Is there a relationship between external attractiveness and internal goodness and quality? Well, it is very much a personal preference thing for beauty. And as Sir Thomas Overbury says in his 1613 poem, “Is beauty really only skin deep?”
So, several want to consider external appearance when buying a concealed carry (CC) gun, as well as to seek quality in function. Seems both are important, and we should use specific criteria to select our carry gun. While there are many very good-looking and quality subcompact pistols for CC on the market now, I prefer the 9mm, and there are certainly many of them to choose among.
I must admit while appearance is a consideration for me, it is not among my top nine criteria. For you, it may be, but to each his own. I have reviewed many smaller carry handguns in depth in recent years. My book “Concealed Carry & Handgun Essentials” recommends several in my Top 21 CC guns chapter. But now, with the recent introduction of the Kimber Micro 9, I want to analyze, compare, and rank it among my top subcompacts for recommendation or not in this article.
Several readers and students have asked what criteria I use to analyze my recommended handguns, so I want to give my criteria and range test results for the Micro 9 to help you analyze your handguns and make the best selection for yourself. You can add or subtract from my criteria to meet your needs and preferences.
I was very anxious to shoot the Micro 9 and to compare it factor by factor to my other quality subcompact 9mms to see if it truly ranked in my Top Subcompact CC pistols. I requested the Micro 9 from Kimber, and they were nice enough to loan me one for testing and evaluation purposes. Know that I am not on the Kimber payroll, have not been paid by them for this article, nor influenced to say certain things about the gun. I want to be honest and straightforward with my opinions and ideas the way I see the pistol to sincerely help folks.
Specifically, I wanted to know how accurate it is out of the box, without modifications. And the big question– what about the trigger press? Is the trigger smooth and crisp? What about the reset distance for follow-up shots? Is it reliable? Are there special, desirable features for this particular gun? Does it have rounded edges to help with concealability? Can I easily handle the recoil? What are its pros and cons? Are there any issues or concerns that would prevent me from carrying this gun? And I want to discover if there are holsters, magazines, and accessories available now for the Micro 9. Is this a gun I would recommend for CC?
What follows are two charts that list the Specifications and some Features of the Kimber Micro 9, Two-Tone 9mm pistol. Then I give you two recommended Outstanding Holsters for this pistol. Next, I will give you the 10 Criteria that I use to evaluate all guns. Finally, I present my Analysis and how I specifically evaluated the gun against each of my Criteria to Recommend or Not Recommend it. As always, set your own criteria and priorities, do your own research and check my data, information, etc., with yours, for your very personal selection process.
HOLSTERS
I wondered if there were quality holsters readily available for this Micro 9. And if there was a quality Optic-Ready holster for this small pistol? Sure enough, I relied on my traditional high-quality 1791 Gunleather manufacturer and found these high-quality, well-made Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) Belt Holsters manufactured by them.
So you can see the excellent double stitching quality of these holsters, I took a picture of the back of these fine holsters, so you can see for yourself.
1791 Gunleather Holsters have Great Fit, Function, and Appearance
The Micro 9 fit very well, the trigger guard was covered fine, and the pistol looks great in these two 1791 Gunleather holsters. And there was an attractive Mossy Oak Edition that was Optic Ready for this small 9mm. Yes! You can see the fine craftsmanship in the stitching and handwork in the images below. These holsters definitely are of high quality and made of very durable leather and materials. The holsters fit the Micro 9 perfectly, and they have very good retention while allowing them to ride high, close to the body, at a slight FBI can’t. Both holsters are also sincerely very comfortable and conceal my gun very well. They also fit my 1911 3-inch Glock 43, Sig 365, Ruger LC9, and some of my other small 9mms. Even with this multi-fit design, these holsters still seem customized just for this Micro 9 pistol. 1791 Gunleather rightfully prides itself that its holsters are “Handcrafted One At A Time.” And I really like and respect their often-used statement of appreciation of our Second Amendment. Certainly, their team manufacturers-in high-quality details and uses fine quality materials to make their holsters. Without a doubt, they make beautifully handcrafted and sturdy holsters that safely retain guns.
Some things I particularly like about the exquisite 1791 Gunleather holsters, aside from their great appearance and above advantages, are:
1) Reinforced double stitching to ensure security, quality, and lifetime durability and existence.
2) All holsters are handcrafted individually using 100% Certified American Leather with meticulous details.
