Barely 10 percent larger than a Colt Mustang .380 ACP, the new 6+1 capacity Kimber Micro 9 measures 6.1 inches in overall length, 4.07 inches in height and weighs 15.6 ounces.
Can you make a single stack, 6+1 capacity subcompact 9mm semi-auto that is practically no larger than most .380 pistols? The answer is yes, if you’re Kimber and you start with an interesting premise, that the original Colt Mustang .380 ACP was nearly big enough to handle a 9mm round. That’s quite a leap of faith for what was, at the time, the smallest .380 semi-auto ever designed. The time was 1986, and the Colt Mustang was the most significant breakthrough in .380 ACP pistol designs since the Walther PPK in 1930.
The Mustang was introduced by Colt’s 30 years ago. The current Mustang Pocketlite version looks and feels a little different from the original with a superior fit and finish. With a loaded magazine the current Mustang Pocketlite tips the scales at less than a pound, and measures 5.5 inches in length with a 2.75-inch barrel. With a 6+1 capacity “cocked and locked” is the standard carry method, just like a Model 1911. One unique feature of the Mustang (now copied by other manufacturers of the Mustang design), is a thumb safety that permits the slide to be manually cycled, even when the safety is set, thus one can check for a loaded chamber, clear the gun or load the first round with the safety still engaged.
This same description also fits the new Kimber Micro 9, although the Kimber has an even better level of fit and finish, and of course, the one big difference, it is a 9mm not a .380. But look at those specs, the Mustang’s overall length is 5.5 inches; it has a 2.75-inch barrel, and weighs less than a pound in carry weight. The Kimber Micro 9 is just one half inch longer at 6.1-inches in overall length, and that includes an upswept extended beavertail, which is better than the Mustang’s shorter down turned beavertail.
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With both semi-autos very close in overall length, the Mustang .380 has a 2.75-inch barrel and 4.75 inch slide length, while the Kimber’s barrel is 3.15 inches in length with a 5.25 inch slide length. And as for carry weight, the 6+1 capacity Micro 9 is 15.6 ounces, just under a pound like the Colt Mustang. The thumb safety design is the same type as the Colt’s, allowing the Micro 9 to be carried cocked and locked, yet the slide can still be racked with the safety engaged. Kimber has succeeded in building a 9mm that is the almost the same size as a .380 once regarded as the smallest on the market.
The Kimber Micro 9 is easily one of the smallest 6+1 capacity 9mm semi-autos on the market. Just 0.6 inches greater in length then a Colt Mustang, Sig Sauer P238 or Kimber’s own Micro CDP .380, the new Micro 9 model is the best handling 9mm pocket model ever.
Pocket Pistol Evolution
Semi-auto pocket pistols had their origins with John M. Browning before the turn of the last century (around 1897), but they were chambered in smaller calibers, .25 ACP and .32 ACP. It wasn’t until 1908, when Browning designed the .380 ACP and the gun to fire it, the Colt Model 1908 Hammerless, that a significant improvement in pocket pistol stopping power was achieved.
The Colt Model 1908 Hammerless was based on Browning’s .32 ACP Colt Model 1903 Hammerless and both remained in production until 1940 and 1942, respectively. This was the American standard for a medium caliber pocket pistol and while neither the cartridge nor the pistols to fire them were unique to America, Colt owned the semi-auto pocket pistol market in the early 20th century.
The evolution of the semi-auto pocket pistol in America was resurrected by Colt’s with the introduction of the Mustang .380 in 1986. There were, of course, other .380s on the market, including the most famous .380s of all, the Walther PPK and PPK/S, but for the American market of the 1980s, the Colt Mustang was a milestone. All that it lacked in the minds of most Americans and law enforcement officers was sufficient stopping power. Since its inception, the .380 ACP FMJ round had remained a far cry from the ballistic performance of a 9mm, or even a .38 Special. But, while the .380 was once an underpowered round, it is not so today. The one thing possibly overlooked until the past few years was that the same performance improvements that have been applied to the .380 ACP cartridge have also been applied to the 9mm; one reason why it is once again being considered as the standard caliber for law enforcement.
Hard to believe, but the Kimber Micro 9 (bottom) is a mere 10 percent larger overall than a Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380 (above), has the same operating features, and packs 6+1 rounds of 9mm.
Specs
- Chambering: 9mm
- Barrel: 3.15 inches
- OA Length: 6.1 inches
- Weight: 15.6 ounces (empty)
- Grips: Rosewood
- Sights: Dovetailed black combat style
- Action: Single-action
- Finish: Matte-black
- Capacity: 6+1
- MSRP: $654
Building A “Little Big Gun”
Breaking down the barriers between size and caliber has been Kimber’s forte for years. Established in 1997, Kimber became world renowned for building 1911s of unexcelled quality and standardized custom features. But the real heart of Kimber’s ingenuity was revealed when the company introduced the groundbreaking 9mm Solo Micro Compact in 2011. At that point in time the Solo was the smallest single stack 6+1 capacity 9mm pistol in the world.
Kimber then turned its sights on the .380 concept with the Micro CDP and an entire Micro .380 line. Looking like a highly refined Colt Mustang (exactly what it is, just like the Sig Sauer P238 Series) with a standard capacity of 6 +1 the .380 ACP Micro series left Kimber with one remaining challenge and in 2016 Kimber took the next logical step by introducing a slightly larger Micro variation chambered in 9mm.
