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Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review The Kimber K6s DASA (double-action/single-action) Combat chambered .357 Magnum is an extremely well-made, good-shooting defensive revolver. Here’s a full review.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

By Keith Wood

I’ve long been a revolver fan, so when I saw a major U.S. firearm manufacturer engineer a sixgun from the ground up, I was excited. Kimber’s K6s was introduced to consumers in 2016 with much fanfare. Revolvers, long considered dead, were making a comeback, and Kimber appeared to have timed the market perfectly.

The K6s was offered in different configurations, but all of them were snubnose, internal-hammer, double-action-only guns designed for concealed carry. That changed in 2019 when Kimber introduced the DASA, a traditional double-action/single-action revolver available with barrels up to four inches. Though less concealable, the K6s DASA family is far more capable.

The DASA is currently offered in four models. Two of them—the four-inch Target GFO and four-inch Target—have fully adjustable rear sights. The fixed-sight Combat models are available with three- and four-inch barrels, and I tested the latter.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

Kimber’s one-piece barrel has a unique ovate profile. A full-length underlug adds a bit of weight out front where it can do the most good.

I recently spent a day in Kimber’s Troy, Alabama, headquarters with a focus on the engineering work being done there. One of the products we focused on was the K6s series of revolvers, which gave me the opportunity for a deep dive into the guns’ construction and features with the team who designed them.

Metal injection molding (MIM) has become extremely popular in the firearm industry due to its ability to produce functional components at low cost. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with MIM parts, particularly if a firearm is engineered with those parts in mind, many purists lament their use. I am neither categorically pro nor anti MIM, but I don’t believe there is any question that fully machined parts, though more expensive to produce, are superior.

The K6s series of revolvers contains no MIM parts whatsoever, instead relying on components machined from bar stock in Kimber’s Yonkers, New York, facility. Manufacturing a revolver is an expensive proposition, made even more so by this type of construction. Everything but the grip panels and sights on the K6s are machined from stainless steel.

Like all K6s revolvers, the DASA Combat is chambered in .357 Magnum. With modern heat-treated steels, such a gun no longer needs to be bulky in order to handle the pressures generated by that cartridge. This model is surprisingly light and trim.

Frame-wise, the K6s is roughly the size of a Smith & Wesson K-frame revolver which makes for a very handy package. When compared to larger N-frame guns, the K6s looks downright tiny. The round-butt frame is just long enough to allow for a full-fingered grip on the gun, reducing another area that can ordinarily add bulk to a revolver.

Finally, the sides of the cylinder are milled flat between the chambers, which cuts down on width. Empty, the K6s weighs 29 ounces. If you were going to conceal a four-inch-barreled revolver, this would be a strong choice.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

The counter-bored six-shot cylinder means that case rims are recessed within the chambers. The sights are steel three-dot type.

Let’s start with the barrel. Some revolver manufacturers have gone to a two-piece blank-and-sleeve arrangement to eliminate the necessity of timing the barrel to the frame. Kimber opted for a traditional one-piece barrel with a unique ovate profile, another sign that cost-cutting isn’t a priority for the company’s sixguns. A full-length underlug adds a bit of weight where it can be most effective in taming muzzle rise. The barrel-to-cylinder gap on the K6s measured 0.006 inch, which is on the tight side of average.

The six-shot cylinder on the K6s is counterbored, which means it is chambered so the rims of loaded cartridges are recessed within. This has become an unusual feature on double-action revolvers since the 1980s because it requires additional machining operations. Yet another shortcut averted. Cylinders can be charged individually or using machined aluminum speedloaders available from Kimber.

The Combat byname suggests a revolver that will most likely be fired double-action. Firing the K6s in this mode produces a trigger pull that measured 8.75 pounds on my test sample. This double-action pull was smooth. There was no “stacking” of the trigger, and the only indication that the shot is about to break is the bolt locking into the cylinder notch.

The single-action trigger is equally impressive, breaking at a clean 3.3 pounds. Kimber obviously did its homework when it engineered the DASA’s trigger mechanism. I was impressed.

The K6s DASA uses two safeties. Kimber maintained the rebound safety found on the original K6s and added a transfer bar safety, which prevents the revolver from firing unless the trigger is pulled—a dual failsafe system.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

The checkered cylinder release is located on the left side of the frame and is pushed inward to operate.

With the sideplate off the K6s, Kimber engineers were able to show me firsthand how this system works. The transfer bar is the steel part that connects the falling hammer with the firing pin and only actuates with pressure on the trigger. If the transfer bar is not in its raised position, the gun cannot fire. So even if the K6s is dropped and the hammer falls, there is nothing to connect the hammer and firing pin. This is the case when the hammer is forward as well.

These safeties are completely passive; you won’t know they are there unless you look for them. In my opinion, anything that contributes to a safer gun and doesn’t have a negative effect on the trigger pull is a win.

While the K6s Target models come equipped with fully adjustable sights, the DASA Combat uses a more rigid arrangement. The steel front sight is pinned into the barrel and the rear rides in a dovetail. The rear sight is drift adjustable for windage once a vertical hex screw is loosened.

