Kimber Micro9 or SIG 938

The Kimber looks much better.

I love my p938; Sig quality.

Surfer

My 938 was ridiculously accurate. I haven't had the Kimber, so I don't know if they come stock with tritium sights, but the Sig does. The 938 trigger pivots from the top, and the slide can be operated with the safety on, so it's not as completely 1911-ish as the Kimber looks to be. I expected the 938 to be a little unpleasant to shoot, given its weight and size, but it was actually pretty nice.

Personally, I'd trust Sig before I'd trust Kimber, but that may be a matter of bias on my part-- I have four Sigs and am impressed with all of them. My only Kimber is a revolver, so it's a different species (though I think they did a great job with it).

My step-son has a P938 and I was very impressed with it's size, weight, sights, and trigger pull. I also have a P238 so there's a certain familiarity with both guns. One advantage the SIG has is that there is a .22 conversion kit available for the P938 (though it appears it's on back order at most places I looked at). Have not tried the Kimber Micro9 but it definitely looks to be very comparable to the SIG P938.

I’ve read that on the Kimber Micro9’s that due to its size when recoiling people have inadvertently activated the safety. Something you should be aware of, as that would be a deal killer for a CCW gun especially if that was the case and not just poor handling during shooting.

I have a Micro 9 that I got silly cheap and I love it. Recoil seems to be similar to a Ruger LC9s. The thumb safety issue I never heard of or experienced. It might be with a bony thumb,not a problem I have.

I had a Sig 938 with the 22 conversion. Sold it. Loved the 9 mm, hated the 22 conversion.

The 22 locks back on the last round using the magazine follower, which is plastic. Do drop the empty mag when it locks back, you have to finish pulling the slide to the rear, engage the slide catch, then you can drop the magazine. Initially it was real fussy with what it would eat. It would not eat anything I tried except Remington Golden Bullets, but after a bit it started eating about anything.

I sold it because I was offered almost what I paid for it. The gent who bought it had shot it, knew about the 22 issue. Funny thing though, within a month it was back in the consignment case at the LGS. Don't know why he sold it though.

I would buy another in 9mm, but not the .22. ,I would likely buy the Kimber though, just because it looks more like a baby 1911. IIjust think the grip on the 938 looks out of proportion. I did vote for the Kimber.

I’ve never shot a Kimber micro 9.
My P938 is a really fine pistol. Easy shooting, low recoil (in my opinion), great sights, fits my hand.

I would buy what fits your hand in this case. I’m sure the Kimber is ok, but the sig fits me.

I also have and use the .22 conversion kit. Most 1911 style .22s have the above described lockback issue. It’s not a problem. I mean, really, the .22 mode is not for a self defense purpose with mag changes under stress after shooting dry!

Do the Kimber Micro9's jam as much as their 1911s?

Can only talk to the P938.
- Great night sights.
- Extremely precise and comfortable to shoot w/ 147 gr. ammo.
- 100% reliable.
- Trigger is crisp and not too heavy.
- Extra mags are affordable.

GR

I've handled both. I like them both, but I trust Sig more for various reasons I won't bore people with.

I vote sig with the extended mag.

Quick note, not trying to sidetrack the OP's question, but:

Balrog said:

Do the Kimber Micro9's jam as much as their 1911s?

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All my Kimber 1911s must be defective ... none of them have ever jammed, not once. My TLE II is superb, the Eclipse gorgeous, the Tactical Pro excellent, and my CDP Pro reliable enough that I still carry it sometimes ...


I'm not a Kimber fan really, just a 1911 fan. Got more Colts than any other brand, and some quality Springers as well.

But for a micro-sized 9mm in a 1911 style pattern, I'll go with the SIG P-938 every time -- mine is terrific, and the only little gun I ever carry. Garandimal's post above says it all.

I'd go with the P938. Part of the reason is simply because that's what I own and I love that gun. It's shoots much better than it should for it's size. But part of the reason is because SIG is the one that first upscaled the Colt Mustang to 9mm size, and I think they should get credit for it. In my eyes the Kimber and Springfield versions are just knock-offs. I say this fully realizing the P238 is basically a knock-off of the Mustang.