Micro 9
The Micro 9 slide is made to the same tolerances as the Solo, Micro CDP and other Micro versions. The alloy frame has a distinctive matte silver finish and very smooth lines. The grip is shaped for strength and a solid hold using an upswept beavertail and deeply checkered mainspring housing that rests in the palm swell. In many respects, the Micro 9, like the Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro CDP and Sig Sauer P238, is a scaled down 1911 without the grip safety, thus it is a very familiar gun to handle.
Ease of handling also comes down to the trigger design on a pocket pistol, and here again Kimber scores with a smooth solid aluminum match grade single action trigger that has a short, smooth pull averaging 6 pounds, 2.5 ounces with a mere 0.188 inches of travel, no stacking, a very crisp break, and a short 0.125 inch reset. The thumb safety, slide release and magazine release are pure Colt Mustang inspired, though the Micro 9 thumb safety has the same improved contour as the Micro CDP .380.
Where the Kimber design really kicks in, aside from the fit and finish, are standard features which include a highly polished stainless steel barrel, lowered and flared ejection port for superior ejection of spent shells, a beveled magazine well for quick reloading, and dovetailed combat-style front and rear sights. These are steel sights mounted in machined dovetails so they can be upgraded to white dot or tritium night sights. The gun comes with one flush-fitting 6-round magazine and Kimber offers an extended capacity 7-round magazine.
If the shoe fits, wear it. The Kimber Micro 9 perfectly fits all of these holsters designed for .380 Autos; the DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster (left), Safariland Bianchi Black Widow thumb break belt rig designed for the Walther PPK/S, (top center), DeSantis Mini Scabbard for the Sig Sauer P238 (right) and Galco Stinger (bottom) for the Walther PPK/S.
Hands On
Ideally, Pocket Pistols are intended to be carried in pockets. To that end the Kimber Micro 9 fits into the majority of pocket holsters designed for the Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro CDP, Micro .380, and Sig Sauer P238 models, even though the Micro 9 is about 0.5 inches longer. As for belt holsters, the Micro 9, for whatever reason, fits very nicely into the same holsters at the Sig Sauer P238 with a little muzzle exposed, but otherwise a sold fit. The most interesting holsters I had on hand that were perfect for the new Kimber was a contoured Galco Stinger open top belt rig made for, of all things, a Walther PPK/S and a Safariland Bianchi Black Widow thumb break for the PPK/S, that also fits the Micro 9 like a glove. If you are shopping around for a Micro 9 holster, there are already a number available including 20 different styles from CrossBreed. I’m just partial to the Black Widow and Stinger holsters since I also carry a PPK/S from time to time, and it’s nice to know this new 9mm can be carried in the same rigs.
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The Micro 9 was tested with Sig Sauer 115 gr. Elite Performance FMJ, Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr. FTX, and Federal Premium 124 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP.
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A set was fired at the top of the 7-ring with five rounds grouping at 1.1 inches using Federal Premium Hydra-Shok. This proved to be the best group shot with the Micro 9.
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To test the advantages of this Mustang-sized (actually about 10 percent larger according to Kimber), recoil-operated, locked-breech design 9mm pocket pistol, I selected a mix of traditional 9mm full metal jacketed ammo using Sig Sauer 115 gr. FMJ, and two personal defense loads, Federal Premium 124 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP, and Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr. FTX. The Hornady round, in particular, is designed for smaller (compact, subcompact) handguns but to deliver maximum performance with less recoil than other tactical loads. It is also available in a 100 gr. FTX Lite load. Given the size of the Micro 9, I opted out of raising the stakes with 147 gr. rounds, and kept the test in the 115 to 124 gr. range. Kimber also recommends minimal use of +P and cautions against any +P+ rounds in the Micro 9.
Using three different types of 9mm ammo, the Micro 9 delivered tight 5-shot groups from 21 feet. With one shot pulled right, landing in the 8 ring at about 3 o’clock, average groups were 2-inches or less for the pistol. Shots in the low 9 and 8 ring at 4 o’clock were fired with Sig Sauer FMJ rounds at that POA.
Fired from a combat distance of 21 feet (7 yards), the Micro 9’s 3.15-inch barrel sent the standard 115 gr. FMJ rounds downrange at an average velocity of 1,123 fps. The 115 gr. Hornady FTX were a bit slower clocking an average of 1,097 fps while the heavier 124 gr. Federal Premium cleared the chronograph at 1,008 fps.
Recoil for a pistol of this size and weight is usually pretty heavy, but the Micro 9 surprises, with less felt recoil than the Kimber Solo. It’s no .380, but compared to other small 9mms it is more manageable. I’m not impressed with the standard sights; not their design but rather the lack of at least a white dot on the front for faster target acquisition, but they are interchangeable, so nothing that a little extra out of pocket can’t fix. As for the rest of the Micro 9, it is an impressive piece of work.
With rounds fired offhand using a two-handed hold and Weaver stance, the best overall groups with the Sig Sauer 115 gr. FMJ measured 2.0 inches, Hornady FTX grouped tighter with a best five at 1.85 inches, and with a little extra practice the heavy-hitting Federal Premium rounds improved from a rather disappointing 3.75 inches across the center body mass of the target to a tight 1.26 inches. At point of aim, my groups, save for the first try with the Hydra-Shok, were never short of at least two to three shots under 0.50 inches, so this little 9mm can do its job if you do yours.
