Kimber K6s trigger

[timbo399]

I bought a Kimber K6s few mos ago and still have not had a chance to take it to the range--all I've done is dry fire it a ton.

I find the trigger very unique compared to, say, my Ruger LCR- it is super smooth as far as staging the trigger-- I love that aspect of it.

But for the reset, it seems almost as if there are 3 audible clicks until fully reset and the trigger has to be basically in the full forward position to actually reset.

Because of this, I have found when dry firing, the first trigger pull or two feel super smooth while staging, but , for example, on my Ruger LCR I can just pull the trigger extremely quickly 10 times in a row no problem at rapid pace--but I am not able to do that w the Kimber as usually end up short stroking after 5-6 trigger pulls.

What are your thoughts on the trigger? For rapid fire I find my Ruger LCR much easier to run through.

Thanks

[axhoaxho]

I have a K6S, and I find that Kimber puts a pretty good two-stages trigger (or whatever it is called) in it, which has a pretty nice ‘break’ between the prep-travel (rotate the cylinder, pull back the hammer, etc.) and the final-hair-snap (drop the hammer.)

A good instructor could teach/show us how to take advantage of a good two-stages trigger, especially on revolvers.

Please see below for a brief explanation of two-stages trigger.

The issue is the set trigger still requires the shooter to do something before taking the shot, which can be a bit of a bother if you’re pressed for time. The solution is to give the trigger the safety of a heavier overall pull with the accuracy of a lighter break. Thus, the two stage trigger.

You can imagine a two stage trigger like a gentle hill with a low brick wall at the top and a steep drop on the other side of the wall. A single stage trigger is more like a gigantic wall on a flat plane with the same steep drop on the other side. The tops of both of the walls are level with each other and just as high. The difference is that with the two stage trigger, the shooter only needs to apply a hair more effort to get over that wall having already done the prep work (walking up the gently sloping hill).

That’s where the two stage trigger gets is power. The overall force required to release the firing mechanism is the same in both, but with the two stage trigger you can “prep” the trigger by taking up the slack (walking up the hill and stopping just before the wall), and then once you see your opportunity to take the shot, you only need a hair more pressure to get the job done. Or drop over the wall. Or whatever metaphor I’m using now.

The point is, the final amount of pressure required is much less than with the single stage trigger and greatly reduces the sympathetic muscle contractions that can throw your shot off.

The issue is the set trigger still requires the shooter to do something before taking the shot, which can be a bit of a bother if you’re pressed for time. The solution is to give the trigger the safety of a heavier overall pull with the accuracy of a lighter break. Thus, the two stage trigger.

You can imagine a two stage trigger like a gentle hill with a low brick wall at the top and a steep drop on the other side of the wall. A single stage trigger is more like a gigantic wall on a flat plane with the same steep drop on the other side. The tops of both of the walls are level with each other and just as high. The difference is that with the two stage trigger, the shooter only needs to apply a hair more effort to get over that wall having already done the prep work (walking up the gently sloping hill).

That’s where the two stage trigger gets is power. The overall force required to release the firing mechanism is the same in both, but with the two stage trigger you can “prep” the trigger by taking up the slack (walking up the hill and stopping just before the wall), and then once you see your opportunity to take the shot, you only need a hair more pressure to get the job done. Or drop over the wall. Or whatever metaphor I’m using now.

The point is, the final amount of pressure required is much less than with the single stage trigger and greatly reduces the sympathetic muscle contractions that can throw your shot off.

The issue is the set trigger still requires the shooter to do something before taking the shot, which can be a bit of a bother if you’re pressed for time. The solution is to give the trigger the safety of a heavier overall pull with the accuracy of a lighter break. Thus, the two stage trigger.

You can imagine a two stage trigger like a gentle hill with a low brick wall at the top and a steep drop on the other side of the wall. A single stage trigger is more like a gigantic wall on a flat plane with the same steep drop on the other side. The tops of both of the walls are level with each other and just as high. The difference is that with the two stage trigger, the shooter only needs to apply a hair more effort to get over that wall having already done the prep work (walking up the gently sloping hill).

That’s where the two stage trigger gets is power. The overall force required to release the firing mechanism is the same in both, but with the two stage trigger you can “prep” the trigger by taking up the slack (walking up the hill and stopping just before the wall), and then once you see your opportunity to take the shot, you only need a hair more pressure to get the job done. Or drop over the wall. Or whatever metaphor I’m using now.

The point is, the final amount of pressure required is much less than with the single stage trigger and greatly reduces the sympathetic muscle contractions that can throw your shot off.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/03/foghorn/ask-foghorn-whats-the-benefit-of-a-two-stage-trigger/amp/

[timbo399]

Thanks for your input axohoaxho-- yes when I dry fire I love the double action staging of the trigger- it is super smooth and seems to me that it makes for more accurate shots being able to stage the K6s trigger like that.

Where I run into problems is the reset on the K6s. It's almost as though I fall for the false reset and thus short stroke it when rapid dry firing. So on rapid fire I tend to short stroke after 4-5 shots.

Guess I just have to understand the trigger better and do a lot more dry firing practice, and actually take it to the range!!! Thanks!!!!

[axhoaxho]

Enjoy your K6s, it is one of my favorite revolvers.

