#wheelgunwednesday

It may seem that the wheels of progress turn slowly, but they continue to turn nevertheless. The Apollo holster from Dark Star Gear arrived. Made for the feathery Kimber K6xs revolver – or, in fact, any three-inch Kimber K6s revolver – it was designed primarily for front-of-the-hip carry.

I was stunned by the comfort of this rig, about which more will appear later. Included in the mailer were three IAC Immediate Action Carriers. Made by Dark Star Gear, they are the brainchild of Cecil Burch of Immediate Action Combatives. Designed to hold most .38/357 rounds on a common 1.5″ wide belt, they each hold a pair of rounds.

Ever fight for real estate on your belt? A cartridge slide or 2x2x2 pouch too much on one side of the belt? These are sold as single units. Add a couple and you have six rounds for a reload. If they look speedy, forget it; they take some practice.

What doesn’t?

One thing’s certain, these won’t lose a round like some loops. Better to have that round you have to dig out than to have to crawl around trying to find it in the dark during an engagement. Besides, with a little effort, you’ll find yourself getting those rounds out with some deliberation.

The Immediate Action Carrier had been a “one of these days” project, but – according to the maker’s website, “… the modern revolver/snubby renaissance gave us the opportunity to revive it.”

Kimber K6xs with DSG Apollo with Hornady ammo. Below, case heads are recessed in the Kimber revolver.

Now, back to the revolver revolution – soon after getting the Dark Star Gear Apollo IWB holster, I made a quick trip to the range with the Kimber K6xs. Previous work with this light 38 appears here and here. As I’m considering the viability of the six-shot, lightweight revolver for personal protection, I sought to do some holster work, consider the relative practical accuracy of the piece and determine the zero with a likely carry load.

Using some locally-printed targets downloaded from First Person Safety, the FPS-1, and my go-to target, the B8 repair center, I took along ammo appropriate to the task: Fiocchi 38A 130 grain FMJ and Federal Punch +P 120 grain JHP, along with Hornady Critical Defense +P 110 grain FTX.

It was cool and breezy. Using the Fiocchi ammo, I checked the zero from fifteen yards. That effort yielded one hit high over the 3x5” rectangle in the center of the “chest” and a pair that landed right at 3 o’clock. Moving to seven yards on the “head” portion of the target, I got one in the center circle and one on the “nostril” of the face.

It’s not what I’d call target accuracy but it’s a one-pound DA revolver with no single-action notch.

While at seven yards, I threw some Federal Punch at the target. They fell within 3 3/8” and tended low.

A B8 target from fifteen yards took five hits from Hornady Critical Defense +P. The group was smaller at 2 ½”, the center of which fell 2 ¼” low and 1 ½” right. All five hits were in the shaded portion of the target.

I was holding with the orange dot in the center of the front sight hovering over the center of the bull. It looks like I’ll have to cover higher with that load at that distance. As to the windage issue, I believe it’s the unique nature of the stock. A Hogue, well designed and well rendered, it’s a bit thin. Along with the revolver’s design, I think it forces my hand into a location that has my trigger manipulation pull that muzzle right.

I posted another target and began holster work using the Fiocchi ammo. I began at five yards, starting with the hand on the holstered handgun. I gave a verbal command and drew to fire as the timer sounded. These were singles. I followed this with a draw to a pair shooting with both hands, followed by a pair fired left-handed.

From seven yards, I shot a failure drill from the holster, followed by another fired weak-hand only. On that string, a headshot was just outside.

At ten yards, I did the “ball and dummy” exercise popularized by Claude Werner. I had two live rounds in the gun and four empties. On each draw, I’d try to fire a single. If there was a “click,” I’d open the cylinder, spin it and close the gun onto the cylinder.

I did the same when a round fired. The target for this was the ‘head’ portion of the FPS-1. The results were that the first round attempted fired (not a first, but unusual) and the fourth attempt was a fired round. Hits were below the “eye” on the right and in the “eye” on the right.

I finished with six singles, drawing the gun each time to get the holster reps. All of the hits were in the 3x5” box save one that wandered out onto the line high right.

I finished the day without the tingling in the right hand I’d experienced on the first trip. None of the loads fired felt weak; the Fiocchi and Federal were hot enough and the Hornady is a solid +P load. All empties extracted with nothing more than gravity.

Slick chambers.

As to the new holster, the Apollo is incredible. It’ll take some getting used to for wear while seated. The holster is long enough for the 3” guns and that helps press the holster body out and the gun butt back into the body for concealment. Attached to the waist with a Discreet Carry Concepts High Level Retention Discreet Gear Clips, it’s sure and secure while still allowing “easy-off” convenience.

The access was quick and sure. This holster is a winner. Between the Apollo for belt carry and the Galco StukOn-U pocket holster for pocket carry, the new gun actually got some ‘carry time’ on it.

A light, six-shot 38 snub – if that’s what you’re after, Kimber is one good place to look.

— Rich Grassi