Final Evaluation
I have carried .380 semi-autos for over 25 years, either as a backup or primary sidearm for concealed carry, everything from a Walther PPK/S to a Ruger LCP Custom, and the question I have to answer for myself (and thus for many of you) is that given an almost equal size and weight, would I trade off my .380s for this new 9mm? After looking at the shooting results, effective stopping power of the 9mm over the .380, comparative recoil with this particular pistol, and the fact that I don’t have to change holsters or carry techniques, the answer is a resounding yes.
[1] All ballistic data from the Ammo Encyclopedia by Michael Bussard, published by Blue Book Publications.
To learn more, visit https://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/micro-9.
To purchase on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=Kimber%20%22Micro%209%22.
I made the unfortunate mistake of purchasing this unreliable Jam-O-Matic as an EDC pistol. After getting so many FTFs and FTEs that it wasn’t even funny anymore, I sent this micro Lemon back to Kimber for servicing after putting up with it for more than 1,000 rounds. They sent it back, supposedly fixed.
The Deja Vu started all over again, despite changing ammo brands and bullet designs time and time again. The jams, stove pipes, and type 3 malfunctions continued whether using 115, 124, or 147 grain (as Kimber recommends). The pistol became so unreliable that it would seize up regardless of whether I was shooting ball or self-defense ammo. The ONLY time I could get it to fire more than three rounds consecutively was on the first magazine after a full cleaning of the pistol and the mags. All told, I have fired more than 2,000 unsatisfactory rounds out of this thing with at least 200 or more jams.
As an aside, I have not had similar issues with any other pistol I own. In fact, I have an Sig Sauer P938 that is nearly identical in size and design to the Micro 9, and it functions flawlessly, round after round after round. This indicates to me that the issue is with the pistol, not my shooting technique. Allowing a good friend, who is a Master-level shooter, to try out the Micro 9 yielded the same frustrating series of malfunctions for him as well. He shuddered at the thought of it being a carry pistol.
I made the wise decision to file the Micro 9 away in the bottom of my safe, never to see another trip to the range or anywhere else. I won’t even sell it because I wouldn’t want my conscience to have to suffer the thought of someone else having to risk their life on this laughable excuse for a useless, over-priced pistol.
I will admit it’s a handsome firearm, though, and the Kimber name carries an aura of a once-proud brand that peaked and then apparently waned after being liberated from its founder. I may ask a local machinist friend of mine to manufacture a solid barrel for the pistol so I can use it as an inert paper weight—because that’s about the best use I can come up with for it.
It’s funny….there’s one thing that people tend to forget in this day and age of Technology and leaving comments online. One has to ask oneself – How many negative comments on here, are not people who either work for Sig Sauer or are 3rd parties with a vested interest in the Company itself. Seriously…
I work in the I.T field and it’s no longer surprising how many Companies use any means necessary to push growth figures for their products using “propaganda” – for lack of a better term.
I have several Kimbers. Each required the mandatory 200-300 rounds to have everything “bed” in…no different to any of my other weapons.
We investigated one Company who had 1000 employee’s ( I kid you not ) post comments disparaging another competitor. So – I take comments on here with a grain of salt. I’ve experienced two stove-pipes in my Kimbers, both of which were in the first 150 rounds. I also had the same with my Sig P238 and P938 and two springfields and a glock. Thats my 5 cents worth…
If you are left handed do not buy the Micro nine. I found that my trigger finger covered the button that drops the magazine. If I held the gun tight which is critical to controlling this pistol the magazine would drop out when the gun was fired. I tried holding many positions but found it continued to be a problem . Sold the gun.
Just got both the micro 9 and P938, they aren’t copies, the P938 is a growing P238 (would call it a grown up, but waiting for the 45 :-)) and the micro is a mini 1911. To me they both shot about the same, really like the look of the micro better. Pros and cons, for the Sig it is just a nice reliable fun gun, great quality, nice night sites standard, great lifetime warranty, but is expensive. For the micro, though I really like how it looks, I did customize a P938 extended magazine to use with it (easy), didn’t like the original extended mag, harder to keep the kick up in control, the gun is slick, not in a cool way, in a baby powdery way, hogue grip and sig mag pretty much eliminated this, no screw down hogue grip as noted, but nice wrap around hogue grip that works, the warranty is 1 year so there is one very positive for the P938. The biggest concern of the micro is the burn in time and ammo used, told to use the 147 grain to get through the first 500 rounds, the 115 grain has a tendency to jam, not a lot but any is frustrating when you have to drop the mag to get the case out, so far haven’t had that issue with the 147g. Love both, will keep both for now, but if the micro doesn’t get more reliable then its gone.
I was drawn to the Kimber Solo several years ago because I thought it was one of the most beautiful little pistols I had ever seen – sure glad I didn’t buy it! With their reputation, I think I would hesitate to even consider this one until some “REAL” reviews are posted.
How about the Diamonback DB9? It weighs 11 ounces and shoots well for around 300 bucks. For some reason it is ignored. Mine shoots real well, but it will not be happy if you limp wrist it.
Nothing new here…kimber has small light 9mm that looks like 1986! ……….who cares?
