I bought my Solo in December of 2012. Following is a reprint of it's first range trip I did for another forum. Forgive it's length.
[.....This smallest (at the time) of the Kimber lineup exhibits excellent fit and finish, bold, yet snag-free, three-dot sights...the wide rear notch allowing just the perfect amount of light around the front sight for these old eyes...and a long but very smooth trigger pull that breaks at 6.25 pounds on my scale. It has both an ambi thumb safety and magazine release, and a 1911 style slide release. The small safety looked like it might be easy to miss, but I never failed to sweep it off in hundreds of dry-fire presentations.
I spent a fair amount of time handling, dry-firing, field stripping and cleaning/lubing the little pistol this past week and a few things are worth mentioning. There is not a sharp edge anywhere on this pistol...as it should be for a concealment gun. All edges are nicely contoured and rounded and the magazine well is nicely beveled. Internally, tool marks are non-existant and that excellence of fit and finish is just as evident inside as it is outside. The barrel has more contours than a Victoria's Secret model and is a work of art in it's own right.
The stainless magazine holds 6 rounds and at first it was a struggle to seat that 6th case. This issue improved and is no longer a problem after today's field test. The empty magazine would drop free when the button is pressed, but the diminutive two-finger grip frame causes the heel of my hand to block it's ejection. Internet reviews complain of how difficult it is to eject a full magazine and it's true that the spring pressure exerted by a full mag makes it nearly impossible to depress the mag button...but, simply pushing up on the base of the magazine a bit relieves pressure on the button and function is then no more difficult than it is when empty.
Another complaint I've heard is the rather tight curve of the trigger which apparently allowed the point of the trigger to nip some reviewer's fingers. I didn't find this a problem...actually I consider it a benefit. With such small pistols, it's very easy to get too much finger into the trigger guard, causing the sights to be pulled off target as the trigger is pressed. The curve of this trigger is well matched to the pad of my index finger and it's only when I get too much finger on the trigger do I feel the point. For me it serves as a tactile reminder of proper positioning during the presentation.
The Solo has been referred to as a miniature 1911. I don't see it that way. To me, the Solo is a modern reincarnation of those classic, Browning-designed pocket pistols, the Colt 1903/1908...but smaller, lighter, made of metals never dreamed of then, and chambered in a far more effective caliber. I think Saint John Moses would approve.
Range report 12/9/12
Today was the first chance I had for a shake down cruise with the Solo. It's no secret Kimber had a fair amount of troubles with the Solo when first introduced and although those problems seem to be a thing of the past, the purchase of this pocket nine was not without some trepidation. Today would tell the story.
In preparation for the field test, I assembled a variety of 9mm ammo. Kimber recommends a break in of at least 25 rounds and warns against the use of bullets lighter than 124 gr. I had a couple hundred of the Federal American Eagle 124 gr FMJ, a hundred Winchester 147 gr TCMC, a hundred Winchester white box 115gr FMJ, and a grab bag of mixed left-overs that included some old Remington JHP's, Federal Hydra-Shoks, even some aged Black Talons...all for break in and function testing. Three boxes of PDL's came along for serious testing, 124 gr Speer Gold Dots and Federal Hydra-Shoks, and 135gr Hornady Critical Duty.
Arriving at my personal range I was met with less than ideal conditions. Temps were right around 30, the wind was picking up, and Saturday's snowfall was showering down from the branches with every gust....just Michigan, eh?...Friday it was 45 and sunny.
No time like the present. I put on the heavier jacket, popped a couple of handwarmers in the pockets and wished I had heated hearing muffs. Shooting this small pistol and loading that stiffly-sprung magazine with gloves on was out of the question...I'd just have to limit hand exposure as much as possible...they don't handle the cold like they used to.
I threw up a paper plate and began break in with a half a dozen mag-fulls of the Federal 124gr FMJ's...loading only 5 in the magazine each time to save a bit of time and effort. The second round from the first magazine failed to feed and I thought, "here we go"...but as it turned out, it was the only failure of any kind throughout the shooting session...that is, when I stayed with 124gr or heavier bullets.
