Kimber K6XS Review: Concealable Revolver for Real Shooters

Kimber America made waves a few years back with the release of its K6 revolver. Its novel, squared cylinder didn’t just look like no other, it had unusual capacity as well. Kimber engineers found a way to fit six, instead of the usual five, 38 Special chambers in there. When I finally got my hands on one, it was a newer “XS,” as in extra-small variant, in double action only, ostensibly created for concealed carry. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the experience.

Kimber K6XS: Construction and Appearance

Of course, appearance is the first thing we notice about any gun. And the K6 XS is easy on the eyes while remaining practical and unique. Its aluminum alloy frame and two-inch stainless barrel have a durable satiny sheen that doesn’t show fingerprints. The finish is “Silver KimPro II” according to the factory description, though there’s no real description of what that means in chemical terms.

There was real effort to keep this gun concealable in terms of weight and overall design. In addition to the aluminum frame and a fluted cylinder that wastes no space, Kimber slotted the under-barrel steel, where the ejection rod rests, all the way through. Being double action only, there’s no exposed hammer to catch on clothing. The grip interface is from Hogue, and sharply angled for minimal bulk while still providing full pinky support.

Like others in the K6 line, the XS is built to handle +P ammunition. I’m a believer in shot placement over caliber. However, +P loads can provide peace of mind in terms of penetration shortcomings inherent to 38 Special as well as perhaps balance any concerns for the gun’s capacity in comparison to most semiautos.

Also optimizing the gun for concealment are the sights. The rear sight is simply a channel molded into the frame, unlike its larger counterparts it’s not drift-adjustable. Up front, a fixed matching post sports a prominent orange dot. For both practice and concealment, that dot is a nice feature in that it doesn’t get lost on a dark-colored target.

Comparing the Kimber K6XS vs Kimber K6S

The Kimber K6S revolver is an earlier and slightly larger revolver in Kimber’s K6 series. Both revolvers are largely viewed as concealable by the personal defense community.

The newer K6XS is a half-pound lighter due to its aluminum construction, though. Of course, with that lighter weight you do give up some ability to handle recoil as effectively. If you’re a staunch believer in 357 Magnum rather than 38 Special, you’ll probably lean toward the K6S revolver.

Firing the K6XS

Live fire of the K6XS held both pleasure and a little pain. All that lightweight and streamlined construction does come at a cost. I expected to feel a lot of recoil because of its easy-to-pack 15.9 ounce (sans ammo) weight, and I did. There was a palpable increase with +P loads, but even 110-grain +P FMJ was wrist-fatiguing. In terms of recoil the K6XS on par with pretty much any 38 snubby inasmuch as it’s just going to be tiring after so many rounds.

Where the K6XS is set apart from most others in its class is in the performance of the DAO trigger. Like the Smith & Wesson 686 and Ruger GP100 it is non-stacking, eliminating the heavier and heavier pull required to fire that is typical for double action guns. The first half of the pull on the K6XS rotates the cylinder, staging a cartridge in front of the firing pin. Then there is a light, smooth, short trip to “bang.” What this means is the trigger is a little easier to operate fast, and a little easier to stage for slow, precision-focused fire. Like any gear, it takes focused time behind the gun to develop a feel for shooting it in stage first, then press to fire style. Shooters with finger strength challenges or who simply enjoy a fine trigger can find a sweet spot here.

Accuracy and Ammo

In this test, I compared four different ammunition samples to get an idea of what, if any, accuracy changes can be found using different types of ammunition. I had a partner who’s an expert shooter repeat my own five-round groups to decrease the user error factor. In the end, there were not significant differences. Each brand and grain weight delivered less than a single hole at approximately six yards. Hornady Critical Defense FTX yielded the best groups, as well as presenting itself as the tightest-performing in a chronograph test.

Chrono testing was done with the three rounds shown below, supplied by Lucky Gunner. I fired 10 rounds of each, not counting two error-message rounds in the entire test which were repeated to get a good reading.

Chronograph Test Results

No surprises here. Accuracy was unremarkable and similar with these three and other brands tested, however it is notable that the Hornady ammunition delivered a sub-three inch group at seven yards, whereas all others tested, including a few not in the list above, all logged 3.0-4.0-inch groups from an unsupported standing position. 

In Summary

Anyone inclined to carry a revolver for self-protection should consider the K6XS, even if only for the extra round on board. It has many other qualities that put it ahead of other snub-nose 38s, chief among them being the non-stacking trigger. The grip is well-designed to tame recoil while keeping the gun concealable. Its pricing is within the same range of comparable pistols. It’s American-made. Its accuracy is good enough for close-range self-defense, if not outstanding. 

Specifications:  Kimber K6XS 38 Special Revolver

Height:  5.5 inches

Weight (empty):  15.9 ounces

Length:  6.8 inches

Width:  1.4 inches

Capacity:  6

Action:  Double action only 

MSRP:  $679