Kahr has been selling PM9’s for years and the S&W shield has sold approx. 2 million pistols…….
Yeah…for the price i’m gonna stick with my Glock 26 and my P-64 for EDC. Both are reliable, accurate, and easy to conceal. The P-64 does lack a drop safety though, and the recoil beats the hell out of your shooting hand if you decide to run more than a few mags at the range. I never understood single action for carry, I can just grab and go with either of the guns I just named. Not to mention I could also get an LCP for much less than the kimber and have a larger magazine in a compact package. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a full size Kimber 1911 and I’m not badmouthing the company, this gun just doesn’t seem to do anything better than any other pocket 9mm. If anything, it’s at a disadvantage due to its price and single action function. This is a hard pass for me
I have one of each. Both fire flawlessly with 115-147 gr. Ammo. As an added feature, the Kimber came with CrimsonTrace grips. My wife likes the Sig a little better than the Kimber (fits her hands better) and gets tighter groups with it. I, on the other hand, have found the Kimber to be more comfortable with my big hands and more accurate. Have not experienced a single malfunction with either pistol in over 500 rounds. For me, the Kimber was the better deal at $150 less than the Sig. It all depends on what fits you best and what shoots best for you. Sub-Two inch groups at seven yards to point of aim for a backup is all I need. Both are great pistols with excellent fit and finish. I just shoot better with Kimber including my .45 Ultra Carry II.
Thankfully, I didn’t dump my .380 or anything else when I purchased a Kimber Micro 9! The gun had no Hogue type grip for it available, did not have nite-sights, did not hit near point of aim, yet my wife’s Sig P938 (9mm) did all those things. So I bought a P938 for myself, kept my P238, and DUMPED the Kimber. Don’t misunderstand me, as I own four other Kimbers that are nothing short of fabulous. Sig makes a better compact 1911 style pocket nine. But ya gotta love the looks of all the choices both companies offer!
I have one of each. Both fire flawlessly with 115-147 gr. Ammo. As an added feature, the Kimber came with CrimsonTrace grips. My wife likes the Sig a little better than the Kimber (fits her hands better) and gets tighter groups with it. I, on the other hand, have found the Kimber to be more comfortable with my big hands and more accurate. Have not experienced a single malfunction with either pistol in over 500 rounds. For me, the Kimber was the better deal at $150 less than the Sig. It all depends on what fits you best and what shoots best for you. Sub-Two inch groups at seven yards to point of aim for a backup is all I need. Both are great pistols with excellent fit and finish. I just shoot better with Kimber including my .45 Ultra Carry II.
All I can say is “there is nothing like a Colt”. You’ll pay a little more but you’ll never regret it.
I love my Mustang that goes everywhere I do and it out shoots both of my Kimber owner sons. I plan on getting a Defender 45 for my open carry.
Buy a Sig Sauer P938 instead, you know the one Kimber copied!
Purchased a plain Jane, all black Kimpro II finish, Kimber Micro 9 on sale at the LGS for $479.
Almost didn’t buy it because my eyes were drawn to the little silver spot on the frame, just above the trigger. Instead of the usual blackened pin, Kimber has elected to substitute a cheap silver colored roll pin for their trigger pivot pin. The guys at the LGS looked at me like they thought I was nuts, ranting about that cheap roll pin, but what can I say? I ended up choosing the Kimber over the Sig 938 because the Kimber had the more nostalgic 1911 look, while Sig gave their pistol a more Sig, signature kinda’ look instead. I then took my new pistol to the range and fired a box of FMJs through it without nary a hiccup, but the trigger was gritty. Also, the extended grip, 7rd mag that came with my pistol made it comfortable for me to shoot it. What to do about that creepy roll pin?
Next, I called Numrich Arms and ordered a Sig 938 trigger pivot pin. I received my new pin and started driving the dreaded roll pin out and measuring it, .074. Measured the Sig pin, .074. Put the Sig pin in, right behind the roll pin and began driving the pin home with a hard plastic mallet, right behind the roll pin. It was a very tight fit, but I managed to install it without bending it. The pistol’s trigger pull seems much smoother now and it looks good to me. I’ve got some brown and white, stabilized mammoth ivory laying around and I’m gonna shop for a cutter with a pilot to make grips for this pistol. The pilot for making 1911 grips works, but 1911 screw heads are bigger than the Micro 9s.
excellent hand gun but kicks worst than a 45.
I agree. The “kick” is horrendous.
I’d checked out one of these when they first came out and the similar sub compact 9mm Sig model. Both were VERY overpriced and neither had anywhere close to what I’d call a decent trigger. Plus racking the slide on both was a bear , both were stiff and gritty !
Kimber and Sig have both been a bit of a disappointment for me the last few years and the similar Sig model had without a doubt the worst trigger I’d ever handled. It was darn near as bad as some pot metal POS Raven’s I’ve seen,maybe even worse,seriously, they were both terribly gritty!!! They both felt like there was a bag of gravel stuffed in them. My Kimbers and Sigs of the past , other than one particular Kimber I had nothing but stove pipe issues with, have all been awesome otherwise. Nowadays, not so much. Especially for what they ask for them.
IMHO, Kimber and Sig have both been slipping badly lately in there compact pistol line and they’ll have to go a long long ways before I purchase another of either of there handguns. But then the price point will still be an issue with both brands, there both WAY outa whack price wise…….
