litigation in case of an accident.

 

[RLB]

Where do the bullet tips hit on the ramp?
Low, Middle or high on the ramp?
Let's say with nato ball or any ball ammo

Wondering that regards to feeding geometry.

If it wouldn't be to much trouble! Maybe a photo of the lide locked back with a full mag inserted
so we can see where the first round looks in relation to the feed ramp.

Also what is the measurement between the bottom of the trigger guard and the bottom of the grip where the mag sits.
Wonder if my 3 meat hook fingers will fit there!

thanks
Neil

I know that in my earlier reply I included pictures of a Sig P229 for comparison. If you really want to compare, the closest comparison I've seen so far is the Wilson Combat EDC X9 with a 4" barrel.

I looks as if the WC was the target handgun that Kimber was aiming at when they created the KDS9C. Almost every feature, every dimension, is almost identical to the WC.....except the price where the WC is at least double the price of the Kimber. Is the WC the better of the two, probably, but is it worth twice the price? Only you can decide.

I don't own a WC to compare, but I do own the Sig P229 and in most dimensions they are very close, except that the Sig is much thickerer, if that's a word.

 

[Old Sea Dragon]

I think some people want one good gun that can wear a light on the nightstand and go without it while being carried.

 

[Harley B Rider]

I think some people want one good gun that can wear a light on the nightstand and go without it while being carried.

Not the case all the time, but the son of a friend of mine was charged with two counts of felonious assault for using the light on his gun to identify movement in his back yard (he was in the house shining through a window). The movement was two police officers. He obviously had reason to shine a light on them, but no reason to point a gun at them. Once you have identified the threat (or non-threat) with a hand-held light, there is rarely a need to engage that threat with a weapon light - unless you are a law enforcement officer of security officer. Just my two cents worth. (And yes, I spent 38 years as a law enforcement officer and most of that as a firearms trainer.)

 

[Old Sea Dragon]

Not the case all the time, but the son of a friend of mine was charged with two counts of felonious assault for using the light on his gun to identify movement in his back yard (he was in the house shining through a window). The movement was two police officers. He obviously had reason to shine a light on them, but no reason to point a gun at them. Once you have identified the threat (or non-threat) with a hand-held light, there is rarely a need to engage that threat with a weapon light - unless you are a law enforcement officer of security officer. Just my two cents worth. (And yes, I spent 38 years as a law enforcement officer and most of that as a firearms trainer.)

I’m sorry to hear about your sons friend, but I’m talking about in the home. If I hear a bump in the night, in my home, it is a threat until it is confirmed otherwise. Your point is made however, and why LE is taught to NOT use their weapon light as a general use flashlight. You must be a glutton for punishment, 28 years was enough for me.

 

[Harley B Rider]

I’m sorry to hear about your sons friend, but I’m talking about in the home. If I hear a bump in the night, in my home, it is a threat until it is confirmed otherwise. Your point is made however, and why LE is taught to NOT use their weapon light as a general use flashlight. You must be a glutton for punishment, 28 years was enough for me.

Good discussion. Thank you.

 

[Jthrelf]

Obviously Wilson vs. Kimber but I probably would have given this a hard look instead of my SFT9 for half the price.

 

[TangoHotel]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I just don't like the way these look. Can't deny it seems to function well though, and Rider's videos are always incredibly insightful.

 

[RLB]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I just don't like the way these look. Can't deny it seems to function well though, and Rider's videos are always incredibly insightful.

That's why we have different manufacturers with so many different models being offered. Everybody likes something different.

 

[Jthrelf]

That's why we have different manufacturers with so many different models being offered. Everybody likes something different.

Free market competition 👍

 

[bac1023]

In typical Kimber fashion, it’s style over substance. I’ll stick with my Wilsons.

 

[Highxj]

I'm mildly interested in this, even though I have Wilsons, Nighthawks, Staccato blah blah. One thing that concerns me however is the front and backstrap texturing. I'm thinking it's not enough....thoughts from those who have handled one?

 

[Harley B Rider]

I'm mildly interested in this, even though I have Wilsons, Nighthawks, Staccato blah blah. One thing that concerns me however is the front and backstrap texturing. I'm thinking it's not enough....thoughts from those who have handled one?

The grip texture in general is not as aggressive as what's on my EDC X9, and maybe with sweaty hands it wouldn't be enough. But so far, my hands have stayed planted on the KDS9c.

 

[RLB]

I'm mildly interested in this, even though I have Wilsons, Nighthawks, Staccato blah blah. One thing that concerns me however is the front and backstrap texturing. I'm thinking it's not enough....thoughts from those who have handled one?

When you first examine the KDS9C the grips don't really feel that grippy, but when you go to shoot it (for me anyway) I find that my hands don't really slip. I think it's more of a shape of the grip thing rather than the grip texture. The way the grip is shaped with the long beavertail and the bump at the lower part of the front backstrap, it sort of locks your hand into position with little to no chance of moving.
I'm guessing but I think that since this Kimber is more geared to concealed carrying they tended to stay away from the abrasive sandpaper like textures that some pistols today use. It's easier on the skin and doesn't catch on clothing, but still allows for a good grip. Plus it looks cool, and we all know that Kimber puts a pretty high emphasis on the styling of their pistols.

 

[Jthrelf]

When you first examine the KDS9C the grips don't really feel that grippy, but when you go to shoot it (for me anyway) I find that my hands don't really slip. I think it's more of a shape of the grip thing rather than the grip texture. The way the grip is shaped with the long beavertail and the bump at the lower part of the front backstrap, it sort of locks your hand into position with little to no chance of moving.
I'm guessing but I think that since this Kimber is more geared to concealed carrying they tended to stay away from the abrasive sandpaper like textures that some pistols today use. It's easier on the skin and doesn't catch on clothing, but still allows for a good grip. Plus it looks cool, and we all know that Kimber puts a pretty high emphasis on the styling of their pistols.

Makes a lot of sense.

My Platypus doesn't have a ton of grip but similarly the shape of the magwell on the bottom of the front strap keeps your hand locked on pretty well.