Checkout this video, at about 13:00 the guy showed the trigger-pull (a video is worth a million words. )

https://youtu.be/rHwYjULjmss

[timbo399]

Thanks for the video. Very interesting. I think it really just comes down to the fact that I have always shot semis and not used to DA pull of revolvers.

And combined with the fact that I always shot my semi autos w the thumbs forward grip and can't do that (at least that is what I have read) w a snub nose revolver. So I spent a lot of time last night looking at YouTube videos on proper grip for a snub nose .357-- I finally found a grip that felt good to me-- and allowed my trigger finger to travel straight back horizontally-- rather than at an angle as before-- allowing the squeeze to now be a straight back horizontal squeeze of the trigger = no more short stroking !!!

I dry fired last night for almost an hour w it until my trigger finger was ready to fall off!! And no short stroking-- even on rapid fire drills-- just remembered to allow the trigger to fully reset and then squeeze and follow through, never yank the trigger.

I appreciate your input!!!

Funny how an hour of dry fire w DA revolver can strengthen your trigger finger--- on all my other guns I dry fire them all the time and never experienced fatigue-- this one I did after 30 min or so!!!

But main thing is there were no more short strokes last night after I adjusted my grip to get my thumbs out of the way of my trigger pull.

[jdg30]

I bought a Kimber K6s few mos ago and still have not had a chance to take it to the range--all I've done is dry fire it a ton.

I find the trigger very unique compared to, say, my Ruger LCR- it is super smooth as far as staging the trigger-- I love that aspect of it.

But for the reset, it seems almost as if there are 3 audible clicks until fully reset and the trigger has to be basically in the full forward position to actually reset.

Because of this, I have found when dry firing, the first trigger pull or two feel super smooth while staging, but , for example, on my Ruger LCR I can just pull the trigger extremely quickly 10 times in a row no problem at rapid pace--but I am not able to do that w the Kimber as usually end up short stroking after 5-6 trigger pulls.

What are your thoughts on the trigger? For rapid fire I find my Ruger LCR much easier to run through.

Thanks

Thanks a lot Timbo399, I will probably have to buy one of these. I have had my eye on it since it came out. The main advantage is a compact snub nose revolver with 6 shots instead of 5. A great trigger also helps for motivation to buy one.

Can't go wrong buying one, at worst I would lose a few bucks selling it if I didn't like it. I can't see why it wouldn't be a great revolver to own though.

[jdg30]

Thanks for the video. Very interesting. I think it really just comes down to the fact that I have always shot semis and not used to DA pull of revolvers.

And combined with the fact that I always shot my semi autos w the thumbs forward grip and can't do that (at least that is what I have read) w a snub nose revolver. So I spent a lot of time last night looking at YouTube videos on proper grip for a snub nose .357-- I finally found a grip that felt good to me-- and allowed my trigger finger to travel straight back horizontally-- rather than at an angle as before-- allowing the squeeze to now be a straight back horizontal squeeze of the trigger = no more short stroking !!!

I dry fired last night for almost an hour w it until my trigger finger was ready to fall off!! And no short stroking-- even on rapid fire drills-- just remembered to allow the trigger to fully reset and then squeeze and follow through, never yank the trigger.

I appreciate your input!!!

Funny how an hour of dry fire w DA revolver can strengthen your trigger finger--- on all my other guns I dry fire them all the time and never experienced fatigue-- this one I did after 30 min or so!!!

But main thing is there were no more short strokes last night after I adjusted my grip to get my thumbs out of the way of my trigger pull.

I shoot with a different grip with revolvers compared to semi-autos. Semis I hold a 2 thumbs forward grip, with revolvers, I have a right-hand hold on the grip, with my support hand holding on to my right hand, with the support hand thumb pointing up. It has worked very well for me.

My favorite revolver ever is the Ruger SP101. The Kimber revolver might be able to take it's place with 1 extra round. The sp101 is the best revolver I have ever fired though without trying the Kimber. Good quality revolvers rock! I have shot thousands of rounds through the sp101 and it is so smooth and so accurate. It has never had a single problem. It is probably my most accurate gun ever.

[timbo399]

I shoot with a different grip with revolvers compared to semi-autos. Semis I hold a 2 thumbs forward grip, with revolvers, I have a right-hand hold on the grip, with my support hand holding on to my right hand, with the support hand thumb pointing up. It has worked very well for me.

My favorite revolver ever is the Ruger SP101. The Kimber revolver might be able to take it's place with 1 extra round. The sp101 is the best revolver I have ever fired though without trying the Kimber. Good quality revolvers rock! I have shot thousands of rounds through the sp101 and it is so smooth and so accurate. It has never had a single problem. It is probably my most accurate gun ever.

Yeah with my new Kimber K6s, I finally realized it was all in my grip. I had never shot snub nose revolvers before so the way I was holding it did not allow me to squeeze the trigger straight back. As mentioned in my previous post, once I did a lot of research on the internet of various people showing how they grip their J frames, etc-- I finally found a grip that worked for me-- and once I did, no more short stroking. So now I can enjoy the benefits of the wonderful trigger the Kimber K6s has-- the staging is crazy-- so smooth. i haven't even shot it yet but I love the compact size w 6 shots and the trigger is SWEET.

i've looked at a bunch of SP101's and always liked them but never owned one. I think you would like the Kimber K6s. Great little revolver. And I'd be happy to let you borrow/shoot mine if you're ever out at Angeles to see how you like it.