True to Kimber's recommendations, the Winchester 115's were a no-go. After the initial break in, they were the next round tried. Failures to eject were common, usually occuring with the first two rounds from a full magazine. The slide would be stuck open, held by the top round in the mag, the fired case pulled only half way from the chamber. I downloaded the mag by one (back to five), but it made little difference. After 25 rounds, I gave in...Kimber knows best...and returned to the 124gr and heavier bullets. From then on I had no further troubles...the little pistol kept chugging along on everything else I fed it, even when I mixed brands/styles in the magazine.
Recoil was never an issue, even as my hands got colder. The little pistol lifts a bit, but recoil was less than I expected, even with the heavier loads, and the gun never pounded my hand. I believe I could shoot this gun all day with no discomfort. By now the magazine was getting easier to load to capacity and it was time to move on to the next stage.
I put up an IPSC target and began to give the Solo a proper workout. We had been walking together for a while now...it was time to run a bit. I shot from seven to 15 yards, everything from quick presentations and single shots, to fast doubles, mag dumps, and double taps. I tried various grips to find the optimum...from the thumbs high and forward grip I use with 1911's, to a "Stressfire" type grip as promoted by Ayoob. The sights were quick and easy to pick up even at speed, and just as in dry fire practice, the safety snicked off without conscious thought. I welcomed the heat on my hands as the gun warmed up and a smile began to form as the Solo continued to function flawlessly past 100...120...150 rounds. We were in sync now and I pulled out my old shooting timer and ran a series of double taps from seven yards....split times hovered between .25 to .27.
I then set up a chronograph and sent a few of the PDL's across the screens to see the effect the abbreviated 2.7 inch barrel would have on velocities. Keep in mind the temps had risen a bit, 32 to 34, but still far chillier than I'd have prefered. Results were as follows:
Hornady 135gr Critical Duty.....listed-1010 fps....actual-945 fps
Federal 124gr Hydra-Shok.......listed-1120 fps....actual-985 fps
Speer 124gr Gold Dot.............listed-1150 fps....actual-1065 fps
I hate to end this report incomplete. My plans were to shoot for accuracy, from bags at 25 yards, with those loads listed above, but as I set up to do so the weather quickly deteriorated. Temperatures began falling noticeably, the wind picked up, and the light snow that had been falling turned to a much heavier sleet and freezing rain. I scrambled to put away the ammo, chrono, guns and camera, then warmed up in the truck hoping it would pass. When it was obvious it wasn't, I stepped out just long enough to send 3 rounds of the Hydra-Shoks downrange from 20 yards, freehand. I was rewarded with a group that measured 1.45" with two of the shots a mere half inch apart.
So...the Solo certainly meets, even exceeds, my expectations...so far. I won't carry it just yet. I'd like to get another few hundred rounds through it...complete the accuracy testing...try a few other PDL's...then settle on a carry load (although the Gold Dots are looking hard to beat) before commiting to it completely.
(6/4/13)
I retested the same personal defense loads that I tried during the initial shake down cruise, and interestingly the velocities were not appreciably different today at 65 degrees as they were that cold December day. Velocities were within 1% of the original tests.
Today I added the Speer 124gr Gold Dot +P "short barrel load", results:
Speer 124gr Gold Dot+P sbl ....listed-1150 fps....actual-1090 fps
Recoil was slightly heavier with the +P load but hardly enough to be noticeable, although brass was thrown 3 or 4 feet farther and point of impact on the 25 yard target was raised by nearly 3 inches.
I also threw a half dozen of the Federal "American Eagle" 124gr FMJ loads across the sky screens and was a bit surprised to see them clock a very respectable 1020 fps. The fact their POI is nearly the same as the Gold Dots is simply icing on the cake. I'm also happy to report the little Kimber functiones just fine with a plated 115gr handload using 8.3 gr of AA#7, something it wouldn't do with the 115gr Winchester white box ammo.....]
Since those reports I've continued to work with the Solo as all the negative reviews still had me somewhat skeptical. Now, after 3 years and hundreds upon hundreds of rounds, I can happily report this example has been 100% reliable since those first day bobbles and continues to surprise me with it's accuracy. Recently, I added a laser grip and while sighting in I shot a 6 round group of just under an inch at a measured 22 yards. Not too shabby for a "micro 9mm".
It has become a favored carry gun and as an inveterate S&W guy, it's a bit embarrassing to admit it's nearly replaced my 442's.
Roe
