AllOutdoor Review – Kimber R7 Mako Striker-Fired 9mm Carry Gun
Eve Flanigan 07.31.23
A while back, I wrote up an announcement on the release of Kimber’s first 9mm striker gun, the R7 Mako. I mostly forgot about it until, last week, a new shooter showed up for a lesson with a brand new one. While personal and student experiences with Kimber 1911s have led me to believe that each individual gun may or may not run well, I came away from this day-long trial quite surprised, impressed, and almost considering purchasing an R7 Mako as a daily carry gun.
The diminutive Mako checks most of the boxes that today’s concealed carry set expects from a striker-fired 9mm. It has a short, concealable grip and robust 10, 11, or 13 round capacity magazines. Apparently, one of each is typically included with purchase, a bargain in itself. However, the student’s gun had four mags, one flat-bottomed 10-rounder and three of the same capacity that include pinky support. It has tritium night sights by Truglo, which are great in that they’re tall enough to use in conjunction with a red dot. For the same price, consumers can choose an optic-ready Mako or a non-milled slide. The red dot-ready version wears a typical four-screw cover plate over the notch and is drilled/tapped for Shield pattern optics.
From the get-go, Kimber made the Mako with a 3.37-inch barrel, on par with the second generation of P365 and Hellcat pistols with their longer barrels. It surely helps with handling, yet remains concealable. I had no problem wearing it inside my waistband, appendix position, even though I’m quite short from ribcage to pelvis.
The polymer frame is heavily stippled all over, including the thumbs’ interface. There are no modular backstrap or side panels, however Kimber put in a great effort in making a grip that fits most people. It has the slightest of humps on the lower lateral sides where the hollow of the palm is, yet the trigger is easy to reach. My medium hands, and those of my student, fit it quite well.
Inclusivity is in fashion, and the Mako has it. It has an ambi slide lock and magazine release. While I’m not normally a fan of ambi mag releases due to the risk of dropping a magazine as result of pressure from some external object like a seatbelt, Kimber thought this through. The molding of the frame is shaped to prevent this problem while still allowing for easy operation. And the Mission First Tactical holster that’s included with purchase goes farther, covering half the release so as to completely prevent pressure from everyday objects. When I released the slide using the slide lock to load the gun rather than racking the slide, it did so reliably.
The magazines worked very well. However, their construction is a bit unorthodox and particularly for the flat-bottomed one, I’m concerned that it might snag on something. As this isn’t my gun, I wasn’t in a position to venture pulling apart a mag that I feared might be beyond my mechanical skills (2/10 do not recommend) to reassemble.
That holster deserves attention of its own, as it represents significant added value to the package. Mission First Tactical did a great job of designing a holster that’s safe for anyone who practices trigger discipline. Its kydex is custom-molded for a sure fit with the Mako. It can be worn inside or outside the waistband, right- or left-handed. Its single belt clip is fair, but better than most, with an upward-angled claw on the back to keep the holster where it belongs on the draw.
Reviewers who never actually shot this gun have mocked the tall-ish slide and small ejection port, comparing the Mako’s appearance to the infamous Hi Point pistols. But it handles extremely well for a small gun. And even though my student, a brand new shooter, occasionally had a weak grip, the Mako never failed to cycle fully. As far as I’m concerned, the ergonomics of this pistol are fantastic for actual shooting. It was through wearing the gun that I found fault.
My infatuation with the Mako faded after wearing it for most of a day. That stippling that aids so well in recoil control is rough enough to catch on silky fabrics, hampering perfect concealment. But that wasn’t the dealbreaker. It was the painful near-blister I developed on my abdominal flab from wearing the gun just a few hours. The base of the grip has square corners where it meets the magazine, and they’re sharp. This inspired too much discomfort to put up with. Perhaps a little sanding would fix the problem, but I wasn’t about to exercise amateur grip mod skills on a nice new gun. With some hesitation, I decided the R7 Mako will not be my EDC gun. Had it not been for those pesky corners, It would have been my new top choice. There are lots of other ways to carry that would avoid this issue, and for people who can make that work, the rather unsung Mako is definitely worth a look.
Specifications – Kimber R7 Mako
- Cartridge: 9mm
- Sights: Truglo 3-Dot Tritium Pro Night Sights with Orange Front Ring and White Rear Ring
- Barrel: 3.37″ Stainless Steel with 1 in 10″ Left-Hand Twist
- Slide: Stainless Steel with FNC Finish
- Frame: Polymer with Serialized Steel Central Block. Molded stippling finish
- Height: 4.3″
- Weight (sans magazine): 19.5 Oz
- Length: 6.2″
- Width: 1″
- Capacity: 10 RD Flush, 11 RD Standard, 13 RD Extended
- MSRP: $599
