Fired my new Kimber K6 today...

[sarhog]

I got a chance to send a few rounds downrange with my new Kimber K6 Deep Cover today.
The .38 and .38 +P recoil was very manageable (could hardly tell the difference), but the recoil with 357 was brutal!
I (wrongly) assumed that the recoil with the magnum ammo out of this gun would be similar to +P recoil out of a S&W airweight, but I was mistaken.
The .38 ammo was Winchester 130gr FMJ, and the .357 was Fiocchi 142gr FMJ.

The top photo was the .38, the bottom was the .357.




P.S. Anyone want to buy 41 rounds of .357 ammo?

 

[fordtrucks]

Great pics. Been thinking about getting one of those. 357 sounds painful though. Too bad no 9mm revolver in that kimber lineup.

 

[gotboostvr]

That Fiocchi is pretty hot stuff if I remember right. Maybe try a box of reduced recoil 125gr or therabouts.

I like the 158gr short barrel reduced recoil JHP from Buffalo Bore personally in my 2&1/2" M19.

 

[George P]

Try using two hands, it will make a difference. I do not like 357 out of a K frame, regardless of barrel length, which is why when I bought a J frame, it was only going to be for 38s.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I tend to prefer a .38 revolver when they get that size. Yes, it is a bit nice for it to be able to shoot .357 but as you see its not a fun range day if you do it a lot.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Sure turned it into a flame thrower! Full load .357 are painful out of any snub.

 

[Waveski]

It is also my impression that Fiocchi tends towards hot. (sold all of mine.)
The K frame was designed for .38 special. So be it.
Snub nose + .357 magnum = flame thrower.

Hooray for Captain Obvious.

 

[bannockburn]

sarhog

Great photos! If you're ever lost in the woods don't worry about not having any signal flares; especially if you got those Fiocchi .357s in your gun!

 

[Bama59]

Keep the .357 ammo and buy a 686 or GP100

 

[WheelGunMan]

I'd be interested in looking at a chrono of those two shots. I wonder how close the fps would be inasmuch as most of the .357's powder burned after the bullet left the chamber lending "0" to its velocity. Was the .38 round a +P?

 

[chicharrones]

Great photos. The bottom photo looks like you have a survival pack fire starter.

 

[sarhog]

That Fiocchi is pretty hot stuff if I remember right. Maybe try a box of reduced recoil 125gr or therabouts.

I like the 158gr short barrel reduced recoil JHP from Buffalo Bore personally in my 2&1/2" M19.

I will try something else before swearing off of .357 in this gun, thanks.

Try using two hands, it will make a difference. I do not like 357 out of a K frame, regardless of barrel length, which is why when I bought a J frame, it was only going to be for 38s.

It was just as painful with a two handed grip.

Keep the .357 ammo and buy a 686 or GP100

I'm in the market for a 586 as we speak.

I'd be interested in looking at a chrono of those two shots. I wonder how close the fps would be inasmuch as most of the .357's powder burned after the bullet left the chamber lending "0" to its velocity. Was the .38 round a +P?

I'd be interested as well. Looks like a lot of wasted energy there. The .38 round was NOT a +P, it was WWB 130 gr FMJ.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I got a chance to send a few rounds downrange with my new Kimber K6 Deep Cover today.
The .38 and .38 +P recoil was very manageable (could hardly tell the difference), but the recoil with 357 was brutal!
I (wrongly) assumed that the recoil with the magnum ammo out of this gun would be similar to +P recoil out of a S&W airweight, but I was mistaken.

What's your overall impression on the new Kimber K6? How's the fit and finish? Mechanical performance? Do you feel it earns its high dollar price tag?

 

[AZAndy]

Before you give up on .357, try some 125 grain Golden Sabers. They tested well for the Lucky Gunner labs and are not horrendous to shoot-- I think they do a little over 1000 fps, so they're fairly mild. If I'm carrying my Kimber or 640, that's what's in it.

 

[sarhog]

What's your overall impression on the new Kimber K6? How's the fit and finish? Mechanical performance? Do you feel it earns its high dollar price tag?

Fit and finish is top notch. The sights are sooo much better than my J frame. The trigger is really nice too. Very smooth, and easy to stage for single action feel. Earns its price tag? I'm happy with its value, but the answer to that is dependent on one's financial situation. I paid $899, no tax , plus a $15 transfer.