I agree, I changed out the cheap plastic trigger on my Sig P938 and got rid of the burrs internally, now the trigger is pretty good. There still a bit pricey but my life is worth it, and the hundred dollar aftermarket trigger.
Must have gotten a lemon. Back to Kimber to get front sight put back on, lighten 12 lb rough trigger. Returned with 8 lb bad trigger. Not accurate with careful slow fire from three different people shooting it. I would never buy another one. Only good news is the people dealt with in Kimber Service were very nice. I always wanted a top end Kimber .45 ACP. Now, I don’t feel like I can take that chance. Disappointed is an understatement. If anyone thinks the mucro9 is anywhere close to being a 1911 design, it’s not. It’s an upsized Colt Mustang. If you try to tune the trigger you won’t get far. If you find any gunsmith worth their pay they’ll tell you that anything under 7 lbs on this design is undoable and unreliable. I went to two good ones and got the same answers. Going to get a SA EMP, which is a 1911 design. Just a bit larger.
It’s called a Sig P938! Kimber jumped on the bandwagon and didn’t “design” anything, they copied. These guns have all the typical Kimber flaws also, complete overpriced junk.
A year ago, I researched subcompacts until I was blue in the face. I purchased a SIG 938 Equinox with the beautiful machined steel slide and night sights. The gun comes with one inside mag and one extended mag. I added the Hogue cushy grips with the finger curls making it one sweet concealed carry. Caution: when I had a gunsmith install the grips, he screwed the grip screws in too far on the Hogues, and the mags would not allow themselves to be locked in. He had to withdraw the grip screws just enough to allow the mags to lock in. I carry the rig in a small SUPERTOOL magnetized day planner along with two extra magazines and one in the gun. Check it out. At six, twelve or twenty five, the gun consistently provides two inch groups in quick fire. Rapid fire spray and pray displays the gun’s reliability proven by paper targets. At a gun store, the clerk looked up the SIG catalog for mags and listed in the software was a 10 shot option. So far, I have been unable to locate one. Get on it SIG. There’s money to be made!
Poor ol Kel-Tec. Not a chance. Ha! It’s done me well for 9 years. It’s accurate, does what a .380 is supposed to do. Personal defense. Just as accurate as any at what is is intend to do, stop the bad guy. It ain’t pretty, neither is blood. $vs$ I’ll keep my Kel-Tec.
After reading this it makes me want to keep my glock42 and my colt gov 380 (which by the way is 28yrs old) as my everyday carries. Dependability is the key for myself
Save $ and get a SCCY 9mm (10 rounds).
A little bigger with 7+1 I will take my Colt new agent with its 3 inch barrel every day. And, you cannot draw a pocket pistol as quickly.
Nothing against Kimber…I love them, I have two real nice ones. But for a small pistol in 9mm, I’ll take my Sig 320 sub-compact. It’s may be just a tiny bit bigger than the little Kimber but holds 12+1 and I got it for $485.00 with night sights. I leave the range amazed at the accuracy of the Sig ….every time.
I have only one thing to say, Sig P938!!!
Did’t Kimber come out with a micro 9mm a year ago? I had one and the slide was a bear to rack and had FTF problems as well as a stove pipe on the last round. Now they come out with a remake of the old one and call it a new gun? I’ll stick with the Sig938. A safe weapon all the way around. I carry it just like my 1911, loaded with the hammer back and safety on. To clear the weapon ya just drop the loaded mag rack the slide to clear the weapon and then drop the hammer on an empty cylinder. In 9mm it shoot just fine and I have never had a failure to feed or any sort of hang up. Kimber look nice but thats all.
Kimber is nice to look at but it pretty much ends there for me. Their first little 9mm was a bear to rack the slide and did fire OK when it did fire. Had a stove pipe problem. The safety on the small one are Ok but have had a couple beak off, darn cast aluminum, their other lines ya just can’t keep a safety in one piece either, after breaking off 3 times I sold every one I had and stick with the nice little Sig 938. With the hammer back and safety on you can drop the full mag rack the slide to clear the weapon and then drop the hammer on an empty cylinder. Just can’t get any safer than that, looks like a small 1911 and shoots like one as well.
Get yourself a nice and yes I say RELIABLE Taurus PT-709 for less than $200 and it doesn’t have to be carried cocked and locked. 1911 style pistols just don’t work for me for Concealed Carry.
I have two of these micro9s right now in Special Edition trim. They came with two magazines each-all olf them the 7-round , three-fingers-on-the grip variety and one 6 rounder hidden away in a pouch. There may be a reason as early reviews all used flat magazines and there were complaints of shifting under recoil . With the extended mag, they don’t do this. Trigger pulls are both in the 8 pound range- heavier than early ones and heavier than the advertised 7 pounds. They are a limiting factor but you can keep bench rest groups under 4 inches at 25 yards ( though point of impact diverges from the sight picture by several inches)., My samples have prominent sights with three white dots- very visible. They function reliably. Sights are dovetaile and can be drift adjustable though they tend to shoot most loads about 4inches high from the bench -and higher than that off had at 25yards.
The only negatives on mine are: 1.Heavy Trigger pull, and: 2. Point of aim-point of impact divergence.
