Kimber America, a company famous for its wide range of compact single-stack pistols and double-action revolvers designed for backup and concealed carry, is proud to introduce the new R7 Mako. The R7 Mako is a micro-compact, part of a new class of small, higher-capacity pistols for personal protection and everyday carry.
The result is a slender, lightweight, polymer-framed, striker-fired double-stack magazine-fed concealed-carry pistol, chambered for 9mm Luger, with an 11+1-round capacity with flush mags and 13+1 with extended mags. All of that in a package nearly the same size as Kimber’s smaller single-stacks.
This new category of pistols is quickly becoming the hottest segment with new and experienced shooters alike. A lot of people find these little handguns are easier to shoot than thin single-stacks and stubby sub-compacts, without compromising on capacity.
The R7 Mako has a very good set of features that set it apart from the growing number of micro-compacts today. It’s an optics-ready pistol, machined to accept smaller micro-size mini red dot sights, and Kimber offers it with or without a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 optic.
One standout feature of the R7 Mako is that the slide has a full-length topstrap. While it still uses a Browning-style tilting barrel short-recoil operation, the ejection port is only open to the right side of the slide and the barrel locks into the slide with a single locking lug.
This helps the R7 in a couple of ways. Combined with the internal extractor it gives the slide a very smooth, snag-free “melted” profile. Secondly, it raises the sights relative to the slide internals, which allows standard-height iron sights to co-witness with red dot sights without resorting to use suppressor-height sights.
Another benefit is that the right-side ejection port helps to keep more of the gas venting away from any optics, which can sometimes become clouded or tinted at higher round counts.
In both configurations, the R7 Mako comes with factory-installed TruGlo Tritium Pro U-notch night sights with an orange ring front sight and a rear combat-style sight with white rings. The Mako is cut to use Glock-pattern sights for a huge range of alternative and replacement iron sights.
The whole pistol is designed to be as snag-free as possible without sacrificing features. The frame does use a proprietary rail for lights and other accessories but Kimber is very good at securing partners for aftermarket accessories.
SEE ALSO: Kimber America Expands Rapide Series with Micro 9 Black Ice Pistol
The R7 Mako is fully ambidextrous, with left- and right-side slide release levers and magazine release buttons. These controls are all recessed to prevent any unintentional activation.
The pistol comes with what Kimber calls their Performance Carry Trigger. Like a lot of recently introduced pistols, it’s a flat-faced single-action trigger with a passive blade-style safety. The trigger is designed to have a level take-up and clean break at around 5 pounds thanks to its aluminum construction.
Overall the R7 Mako weighs just under 20 ounces unloaded. The stainless steel slide and 3.4-inch barrel have a ferritic nitrocarburized finish, and the whole thing measures in at 4.3 inches tall, 6.2 inches long, and just an inch wide at the widest.
The suggested retail price for the base model is $599, while the Crimson Trace version runs $799, which is on par with other higher-end micro-compacts. Kimber also has plans to release 10-round models when they get 10- and 15-round magazines into production.
For more information about the R7 Mako, head over to Kimber America online.
Sorry, but the caliber is still my main concern. My first “pocket gun” was an HK-4 in .380 and I swore I would never carry anything small again. I am big enough to conceal a 1911 in .45 ACP, but I usually carry a .40 S&W. I have never owned a 9 mm and probably never would unless it’s the only ammo I can get.
Glock been around a long time. All ways works. 43. Can’t hit with in 8 rounds. Don’t need to carry in the first place.
I love Kimber firearms but you would think they would have stayed away from any name that sounds like Solo.
Is Kimber still in New York? I wont buy one for the same reason I wont buy a Remington. They are supporting a communist regime by paying taxes in that state and purchasing power to run thire plant. Sorry, move your operations to a pro Second Amendment state or go out of business for all I care. Your money your choice. My money my choice.
Just got a Carry II back that I sent for service……Troy Alabama. Still have some ops in NY but have moved some. Oh, by yhe way, the service acommunication was top notch.
I’m pretty sure Kimber moved to Auburn, AL back about 4 or 5 years ago.
To be exact Kimber moved its operations to Troy, Alabama.
Is there no clear and concise definition when it comes to classifying a gun? I may be wrong but from my perspective, a micro should fit easily into a pocket and be far lighter than the average sub-compact, perhaps at or less than 14 ounces. That being said, it’s too heavy and too large and offered at too high a price. I am in the market for a nice micro, however.
Go Sig 365!
Never look back!
You’re not wrong.
It’s so ugly compared to every other model they’ve put out. I’ll stick with the p320 rxp
Mmm. New category of pistols? It looks like a Glock Model 26 to me.
Except it’s about 1/4″ slimmer, a half inch shorter and had a stock made for a human hand. Otherwise, it’s just like a Glock 26.
I like what I see with the micro 9 but I don’t see a price, I’m very interested and if the price is right would like to order 2 of them. Or the R7 mako.