I intend to take the Kimber Solo back to the range to check it out with the 105gr Remington 9mm Disruptors. Apparently the store tried out all their rental 9mms with these new rounds, and even the known finicky feeders functioned flawlessly. Recoil in any weapon is also noticeably lower.
So far, for me the Solo is still not "user friendly" enough for me to consider seriesly for carry use. However, I have made progress, and if the Disintegrators work (despite Kimber's warning of no ammo lighter than 125gr), it could move up high on my list.
First complaint, aside from nasty recoil, is that it was too damn small and slippery for my average hands. There was just enough weapon to grasp to rack the slide. It almost flew out of my hand when firing, despite a death-grip on it.
A slip-on Hogue rubber sleeve in their smallest size fixed a few problems. With the added "bite" from the rubber sleeve, I could rack the slide normally, and there was no tendency for it to want to depart my hand hold. Recoil is still bad, just not as bad as before.
In fact, the recoil is still bad enough that the grip screws were starting to loosen, even though I had torqued them to the max. They were even loose under the rubber sleeve, although they couldn't escape. I used generous amounts of Loctite red on the screws, and will check after each shooting session. I'm noticing some of the same grip screw loosening on other caliber handguns that don't present any recoil problems. My own theory is that short threads are vulnerable to the internal stresses present in any weapon when fired. Some critical part may crack after thousands of rounds, but I suspect screws will start to loosen even sooner. I can't figure out why I seem to be the only person that this happens to.
My own theory of defensive carry is that if I can't put a hundred rounds through the handgun in one session, I'll never develop the skills with that weapon to have the confidence that Murphy might invite himself to be the third party in a gunfight. I really seek absolute in my weapon so I can concentrate on the weakest link, myself. :)
Oh, and for anybody who collects Murphyisms, he's one I never saw before, although it dates to 1975 and the Fulda Gap:
So...where was I...ah, yes...so here's the corrollary to the law you quote: If it can go wrong it already has, we just don't know about it yet.
Sorry for being so wordy, but if I've already paid tuition in the school of hard knocks, I might as well share my quasi-wisdom with anyone interested.
We seek the truth, good or bad , only the truth.... You provided and probably saved me some cash and Lil Sister from a bad CHL tool....
I have small Gus in the form of a 80’s era Seecamp .32 and a new Rhorbaugh 9mm that I love for deep concealment. just ordered a Seecamp 380 this past weekend .
Need to find Sis a small auto in 9mm so may snag her just a standard Glock 19 of her own if she likes shooting mine. She may just stick with a SW 340 with glasers using a bahrimi grip and 2 spare speed strips from bianchi. But I want her to have the option of either or on her CHL permit....semi-auto or wheel gun .
Grateful for the review...was thinking you had one of the solos.
BTW would the heavy 147gr 9mm be a better choice ? I used this load and still do in my browning high powers and Glock 9’s..... Very good combo IMO.
Stay safe 300 ! Thanks !