Self Defense

Kimber R7 Mako Tactical

Kimber’s proven striker-fired pistol becomes a killer compact suppressor host!

On Target has in-depth coverage on the way for this one, but in the meantime, we wanted

The black-nitride-coated 3.37-inch barrel is threaded to 1/2×28 at the muzzle for either a suppressor or compensator. Pictured is Dead Air Silencers’ Mojave 9 sound suppressor. Both the barrel and slide are machined from stainless steel

to give everyone a window into what we’ve found to be a pretty outstanding suppressor host in the compact-pistol segment — the new-for-2024 Kimber R7 Mako Tactical.

The new 9mm Tactical model shares its core DNA with the standard R7 Mako but is equipped with a 1/2×28 threaded barrel for suppressor use and is available in two variations: the OR (Optic Ready) or OI (Optic Included) — the latter of which comes with a factory-mounted Holosun 407K red-dot optic. The Tactical model also ships with two extended 15-round magazines instead of the standard 10 or 13-round magazines.

The full-coverage texturing is very well done on the polymer-framed R7 Mako line, striking a solid balance between grip purchase and carry comfort. Controls are 100 percent ambidextrous, and its flat-faced trigger offers some of the best pull characteristics we’ve experienced to date in a striker-fired pistol. Two 15-round magazines ship with each Tactical model.

Introduced in 2021, the R7 Mako was Kimber’s first striker-fired pistol and has since developed a reputation for being an extremely reliable, capable, and easy-to-shoot carry pistol. It stands to reason that one of our more important qualifications for a suppressor-ready pistol is that it actually runs well suppressed; not all pistols do. We tested the R7 Mako Tactical with a mixed bag of 115, 124, and 147-grain loads and with multiple dedicated 9mm suppressors threaded to its muzzle, and not one single failure to load, extract, or eject was recorded while shooting suppressed (or unsuppressed for that matter).

The polymer frame features an internal serialized steel chassis that makes the connection with the slide. Field stripping is fast and easy.

Opting for the OI (Optic Included) version of the R7 Mako Tactical, your pistol will come factory-fitted with a Holosun 407K red-dot optic. The Truglo Tritium Pro night sights reside somewhere between standard and suppressor-height and offer a co-witness sight picture with the Holosun.

As they say, the devil’s in the details, and with the R7 Mako Tactical, there are more details than we can cover here. More on those in its upcoming full-feature article. See the new Tactical model at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Kimber Mfg. Inc.; Tel: (888) 243-4522; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.kimberamerica.com