Pocket guns like these are what I call “get off me” guns, not range toys, not guns to be shot on extended training trips to the range. I would not have one of these things if you paid me. Years ago I bought a simple diamondback db9 as an emergency get off me gun. I have shot the thing no more than 200 rounds and it has been flawless. Accurate enough and smaller than this kimber. Foolish to pay that kind of money regardless if it is a kimber. Kel tec makes an excellent small 9mm too but it is not as small as the db9
what about the kahr pm9,cm9
Guys – this is Guns America – when was the last time one of their articles was EVER a fairly presented report on just about ANYTHING gun-related?? To expect them to make a fair comparison of the latest and greatest goodie from Kimber vs. “anyone else” (SigP938 specifically) is like expecting them to cut off their own trigger finger. These folks “PRESENT” guns – they don’t REVIEW guns – there’s a world of difference. They may CALL it a “review” – but at the end of every article are comments EXACTLY like the dozen or more I just read – “why didn’t you mention the ___?” or “how can it be better at ___ than the ____?” I like Guns America – but long ago I gave up expecting them (any of their contributors) to write a REVIEW of a weapon that covered “all the bases”. Yes, there HAVE been GA articles that criticized certain weapons – but at the end of the day, NONE of their articles can be wholly relied upon to give a reader the full spectrum of information needed to make a buying decision. These articles border on puff-pieces – written by “journalists” who LOVE TO SHOOT GUNS – and are being provided with these items FOR FREE… Do you really think they are ever going to be overly critical? Or for that matter, do you think they are ever going to make “all” the real-world comparisons that would perhaps detract from the latest and greatest item which they just got to shoot FOR FREE…? Come on folks – you are all smarter than that… You’ve seen through CNN and MSNBC – its simply time to see what GA “actually” is… A resource with hands-on references to guns you may at some point be curious about – but it will NEVER be (in my opinion) my first choice for much more than hearing “one-man’s opinion”…! All that being said, I enjoy seeing their articles. I enjoy reading what they write. I enjoy the web-site. We should continue to support GA, but getting all up in arms about the shortcomings in their “reviews” is akin to being mad at CNN and MSNBC. We KNOW their agenda – and while GA’s “agenda” isn’t co nefarious, and their goals are to promote the shooting sports, etc., they are not going to change their approach just because of the comments we leave. These guys love to shoot guns provided to them for free – why stop the gravy train…!
It’s hard to fathom how you could write this review referencing the SIG P238 several times and never even mention the SIG P938 – a micro 9mm based on the Mustang that predates the Kimber “innovation” of making, well, a micro 9mm based on the Mustang. I’m very interested in a direct comparison of these two guns. I own the P938 and love it, particularly the sights. But I’m interested in the Micro 9, too, and would have hoped to see at least some comparative discussion. Even if you didn’t include a comparison, complete omission was not a good option, particularly since the review made it seem like the Micro 9 was a first in the class.
Comparison of the suggested retail price is misleading since the Sig normally comes with night sights (although they can be purchased without) which adds $125 or so. Also, my opinion as a gunsmith, P938 carrier and Kimber owner is that the Sig is much more reliable. I have yet to experience a malfunction form either of my P938s, I did have a failure to feed with my P238 after a 1000 rounds or so but replacing the recoil spring fixed that. You may get a good Kimber but you can’t go wrong with a Sig.
Having owned a Kimber Micro 9 for 6 months, I know of what I speak. Having already possessing a Sig P238 (.380) and having shot the spouse’s P938 (9mm) I was intrigued by the overall design and size of these pistols. Also, being a Kimber fan, I bought a SS Micro 9, and headed for the range. After putting 4 magazines of 115 and 124 grain ball through it, I just could not like it. The slippery-bony grip panels didn’t help. So recoil seemed harder than the bigger Sig. The Sigs came with night sights, the Kimber did not. The Sig is available with Hogue finger groove rubber grips, the Kimber is not. The Sigs shoot to the point of aim, the Kimber did not. After a few more range trips as well as a couple more brands of 9mm ball, I sold the pistol. I turned around and purchased another Sig P938! In favor of the Micro 9, the fit and finish was superb and there were no malfunctions of any kind. So think twice before you commit.
I’m with Ed and several other posters – I own 2 other Kimbers in 45, no problems. This little gun has been a nightmare since day one. Can’t get a full magazine shot without a failure to feed. I’ll never carry it because it’s unreliable, and carrying it is the only reason to have a gun this small. Soon to be sold….
I own a Micro 9 and love it. Workmanship is excellent. Shooting it is a blast. Excellent gun in every respect. Recoil with
+P ammo gets your attention however if someone was trying to kill you I doubt if you would even notice it. Use non +P ammo and the gun is a pussy cat to shoot. It is also a handsome little guy compared to all of the plastic guns out there.
Kimber must give you guys a lot of attention. SIG has had a .380 and A 9MM for a lot longer and tgey shoot better, are not fussy about ammunition type and cost less. Kimber is pretty but a SIg is in my picket snd has been for years.
No gun is good if it doesn’t go BANG when you pull the trigger. My brand new Micro 9 would not feed a full mag without a mis-feed. Checked online and found several people had similar problems.
After I insisted, Kimber customer service said they would send a new recoil spring but 2 months later, there has been nothing.
It is a beautiful firearm but I cannot rely upon it.
Kimber: for those that just MUST have an expensive, less reliable play-pretty. GET REAL….
