While many instructors gravitate toward teaching ultra-operator tactics and high-speed, low-drag types of shooting, for me, nothing is more satisfying than working with somebody brand new. I’ll never get to relive my “ah-ha” moments, but watching another experience theirs is pretty darn close. Of them all, nothing warms my heart like watching a newbie begin to understand the relationship between firearms and recoil, which admittedly isn’t at all what it appears.
Humans tend to group like things together—big guns have big kick, right? Not always. In fact, some of the largest, heaviest guns are the softest to shoot. Kimber’s new 2K11 comes to mind, and is largely the inspiration for this piece. By no means a subcompact, this flat-shooting double-stack 1911 is actually a dream for new gun owners.
The 2K11 marks Kimber’s first full-size 2011-style handgun, which is essentially a higher-capacity version of the 1911 design that the company is best associated with. Therefore, much of the groundwork for them to build it was already there. Like their 1911s, the 2K11 is available in .45 ACP or 9mm Luger. Being that the gun is built entirely from metal, it has the heft it needs to soak up most of the recoil generated by either cartridge, making the .45 ACP far more manageable, and taming the 9mm Luger down to rimfire levels.
Now, I won’t overlook the fact that double-stack anything is tough to wrap your hands around, as the side-by-side columns of ammunition make for girthy magazines and magazine wells. However, Kimber does address this through the beavertail safety, as it doesn’t need to be entirely depressed to fire the gun. This keeps it safe in a holster and lets smaller hands play, too. The grip is also checkered around its entirety, helping to increase friction and reducing the amount of input needed by the operator to obtain a secure purchase. This works in concert with the generously oversized ambidextrous thumb safety, which is positive, yet easy to disengage when the shooter is ready.
Kimber offers the 2K11 in a few different versions. Aside from chambering, there is the option to have it “Optics Ready” (OR) or “Optics Included” (OI). The latter comes with a pre-mounted Trijicon SRO, which is another fabulous training tool, as the larger window makes picking up the red dot much faster for new eyes. This SKU is part of the race-ready Target edition, which is built to start you off on the right foot should competitive shooting be on your radar. For this piece, I kept to the base model, as I already had a few optics sitting on my shelf.
Getting the 2K11 to the range is effortless, as it’s ready to shoot right out of the box. The sights are built for speed, which also means simplicity, so learning basic marksmanship with them is a breeze. Up front is a brilliant green fiber-optic post that grabs the eye and promotes focusing on it instead of the target. Toward the rear is an uncluttered black notch that is easy to resolve and align with the front sight. When you take the optics cover off, the sight comes with it, too, revealing the footprint to mount a red dot.
A plate is required to top your 2K11 off with an optic, but Kimber includes one with the gun. It accepts anything with the RMR pattern, which is arguably the most common one on the market. (If you have something else in mind, other plates are available at store.kimberamerica.com.) Using what was included, I decided to give a Bushnell RXM 300 a little more runtime, as I enjoyed the simplicity and oversized lens last time I used it. All of the necessary hardware was also included with the pistol, so getting it mounted only took a few minutes.
Ammunition is the other part of the recoil equation, and sadly, most don’t take that into consideration. The easiest way to tame kick is to not generate so much in the first place. There are many recipes for low-recoil ammo, but I’ve always found light bullets to be the best place to start. To that end, I selected two 100-grain loads; one for practice and one for self-defense. Hornady’s Critical Defense Lite is a tamed version of its best-selling carry ammo, with a portion of the proceeds donated to breast cancer research. I paired it with Sinterfire’s NXG ammo, which boasts a lead-free bullet made explicitly for indoor ranges.
I started my testing by shooting some groups from a sandbag at 25 yards. The results were fantastic, as the NXG would consistently put five shots together inside of a 2" circle; the Hornady Critical Defense Lite would be just a touch larger, on average. Moreover, the gun cycled both of these loads with impunity, which is a sticking point as lighter ammunition builds less of the required pressure to operate the slide. After dialing it in, I passed it off to some of the newer shooters on the range and collected feedback. Without offering any information, invariably, each commented on how light the recoil was, with many also noticing how little pressure it took to break the trigger. There are many ways to test a soft-shooting claim, but for my money, there’s none better than a committee of inexperienced pistoleros.
I ended the range session with a quick field strip, which was expedited by the toolless takedown system. Pistols of this fashion are notoriously tough to break down, but Kimber did one heck of a job simplifying the process. Instead of balancing a paperclip in the guide rod, simply twist it and proceed like any other 1911-style pistol. In my use, I found the 2K11 to be a perfect solution for training those still apprehensive about recoil, while being just what experienced shooters need to give them the competitive edge. Between operation and maintenance, owning one is a relaxed experience, making Kimber’s latest one sleeper of a gentle giant. MSRP $1,995; KimberAmerica.com.
Specifications
Chambering: 9mm Luger (tested)
Height: 5.74”.
Weight (with empty magazine): 40.9 oz.
Length: 8.56”
Magazine Capacity: 20 or 17
Frame: Stainless Steel (with 1913 Picatinny rail)
Width: 1.4”
Slide: Stainless Steel
Barrel Length: 5”
Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
Sights: Front fiber optic, rear notch, optics cut
Grips: Aluminum Grip Module
Trigger: GT Match Grade Trigger; 3.5 lbs.
Most Popular
