HISTORY
Kimber started making quality bolt-action .22 caliber rifles back in 1979 in Oregon. The company has expanded, moved to the opposite coast and then down to Alabama, and today is known for its stainless-steel 1911 pistols. Many of these are quite small and powerful, such as the Ultra-Carry models.
Realizing that some of its clients may be first-time shooters and do not want to learn to shoot a complex semi-auto gun, Kimber introduced the K6 stainless revolver series. Available with 2 or 3-inch barrels, wood or rubber grips, and .38 Special or .357 Magnum chamberings, they are all high-quality and simple to operate, making good choices for personal defense.
Related: Form And Function – Kimber K6S Target .357 Magnum Revolver
MY IMPRESSIONS
Lifting the K6S for the first time, I notice that it tracks my eye as I point it. This is no target pistol, but I can point first and aim later. The design is traditional with nice upgrades. Notice the lack of polymer in its construction. It could be lighter for its size, but it is not. I am impressed by this. When I fire a full-power .357 round, I want some weight in my hand to offset that kick.
Quality features of the revolver are its sights, construction materials, grips, and snag-free design. Holding the Kimber, I notice the lack of controls. No safeties nor hammers to get in the way of pointing and squeezing. This also allows it to slide easily out of my pocket, backpack, or a woman’s purse without snagging. Seconds are hours when you need to show force.
Check out those sights! Three reflective dots set in black jump out when aiming a shot. They come up naturally when I point the revolver. The rear sight is adjustable for windage if needed. Brushed stainless steel is Kimber’s choice of material and is subtle and attractive. Grips on the K6S are soft sticky rubber – the kind that will not slip when my hands are sweaty. They feel as if they will cushion the blow of the gun’s kick.
The heavy double-action-only trigger is new to me. It has a long, smooth feel with no stacking to warn me of the break. This is a safety feature and can be mastered with practice.
Special Features
Two unique features jump out at me. First, the six-shot cylinder is not fluted to reduce weight. The cylinder has tastefully designed flats instead. This gives an impression of strength and adds smoothness to the gun’s feel and draw capability. I like the six-shot capacity, as I might need that sixth shot.
The second different feature is the cylinder release. Most double-action revolvers require the operator to push or pull to release the cylinder. Kimber has changed this to a simple push-button release.
Wet or sweaty fingers or thumb will not cause hesitation in releasing the cylinder for a quick reload. I find that I can always push that square-shaped button without a slip. Both are improvements over old-style pocket revolvers, making the K6S less prone to snag and fast to reload.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Length: 6.62 inches
- Width: 1.39 inches
- Barrel: 2 inches
- Capacity: Six .357 Magnum or .38 Special
- Action: Double action only
- Material: Brushed stainless steel
- Sights: Three-dot reflective white on black
- Grips: Black rubber
-
Trigger: 9.5 pounds
RANGE TIME
Area 51 in Arizona is always a scenic place to burn gunpowder and practice marksmanship. I have not shot this revolver before – wonder if I can handle the kick and still hit anything? Loading six rounds of PMC Bronze 158-grain Jacketed Soft Point hunting ammo is easy. Swing out the cylinder and they slide in nicely.
Root beer 2-liter bottles and a steel target are set at 10 yards and are at the maximum limit for this little revolver, I feel. Firing a few shots on steel shows the zero to be centered, and the next slug lets the water out of a water jug with authority.
I am no pistolero, so the heavy trigger and short sight radius are a challenge for me. The 2-liter jugs explode when hit with 158 grains of jacketed lead, but it takes multiple shots to get the job done. Once I learn the trigger a bit, I can hit them more regularly. I am impressed by the reliable quality of the K6S and its ease of reloading. My last 2-liter root beer bottle is out at 15 yards on a boulder. Sneaking up on it makes my final shot much easier. What a root beer blast!
Reloading is made easier if you carry extra rounds in a Tuff Products QuickStrip. It aligns and retains six rounds in a horizontal rubber strip that allows me to load each cartridge fast. The QuickStrip also is easy to carry and not bulky. No jams, failures to fire, or ejection problems were encountered in my test today.
PROS & CONS
