New product development and design are ongoing processes with firearms manufacturers. While this is not a new concept in the business world, it seems to be more prevalent in the firearm industry. People are always on the lookout for the newest products and companies that sit on their laurels are destined for extinction. Because of this ongoing demand, most companies stick to their bread-and-butter products. The items that have given them the most reliable success. Rare is the day that a company really changes gear, but that is exactly what Anderson Manufacturing has done. Known worldwide for their AR15 parts, kits, and rifles, Anderson has quietly become one of the biggest manufacturers in the AR market. This large presence in the AR market makes their new product even more interesting. After thousands of design hours and strategy meetings, Anderson is launching their first handgun; Tested – The Anderson Kiger 9C
Tested – The Anderson Kiger 9C
The Kiger 9C is a striker-fired, locked-breech short-recoil operated semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm. It is a compact pistol with a four-inch barrel and an overall length of 6.85 inches. It is just a touch over an inch wide and comes in at under 21 ounces. The gun is designed as a fighter and has a 15-round capacity. Anderson has gone to great lengths to create a gun that not only looks good but is designed for serious use. With that in mind, they have included great texturing at several key locations. The side of the grip has excellent texturing as well as the area surrounding the slide lock and in front of the take-down lever. This is a tip of the hat to serious shooters as these surfaces are constant points of contact.
Attention to Detail
This additional texturing gives shooters even more control over their gun, especially when their hands are wet. The trigger guard has a deep undercut at the rear to allow shooters to get a higher grip on the gun. Anderson has also designed an extended beavertail to once again, allow us to get a high grip without suffering slide bite. Finishing it out, Anderson has included a four-slot rail under the barrel for a flashlight or laser device. The frame is glass-reinforced nylon supporting the aluminum slide.
I was fortunate to get an early look at the Kiger 9C during a visit to Anderson Manufacturing in Hebron, Kentucky. I had been asked to join them for a special event and was soon on an airplane on my way. A quick tour of their facility just confirmed my impression that they had a well-thought-out manufacturing process. The facility was spotless, and state-of-the-art equipment sat wall to wall. From there we were taken to a board room and the presentation began.
Sneak Peek
The other writers and I were caught off guard a bit when we finally saw the new product. As I mentioned before, it is rare for a successful company to take an entirely new direction, but that is exactly what Anderson was doing. The ultimate question we asked ourselves was, “Why?” After listening to the presentation and visiting with the owners, the reason became clear. It is because they can, and they believe they can do it better.
After a lengthy question and answer session, we took the Kiger 9C to the range. The team at Anderson was very confident in the pistol and opened cases of ammo for us while simply saying, ”have at it.” That is courage because a gun writer with almost limitless ammo will use said ammo to look for any flaws in the gun. What I found was that the gun performed very well. I found it to be very accurate and easy to run. I was really impressed with the trigger. While it is a traditional striker fire-style trigger, I found it to be much smoother than other guns in this category. The gun comes with a 15-round Magpul 15GL9 mag that fed flawlessly. On that note, the team at Anderson tells me that the Kiger is compatible with most Glock Gen 3 components and aftermarket parts.
Range Tested – The Anderson Kiger 9C
Anderson was also kind enough to send me a pistol for additional testing on my own range. Performance-wise, the gun ran flawlessly as expected. While I fed it Hornady Critical Defense ammo primarily, I did cycle in some Winchester white box as well as a smattering of HP ammo. It’s my opinion that if I could chamber a Volkswagen into the gun, it would have run. My mantra has always been that you need to be able to masterfully manipulate and feed your gun. You can be the best shooter in the world, but if you run dry and your manipulations suck, you are nothing more than a bullet sponge. The slide cuts allowed me great grip and ability to manipulate the gun. Loading and press checks were a breeze. The Kiger 9C trigger really shined when speed and accuracy had to come together.
While difficult to describe the feel of the new trigger, the word smooth seems to fit the bill. The official listing on the Kiger 9C trigger is just above five pounds, but I measured the pistol out of the box, and it broke closer to six pounds. In time it may decrease as normal wear takes its toll. I found the gun to be fast primarily because of the trigger and my ability to get a nice high grip on the gun. Like its other brethren, the Kiger 9C fits most existing G19 holsters. If the rig is super fit, however, you may experience some grab. Gen 3 mags will fit this new blaster and overall, I felt the gun ran very well.
An Affordable Option
I am by no means an Anderson fanboy or a fanboy of any company. However I can certainly appreciate what they have accomplished with this gun. The accuracy, reliability, and undeniable good looks of the Kiger 9C are the makings of a perfect storm. As with any gun or manufacturer, I encourage you to give the product a personal try. Too often people’s opinions are driven by memes and chatter. The Kiger 9C is a serious pistol and is designed well. I want to close with what Anderson’s manufacturing capacity brings to the plate. Anderson plans on releasing the Kiger 9C at an MSRP of only $429.00. In my experience, that is a lot of gun for the money. If you get a chance to try the Kiger9C out, don’t pass it up.
For more information, visit:https://andersonmanufacturing.com/
