![]() Since the pre-travel on this trigger is on the long side, I’d have no qualms about the weight of this trigger for carry. Though the flat aluminum trigger is being advertised as “5 to 6 3/4 pounds,” our test samples measured consistently at a tame 4.2 pounds. What I liked best about the R7 Mako was its trigger. (Don’t worry, 10-round versions will be available for restricted jurisdictions.) By including both magazines, Kimber gives the enduser the option of maximum concealability or more grip and capacity. Another nice detail, the base pads are made of the same material and the texture matches the grip.Įverything is a compromise with a subcompact pistol. The extended magazine allows for a full five-fingered grip for me, the flush magazine left my pinkie dangling below the frame. (That’s a nice touch.) The area around the magazine release is relieved and smooth, which makes the magazine release more of an “easy button.” And at the front of the dustcover is a small accessory rail.Īn 11-round flush-fit magazine was included with each of G&A’s R7 Mako samples, as well as a 13-round magazine featuring an extended base pad for more grip to hold. The texture runs forward on the frame, too, so that both thumbs can contact it. (Pun intended.) Textured grip surfaces cover much of the module and provide plenty of tactile purchase throughout the gun. The design places the rear of the slide well behind the web of the hand, so there is nearly zero risk of slide bite. The grip module is well-formed with a slight palmswell. The angled ejector hugs the rear of the cartridge and helps the unfired round stay in place during cycling. Reliable feeding is supported by a center-feed magazine that positions the top round directly behind the chamber. The bonus of this setup is that altering the grip does not permanently modify the internal frame. We already know that this assembly provides a rigid platform for securing the slide to the pistol’s frame rails, while offering configurability. The serial-numbered “frame” is a stainless steel block that is secured within the grip module. Like many modern handguns, the R7 Mako does not use a traditional frame that’s molded within the glass-filled nylon shell. Lockup is tight for a compact pistol, which enhances the R7 Mako’s accuracy potential. It’s enough to allow the slide to reciprocate, so little barrel tilt translates into less perceived recoil. The low-tilt barrel unlocks the breech lug from the slide. It was engineered from the ground up to meet these requirements and became Kimber’s first polymer-framed handgun. The R7 Mako is not an evolution of any previous design. Another non-typical feature found in the details of the R7 Mako: An optic cut is standard on every R7 Mako pistol. This gun was specifically made to fill that demand. It wants lightweight, and the ability to mount a micro red-dot optic. The market is changing fast, though, and it wants more than a six-to-eight-round capacity. It’s produced compact handguns for about a decade: Micro (2014), Micro 9 (2016) and the EVO (2018) are just three of Kimber’s subcompact carry guns. Kimber isn’t new to this category of handgun. Non-typical features are found in the R7 Mako’s details: The slide is removed from the frame by pulling down on the lock bar, slightly retracting it and lifting it off the rails after pressing the trigger. ![]() I can certify that they test and tweak their products exhaustively in a state-of-the-art laboratory and ranges before the gun media or public ever gets to see them. For another assignment, I had the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with the engineering team at Kimber’s headquarters (now in Troy, Alabama). It may seem like the R7 Mako is a bit late to the party, and there are already many strong options on the market. From the launch, the R7 Mako was available with a variety of concealment holsters including an appendix inside-the-waistband (AIWB) rig from Mission First Tactical. With the 2021 introduction of the R7 Mako, you can add Kimber to that list. SIG Sauer has the P365 series Taurus the GX4 and Springfield Armory the Hellcat. Almost every firearm manufacturer is building a lightweight, striker-fired, compact, optic-ready and high-capacity pistol for defensive use. We live in the golden age of concealed carry handguns.
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