I found the white three-dot sight arrangement to be a good shooting aid, with just enough light visible on either side of the front blade to balance precision and speed. The test sample shot to point of aim with all of the loads tested, which ranged from light .38 Special loads to powerful defensive .357 Magnum ammunition. The lack of adjustability was not an issue.

The trigger on the K6s DASA Combat is smooth, and the hammer is checkered for a positive grip. The port-side cylinder release is checkered as well and is accessible without having to shift one’s grip on the gun.

With the cylinder unlocked, a standard-type ejector rod is used to unload the K6s. The cylinder locks both at the rear and at the front of the ejector rod where it interfaces with a spring-loaded detent in the barrel.

The only non-steel parts on the K6s are the grips. Made from two panels of laminated wood, the stocks on the K6s DASA Combat are functional and attractive. Two finger grooves are located on the frontstrap that, combined with the diamond pattern checkering, help the shooter control the gun in recoil.

My hands are about average in size, and I found the factory grips to be comfortable and functional. At this time, other options are limited because factory grips designed for the double-action-only K6s are not compatible with the DASA. However, aftermarket grips such as those from Hogue are compatible.

Overall, the fit and finish on our sample gun was excellent. The entire K6s DASA Combat is completely de-horned for carry, meaning there are no sharp edges that will cut into skin or clothing. The brushed satin stainless steel finish is even and attractive.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

As expected, the DASA Combat proved accurate from the bench, and it excelled at smacking steel plates in shooting drills.

On the day I took the K6s to the range for our formal accuracy testing, it took its place in line behind a handgun that retailed for about five times the Kimber’s suggested retail price. I guess I wasn’t expecting much after shooting the heirloom-priced handgun, which was one of the most accurate guns I’ve ever tested. Imagine my surprise when the first five-shot group out of this Kimber landed in a single ragged hole at 25 yards, nearly besting the high-dollar model. Repeated groups achieved the same result. In terms of its accuracy potential, this K6s takes a backseat to no gun.

Due to the ammo shortage situation when I was testing this gun, I was able to shoot only three loads, but nevertheless, I got a good view of what this gun is capable of. Despite being a relatively light and compact revolver, recoil was not oppressive even with full-power .357 Magnum loads.

Accuracy was great, but that’s not the final answer when it comes to how useful a handgun can be in the practical sense. After the bench testing was finished, I transitioned to steel targets at various ranges. Firing the K6s double-action, I quickly came to appreciate how shootable the gun is. Good sights, a great trigger and controllable recoil were all part of the experience and took me back to my earliest days on the range when my .357 Magnum revolver was my only centerfire handgun.

Revolvers are complicated firearms and therefore not at all inexpensive to manufacture. The suggested retail price on the DASA Combat is $1,046, and street prices appear to hover roughly $100 below that number, even in this market. Put in context, the Kimber splits the price difference between comparable revolvers made by Smith & Wesson and Ruger. Neither of those companies can boast the use of fully machined parts in their models, further demonstrating the value of the K6s series. Once you shoot the K6s, the price begins to look very reasonable.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat .357 Magnum Revolver: Full Review

Experts have been proclaiming the death of the combat revolver since the FBI’s disastrous Miami shootout in 1986. Yes, semiautos have certainly taken over the law enforcement and concealed-carry markets, but revolvers are seeing a comeback. Whether it is nostalgia, fun or just the need to own something that isn’t black and soulless, more and more sixguns are showing up in the market and on the range.

Further, not every shooter is comfortable with keeping a loaded semiauto in their home or on their person. Given the millions of new, inexperienced individuals who have become gun owners since the spring of 2020, we may see an entire new demand for the simplicity and reliability of a defense-oriented revolver. The K6s DASA Combat fits comfortably in that role.

As I learned during my visit to Kimber’s Alabama facility, this is not a product that was rushed to the market to meet the latest trend. The K6s series of revolvers is carefully engineered and refined, and the DASA is the latest evolution of that design and innovation effort. Given the K6s DASA Combat’s range performance, it’s clear that Kimber’s engineers did their job well. I can’t wait to see what the company comes up with next. If a simple, reliable, powerful and well-built handgun piques your interest, this one is worth a long look.

Kimber K6s DASA Combat Specification

  • Type: double-action/single-action revolver
  • Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
  • Capacity: 6
  • Barrel: 4 in.
  • Weight: 29 oz.
  • Construction: machined stainless steel
  • Grips: laminated hardwood
  • Sights: three-dot steel front and rear, drift adjustable for windage
  • Trigger: 3.3 lb. single-action pull, 8.75 lb. double-action pull
  • Price: $1,046
  • Manufacturer: Kimber Manufacturing, kimberamerica.com
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.45 COLT DOUBLE-ACTION CONVERSION TWICE THE FUN IN ONE GUN WRITTEN BY JEFF “TANK” HOOVER

While loving the simplicity of the strong and reliable single-action thumb-cocker, I’m savvy enough to also appreciate its swinging sidekick, the double-action revolver. Both revolver styles keep cartridge brass confined in the cylinder after firing, making it unnecessary to chase, a big plus for those with an aversion to bending over. More importantly, shelling out freshly fired brass into your hand is soothing and convenient, especially when you guard your fired brass like gold coins.