Sounds like a fine gun, but why is this article unnecessarily deceptive? The Kimber’s empty weight is compared to the loaded weight of the Colt .380. It’s size is omigosh only a little larger than a .380 SIG, but the advertised dimensions are also a tiny bit larger than the 9mm SIG that’s been around for quite a while. So how is the size of this new one a shockingly revolutionary accomplishment? “Best ever,” is it? The whole article reads like bad advertising hyperbole.
Why would I dump my Sig p230 that will blow away a micro 9 buy Kimber, and the Sig p230 is a much better looking better quality with a tighter group gun than the Kimber. And putting in 380 +P if necessary. Sorry I’ll stick with my German Sig p230s I save my money.GOT SIGS..
Great kudoes and praises to Kimber here, and it is a fine pistol, but I was shooting my P938 Sig before Kimber unveiled the Micro9. Sig led the way with this concept and made a fine carry pistol in 9mm. OBTW, I also carry and shoot a P238 380, which is much easier to shoot. Neither Sig is terribly fussy about what they are fed.
Kimber’s are nice, but not the only or necessarily the “best”!
I really don’t understand calling either the Colt or the Kimber a pocket pistol? How can you possibly consider carrying any single action semi-auto in a pocket? Semi Auto guns like these and the 1911 are designed to be carried condition 1. I don’t know about you but I am not about to carry a cocked and locked pistol in my pocket. The Kimber Solo with the excellent double action trigger is a far safer choice than either of these guns if you are planning to carry the gun in your pocket. Additionally, if you are trying to be safe and carry one of the micro nines or the pocket light with an empty chamber you are going to have to rack the slide after deploying the gun. In a defensive situation this takes two hands to accomplish and too much additional time to Be an Effective defensive handgun. Sorry but I just don’t get it.
There is another alternative you haven’t considered with the SA pockets- hammer-down with a round chambered.
It will require you to use your thumb to cock the hammer to fire; no big deal and quick. I consider it much safer than
C&L pocket carry.
Agree. I have a Series 70 Gold Cup and for overall safety (for me in a stress situation, or if anyone else should handle the gun) I would want a backstrap safety on any 1911. Therefore, I opted for the Springfield XDs 9, 4″ barrel, single stack subcompact … and I like it. The backstrap is intuitive and I don’t even think about it.
This review feels like a paid endorsement, there is no size advantage over a M&P Shield 9mm but you lose capacity and step backwards to single action and manual safety. The point of the article appears to compare the Micro to state of the art in 1986. Nothing new about this Kimber, novel, but not knew, and the Kimber site specs a 7lb trigger, which on a single action is almost immoral.
Why is it that when you guys do a review on the Kimber micro 9mm, no mention is made of the Sig P938 which has been out for several years now. It is almost identical, the same manual of arms and is also an excellent micro 9mm/1911. Kimber did not invent the wheel!
I question why we use the 1911 name for a pistol that lacks, at least, two important 1911 features, the barrel bushing and the grip safety. I don’t mean to say that the Kimber and similar pistols aren’t good firearms, but they are not 1911s.
Sig P938, what am I missing here? This Kimber is highlighted as if it’s the only pistol in this space. I’ve been carrying my P938 Extreme since shortly after it’s intro, it’s a phenominal daily carry. Decent size, weight, power such that it encourages and makes easier true “every day carry”, as I know the truth is that many of us struggle to absolutely always carry all the time when faced with our combat/compact sized wonder 9’s. sometimes, especially this time of year of wife beaters and ball shorts, it’s a challenge to always do so.
The kimber is surely a welcome addition, but it’s an addition to a game that already has players.
The Sig is a better Gun. I own a Gun Store and have had to send three Kimber Micro 9’s back and have sold hundreds of P938’s without a problem. The difference can be told almost instantly when you have both in hand. I personally own three P938s and carry the SAS always. As far as a P938 vs the Jiminez (one of worst guns I have ever heard of) and the LCP, the major thing is accuracy compared to both. I know Per Def guns are for close range but I like my guns to be able to do both, shoot meaning function, and have distance capability. I can legit hit 3″ targets at 35 yds with a P938. In short the Kimber is no comparison to the P938, and I sell both and I am not being paid by anyone or any company. Come into my store and I will show you, lol.
My PF9 with a Crimson Trace laser is Still about half that price. It works fine, never hiccuped in a few hundred rounds. I did originally have some 147gr I tried …Not pleasant, but the 124 shoots fine. Also no snag points, which the 1911 styles seem to have.
Why should I dump my .380 for a comparably sized 9mm that costs over four times what I paid for the .380?
Yes, my little pistol is a Jimenez JA380 but it weighs 17 ounces and fits my hand comfotably. It is ammo sensitive (like many semiauto pistols and rifles are) but performs the best, with no stoppages of any kind, with PMC Bronze for practice and Hornady Critical Defense for defensive purposes. Both loads give me groups of about 3″ at 10 yards (30 feet).
With the substantial felt recoil I get from the JA380, I don’t think I’d like the recoil in comparably sized, yet lighter, .380 and 9mm pistols. Especially since I not only have arthritis beginning to let itself be known in my hand but am also experiencing tendon problems, as well. Oh well, the joys of getting older, I guess.
