It’s high noon under the Arizona sun. I stand there with a six-shooter on my hip, just waiting. The wind blows dust as the tension builds. Then, it is on in a flash, and I draw my revolver. Shots snap off, and in a blink, it is over. No, I am not reliving a scene from a classic western. Rather, I am taking advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime. I am on the range at Gunsite and have unrestricted access to Kimber’s K6 revolver. Life is good. Here’s my time with Kimber’s K6

My Time with Kimber’s K6

I had the fortune of spending several days at the renowned Gunsite Academy, as a guest of Kimber. It was an exceptional opportunity to spend quality time with two of the finest names in firearms and firearms training. While I had access to several of Kimber’s pistols, one that kept calling my name was the K6 revolver.

A Trip to Gunsite

Kimber has an exceptional reputation as one of the world’s leading 1911 builders. This is why the industry was surprised several years ago. Kimber announced that a revolver would be added to their line several years ago. If anyone else had had such a departure from the status quo, it would have been seen as a gimmick or marketing ploy. Kimber’s reputation as one of the adults in the room made everyone pause and immediately sparked curiosity about the newest addition to their line. Fortunately, I got extensive time on the K6, and I am glad I did. Now, years later, the line has grown and continues to impress.

The Kimber K6 Stainless is a 6-shot revolver chambered in .357 Magnum and is listed as the world’s lightest small-frame six-round .357 Magnum revolver. The Kimber K6’s small frame, two-inch barrel, and 1.39-inch diameter cylinder are machined from stainless steel for superior integrity, strength, and resistance to the elements. One of the things Kimber did to keep the size down was to design the K6 to have the smallest cylinder on the market. A detailed inspection of the cylinder shows that the cartridge cylinders are bored very close to one another, drastically reducing the size.

Smooth Action

There is also no wasted material on the exterior of the cylinder, which gives it a very streamlined feel. The result of all this design work in a powerful six-shot revolver is that it’s easily and comfortably carried. Kimber has included an enlarged serrated cylinder release to help with manipulation. Using a smooth inward track, the release is easy to manipulate and natural to index.  

Next up on the list of notables is the trigger of the K6. The action on the revolver was surprisingly smooth, with a very clean break at the end. While it is listed as a 9.5-pound to 10.5-pound pull, you would never guess it. It is butter smooth and has no jerky take-up or roughness at any point.  In fact, the smooth, non-stacking nature of the action allows for fantastic staging of the trigger for precision shooting. 

Accurate Shooter

While some may snicker at the word revolver and precision being used even in the same article, the K6 performed well beyond what I expected and better than revolvers twice its size. One of the factors that helps in this area is the sights. Kimber has had the good sense to put real sights on the K6, and the benefits include improved accuracy. It has a generally standard front sight and a low-profile rear sight to avoid snagging. Acquiring a good sight picture and delivering rounds on target is more than sufficient. In total, the small 23-ounce K6 seemed to be every bit of a tribute to the craftsmanship that we are accustomed to from Kimber. My overall impression of the gun was that it had an exceptional fit and finish worthy of the Kimber name.

So yes, yes, it is a beautiful gun. It has smooth, rounded edges that make everyday carry much more comfortable. It is even priced right, but the question on everyone’s mind is…how does it shoot? I have an answer to that question. As I alluded to in the spaghetti western opening, I had the fortune of spending three days at Gunsite with the great folks at Kimber. Unlike other events I attended with gun companies, this class was a special class designed by Gunsite’s well-respected Chief Operating Officer, Ken Campbell. 

Real Training

This is interesting because such events generally involve more coffee time and mingling rather than seriously running guns. Ken was asked to put something special together for the event, and he accommodated, to say the least. We ran Kimber pistols for three full days through a variety of legendary site drills and exercises, including the “Scrambler” – a multi-station steel target challenge. The “Urban Scrambler” was shooting in a more urban environment, and finally, the “Fun House” was a downright exciting trip through room clearing and multiple target engagements. What would typically be a relaxing discussion about sales and marketing turned into an exciting, high-energy training session. 

In the dynamic exercise of engaging a turning target, the K6 performed well. While I am more accustomed to carrying a full-size gun, the K6 was easy to index and bring into the fight. The smooth trigger allowed me to successfully manage the “failure” drill, which involved two rounds to the chest of the target followed by a precise headshot, all before the target turned away.

Concealed Carry

As the market for smaller concealed carry guns seems to grow each year exponentially, it is refreshing to see a company as concerned with the round-the-gun fires as much as the size of the gun. While there are smaller semi-auto pistols out there, most of them are chambered in .380 and have a five-round magazine capacity. Given the choice, I would lean towards a small gun with serious ammunition. I understand the .380 is no joke, and I have yet to find a critic who would let me shoot them in the thigh as a test. It is, however, on the lower end of the power spectrum.

Great EDC Option

The defensive concealed carry world is not devoid of revolvers, yet many seem to be obsessed with being super lightweight.  This, in turn, makes them less than enjoyable to shoot because of recoil. With the exceptional trigger Kimber has designed for the K6 and including low-profile sights, this small revolver is serious business. Over the years, semi-auto pistols have dominated the small concealed carry market. Kimber stepped in with little fanfare and a dead earnestness and made the K6 revolver a major player. 

For more information, visit: https://www.kimberamerica.com/

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