I don’t have a Kimber to compare with my P938 but I never had a problem nor any complaints with the Sig. I have about 400 rounds through it of various types of ammo.

Old Dog said:

Quick note, not trying to sidetrack the OP's question, but:
All my Kimber 1911s must be defective ... none of them have ever jammed, not once. My TLE II is superb, the Eclipse gorgeous, the Tactical Pro excellent, and my CDP Pro reliable enough that I still carry it sometimes ...

I'm not a Kimber fan really, just a 1911 fan. Got more Colts than any other brand, and some quality Springers as well.

But for a micro-sized 9mm in a 1911 style pattern, I'll go with the SIG P-938 every time -- mine is terrific, and the only little gun I ever carry. Garandimal's post above says it all.

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I'm with you. My Kimbers must have come from the same defective batch as yours. My Custom II TLE and Tactical Pro never fail no matter how much I shoot them. I'm also just a flat out 1911 fan and own several brands. As for the Micro 9, had it existed when I was looking for a 9mm to pocket carry, it certainly would have received serious consideration. Since it hadn't been offered at the time, my EDC is a P938 Extreme...reliable, accurate and easy to pocket carry in a Desantis Super Fly holster.

Fastlane said:

I don’t have a Kimber to compare with my P938 but I never had a problem nor any complaints with the Sig. I have about 400 rounds through it of various types of ammo.

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Same here.

My defective Kimber 1911's (CDP Pro, Eclipse full size) are a lot like Old dog and Bluzman, I should send them back to the factory because they eat anything I've put thru them. I carried a CDP Pro for years and it shot everytime I pulled the trigger.

Having said that, if I wanted a 1911 styled mini 9 I'd go with the Sig, it's a proven platform. My only issue with the 938 is the same issue I have with the Sig P-238 a pocket sized gun that should NEVER be pocket carried. 1911 defensive carry should be condition one, If your going to carry a mini 1911, it still requires a good substantial holster. I can't tell you how many customers (when I worked the gun counter at a local store PT) told me stories of pulling there 238 or 938 out of a pocket and having the safties already disengaged.

Sig for the win.I work p/t in a gun store as a retirement job. Kimbers are not my favorite. Too expensive, Too much break in required, and not enough customer support. YMMV.

Between the two I found the Kimber felt better in my hands over the more square gripped Sig. Shot about the same for me, so I said Kimber.

And yes, I'm another who received only defective Kimber 1911s (Ultra Carry, Pro Carry, Warrior) that work every bit as well as the Colt, Sig, Springfield, and Dan Wessons I do/have own(ed).

I've shot both. They're both nice pistols. I won't own a Kimber though. I have a Sig P938 SAS with the Crimson Trace on it. Great pistol but painful to shoot as any micro 9 is. I never carry it and at this point in my life I'm thinning the herd. I've been trying to sell it for months.

I own the SIG P938 and love it. I would recommend it highly. It is accurate, reliable and shoots like a dream with the extended mag.

No experience with the Kimber, sorry.

I would not want a Kimber. I owned several back about 10 years ago. They were so pretty I couldn't resist. None of them were reliable enough to depend. I distinctly remember having one of the worst customer service experiences of my life with a Kimber rep in Yonkers. He was a total ****** on the phone.

Having worked at three LGSs, each with a high-volume gunsmith shop and two with busy public ranges, I would never buy a Kimber. I’ve seen too many Kimbers with problems on the range, and I’ve seen too many come into the gunsmith with silly QC issues like broken or improperly-installed parts.

My favorite was a grip screw on a brand-new $1,500 Kimber that was too long, red loctited in place, and prevented the magazine from dropping free. When my gunsmith showed it to me he prefaced it by saying, “Want yet another example of why Kimbers are terrible?”

I’m sure there are plenty of people who like their Kimbers and haven’t had QC issues. But I’ve seen too many people who have, so I tend to recommend pretty much anything besides a Kimber to anyone who asks.