Kimber K6xs - Alloy Frame - It is Finally Here

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I welcomed Kimber's K6s with open arms back in 2017. A solid entry to the revolver market. Bought three of them, a couple 2" and a 3", and shot or carried them regularly. My only complaint, if that's the right word, is that it feels dense. The K6s is a lot if gun packed into a small space. My solution, an alloy frame. Kimber had the same idea in 2020 or so but just got around to shipping it in July 2023. I waited three years. Well, here it is... THE NEW K6XS.

The K6xs is Kimber's new alloy-frame, 6 shot, .38+P, snubbie. It has a stainless barrel and cylinder. The fit and finish it every bit as good as the K6s (excellent). At 15.9 oz., it weighs less than a Colt Cobra (the real alloy Cobra) and only 1 oz. more than a Smith 442/642. I call it "J frame sized," despite it's being slightly larger. The difference is imperceptible.

The K6xs trigger feels just like the K6s. It feels good, smooth, but has its own character. The Kimber cylinder fully indexes halfway through the trigger pull. This allows you to shoot a DAO K6xs like a single action revolver by pulling the trigger halfway and holding or pausing to realign sights. On the other hand, the cylinder's fast and firm indexing might distract as it slams into position. The cylinder's impact against the cylinder stop feels like a hitch in the trigger pull but is, in fact, entirely separate. It is less noticeable when firing quickly and not a big deal either way. It is not a problem, just different.

At $679.00 MSRP, the K6xs is considerably less expensive than the heavier .357 K6s ($1,000 +). It is real competition for Smith & Wesson's J Frame.

It has only been eight hours but I like the K6xs a lot. It should do very well.

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Thanks for posting the review.

It's good to see new revolvers being introduced.

As for the gun itself, it seems a worthy competitor to the J-frame.

I would have liked to see a dovetailed front sight but the integral front sight is not a deal breaker.
 
Not an attractive revolver, but that could easily be overlooked if it functioned and held up well after a good workout with various ammos including some stout stuff. Good accuracy would be just as important.

I know a light, unloaded weight always looks good in the ads and articles, but by the time you load it, it seems to feel almost as heavy as a steel-framed gun even if it really isn't. At least, such guns feel that way to me and I shoot them regularly.
 
I would be interested to see how it feels when you shoot it. I have an M&P 340 that I have had for many years. Being as light as it is, it is not all that much fun to shoot with anything in it and when shooting magnums in it, it's a toss up as to which end of the gun I would rather be on! I recently picked up a .38 649-2 and it is very easy to shoot in comparison. I've been wanting a 640 Pro for some time but this might be a better choice with the additional round on tap.
 
Last year I bought a K6S 3" DAO. It felt fantastic dry firing. Then I went to the range. Halfway through the first six the cylinder locked up. Reloaded and again. Took it home cleaned it well and back to the range, same thing with half a dozen different. 38 loads. No .357's yet.

Sent it back, they replaced the cylinder with no explanation. Had it back in one week. Yes it was fixed but this seemed to be a reoccurring problem with many others.

Kimber too uses customers as QC inspectors. I had an interest in the XS when I first read about them. Now, not so much as I have a very nice 442 no lock. Good luck with yours I will be following future reports over on the Kimber forum
 
Great write up and excellent pics showing the differences between the 2! It still looks a bit bulky tho. The Kimber grip actually looks a bit small compared to the Smith which could be a problem for larger hands. But that might just be an illusion. Let us know how it shoots!
 
Are dealers getting a premium?

GB has multiple sellers sufficiently below MSRP to offset shipping and then some. A Charlotte, NC retailer had them (sold out) for $629.00 ($50.00 below MSRP). My favorite gun shop could not get one until August. So, yesterday, I drove from Charlotte, NC to Wilkesboro, NC and paid MSRP ($679.00). I have not seen anyone asking a premium.

Kimber's poor relationship with North Carolina stocking dealers (many former stocking dealers) might be a long term problem. Many shops said that they will only fill Kimber special orders, if possible. They no longer stock Kimber.

I'll buy a second K6xs when it arrives in August.
 
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K6xs

I got mine last week for $629.00. I am in CT. The dealer had exactly one, I saw it, and snapped it up.
200 rounds later and I am of the opinion it IS a game changer-at least for folks who pocket carry a revolver (which I do when not a G42).
Its fit and finish are excellent, the trigger can be staged quickly, definitively, and then a crisp let off, (with a little practice you can rip off all 6 pretty fast) the cylinder is recessed, and 6 rounds of plus P is a nice package.
The grips I changed to the black rubber boot grip standard on the K6, just because they conceal a little better than the Hogue mono it cones with. The mono was very comfortable I just pocket carry and they were bigger.
I will post a pick when I can. If revolver pocket carry Is your thing, then the K6xs is for you
 
Kimber has an interesting aesthetic, but this comparison you posted really puts the size in perspective. When I have seen photos of the K6 alone it looks decidedly larger than any J-frame.

I'm putting this one on the shopping list - only bought Colts and Rugers lately as they are lock-free.

Noticed the Troy Alabama address -did Kimber move or is it only revolver production?

Thanks for the excellent review and great comparison pics.
 
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Thanks for sharing, it’s nice to see new revolvers hitting the street. Never been a fan of the Kimber revolvers’s aesthetics; however, they’re starting to grow on me. I have several lightweight revolvers, including a recently acquired Colt Cobra, so I am not currently in the market. However,…
 

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