On this "Gun Of The Week" episode, we’re on the range with the Kimber Carbon Compact. This EDC pistol is based on another handgun from Kimber that we’ve looked at previously, but this version is loaded with upgrades. Watch our video above to see it in use on the range.
The latest Carbon Compact is an upsized version of Kimber’s first polymer-frame, micro-compact pistol that came out in 2021: the R7 Mako. We were impressed by the design and performance of the R7, which featured a unique barrel-locking system that gave the gun a different look than many other micro-compacts on the market. Our testing revealed that there might be something to this new design, as the Mako performed pretty well on the accuracy front.
In 2024, Kimber upsized the Mako design when it introduced the Carbon Compact. Compared to the original R7 Mako, the Carbon Compact has a slightly longer barrel, measuring just under 4” compared to the short, 3.37” barrel on the original. The frame has also been extended a bit to accept the original R7 Mako’s 15-round extended magazine in a new flush-fit configuration.
Speaking of the frame, in this version, that’s where a lot of the technological innovation comes into play, and the name hints at what they’ve done here. The “Carbon” refers to the carbon-fiber-infused matrix that’s used to build this polymer frame, and Kimber claims that this new material is stronger than other polymers, with a 60,000 p.s.i. tensile strength. Due to this strengthened material, the company has been aggressive in recontouring some elements of the frame.
For example, this trigger-guard undercut on the frontstrap is much deeper than you’ll see on many other designs, and that aids in recoil control. The frame also offers four different interchangeable backstraps for easy customization, and there’s fairly aggressive stippling in key areas of the grip that aid in maintaining control. One of the other enhancements is the addition of a large magazine well funnel that provides plenty of clearance for quick reloads.
At the top end of the gun, aside from the longer slide length to accommodate the 3.92” barrel on the Carbon Compact, much of the styling and construction matches that of the original R7 Mako, including tritium-illuminated night sights and a milled slot that accommodates red-dot optics of the Shield RMSc footprint. Slide serrations at the front and rear aid in manipulation, and the muzzle end of the slide also features an angular bevel to aid in reholstering. It’s worth noting here, too, that Kimber offers Carbon Compact models with or without a threaded muzzle, and the barrel on the threaded-for-suppression guns extends past the front of the slide for an overall length of 4.42”.
On the range is where the design elements of the Kimber Carbon Compact really shine. Like the original, the Carbon Compact is a truly bilateral design in every way. It has mirrored magazine releases and mirrored slide-stop levers, and this isn’t just a benefit for lefties. This means anyone can train to use the gun well with either hand, a helpful skill to have in a defensive situation if one hand is immobilized for whatever reason. We found the original Mako design to be one of the most shootable micro-compacts on the market, and the slightly larger grip frame and deep trigger-guard undercut of the Carbon Compact version makes this gun even more comfortable to shoot, all while still being easy to carry.
Kimber Carbon Compact Specifications
Manufacturer: Kimber America
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Barrel: 3.92" stainless steel
Slide: stainless steel; FNC finish
Frame: carbon-fiber-infused polymer
Magazine: 15-round detachable box
Sights: three-dot tritum; optic-ready slide
Trigger: 6-lb., pull
Overall Length: 7"
Height: 5.3"
Weight: 24.4 ozs. (empty)
MSRP: $735