3) The versatility of their multi-fit designs to accommodate a wide range of guns with fine reliability, performance, security, and safety attention.
4) The Lifetime Warranty for each holster. They make a “Promise to You that we will repair or replace the product, absolutely free.”
5) The excellent retention designed into their holsters for my peace of mind.
Criteria and Considerations
Here are just 10 of the Criteria and factors I use for evaluating any handgun, so I will use them for the Kimber Micro 9 subcompact. In addition to my criteria, there are other subjective features that may be appealing for some, like a certain style, mag release location, action, caliber, appearance, number of mags included, type of sights/modifications, bore axis, rail, grip angle, non-porting or porting, included extras like a holster and pouch, customer service, etc. So, I combined these into my last Miscellaneous criterion. I must admit that ALL gun-choice decisions involve tradeoffs, but I really want ALL of my criteria to be met. I assigned a total possible point score of 10 points for each of my 10 criteria for a total possible score of 100 points. You can certainly add your own additional criteria and preferences or subtract any of mine. Here are mine:
(1) Accuracy and Reliability– Performs well without reoccurring malfunctions and stoppages and results in consistent, accurate target hits with a 3″ inch hit group or so at 5-15 yards for concealed carry;
(2) Trigger Press maximum of about 5.5-6.5 pounds – lessens force applied for less movement & better accuracy- and press that is crisp and identifiable (TRAIN to be Trigger Safe);
(3) Trigger with short travel distance (a short travel distance increases the speed at the trigger can be fired) and easily identifiable and short reset point; Trigger with a smooth, consistent press for every shot (less need to transition between presses & make adjustments);
(4) Barrel length of 3.0″-4.5″ (primarily for concealed carry); for subcompact pistol ideally prefer 3.0″-3.5″.)
(5) Sights that are basic & simple (easy to use & see–I like Fiber Optic fronts); fast target acquisition; for my purposes– adjustable for windage; Night Sights for low-light situations;
(6) Proper Gun Weight to minimize recoil (I prefer about 25 oz. or less for carrying- but there are tradeoffs;)
(7) Caliber match my needs, characteristics & abilities (consider medical & physical limitations); 9mm is my preference for carry;
(8) Capacity -adequate for use & feature tradeoffs- usually prefer about 7-8 rounds or so (for a subcompact) in a 9mm magazine for carrying (but can carry a spare mag or 2 sometimes);
(9) Ergonomics – Hand Comfort and Grip Fit, controls easy to work and easily accessible; rounded, low-profile;
(10) Miscellaneous – Overall Finish, fit, & quality appearance & workmanship; mag release location & function to drop mags freely; ambidextrous controls; accessory rail as required; grip angle; bore axis; competitive market price; excellent customer service with friendly & helpful representatives; ease of disassembly-assembly; Hard or Soft Case; Extras (like a third mag, holster, pouch, extended & flush mags); warranty length and extent; safety factors, etc.
Recognize that there are several features, characteristics, pros and cons, and personal criteria to include and consider, and you make your own tradeoffs according to your priorities, preferences, defined needs, and use.
Kimber Micro 9 Two-Tone 9mm RANGE TEST
At the range for the Range Test, I used high-quality Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown JHP ammo in 115, 124, and 147-grain weights, so I could try different ammo to see how it cycled the variety. I only fired about 200 rounds to evaluate this gun (usually, I shoot 500 rounds over a couple of days) to decide if I wanted to carry the gun or not, I had the information I needed after shooting it. Below are my evaluations for each of my 10 criteria for my concealed carry purpose. While this old coot is not a top expert shooter by any means, I wanted to put the gun through its paces and check it thoroughly for malfunctions and performance with quality JHP ammo and a few reloads.
This Kimber Micro 9 in Two-Tone looks great and the quality appearance, fit and finish are exceptional. The Micro subcompact 9mm has nice ergonomics. It was comfortable in my hand, and the aggressive grip texture was just right for me, as I tend to perspire a lot. As expected, my pinky finger did not fit the smaller frame, and it dangled some. But, I can get accustomed to this, and hopefully, an extended mag with an extra round will be available in two months or so, per my marketing contact there. The stippling was good, and it extended high up the backstrap to enhance my solid grip. I could easily reach all the controls. It has an ambidextrous thumb safety. Its single-stack mag was nice, but at the expense of extra rounds. The slide was very easy for me to rack, and the felt recoil and muzzle rise was surprisingly very manageable for this subcompact. The 16-pound recoil spring and full-length guide rod probably helped. Well, below, I will present my ideas for each of my criteria after my range testing.
