[RyBread27]

Just bought my first Kimber Micro 9 STG, and I gotta say what a beautiful firearm. I will say that I have not seen this model on the website. A quick Google search will pull it up. Now, I understand that for a Kimber there is a break in period. I was told by Kimber Customer Service 500 rounds. I've used 4 different brands of FMJ and 3 different brands of JHP rounds and all have had failures at some point. I understand that I could just keep trying different ammo, but the fact that I bought this firearm described by Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's as a "personal carry" firearm, I'm kind of upset with how many malfunctions it's had. Now at 500 rounds, I have had upwards of 20+ failures. 99% of the failures I've had, the round is dead stopped into the feed ramp. Happens with both magazines provided with the Micro 9. And yes, I make sure my rounds are seated correctly. One failure was a "stove pipe" with a live round. The JHP's I used were Speer Gold Dot 147gr, Federal Hydra-Shock 135gr, and Hornady Critical Defense 135gr.

Obviously Kimber offered to fix the problem if I send it in, but how do you trust a firearm to protect you after that? I understand there are better firearms for concealed carry, and I do have two other firearms I trust every day because of 0 failures out of 1000+ rounds. I guess I'm just disappointed. And feel like a sucker for blowing through 500 rounds when I already didn't trust this Micro 9 after about 150 rounds. Obviously, the proper thing to do would be send it in, but again, how do you trust a firearm to protect you after that? What do you think? Am I expecting too much from this Micro 9 too soon? Honest opinion, would YOU trust this firearm with your life? How many rounds would you put through it before you decide all of a sudden you now trust it with your life? Send it in, or sell it. That's pretty much where i'm at.

 

[Chuck43]

Welcome to the forum, RyBread27, I suggest you just send the gun back to Kimber and let them work their magic. It's not going to cost you anything but a little time and when you get it back I'm sure you'll be pleased with it.

 

[JC45]

Send it to Kimber. Even if you sell it, wouldn’t you feel better selling a gun that works and not screwing the next person who buys it. Personally, I wouldn’t wait 500 rounds to send it back. Let Kimber use their ammo to fix the problem.

 

[Argee]

I agree with the others...send it back to the mother ship. It could be something as simple as a weak spring.

All things mechanical are prone to fail somewhere in the future..

 

[wfm]

Send it in, they will make it right. There are to many micro 9 owners out there who have no issues with theirs and it is an excellent carry weapon. That includes me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Short Fuse]

We mostly all have the same problem. I put a box of shells through the gun to check it out. If it fails, it goes back to Kimber. Usual turn around is 8 days including mailing. My 5",3" and Micro 9 all went back. All are now perfect and I will rely on any of them. It turns out it is mostly the feed ramp. Plus don't blame the gun if you use swollen reloads.

 

[Argee]

I read all the issues everyone was having prior to getting out with my Micro 9 for the first time. Weather and location precluded me from getting any ammo down range for the first few weeks in my possession. So...I took some Mother's Mag Polish and buffed up the feed ramp to a mirror finish and while I sat in front of the boob tube at night I cycled the slide probably all told about 1,000 times to mesh the parts together. What I gained from all that was a firearm that has been flawless in its operation. Did I need to do all that? I'll never know for sure but I do know it was the beginning of the love affair with this little Micro 9.

 

[Gufenov]

Send it to Kimber - it's quick and it's free. They'll fix the feed problem AND anything else they find that isn't perfect. When you get it back, rack it a couple of hundred times, oil it well and hit the range. Then you can decide if you're comfortable with it as a carry gun.

 

[PaulR]

micro 9 ‘s seem to be problamatic @ 1st. I had a micro black ice that was dropping mags. Sent back to Kimber & gun came back perfect. However I bought this on impulse wanted something easier to conceal. Gun was just a bit to small for my hand. I sold it as soon as got it back for more than I paid. Bottom line I use my Ultra for EDC no issues runs like a champ. Check them out if you decide to sell the micro, a lot more gun, reliable , far less recoil & accurate.
may the force be with you
haply holidays

 

[2sharp2]

@RyBread27 welcome to the site from Tennessee. Normally I would be in the "send it back" camp with everyone else HOWEVER, in your post you sound butt hurt and are never going to be happy with the Micro no matter what Kimber or anyone else does to it. My vote is sell it, trade it in and buy a Glock. I would recommend trade it for a Kimber Ultra 9mm model but I think your to down on Kimber to do that.