(I’m seriously thinking of going down to .32ACP chambering for a pocket pistol. Any affordable suggestions? I’m on a limited, fixed income.)
If you want 32acp get a keltec and add the belt clip. No one including you will know it’s there..
Budget friendly too
Thinking it is an awesome gun as all Kimbers I have fired have been. But if they want it to be a 1911, then it has to have a grip safety. Yes, I know many agree but I like the grip safety especially while carrying.
This is the most accurate review that I have read, so far, on the Micro 9. I have an old Mustang Pocketlite that has always worked perfectly, so I decided to buy a Micro 9. Because of the locked breech 1911 design, the Mustang Pocketlite is very soft to shoot compared to the much heavier PPK, which has a blowback action. I have not yet had a chance to shoot my Kimber to do a .380 vs. 9mm comparison. Several commenters have expressed their dismay with the idea of using a single action (1911) pistol for concealed carry, specifically, in Condition 1 (cocked and locked). I am confident in my ability to properly manipulate 1911 style controls. I sold off all of the double action semi-autos I owned. Now, except for a single action 22 target pistol, all of my semi-autos are of the 1911 style (22, 380, 9mm, 45), eliminating an argument that I might get confused (I am pretty sure I would know if I am holding one of my revolvers).
I’ll stick with my LCP. Smaller, lighter, and costs way less too. Plus it’s double action and I don;t need to remember if I racked a round before I get into trouble. From what I’ve read, criminals don’t give you time to load when confronting you.
You have to wonder if there is a “honorarium” from the manufacturer involved here. To give up a double action for a single action with a safety seems inane to me. In a panic situation, seconds count and mistakes are made. Having to turn off a safety before you can fire could mean your life. As for “effective stopping power”, I’ve gone through at least 10 ballistic gel test videos on youtube between the 9 & .380 and each will give you a dead perp. I’m with you, I’ll stick with my LCP and I agree that perps do not give you time to load deferrals.
Another copy of the Colt Mustang hits the shelves, although Kimber is rather late to the game after having given up on the Solo. And this is probably the lowest MSRP I’ve seen on a Kimber in a long time, even $100 lower than the P938, which the author somehow managed not to mention once in the entire article. And since it looks more like a 1911 than a Sig, a better looking gun to boot.
We would have been served better by this article if they had compared the Kimber to the Sig P938 as they seem to be extremely similar.
They can’t compare the kimber to the Sig because the SIG is a better gun, smaller gun and come in about a dozen different finishes. The Colt they compare the kimber to arrived well after the much smaller OMC 380 in the 70’s.
Yes, the SIG has a dozen different finishes, but afaik, it is mechanically the same, as both are directly based on the Mustang, converted to 9mm. So, aside from the finishes (and that the Kimber is better looking) why is the Sig a better gun?
(Just curious. We in California can have neither. We can buy the P238 CA, but the P938 came out too late to avoid the microstamping mandate.)
Kimber does not have a good track record with its smaller size firearms whereas Sig does, price is $150 lower.
Kimber was a very high quality mfg but has slipped quite a lot since they have turned into another production line company. Years ago you hardly ever saw a used Kimber for sale and it demanded new Kimber prices! Now you can find them in large quantities, so why aren’t these Kimbers staying with their owners that were happy to pay that Kimber Name premium price? You do get fine fit and finish but reliability is now a common complaint infesting their core 1911s. You can search that yourself.
Really? the MSRP of this Kimber, according to the article, is $654. The MSRP of the Sig P938, according to their web site that I just visited, is $760 to $860, so you are off on the wrong foot–the Kimber is cheaper as measured by MSRP. As to the rest, you are generalizing, not commenting based on this pistol. Yes, those rumors are true for many pistols, but many of those complaints stem from very tight–too tight–tolerances or bad recoil springs. My experience was a lack of reliability until I replaced the recoil spring after 1400 rounds that I bought direct from Wolff. Before then I would not have relied on it, but now it (finally) runs well. And this is a base model, the Pro Carry II. Yes, there were waaay too many problems with the Solo–a fine looking but ultimately failed firearm.Thankfully Kimber killed it. Hopefully this will be a better since the design is basically 30 years old and well proven.
Mark:
I think you forgot to calculate the cost of night sights. Yes, the MSRP of the Kimber is less, as you stated but the Sig comes with night sights, two mags (one extended) in the box. Add those two items and the Kimber cost more. Apples to apples.
Now, MSRP aside, I think the general consensus of those who own the P238 and/or P938 is that the Sig is dependable and owners have confidence in the product. You simply cannot put a price on that. I own the Sig, I want the Kimber for some reason I simply cannot explain but it does not take much effort to find several Kimber owners who are complaining that Kimber is trading on name and not producing the same quality that they did in the past. That is perhaps true of every company, but I for one have yet to meet an unhappy Sig owner. Add to that my LGS has the Kimber in stock and when I mentioned shelving my Sig for the Kimber, two employees of the shop that I trust both suggested I would be better if I reconsidered and spent my money on something different.
Otherwise I agree with the vast majority of posts here. I would like to see a true comparison, not a lot of hyperbole and sales puffery.
Agree Will, would love to get rid of my Solo, but would probably go for a Sig 938 over another Kimber. Had another Kimber 1911 Pro Carry, and had issues with it. All their guns seem exceedingly accurate, but they all seem to come with issues.