Overall after my range live fire, the Kimber Micro 9 single action subcompact gun impressed me as a very attractive, accurate, and reliable (with limited rounds fired by me) carry a gun. I had no malfunctions or stoppages at all with the various types, weights, and quality of ammo fired.
At the range shooting the gun for the first time, my first seven+1 rounds fired rapid fire at 5 yards, all hit in a nice 2.5″ group, considering my declining eyesight. My next 7+1 rounds fired at 7 yards formed a similar group (albeit a little larger), and then I shot 7+1 more rounds at 7 yards (see Target Hits below.) For this old Mr. Magoo shooter with challenging vision, the hits were very acceptable for ME for close-up self-defense encounters. Over different up-close, tactical distances, accuracy was very acceptable, but shoot it for yourself to make your own decisions, based on your abilities and proficiency. Below are my hits for my first 16 rounds at 7 yards with the Micro 9.
RANGE TEST RESULTS for each of my 10 Criteria:
(1) The Accuracy of the subcompact Micro 9 was very acceptable for me at distances of 3, 5, 7, and 10 yards, with my aging eyesight. My groups at each of the up-close encounter distances were about 2.0-3.0 inches for the first time I ever fired the gun, after first cleaning it. Groups were smaller for me at all distances using the 124-grain HP ammo. I fired about 200 rounds. The 6.8# trigger press I experienced was crisp, soft, and acceptable. The nice grip surface and the rounded single-action trigger really helped. I used my Modified-Isosceles Stance, a two-handed grip, & shot high-performance Sig Sauer V-Crown 115, 124, and 147-grain JHPs Reliably… 10.
(2) The Trigger Press averaged about 6.8 pounds with 10 readings from my Electronic Trigger Pull Gauge. This was right at the upper limits for my press range for my carry guns. It will improve after break-in and shooting it more. I prefer that my carry guns have a maximum of 6.5 pounds press or less, so this is very close and no major problem. I prefer a lighter press of closer to 4-5 pounds. Of course, this is personal preference and a training issue, but I know some of my recommended and actual 9mm 1911-style single-action carry guns have lighter presses. I analyze and compare 21 of my top 21 CC guns in my Concealed Carry book. I liked that the trigger press was crisp and easily identifiable. The polished feed ramp helped… 9.
(3) The match-grade, solid aluminum Trigger had a tactile and very identifiable click and reset. I liked the fairly short and positive reset and very crisp trigger. My shots were consistent each time and I could easily recognize the reset point. I did like shooting it. It has an excellent soft and smooth trigger for a small gun… 10.
(4) The 3.15-inch Barrel with its 16-pound recoil spring most definitely helped control muzzle flip and recoil. Very nice recoil control. The steel barrel was of high quality, and the short barrel helped make it very concealable… 10.
(5) The 3 dot sights were medium-sized, and distinguishable, and helped my sight acquisition, sight alignment & sight picture. The sights are dovetail mounted. The sights were certainly acceptable, but with my impaired vision and color-blind eyes, I preferred the bright green fiber optic front sight for a better lock on to the front sight and wanted larger sight dots. I wish it came standard with night sights… 8.
(6) The overall 15.6-ounce unloaded weight was very light and nice for concealed carry within my desired range, but with the lightweight comes some disadvantages… which can be overcome. The weight is certainly very acceptable… 9.
(7) It was easy and comfortable to shoot the 9mm Caliber. The Micro has a closed-breech design. I felt the recoil was lower than I expected, and the recoil was very easy for me to control. It digested the various weights of 9mm ammo easily without a single malfunction or stoppage. The lightweight aluminum frame made it comfortable to carry, and the recoil was not a problem… 10.
(8) I used one extended 7-round stainless steel mag and the included 6-round stainless steel magazine. There were other stainless steel mags readily available from Kimber, ranging from $42. to $46. per mag. I shot 7+1 and 6+1. Of course, like most, I want more capacity, but there are tradeoffs with a single stack, subcompact, single-action 1911-style gun. I discovered for myself that my Sig 938 flat-base (not extended) mags would fit in the Micro 9, but I did not shoot the Micro with them. Aside from a critical safety issue, this could be a Warranty issue, and I do NOT RECOMMEND using the Sig mags even if they seem to fit. They are not designed for them, and there could be safety problems, etc. SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS! …. 8.
