Lightweight Kimber revolver

[Winelover]

Email from Buds, this AM. Wasn't aware Kimber is now competing with S&W lightweight carry pieces. A hammerless 6 shot chambered in 38+P rating. Weighs less than one pound. Only thing that could improve it, would be to camber in 357 Magnum. Or even a 5 shot 44 Special.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/411561008/kimber+k6xs+ultra-lightweight+.38+spl+2+6-shot+revolver?trk_msg=qogqsk2cmkj4v60ggkj97v528c&trk_contact=sf8bm8327trkklkad2iqchcgfg&trk_sid=c8l9dt755tf35tbh1un7nkhilk&trk_link=ukl94ln04mrk32j5mgnrkg3aoo&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=shop+now&utm_campaign=bgscol062823

 

[KeithB]

You have way more recoil tolerance than most if you want a less-than-one-pound .357 magnum. I could see a .44 Special version. But it does look like a good platform for .38+P loads. Price isn't bad either compared to the competition.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I don't want .357 mag in a lightweight snubnose but I would seriously consider a lightweight DAO 6 shot +P 38 Special Kimber.

 

[Winelover]

Already have the Ruger LCR in 357 Magnum. I prefer versatility. One more extra shot isn't enough for me to run out and purchase the Kimber, unless they offer it in 44 Special............or Ruger beats them to it.

Recoil is what it is. Handloaders don't have to shoot full power loads, all the time. Lightweight revolvers are for easy of carry and shot infrequently.

 

[CZ93X62]

That is an intriguing SD option. Very Detective-Special-ish. Exterior dimensions are lacking, I need to dig a bit.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Stolen from Kimber's webpage for the K6S stainless steel DAO .357 mag model and assuming the frame dimensions for the lightweight 38 Special model are the same:
Height 4.46"
Length 6.62"
Width 1.39"

To put that in context, a S&W DAO J-frame with a 1 7/8" barrel is about 4.3" in height and 6.25" in length
So slightly larger than an old S&W J-frame (before the new barrel configuration) and probably pretty close to the current J-frames.

 

[Trapperscott]

I have the Kimber, Stainless 357 snub nose pistola. It’s DAO, and has rubber grips. It’s a pleasure to carry in my overalls. But you better have your mind right when you light it off.

Mesmerizing at night. LoL

 

[CZ93X62]

I have the Kimber, Stainless 357 snub nose pistola. It’s DAO, and has rubber grips. It’s a pleasure to carry in my overalls. But you better have your mind right when you light it off.

Mesmerizing at night. LoL

That's what H-110/WW-296 were designed to do--illuminate adjacent hillsides after dark and singe the eyebrows of assailants.

ETA--I put some loads together for 10mm with AA-9 powder and 180 grain HAP j-words. I had occasion to unleash about 30 of those at a campsite against a mountainside one fine evening about 10 P.M. That 10mm gives up nothing in short barrels to the short-barreled M-19s in terms of light shows. Artistic Impression 9.6, Technical Merit 9.7.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I don't always shoot magnum cartridges ...........but when I do, I use H110




I load and shoot far more standard cartridges than magnum loads, but when I want to extract magnum level loads from magnum cartridges, there's only one powder I reach for on the loading bench - H110/WW296.

 

[Winelover]

I'm the opposite, purchased one pound of 296, back in the early 80's when I bought the RH. Never did finish the bottle, Dumped it as lawn fertilizer when we moved to Arkansas 12 years ago. Do have a pound of H-110 in the powder magazine that's about 10-11 years old.. Only use I found for it, was with 180 RNFP in the Rossi 357 carbine. Alliant 2400 is my go to handgun cartridge magnum powder. More versatile than 296/110.............can load it mild to wild.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Oh, there's no downloading with H110. It's throttle wide open or nothing.

Go big or go home

 

[Winelover]

Oh, there's no downloading with H110. It's throttle wide open or nothing.

Go big or go home

Full throttle is not always the most accurate load. Plus, why punish the gun or the shooter?

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Agreed, that's why the vast majority of my shooting avoids magnum loads.