 

[Short Fuse]

I read all the issues everyone was having prior to getting out with my Micro 9 for the first time. Weather and location precluded me from getting any ammo down range for the first few weeks in my possession. So...I took some Mother's Mag Polish and buffed up the feed ramp to a mirror finish and while I sat in front of the boob tube at night I cycled the slide probably all told about 1,000 times to mesh the parts together. What I gained from all that was a firearm that has been flawless in its operation. Did I need to do all that? I'll never know for sure but I do know it was the beginning of the love affair with this little Micro 9.

Yup. Probably did need to do that. You also saved about $250 in ammo.
I did the same thing with the slide but it really needed the feed ramp to be polished.
Good for you.

I don't know what your trigger pull is but I know I got mine down to 4.5 lb consistent pulls with the MCarbo kit.
Just remember, if you have to send it back, put the original parts back in the gun.

 

[RustyIron]

how do you trust a firearm to protect you after that? What do you think? Am I expecting too much from this Micro 9 too soon? Honest opinion, would YOU trust this firearm with your life?

If you don't like the gun, sell it or give it away.
I don't think it's my place to convince you to "trust this firearm with your life."

 

[Dadeoo]

The higher quality, better steel, hand fit a gun is (tighter), the more polishing and "breakin" it takes.

If people keep sending unfit guns back, the manufacturer will begin sending out better finished guns.

But its a marketing/manufacturing/price balance game.

If they do better/more hand finishing and quality control, the price goes up! Price goes up, sales drop and price goes up.

With Kimber you're buying a pistol higher tolerance/tighter than a Glock or S&W M&P. i.e. SCAR ($3,000) vs AR-15 ($1,200) vs AK-47 ($750) vs SKS ($250)

Pick your quality level, price, breakin...agrevation factor.

In 9mm small pistols, Wilson EDC ($2,500) vs Kimber MICRO 9 ($750) vs Glock43 ($425) vs Keltec PF9 ($225).

I've got Keltecs that work perfectly, but I had to tinker with them to get there.

My Kimbers have been perfect out of the box.

K6s -2" had a shat trigger. I opened it up and it was dirty and unlubricated from factory. Easy fix and I need to know what's inside anyway.

Quality, Price, Time (aggravation)
Pick two, you can't have all three!

It's a BALANCE.

Anomalies also happen...

I have a Taurus .44mag that was perfect out of the cardboard box. Great trigger, accurate, perfect finish, relatively cheap!

I had a S&W Performance Center 629 Revolver that out of the Halibration case was terrible. Rough sharp edges, rust under grips, 12lb trigger...who the hell shipped that?

 

[Stevensc]

I had numerous failures to feed and dropping magazines the first time I tried my new Micro 9 Stainless. Called and got the paperwork from the factory, I sent it back it was back in about 2 weeks, and it worked fine. I have not fired it a lot, maybe 4 mags since getting it back but no failures.
It is a disgrace and makes no sense that Kimber, supposedly one of the best brands can't build these correctly from the beginning!
Steve W

 

[Argee]

I had numerous failures to feed and dropping magazines the first time I tried my new Micro 9 Stainless. Called and got the paperwork from the factory, I sent it back it was back in about 2 weeks, and it worked fine. I have not fired it a lot, maybe 4 mags since getting it back but no failures.
It is a disgrace and makes no sense that Kimber, supposedly one of the best brands can't build these correctly from the beginning!
Steve W

Such is the conundrum of mass produced products. More and more slip thru the cracks. I've had to send a few Ruger's back too. It's frustrating but definitely a sign of the times.

 

[JC45]

Such is the conundrum of mass produced products. More and more slip thru the cracks. I've had to send a few Ruger's back too. It's frustrating but definitely a sign of the times.

I have had multiple guns go back for small problems to recalls. How the manufacturer responds to your problem is what separates good and bad companies.

 

[Argee]

I have had multiple guns go back for small problems to recalls. How the manufacturer responds to your problem is what separates good and bad companies.

Very true! Their response can have you feeling warm and fuzzy or looking for another brand.

 

[RonL]

Must be costing Kimber a fortune in in shipping cost and repair cost to be fixing the same thing over and over. Seems to me that they would be saving a lot get it right when they are manufactured.
Mine is in for repairs for the same problems that I read about in this forum. Maybe I should have read the forum posts before buying.

 

[Argee]

Must be costing Kimber a fortune in in shipping cost and repair cost to be fixing the same thing over and over. Seems to me that they would be saving a lot get it right when they are manufactured.
Mine is in for repairs for the same problems that I read about in this forum. Maybe I should have read the forum posts before buying.

They'll get it fixed right for you...then you'll find that the gun is a joy to own and shoot.

 

[RonL]

They'll get it fixed right for you...then you'll find that the gun is a joy to own and shoot.

Oh I know. I have a micro .380 that I carry. It has never been a problem.