Kimber K6S

[tlawler]

I’ve been intrigued by these since they came out. Found this example locally and really liked the look of it. Asking price was $850 and I picked it up for $750. Included everything that came from the factory and doesn’t look to have been shot much, if at all. It has an interesting trigger, a little heavy, but breaks very smoothly. I’ll get it out over the long weekend for a test spin and provide a range report.

 

[C Islander]

Good looking gun.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I carry mine when I’m the mood to carry a revolver. 357 is pure punishment. But 38 is a breeze .

I think you’ll like it.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Been looking to do a "hands on" with one.

 

[ColumbusJBR]

I’m digging that color combo. I had one, stainless 3” DAO. I regret selling it, FWIW. They’re surprisingly nice revolvers.

Defense .357s are pretty harsh, I wouldn’t carry them unless I trained more with them. .38+P was much more reasonable, but YMMV. Congrats on the new piece!

 

[Ameshawki]

I have a three inch. Interesting rig, the trigger reminds of a two stage military rifle. I put Hogues on mine and it tamed the beast. A bit anyway.

 

[hdfinder47]

Mine is a 3" also - just had to add to the 3"/357 collection. Then came the 3" Colt King Cobra and the 3" Korth. Hope they quit making stuff in 3" before I go broke.

 

[Mainsail]

I carry mine when I’m the mood to carry a revolver. 357 is pure punishment. But 38 is a breeze .

I think you’ll like it.

Buffalo Bore makes a reduced recoil round for short barrels.

Better than .38+P and less abusive than full power .357Mag.

Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

 

[Baxter6551]

My buddy has one in his carry rotation. He carries and qualifies with .357 loads. I captured this still off a video.

 

[Sistema1927]

I think that my 3" Kimber K6S is the finest revolver that I own. I love my S&W's, tolerate my Rugers, but the Kimber fits my hand, and is accurate with really good sights and an excellent trigger.

 

[tlawler]

Range report

I finally made it to the range today and I like this revolver! I put 75 rounds through it of relatively mild target ammo. 158 grain LSWC over 6.8 grains of Ramzip at 10 yards. Average FPS was 1003 and average energy was 353 Ft-lb for an average power factor of 158. POA/POI was close enough for close work. I had a few fliers to start, but I think I did pretty well for the first time out with an unfamiliar revolver.

 

[rockquarry]

If you're looking for a 2.5" or 3" .357 revolver, consider a new Python. Heavy guns, but the weight makes them much more comfortable to shoot magnum ammo in than other guns that weigh less.

 

[tlawler]

If you're looking for a 2.5" or 3" .357 revolver, consider a new Python. Heavy guns, but the weight makes them much more comfortable to shoot magnum ammo in than other guns that weigh less.

A new Python is definitely on my “to get” list. I picked this K6S up because of local availability and the price was right. I’m going to give it a go in the concealed carry rotation. I normally carry a SP-101 .327 FM 3”, so this one should be a little more comfortable in the boot. It fits nicely in my well worn Galco ankle glove made for a S&W J-frame, just like the 101, but it doesn’t poke into my ankle like the longer barrel does sometimes.

I’m not sure how well the DLC finish will hold up in this environment, but I’ll keep a close eye on it with daily inspections until I’m happy with the durability. I buggered up the finish on my 342 with boot carry, which is why I went with the stainless 101 in the first place.

 

[ladder13]

A bit of drift, sorry.

I thought Kimber moved everything to Troy, AL but still seeing the Yonkers stamping?

 

[tlawler]

A bit of drift, sorry.

I thought Kimber moved everything to Troy, AL but still seeing the Yonkers stamping?

I bought it used, so I’m not sure of when it was manufactured. Anyone able to decipher the s/n for date?

 

[C Islander]

I bought it used, so I’m not sure of when it was manufactured. Anyone able to decipher the s/n for date?

Call Kimber. They can tell you when it was made.

 

[BarryinIN]

Congratulations. I’ve had a 3” K6s for a few years now and love it. Why I haven’t got a new K6xs yet, I don’t know.

 

[jem102]

Congratulations. I’ve had a 3” K6s for a few years now and love it. Why I haven’t got a new K6xs yet, I don’t know.

I have had my K6s 3" a year now and as much as I enjoy my Smiths they are no match for the Kimber as a carry gun. Size, design, capacity, handling and trigger make it an excellent SD revolver. You have to own one for a time to really understand what they are all about. When I load out for the day the 36, 19, 66, 396 or DS don't even come to mind anymore...


I carry with the Buffalo Bore Lower Recoil/ Low Flash 19E/20 load already mentioned. It is extremely clean burning, I would like to know what powder he uses and more controllable than say the W-W 145 Silvertip but not by much. It's about 150 FPS faster than their 158 +P .38 Spec FBI load and appears to be loaded with a Hornady 158 XTP. What we need is their lead bullet (from Rim Rock I believe) from the .38 +P load in a .357 case @ 950-975 FPS from a 2.5" barrel. That load would feed a pile of small frame .357's very well and "I" prefer using the .357 case in a .357 cylinder VS the .38 Spec.

 

[BB57]

The K6S is an acquired taste. There are plenty of less flattering reviews but most of them come down to some variation of it’s not like my other traditional S&Ws and or it’s someone who hasn’t carried it a few months and shot it enough to appreciate its finer qualities.

I started with the 2 1/2” SA/DA version and liked it a lot. When I came across a like new in box 3” DAO model at a great price I snapped it up asI really prefer a 3” barrel in .357 Mag for ballistic efficiency.

I’m normally not a DAO fan but the trigger on the K6S is exceptionally smooth and for longer shots, stages extremely well.

Size wise its closest comparison is to the SP101, a little heavier than the J frame but not significantly larger.

I have gel tested some very effective .38 +P rounds but prefer .357 Magnum self defense loads. Off the shelf Remington green and yellow box HTP hollow points in both .38 +p and ..
357 Mag gel test extremely well. At first glance the bullets look the same but on closer inspection are different and each is obviously designed for the appropriate velocity window.

For 357 loads the steel frame models are the way to go as the extra weight, in conjunction with a good energy absorbing rubber grip tame the recoil and make it very shootable.

If I owned a light weight model it would be .38/.38 +P only and I’m not particularly recoil sensitive. It’s largely a matter of muzzle rise and follow up times.

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Back to the trigger, the only revovler I have with a clearly better trigger is my custom shop S&W 625 race gun, which has a trigger that is both very light and very smooth.

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All that said, in terms of concealed carry revolvers my Taurus Executive grade 856 has a trigger that matches the Kimber in weight and smoothness and is equally well suited to concealed carry. It’s major draw back is the standard grips do not allow for clear ejection of the cases nor do they work with some speed loaders.

To make it worse the after market grip options are limited and I had to do some carving on the speed loader “style”relief on the left stock on the replacement set to actually make it cleanly eject and allow unobstructed speed loader reloads.

It’s .38/.38+P only but it’s also selling real world for down around $500, substantially less expensive than the K6S and just as enjoyable and functional.

 

[NCBeagle]

I have been a big fan of Kimber revolvers, since day 1. Have 5 of them. Two regular K6S, a CDP variant, a K6xs, and a 3" K6S.