by Rich Grassi In the previous installment, issues involving subcompact autos were examined. Now we have an example to study. The Kimber Solo Carry STS is one of two Solo models offered by Kimber. Both are subcompact pistols chambered for 9x19mm, have magazines with 6-round capacities (with 8-round extended magazines available for sale), have a fairly long partially-trigger-cocking action with a trigger pull of around 7 pounds. Both guns have 3-dot sights and ambidextrous controls - slide-locking safety levers and magazine release buttons. The slide stop is on the left side of the gun. The big difference in the two models is that the Solo Carry has a stainless slide over a black Kim-Pro frame. The Solo Carry STS has the stainless upper over a stainless-appearing alloy receiver. Both guns are nicely beveled and rounded. In appearance, it compares favorably to the 1903 Colt but with a better safety, sights and grip-angle. It is shorter because we demand the smallest of small guns. The gun is finely designed and machined. The factory alleges that it takes only 24 rounds to break in and that only light lubrication is necessary for function. In my experience, it takes more than 24 rounds to break in the shooter and I think a little more lube in the right places makes the gun more forgiving. I was surprised by the relative reliability. The few stoppages experienced were shooter induced.

Kimber Solo Carry in Galco Stinger holster with some of the ammo used in the test.

Galco provided holsters, each marked with the Kimber logo, for the Solo (http://www.usgalco.com) . The Stinger is a particularly classy belt holster; putting it together with the Solo makes it look like someone shrunk your service rig and pistol. The gun has a thumb safety - for those who use it, it wouldn't be out of bounds to use appendix inside-the-waist carry for those who are trained and dedicated to that carry method. The Galco Tuck-N-Go IWB Holster worked well in that application but the gun is in really close and that gripping surface is small. You may be clawing the pistol out of there. What's it like to shoot the Solo? Abrupt. It certainly doesn't hurt - at least at the outset then the arthritis flares up. I tried some quick pairs up close and I find the little gun unforgiving of a less-than-hammerfist-grip. Consider the context; if someone's within 9-10 feet of you trying to kill you, how tight a grip will you have on that gun? You'll be hanging on like your life depends on it. Good thing. I had some interesting stoppages before I sorted myself out. I had two failures to extract - both of which were partial extractions with the attendant attempt to feed a fresh round. A solid grip and solid platform behind the gun works wonders. If you don't provide that solid mass for the gun to recoil against, this will happen. A little lube on the barrel - at the front, on the lugs and at the hood - as well as on the slide rails would do a lot to allow full slide travel. Similarly, I failed to shoot with my thumb atop the safety. In recoil, I apparently knocked the safety up outside of the slide mortise where it belongs. This caused enough drag to tie the gun up. At the range without my usual tool kit, I wasn't quite equipped. Using a field expedient to do a "factory adjustment," I had the gun running again in no time. As long as I ride the safety with a thumb it doesn't move - just like the 1911. My attempts for an accuracy test were pretty miserable. I had very little gun upon which to hold. I was able to get a few groups slightly-over-3" at twenty-five yards but the majority went north of four inches. Younger hands and better eyes would best that. The gun came with instructions to use 124 and 147 grain premium defense ammo. The factory preferred Federal Hydrashok, Remington Golden Saber and Hornady TAP in those bullet weights. I shot some Hornady XTP 115 grain ammo and it worked fine. The Solo practically oozes class. If it was only a couple of inches higher and a couple of inches longer, it'd be the image of the old Colt 1903: Every bit as flat, with better safety and sights and chambered for 9mm instead of .32 ACP. At this size, it works as a micro gun for deep cover and CCW. Interested in one? Well, they're behind on orders. While you wait, you can get detailed specifications at http://www.kimberamerica.com/. Velocity data for Kimber Solo Carry: average of ten rounds over Shooting Chrony (http://www.brownells.com) :

Load	Average Velocity in feet-per-second
American Eagle 147 gr. Ball	680
Hornady TAP 147 gr.	898
Federal Hydrashok 147 gr.	882
Hornady XTP 115 gr.	952
Remington Golden Saber 147	871