Full Feature: Anderson Manufacturing Kiger 9C Pro 9mm

Anderson Manufacturing is known for its quality ARs and build kits. I was first made aware of Anderson through my gun store and instructor connections. Later, Anderson lowers were used in the bulk of my AR builds. Because of its reputation, when I learned Anderson was building pistols, I immediately reached out to get my name on the list.

When it came time to ship, the only question I was asked was, “Manual safety, yes or no?” I answered “no.” I prefer to carry guns without something extra that I must remember to click before my gun is ready to go.

I didn’t know then there were four different models to choose from. My bad, a little time spent on the Anderson website would have let me know the choices. As it was, the one I got was exactly the one I would have chosen — the Kiger 9C Pro.

Features

The Kiger 9C is a compact, striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9mm. It comes with a 15-round magazine. If you want more, Glock 19 magazines fit. The slide and barrel are made from 416R stainless steel with a DLC coating. DLC stands for “Diamond Like Coating,” and it’s a finish competitive with DuraCoat, but with a hard shiny surface designed to last through years of heavy usage.

The frame is constructed from high-strength lightweight polymer. The Pro model adds a few features the standard doesn’t have. The 9C Pro has aggressive slide serrations, detailed frame stippling, and a trigger guard undercut that serve to make an attractive and useful pistol. The beavertail is extended, as are the slide release and magazine release.

The slide includes three ports on either side and a window cut on top. The barrel is not ported but is fluted for weight reduction. It has a 1:10 twist rate, recessed crown, and measures 3.91 inches long. The slide includes an RMR pattern optics cut and a set of blacked out suppressor height sights. There is also a chamber-loaded indicator on the right side of the slide that is a pop out extension of the extractor.

The sights are a bit of overkill because the gun does not have a threaded barrel. There is a suppressor-ready version of this pistol called Kiger 9C Pro SR that comes with a non-fluted, 1/2×28 threaded barrel and tuned recoil spring.

I have a Swamp Fox red dot sight installed on my Hellcat and I like it. It is one of the red dot sights that utilizes the RMR mounting platform. I ordered a newer version of the Swamp Fox called the Kingslayer to put on the Kiger.

As it turns out, once I got a red dot installed and aligned, the suppressor height sight aiming point is superimposed over the red dot aiming point. If for some reason my red dot doesn’t come on, the sights are useful through the red dot window. If you don’t add a red dot or suppressor and want to change the sights, the sights on the Kiger pistols utilize the Glock standard for mounting which means any aftermarket sight designed for a Glock will fit the Kiger.

When entering the incredibly crowded market of polymer-framed 9mm handguns, being successful requires building a gun with features that set it apart. In the case of the Kiger, the first thing that makes it unique is the Anderson name. These folks are incredibly well known for the ARs they build and for good reason. Anderson offers super quality at affordable prices. We’re looking for that in any handgun Anderson builds, and from what I see, it’s there.

The Kiger looks and feels expensive, but it’s not. Right away several things speak to me of excellent engineering. The ports on the top and sides of the slide not only lighten the gun, but look really cool. So many carry guns round the top edges of the slide to assist in holstering to make them a little easier to hide, but the flat top and square edges on the Kiger offer a solid sighting platform. They also look really cool without hindering the draw or concealability in any way I can detect.

In fact, having this gun in an IWB holster and drawing feels so natural I can see this easily becoming one of my favorite carry guns. Its appearance reminds me of some of the race guns competitors use. However, this one comes without a race gun price.

I really like the texture and angle of the grip. It’s the popular 1911-inspired 18-degree grip angle with a texture on the side that offers excellent purchase without being painful. Both the front strap and back strap have small ribs that give your hand the feel of secure purchase, and again without hurting. The size of the grip is optimized so it will fit most hands without the need for various replaceable backstraps.

The trigger guard is undercut higher than most and contributes to a higher grip, which helps with recoil and accuracy by enabling target acquisition and shot placement. The magazine extends slightly at the base of the grip. An opening in the grip at the back of the magazine is designed such that a thumb in that opening can be used to rapidly remove a stuck magazine.

The trigger is beyond good. It is excellent with a take up of ½ inch and breaks at just over 5 pounds. It is curved with a blade safety.

Takedown for cleaning copies the method Glock made popular utilizing two small push-down tabs above the trigger guard and pushing the slide off the front. Once the slide and frame are separated, you compress the recoil spring and lift it out, then the barrel. After cleaning, follow the lube recommendations as outlined in the owner’s manual, then reassemble. It’s a piece of cake.

On the Range

I always enjoy shooting a gun in which there are no surprises and no interruptions. The Kiger was like that. The magazine was relatively easy to top off at 15 rounds. It was when chambering the first round I noticed the subtle little wings at the back of the slide that were obviously put there to help with slide manipulation. They were especially helpful when the Swamp Fox red dot sight was mounted.

In addition to some 115-grain American Eagle range ammo, I took JHP rounds in all three of the common 9mm weights — 115, 124, and 147-grain. The Kiger not only eagerly digested the different weights, but it also performed well with all three.

As I suspected when mounting and sighting in the red dot sight at home, when adjusted properly the dot superimposes itself over the tip of the front sight. I shot the gun with and without the red dot sight and found it quite easy to keep my shot groups within a 5-inch circle from 10 to 14 yards. Because I was shooting freehand, any grouping would be subject to my slight hand movements between shots.

That said, I still was consistently producing shot groups clustered around the center of the 5-inch target with a flyer or two here and there. Before shooting the gun, I toyed with the idea of replacing the sights with a set of standard height 3-dot night sights. However, after shooting it with and without the red dot sight mounted, I’m happy with the all-black suppressor-height sights.

One thing you have to be careful of when you have elevated sights on a carry gun is making sure you have a holster you can draw from without the sights hanging up in the holster. I found two holsters that work well with the Kiger. The DeSantis M71 Vanquisher IWB holster worked well without the red dot sight mounted. A Galco KT47B worked well with the elevated sights and the red dot sight.

Final Thoughts

After practicing drawing enough to be smooth and consistent, I felt comfortable putting the Kiger to work as a carry gun. All in all, I think Anderson did a good job with the Kiger. There are little touches in various places on the gun that give it a rugged look and feel. The Kiger 9C Pro was designed for serious use in a variety of environmental conditions and it does not disappoint.

The Kiger 9C Pro is a departure from the ARs Anderson is known for. However, new does not mean, especially when as much attention to detail has been observed during the design and manufacturing process. How does the Kiger 9C Pro compare to your carry gun? Share your review in the comment section.