 

[340PD]

I am not recoil sensitive so anything out of my K6s is fun to shoot. I do like the black verson better than my stainless, I have factory CT lasergrips on mine and accuracy with that gun using the laser is amazing.
Congratulations on buying a outstanding snubbie.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That particular load produced stupidly large fireballs out of my 6 inch Smith. I don't shoot them anymore and will be developing my own loads.

 

[bassjam]

I don't mind the recoil of .38+p out of an Airweight, and I don't mind .357mag out of my k-frame.

But .357 mag out of my SP101 (same basic size as the Kimber) was more than I wanted for a defense scenario where my hands might be sweaty or I might not be able to use a two hand hold. I bought a couple boxes of Buffalo Bore .38 sp +p and found it was a happy medium in recoil between "other" +p defense loads and .357 mag defense loads. Eventually I'll pick up a chrono and see if there's a real difference in velocity, but the palms of my hands certainly can tell a difference.

 

[Mark NM]

Also might try Gold Dot 135 gr short barrel 357s; a more realistic load for the Kimber (and the SP). You know it’s a magnum, but manageable and more likely to expand than same bullet in 38+p according to Lucky Gunner. Required velocity to expand according to Speer is the velocity they claim 38+p achieves (868 fps if I remember right). Seems like not much room for variations in conditions, temperature etc. 357 load same bullet gives around 1000 fps, more of a sure thing? For me in K6, not really punishing (but wouldn’t want to run 100 at a time).

 

[Monster Zero]

I don't mind the recoil of .38+p out of an Airweight, and I don't mind .357mag out of my k-frame.

But .357 mag out of my SP101 (same basic size as the Kimber) was more than I wanted for a defense scenario where my hands might be sweaty or I might not be able to use a two hand hold. I bought a couple boxes of Buffalo Bore .38 sp +p and found it was a happy medium in recoil between "other" +p defense loads and .357 mag defense loads. Eventually I'll pick up a chrono and see if there's a real difference in velocity, but the palms of my hands certainly can tell a difference.

The BB +P's be da bomb in an SP. They're my carry load.

 

[Dibbs]

The problem is that goofy half-a-grip "Boot" handle they put on the K6. Get a real set of grips
by Altamont, or somebody. I did. Tames the .357 right on down. Not that it's a revolver I'll ever shoot for
fun, but the pistol becomes controllable, more accurate, and far less painful to shoot. It also doesn't overly increase
the size.

 

[Mark NM]

I’ve been happy with the Kimber walnut grips; I ordered them at the same time as the gun knowing the regular grip wouldn’t be ideal for me.

 

[5-SHOTS]

If you are impressed with Fiocchi 142gr FMJ-TC, then try Fiocchi Black Mamba 110gr FMJ-TC or better jet Fiocchi 110gr FMJ-FN. Those are real flame throwers with very high speed and energy.
A box of Black Mambas were good enought to start to show some erosion signs on the forcing cone of the Ruger SP101 DAO I used to own.
And I still have an italian gun magazine where less than a box of Black Mambas was good enought to make a S&W 340PD titanium cylinder looks like it was nibbled by a mouse (it was a user error underrating the allert wrote on the barrel).

 

[Eddietruett]

Before you give up on .357, try some 125 grain Golden Sabers. They tested well for the Lucky Gunner labs and are not horrendous to shoot-- I think they do a little over 1000 fps, so they're fairly mild. If I'm carrying my Kimber or 640, that's what's in it.

I'm a huge fan of the Golden Saber +P. Its in al my carry guns. Very Easy to shoot and the rest on Lucky Gunner was very impressive. One weird thing is I bough several hundred of the Golden Saber Bullets to reload and while I was able to match the velocity, I can't get any I load to shoot as accurate as the factory. Out of my snubs, it makes no difference, but shooting out of a 6" and 8 3/8", the factory bullets are noticeably more accurate. I did learn while playing around with them that Remington offers a .38 and a .357 Golden Saber both in factory loads and in the bullets for reloading. The .38's will expand better with lower velocities.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I got a chance to send a few rounds downrange with my new Kimber K6 Deep Cover today.
The .38 and .38 +P recoil was very manageable (could hardly tell the difference), but the recoil with 357 was brutal!
I (wrongly) assumed that the recoil with the magnum ammo out of this gun would be similar to +P recoil out of a S&W airweight, but I was mistaken.
The .38 ammo was Winchester 130gr FMJ, and the .357 was Fiocchi 142gr FMJ.

The top photo was the .38, the bottom was the .357.

View attachment 810373


P.S. Anyone want to buy 41 rounds of .357 ammo?

Yea for my Blackhawk. Not no for a snubbie, but HELL NO!