But for those times when I want to use that magnum performance, H110 is how I get there.

 

[Brad]

Love me some H110. Like was said, it is for full throttle only but there are times that is what I want.
2400 is a great powder as well.

 

[CZ93X62]

I agree--WW-296/H-110 is a one-trick pony. Hercules/Alliant 2400 is far more flexible and tractable, and I use 8# of 2400 to every 1# of 296/110.

The 30 U.S. Carbine's ballistic environment was the platform that WC-820 spherical powders were designed operate in. WW-296 and H-110 are commercialized derivatives of the original WC-820 'recipe', if you will. Those of us who dabbled in the milsurp powder alchemies during the 1990s found some variances in lots of all of these fuels, and suppliers in 'GI Brass' copped to these realities. 'Fast lot' and 'Slow lot' flavors were listed and sold.

I am a fan of the 32/20 WCF and its close cousin the 30 M1 Carbine--which is for all intents and purposes a rimless 32/20 WCF--at first blush.

Not quite, though. The 30 U.S. Carbine as-issued has never had the rep for being a tackdriver in terms of dowrange accuracy. I had a Marlin Model 62 levergun for a time, and it had similar accuracy to my Marlin 94-series leverguns with jacketed and cast bullets--about 2.0 to 2.5 MOA from 50-150 yards. These results are significantly better than any I have seen from the gas guns/carbines chambered in 30 U.S, Carbines. I've wondered just how accurate fixture-fired 30 USC cartridges could be given close dimensions and and good components, or the same ammo quality in a bolt rifle with good specs. My work with the 30 Carbine Blackhawks hints at some intrinsic accuracy potential for the cartridge, whether the fuel is 2400 or 296/110, jacketed or cast. Good bullets and proper priming produce nice outcomes.

The 32/20 is a lot crankier. It behaves well when fed 2400, but will NOT do well given like/similar pressure levels of 296/110 (100-118 grain bullets run at 1700-1800 FPS, cast or jacketed). Like the late Ken Waters once wrote--'The 32/20 WCF is just an enigma--especially in a handgun.'

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I certainly don’t burn large quantities of H110/WW296, but I do keep it on hand. Its origin from the 30 Carbine cartridge is well known and its strength lays in its ability to achieve maximum velocities in magnum loadings. H110 is NOT a flexible powder but it is a big hammer when that is what you seek

 

[CZ93X62]

I have used 2400 in 410 shotgun loads with great success. 110/296 is supposed to do similar good things, but ball powders (allegedly) do not get along with the sliding charge bars and powder inserts of the MEC 600 Jr. machines I load shotshells with--so I steer clear. Maybe I will give that sorcery a test-drive soon.

 

[cohiba2]

Concerning the 30 carbine as accurate, i beg to differ. The Ruger revolver I bought back in the 80's is a fine revolver for that cartridge. loaded with a hard cast 137 gr RN Gas checked round it is a dime size repeated at 25 yards off the sand bags. I Also have the AMT 30 carbine auto mag III, and like the Desert eagle 357 with Win 296 , it prefers full house rounds and copper jackets. Both Deagle and Automag 3 do not tolerate limp wristed shooters and will FTF for that reason. They are Really 2 handed weapons of mass destruction. I would not want to carry either around for any length of time, But both fit fairly well in shoulder holsters and I have a waist carry option also but that tends to pull the pants down and if I am going to wear suspenders, I may as well wear the shoulder holster, and be comfortable, but they are a blast to shoot at gallon water jugs. 125gr 357 HP really makes a splash. I would rather shoot a couple boxes off these than 5 rounds of S&W 460 or 454 casull. Speaking of 5 round concealed carry How about the ruger super redhawk Snubby in 454 casull. The 460 is a five rounder also but has 10.5 inch barrel and break so not so concealable. For a 44 special load in a 3 inch lew Horton special, I like 215gr cast RN gas checked with 5gr of 700x. Very accurate load . But might be on on the stout side of recoil for some. About 870 fps from a 6 inch M29. Then again I shoot a 460 for fun.