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New - Mr. Solo is here

15K views 29 replies 21 participants last post by  casurvivor 
#1 ·
I'm new here and not a gun-toting dude.

I just got my Kimber solo an hour ago. I went to Cabela to buy a fishing reel for the opening.
I overheard the salesman talking about 1 solo delivered at the back .
I drop my fishing reel and asked the guy if I can look at it. I did not give him a chance to open the new box
and gve my credit card to pay it. He said I'm lucky to have it 'cause there are few who are looking but ran out of patience & picked another gun to buy.


My first gun - I hope I don't use it!!
 
#4 ·
what i meant.....i hope no one cross my path premeditated - rapist - serial - felon - drunk - high & invade my home & my family...atleast i have one chance.

i lived in the northeast community (new england area) through out my life, 365 days my house & cars are unlocked. I don't remember a crime or murder happened in my little town.

About 3 years ago, I bought a vacation house in south miami - a few minutes away from key largo. what a different place - Beautiful house, waterfront - sunshine
but invironment a little different - i don't feel secure. Solo came to my mind.
 
#10 ·
Neat gun! Solo's are very difficult to find around my area. Congratulations on your score!
Take it to the range and shoot it and let us know how you like it. Be mindful of the ammunition requirements. If you aren't happy, you can always sell it for every dime that you paid.
 
#11 ·
Time For Reality Check

New Kimber Solo owner

I am going to be brutally honest and you are not going to like what I have to say but if you bought the Kimber Solo to protect your loved ones box it up and beg Cabelas for a store credit. I have shot a Kimber Solo and I speak from first hand experience when I say the Kimber Solo is a disaster. Reliability is zero and I am nor exaggerating. I am an experienced shooter and I was unable to fire successfully one round with out the paper weight jaming.

Read reviews from other shooters who have fired the Kimber Solo. I don't find a handful of internet reviews much credence but when the reports are virtually all the same in the negative you have to listen.

Sorry for the reality but it is a disservice to you if the truth was kept from you.

Russ
 
#12 ·
I have heard that the Solo can be very particular about what it is fed, and that is stated in the owner's manual. That being said, all new designs can experience initial problems. For me, it is how the manufacturer handles those issues that determine the quality of the company. AND... whether or not I would buy their products in the future.

OP, If you receive a problematic Solo...send it back to Kimber for them to rectify it.
 
#13 ·
Well, I'm aware of the solo problem and also aware that some are very happy.
I called Kimber 3 weeks before I acquired my solo. I spoke to one of the customer service. I've been told not to use less than 124 period & follow the instructions!
He also mentioned kimber are not taking the problem for granted -- but short of telling me they've done some correction & adjustment on the later solo.

I'm hoping my serial number is in the new batch they implied they've done some correction.


.....ok, I did some shooting today (4/6) with my new solo using the prescribed ammo (between 124 to 147 grain).
so far so good and no issue. I shoot a box of 124 grain then 2 boxes of 125 grain. No failure.......yet!
My grouping are zhyte -- I can't figure how to correct/adjust my aiming -- to be honest, I don't have a grouping yet.
 
#18 ·
I'll agree that the Solo may not be a perfect 'first' gun, but it is blessed with great ergonomics, trigger and sights. It takes a fair amount of handstrength to cycle the slide, but the gun is willing to chamber the first round without drama. Some pistols require a really aggressive slide wrack, but the Solo will pick up the first round as long as the slide is pulled far enough to the rear to strip it off.
Russ, whatever issues the early guns may have had, mine has been reliable as gravity from the first magazine. It has fed absolutely everything from the premium, heavy defense ammo recommended in the manual to WWB, 115 reloads, and snakeshot. As small guns go, it is very 'shootable'.
For the OP, the proof is in the pudding. Take your gun out and shoot it; see how you do. If you are unhappy, post it on Gunbroker and move on, but I'm guessing that won't be your choice. The two Solos I'm aware of personally have been stone reliable and accurate.
Moon
 
#20 ·
sku makes a good point; it is a tough pistol for a 'first'; think seriously about getting some training. The combination of heavy slide wrack and relatively light trigger, with a relatively small gripping surface, means you have to be aware of where all your fingers are when you chamber a round.
In your favor are good sights and an easy trigger; but you still might want to look for a .22 for working on the fundamentals.
Moon
 
#21 ·
I own 2 Solo's one for the wife and one for me! No problems after 500+ rounds! All the talk of premium ammo and I did shoot premium ammo the first couple of hundred rounds. Both guns eat my 125 gr reloads without missing a beat. Very nice summertime pocket gun! I like to carry my 1911 when I can wear enough cloths to conceal it. While I am sure all brands can have a problem you will find many people who put down Kimber's and most of them don't own one they just repeat what they have heard from others. The Solo has been sold out in my state and the dealer I go to was back ordered over 600 of the plain model and 300 of the laser grip model. They are just now getting caught up. I had to wait from December 2011 to May of 2012 for mine. If the were as bad and some report they wouldn't sell very many. Have fun at the range and if you have a problem please let us know!
 
#22 ·
Okay, mine cooked up some kind of extraction issue; spent casing left partway out of the chamber, slide flung far enough to the rear to pick up the next round, which became jammed under the first one in a double feed jam.
Sent the pistol back to Kimber; gone two weeks, and returned (apparently) fixed. Gun was back to its old habits of eating about anything I fed it, including WWB 115s and 115 reloads, along with a couple mags of 124 Gold Dots.
Repairs consisted of adjusting the extractor and polishing the chamber; shot the snot out of it the other night without a single problem

For the OP, the Solo was never meant to be a target gun; try shooting it at 'combat' distance; aka, 21', and draw slowly and deliberately on the trigger until it goes bang. Ever shoot a revolver double action? Shoot the solo the same way.
Moon
 
#25 ·
Congrats on your new Solo! I disagree on folks that think it's not an "ideal" first gun. If it's going to be your self-defense gun and you practice with it and become familiar with it. Why would it not be a good "first" gun? Why would a different gun be better? Any gun should be a personal choice not influenced by unknown people on the internet. If if you like it, great; if you don't, sell it. Good luck with it and shoot it often.
 
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