(9) The Ergonomics of the Micro 9 was very nice. Aside from its outstanding appearance and great fit and finish, the grip was very fine, and the texturing was right for me. The grip’s body was ample to allow me to acquire a firm and comfortable grip, but (as expected), my pinky dangled below the grip. This was not a problem for my medium-sized hands and me. I was able to easily reach all the controls without changing my grip or with a minor rotation. The 1 included mag was polished with a smooth finish, and it dropped freely from the mag well… 9.
(10) Miscellaneous. As always, before shooting any new gun, I disassembled, lubed, and cleaned and re-assembled the Micro 9 before I shot it. I did NOT have to press the trigger to disassemble it, and it was very easy and quick to do. Just cock the hammer, move the slide rearward, take out the slide stop pin, and remove the slide. The price of the gun is comparable (within $80 or so) to the Sig 938 (both have about a 3″ barrel; 6″ length; 16 oz; with Sig 7 rounds (some with 6- mine came with 1 7-rounder & 1 6-rounder) & Micro 6 rounds.) The Micro does not include accessories like some others, e.g., a holster, mag pouch. But, the 1791 Gunleather holsters are very high quality and much better than those usually included with a gun. There are several nice features for this very quality gun. There is a one-year Warranty for the original purchaser, rather than a lifetime warranty for all… 9.
Total Points = 92 out of 100 Possible. I certainly RECOMMEND this handgun for consideration as your concealed carry subcompact gun. You can even carry this easily as a pocket gun with deep concealment. I especially like its accuracy, outstanding fit, finish, fine appearance, lightweight for easy carry, and small size for concealability. Its felt recoil was very manageable for a small subcompact 9mm, and its rounded lines prevented snags. I wish it came standard with more rounds capacity, included more than one 6-round mag, and had night sights. But its many other features make up for most of those preferences.
I want to shoot it more to see its long-term reliability before I buy it and carry it, but I probably will buy this pistol and at least use it for pocket carry as well as for OWB carry. I was very impressed with its accuracy out of the box, its low muzzle flip and recoil for a subcompact 9mm, and that I had no malfunctions or stoppages whatsoever with the 200 rounds I fired. This pistol fits very well in the two 1791 Gunleather holsters presented here, and I will use them for strong-side, belt carry.
These are just my opinions and ideas, so handle and shoot this Micro pistol for yourself. I hope this review of the Kimber Micro 9 Two-Tone, single action 1911-style subcompact 9mm has helped you gain some information you did not previously have. Consider that these are just my opinions with limited live-range fire and shooting myself only about 200 rounds of ammo. Like always, I recommend that you shoot any handgun yourself before you purchase it. Decide on your criteria, how you will primarily use the gun, what features are important to you, and what you are willing to pay for ahead of your range time. Then critically evaluate the gun YOURSELF per your criteria and purpose, with standard drills (several mentioned in my book), with various ammo types and brands, over an extended break-in period of about 500 rounds. Remember, Safety First Always.
Continued success!
CONTACTS:
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Photos by Author.
* This personal opinion article is meant for general information & educational purposes only, and the author strongly recommends that you seek counsel from an attorney for legal advice and your own personal certified weapons trainer for proper guidance about shooting & using YOUR firearms, self-defense, and concealed carry. It should not be relied upon as accurate for all shooters & the author assumes no responsibility for anyone’s use of the information and shall not be liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information or any damages or injuries incurred whatsoever.
© 2022 Col Benjamin Findley. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part by mechanical means, photocopying, electronic reproduction, scanning, or any other means without prior written permission. For copyright information, contact Col Ben Findley at [email protected].
ABOUT COL. BEN FINDLEY
“Col Ben” is retired with 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, with joint services Special Ops duty and training, and is Air Force qualified as “Expert” in small arms. He is a Vietnam-era Veteran, serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Veterans Foundation, and is a designated “Ambassador” for Veterans. Ben is an experienced NRA-Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, and FL Concealed Carry License Instructor.
Ben wrote the book “Concealed Carry and Handgun Essentials for Personal Protection” (second printing) with 57 comprehensive Chapters about concealed carry and handgun principles, techniques, and tips for both experienced and new shooters. His reference book is endorsed by several organizations and is available on his website at www.FloridaHandgunsTraining.com. Contact him at [email protected].
