Columnist Makes the Case for Kimber's K6S Six-Shot Carry Revolver

In a column for 19FortyFive, national security writer Steve Balestrieri, a former Army Special Forces NCO, argues that Kimber's K6S ranks among the best carry revolvers of the past decade. He traces how a company known for 1911 pistols built a full revolver family.

Key points

• Six rounds: Introduced at SHOT Show in January 2016, the stainless K6S holds six .357 Magnum rounds in a 23-ounce package with a 2-inch barrel and a 1.39-inch cylinder, while small-frame rivals held five. Kimber marketed it as the lightest six-shot .357 Magnum in production.
• Trigger: Revolver expert Grant Cunningham helped shape the clean-sheet design. The double-action-only trigger pulls at 9.5 to 10 pounds, which Balestrieri calls heavy but smooth and consistent.
• Lineup: Later models included a 3-inch version, a Custom Defense Package and a Deep Cover. In 2023 Kimber began shipping the K6XS, an aluminum-frame .38 Special +P weighing 15.9 ounces, with an MSRP of $679.
• Drawbacks: The base K6 listed at $985 by 2023, some critics say 23 ounces is too heavy for daily carry, and many owners find the factory grips slippery under magnum recoil.

Quick take

Balestrieri says buyers get six rounds, a good trigger, real sights and a snag-free profile, a mix he says few snub revolvers offer. For concealed carry, he writes that he would load .38 +P and save magnum loads for the range.

Read the full story at 19FortyFive.