My Kimber Solo

[littlebluevette]

Picked up my Kimber Solo CDP yesterday. Here is how it stacks up along side of my other two favorites, the Berretta Compact PX4 Storm and the S&W 637 stubby.

So far I have had zero ammunition issues with the Solo. I broke it in with 20 Federal Premiium 124 gran hydra-shock jhp. Since then I have put 100 Fiocchi 115 grain and 50 Federal range and target thru it. Once again no ammunition issues.

The only problem I've encountered so far is human caused. Because the Solo is so small my thumb naturally sits on top of the magazine release button which caused an occasional issue between shots. I'm in the process of working that one out over the next several weeks.

I already know that the Solo is going to replace my stubbie as my favorite closed carry. It holds seven shots vs five for the stubbie. It is thinner and much easier to conceal comfortably. The gun feels good and is very well balanced. It fits very well in an Uncle Mike's size three pocket holster and rides well and is quick to draw out of normal jacket or pants pocket.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it. Thumbs up to Kimber.

 

[maddy345]

Looks nice!

 

[jogar80]

How's the recoil compared to your snubbie, which im guessing is a .38 special?

 

[littlebluevette]

"How's the recoil compared to your snubbie, which im guessing is a .38 special? "

That's a good question. I'm going back to the range tomorrow and am going to shoot both side by side. Right now I think I would have to say the recoil is similar with maybe the Solo's being slightly more harsh than the stubby because I can only get two fingers around the Solo.

My initial impression is that the trigger pull on the Solo seems to be shorter and smoother than the stubby but right now I am much more accurate with the S&W than I am with the Solo. With that said, I have put over 3,000 rounds on the stubby and only 170 on the Solo.

 

[reuben mishler]

Really enjoyed reading your review of the solo carry, also like the lasrgrips that you put on it. I'm jealous you have one, I spoke with a Kimber rep the other day, and he told me that on average right now, there is a 10 month wait for placing new orders on this firearm, weather this is true or not, I don't know. Thanks for your detail and opinions!

 

[roadrat]

My LGS had a CDP for MSRP but I passed on it
Waiting for a while and then may pick up a STS version

 

[larryh1108]

I'm interested in getting a Solo when the fever dies down. However, every picture I see seems to show the thumb safety with "wings" that stick out quite a bit. I've never seen one in person so I'm asking just how far the thumb safety sticks out? Thanks.

 

[littlebluevette]

" I've never seen one in person so I'm asking just how far the thumb safety sticks out?"

Interesting observation. Attached is a photo looking at the thumb safety from the top down. The gun is so small the photos seems to magnify it. The entire safety is about the size of a thumb nail. I think if it were any smaller it would be difficult to operate. Everything on the gun is rounded and it slips in and out of a pocket holster very easily.

 

[Rinspeed]

Although 120 rounds is nowhere near enough rounds to know if it's going to be reliable it's a promising start.

 

[littlebluevette]

Put another 100 rounds of 115 grain Fiocchi thru it this morning bringing the total up to 270 rounds. The performance was flawless. I am really enjoying this gun.

 

[Rembrandt]

USE ONLY RECOMMENDED AMMUNITION
Solo is designed to function optimally using premium hollow-point self-defense factory ammunition with bullet weights of 124 or 147 grains.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

• Federal® Hydra-Shok® JHP
• Remington® Golden Saber™ HPJ
• Hornady TAP® JHP

While other ammunition may perform well, lighter bullets and inconsistent pressures that can be found in lower-quality ammunition may lead to decreased slide cycle time and compromise function.

Why did you use 115 grain Fiocchi and not what Kimbers recommends?

Nice looking Solo....I have a stainless on order but may switch to the CDP.

 

[littlebluevette]

"Why did you use 115 grain Fiocchi and not what Kimbers recommends?"

I did use what Kimber recommended to break it in but at the expense of sounding cheap the answer is....Price. There are only 20 Federal Hydra-Shok in a box and they cost a little bit over a dollar per shot. I am planning on shooting twice a week at the range until I get good and proficient with this gun which equates to over 800 shots per month.

 

[GCMkc]

I shot my Uncle's Kimber Solo yesterday and man did that thing destroy the web in between my index finger and thumb. Seriously, that thing hurt my hand more than my glock 29 with some hot 10mm loads...These guns definitely need a magazine extension of some sort in order to get that pinky onto the grip.

 

[littlebluevette]

Gez, I put 200 shots thru the Solo and 50 thru my stubby this morning and my hands fell fine. I don't think the Solo kicks back hard at all. Certainly no harder than my little S&W 637 stubby. Are you sure you were holding it properly?

 

[denster]

Recoil is a subjective thing. I've got over 800 rounds through mine and even with hot ammo it seems about like my S&W442 with 38+P. It does get a little squirmy on tripple taps so I added a hogue grip adapter and that solved that problem.

 

[oasis618]

Looks good. Now you just need to get those warning labels off of it.

 

[Mac Attack]

Which is heavier your j frame or your Solo? I really like the design as it is very similar to the Colt 1903 and I love my 03

 

[littlebluevette]

The weight feels about the same but feels to be more equally distributed. I really like the both of them.

 

[orionengnr]

Beautiful pistol. Hope it continues to work smoothly for you.
Now, please learn the Four Rules and get your finger off the trigger!

And ditch those hokey laser decals

 

[littlebluevette]

Put another 100 rounds of Fiochhi 115 grain thru little Kimberly this morning bringing the total shots fired to 370 with no failures. I getting much more comfortable with the smallness of the gun and have figured out here to rest my thumb. She fits real well in the Uncle Mike's size 3 pocket holster.

 

[2WheelsGood]

Beautiful pistol. Hope it continues to work smoothly for you.
Now, please learn the Four Rules and get your finger off the trigger!

I was just about to post the same thing. I recently emailed a moderator of a flickr group asking him to remove a similar picture.

 

[littlebluevette]

"Originally Posted by orionengnr
Now, please learn the Four Rules and get your finger off the trigger!"
"I was just about to post the same thing

"

I had my finger on the trigger to demonstrate how my thumb naturally rested on the magazine thumb release. I've since resolved that problem. It is still advice well taken.

"The only problem I've encountered so far is human caused. Because the Solo is so small my thumb naturally sits on top of the magazine release button which caused an occasional issue between shots. I'm in the process of working that one out over the next several weeks."