[trlhrv]

I have 2 Kimbers now, an Ultra II and Pro Carry II. Love both as shooters but prefer to carry a Kahr P40 IWB for weight and comfort. Looking for anyone with personal experience with a Solo as far as function and reliability. I have read pros and cons but really like the feel of the little nine.

Thanks

 

[sbubrick]

I love the look and feel of the Solo. I have fired about 400 rounds, and still have a few FTF's on ocasion. Because of that it has not become my daily carry!

 

[Nellybelle]

With the suggested ammunition mine goes bang every time.
I like my SCUP better but the Solo carries very easy.

 

[sbubrick]

The last 200+ have been Speer Gold Dot 124 GR. GDHP. A little spendy, and it still has not gone through a box (50) with out a problem!

 

[Cheef]

Crimson trace CDP
It is my daily carry.
Love this little pistol.
1 FTE in 1500+ rounds with me shooting it and going again tomorrow to add some more to that number.
Right now it is the gun I shoot most because of all I've read about FTE-FTF.
I figure a few hundred more rounds and it has my total trust.

 

[wsucougs8]

I'm looking to pick one up as well. My opinion, and based on what I've read, the majority of the issues arise from people who have not used the ammo spec'd by Kimber.

Having a tough time finding one up here in Washington State, is that similar across the US?

 

[REDLEG28]

I have 2 Kimbers now a Solo and an Eclipse. Both are tack drivers and both require a breaking in period. Both now have Night Sights and Crimson Trace Lasers because I can now longer see like I could 50 years ago but I still love to shoot. While the .45 started smoothing out at around 350-400 rounds my Solo went south and I had to send it back to the factory because no matter which of my 6 Kimber magazines I used or which of Kimber's recommended bullet loads I used, I was getting a lot of FTEs and FTFs...not cool. I would be shooting one box of 124 grain Golden Sabers or Federal Premium 147 grain Hydrasocks loading up the same mag and they would shoot great and then all of a sudden every round would jam or fail to feed properly. Very dangerous on a range. the little gun does not lend itself to clearing problems easily with it's heavy recoil spring.

I purchased the gun new last month and while my dealer would not take it back he did offer to send it back to Kimber for me. I have used this dealer for almost 30 years and both he and his master gunsmith are trustworthy and reliable. They both said they will no longer carry the Solos because of the problems their customers are and have experienced. They said they were considering banning them from their range because of the liability risks. involved with clearing so many jams.

 

[sbubrick]

Not happy to see your having problems, but glad that i'm not alone with mine. I get FTE's 7 to 10% of the time. I have fired about 700 rounds through it. Mine went back to Kimber, they fired 3 magazines (18 rounds) returned the gun with a note that said they could not find a problem.

 

[Lineman]

Not So Much.....!

I love the looks of the Solo, but due to it's poor performance record, so far, I believe I will stick with my Smith and Wesson M&P40 Shield as my EDC pistol!! I may give it a try once Kimber works the kinks out of this fine looking little pistol.

 

[dpak]

Purchased one several months ago, just sent back to factory for repair. Ammo jams, using ammo prescribed, out of 25 rounds the slide lock engaged on 23. Eject button is very tight, I was told to break it in more. A gun for that price should be reliable out of the box. based on what I have read, Kimber needs to learn some about customer satisfaction.

 

[sbubrick]

As I posted on another thred on this site, Kimber executives should get on a plane and go to Florida. Spend a week or so with the staff at Kel-Tec. Maybe they can learn something about making a compact 9mm.
My Solo retails for $1200.00 plus, I have owned it almost a year now. It's been back to Kimber once, They claim they could not find a problem, They cleaned it and returned it. Have put 700 plus rounds through it. I get FTE's 7 to 10% of the time. I also own a Kel-Tec PF-9 for over 10 years. I think I paid about $250.00 for it. It eats anything I put in it, and never had a problem. I don't like the gun but it's reliable. The Kimber Solo is not reliable but I like it. Go figure..............

 

[Marshall]

I love the looks of the Solo, but due to it's poor performance record, so far, I believe I will stick with my Smith and Wesson M&P40 Shield as my EDC pistol!! I may give it a try once Kimber works the kinks out of this fine looking little pistol.

Our Solo was a paperweight until we sent it back to Kimber for repairs.After they adjusted the extractor and replaced the recoil spring it ran like a charm all the way into another owners arms and he said it's still performing well...Hey Lineman73,I just ordered a Shield and was wondering if you're happy with it??

 

[Warthogge]

Solo. So far 393 rounds with one failure to eject. I carry it, yet still plan to shoot it extensively on the range with hand loads to see if the FTE's and FTF's show up. We'll see.

 

[Jim Davidson]

Solo

Mine runs like a champ, as long as I load the first round by releasing the slide stop. 500 plus rounds of primo to lead reloads, cannot make it fail. It is not a gun for a novice, in my opinion.

 

[Islander]

Mine runs like a champ, as long as I load the first round by releasing the slide stop. 500 plus rounds of primo to lead reloads, cannot make it fail. It is not a gun for a novice, in my opinion.

Jim. welcome to the forum! Why don't you head over to new Members and introduce yourself. We've got a great bunch here that would like to meet you!

 

[Josey Wales]

Mine runs like a champ, as long as I load the first round by releasing the slide stop. 500 plus rounds of primo to lead reloads, cannot make it fail. It is not a gun for a novice, in my opinion.

Welcome Jim, I agree,
Nice to see another good shooter....

 

[Walkingman]

The dealer in my city told me he has sold 6 Solos and 5 have reported problems, mostly FTE's. I'm wondering if it would be wise to wait a year or two in order to see how the Micro performs.

 

[Islander]

I'd like to think Kimber will get it right from the start. I guess we'll see.

 

[Chuck43]

The dealer in my city told me he has sold 6 Solos and 5 have reported problems, mostly FTE's. I'm wondering if it would be wise to wait a year or two in order to see how the Micro performs.

If you like the Micro Carry check out the Sig P238, I did after waiting 2 years for Kimber to start shipping them. They are almost identical and about every gun dealer around here has a nice selection in their gun cases. There are 22 different versions of it on Sig's website.

 

[Walkingman]

If you like the Micro Carry check out the Sig P238, I did after waiting 2 years for Kimber to start shipping them. They are almost identical and about every gun dealer around here has a nice selection in their gun cases. There are 22 different versions of it on Sig's website.

Agreed. I keep a Sig P238 Nitron with Hogue grips in the storage compartment between the seats of my car. It's a great little .380 and Sig has a huge selection of styles. As Kimber begins to venture into the land of smaller caliber, non 1911 guns, they will be met with a glut of competition. The personal carry market has exploded in the last 10 years and gun makers have been rushing to meet the demand. The S&W Bodygaurd, Ruger LCP/LCR, Beretta Pico, Colt Mustang reissue, Sig P238, and the list goes on. I will defend the quality of a Kimber .45 1911 any day, I hope, one day, to do the same with their other models.