Removing the cylinder is simple even without special tools. TK Custom even
provides a video on how to do it so you don’t need to send the entire gun!

Versatile Vixen

 

The swing-out cylinder has the added benefits of allowing you to dump empties, as well as loading them, all at once. I’m going to show you how to enjoy your .45 Colt double-action even more, by making it a bi-caliber contender, providing you with twice the fun.

As you know, the .45 Colt is my favorite cartridge — but I still enjoy many others, especially when I can shoot them in the same gun such as the popular and abundant .45 ACP. Besides shooting .45 ACPs, I’ll show you different techniques for loading your .45 Colt cartridges, and it doesn’t matter if it’s of Ruger, or S&W lineage, either. If you enjoy tinkering with gun “stuff” while watching TV, you’ll love what I’m about to share with you.

 

Choices, choices: Whether moon-clipped, speed-stripped or speed-loaded,
the TK Custom-converted revolver gives you versatility.

TK Custom Cool

 

Tom Kilhoffer, owner of TK Custom, is the moon-clip guru of the revolver world. He skillfully machines the face of your .45 Colt cylinder, allowing it to accept moon-clipped .45 ACP cartridges. Besides allowing you to shoot cheaper and more abundant .45 ACPs, you now have a faster reload with the moon-clipped bound cartridges. All it takes is the skillful milling of the face of your cylinder the thickness of a moon-clip.

All you need to do is send your cylinder to TK Custom. Heck, they even have videos on their website showing you how to do it, saving you the hassle of shipping your firearm. Turn around was less than a week and it’s a whole lot cheaper than buying another revolver to shoot .45 ACP. TK Custom is a full custom shop and offers many options for slicking up your sixgun. Check them out.

The best part of the conversion allows you to continue shooting .45 Colt cartridges, making your revolver a double-duty gun now! Call me crazy, but loading moon-clips with factory — or handloaded — cartridges is fun, and a very fast way of reloading your sixgun.

TK Custom makes a dandy nutcracker-style tool, which saves fingers from cuts and sore thumb syndrome by pushing in the last cartridge. They also make a handy tool for removing your empties, which is actually tougher on dainty digits.

 

Those full moon clips sure are handy!

.45 Colt Three-Way Load

 

With double-action revolvers, there’s three ways of feeding those cylinders. The standard way involves plunking each cartridge by hand, one at a time. There’s nothing wrong with this method, it’s even kind of satisfying as you “throw” your target a steely eyed glare. You can even load two cartridges at a time, as you develop more dexterity.

You can also use speed strips, which are handy for several reasons. They keep cartridges bound in a neat package, prevent them from “jangling” in your pocket and allow you to load two cartridges simultaneously without the risk of dropping any.

Then there are speed-Loaders. Ask any old copper and he’ll tell you the speed-loader was the greatest invention since reclining bucket-seats on the midnight shift. Far faster and easier than old “dump pouches” this handy contraption made timed qualifications a whole lot easier, not to mention the need for hot reloads during a gunfight. Speed loaders provided confidence and reduced the fear of dropping loose cartridges under stress.

 

TK’s cylinder millwork provides the ability to shoot both moon-clipped .45 ACP and .45 Colt ammo.

Full-Moon Favorite

 

You’ll be howling in delight after your full moon-clip conversion is installed, allowing you to utilize .45 ACP ammo. The full moon-clip wasn’t released until the mid-’80s for competitive shooters while prior to this, half-moon-clips were devised to take advantage of the abundance of .45 ACP ammo available during WWI. An S&W employee came up with the brilliant idea of using half-moon-clips for the model 1917 revolvers made by S&W and Colt.

 

Feel the need for speed? Use a speed loader! Note the proper way of holding
the revolver — two middle fingers through the cylinder window for a secure grip.

Conversion Contemplation

 

So, if you’re in the market for making your double-action revolver a double-duty shooter in .45 Colt/.45 ACP, go ahead and get the TK Custom conversion done. You’ll never regret it, as you’ll now be able to shoot it twice as much with two different calibers.

The .45 ACP is generally cheaper to reload, or buy, than .45 Colt ammo. Why not shoot for cheap when all you’re doing is punching paper at the range, or simply plinking at rocks? Save your heavy loads for the field. Either way, the choice is yours with this option.

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Staff Sgt. Joyce B. Malone: Malone was originally a Fayetteville civic leader who enlisted in the Marines in 1958, where she served four years. Following her service in the Marine Corps in 1962, Malone got married and finished college at Fayetteville State University.

A few years went by and while working at Fort Bragg, she decided to join the Army Reserve – Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division in 1971. In 1974, Malone became the first and the oldest black woman to earn Airborne wings in the United States Army Reserve.

By age 38, Malone completed 15 parachute jumps during her time in the Army Reserve “#WMA #womenmarines #womenmarinesassociation”