By R.E. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Performance reliability and practical accuracy are top of my list in a carry gun.
Just the same, the Kimber KHX 1911 has a certain eye appeal, adding to the equation.
Kimber offers a number of distinctive pistols. While a black finish Custom II with hard grips is a fine handgun, the individual may find something more to his taste in the Raptor and other designs.
The KHS model discussed here is among the most interesting pistols Kimber has offered. I have tested two separate KHX .45 caliber 1911 handguns with excellent results.
The optics ready pistol offers plates for a variety of popular RDS (red dot sights) and the less expensive red dots that mimic their footprint.
The KHX features a checkered front strap that offers a good grip surface when hands are cold or sweaty. Kimber calls this Stiplx. The cocking serrations are hexagonal. I like this treatment very much. It doesn’t seem to abrade the leather holsters I prefer but offers a good surface for racking the slide.
The pistol’s frame and slide are of forged steel. Sure, cast is fine for inexpensive pistols but for hard use I prefer a forged frame. One pistol variation is finished in black Kimpro while the other is offered in a natural stainless steel.
The grip safety properly releases its hold on the trigger about halfway into compression as it should while the slide lock safety is well fitted, locking in with a positive indent. The barrel is also well fitted as the slide rolls smoothly over the locking lugs, and the barrel bushing is snug but doesn’t need a tool for disassembly.
Kimber’s new pistol uses a full length guide rod which some like and others don’t. The pistol is well fitted and there are no obvious flaws. The front of the grips strap is nicely checkered, which is a good touch for any 1911. The checkering is well done without being uncomfortable.
Grips are especially interesting and unique. These are made by my favorite grip maker Hogue, and they extend past the bottom of the grip frame creating a magazine well. During administrative handling and in executing speed drills, the advantage of the Magrip grip was telling.
Funneling the magazine into the grip quickly isn’t difficult at all even without visual orientation. I used the supplied Kimber magazines with good results. I also included Wilson Combat magazines. These are the premier 1911 magazine and have been for decades, and they added to the test. Four or five magazines loaded before you head to the range makes things go smooth.
The pistol was carried in a couple of Galco holsters including the Concealable. This is a high ride pancake style holster. Stitching is good and the belt loops snug into the belt in a rigid fashion.
Kimber’s KHX features a long trigger and flat mainspring housing. This seems to be the best set up for accuracy for most shooters.
I grew up at a time when it was common for a staked on front sight to fly off a 1911 in competition. The introduction of dovetailed front sights was a huge deal for the 1911. (Behind the times really as the WWII Inglis High Power 9mm featured a dovetailed front sight. Not surprisingly, the Kimber features a dovetailed front sight and nicely fitted three dot inserts in the sights. These are tall sights to allow co-witness with a red dot sight or do allow sighting over a suppressor.
To take full advantage of the pistol’s RDS optics mounting plate you may order the proper plate from Kimber. Mounting the red dot is simple enough simply remove four hex head screws and the rear sight plate is easily lifted off. I have fired the pistol with standard sights and also with a Vortex red dot installed.
The two pistols in my experience are very consistent and feature a smooth trigger action. One breaks at 4.7 lbs. and the other at 4.8 lbs. There is slight take up no creep and a rapid reset.
I fired the pistols extensively with a wide range of ammunition. In short firing with iron sights it is easier to produce good accuracy as far as firing groups slow fire over the red dot equipped pistol. With the red dot sight speed to a center hit on a man-sized target is much faster.
Keep both eyes open and put the dot on the target and you have a hit.
Red dot sights have a learning curve but offer real speed and accuracy for those willing to practice. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject during the test. The majority of loads were 230-grain FMJ ammunition. I also fired some hollow point loads to confirm feed reliability.
The Kimber KHX is reliable and gets a clean bill of health on every count. I added a table on accuracy. Firing slow fire with iron sights the pistol is accurate enough for any foreseeable chore. Kimber offers a good pistol at a fair price in the case of the KHX.
Firing from an MTM Caseguard K Zone firing rest- distance 25 yards, five-shot groups:
Load Average group
PMC 230 grain FMJ 3.0 inch
Seller & Bellot 230 grain FMJ 2.7 inch
Federal American Eagle 230 grain FMJ 2.5 inch.
Federal 230 grain HST 2.2 inch
Hornady 225 grain Flex Lock 2.6 inch
Hornady 200 grain XTP 1.95 inch
Speer 230 grain Gold Dot 2.6 inch.
Winchester 185 grain Silvertip 3.25 inch
Specifications
Height: 5.25 inches
Weight: 38 ounces
Length: 8.7 inches
Capacity: 8 rounds
Frame: Stainless steel
Slide: Stainless steel
Finish: Gray, KimPro II
Width: 1.28 inches
Barrel: 5 inches, stainless
Twist: 1:16, left-hand twist
Bushing: Stainless match grade
Sights: Fiber Optic
Grips: Hogue Magrip G-10, Laser enhanced
Kimberamerica.com
