Last week, a familiar brand in pistols even amongst airsofters just released a new compact pistol. Kimber, known for its 1911 pistols and rifles, introduced the R7 Mako Compact 9mm for everyday carry. With every major firearm manufacturer releasing compact, striker-fired, and polymer pistols, we guess Kimber wants to join the party rather than let its competitors have all the fun.

As a 9mm compact carry pistol, the R7 Mako has a 3.37” barrel with an overall length of 6.2” and overall weight at 19.5” when empty. It has a magazine capacity of 11+1 or 13+1 with the extended magazine. It comes with a optics-ready version and an optics-installed model. It allows the shooter to mount any sight that fits the Shield pattern RMSc footprint.

Kimber place a big emphasis on target acquisition in designing the R7 Mako with the optics-installed model:

• CTS-1500 reflex sight for fast target acquisition and accurate shot placement
• Co-witnessed tritium night sights, Glock-cut for aftermarket options
• Optimized sight radius for enhanced accuracy
• Hooded ejection port to vent gasses and brass away from optic

Also introduced in the R7 Mako is the Performance Trigger. According to the company, that even with the pull weight of between 5.0 and 6.75 pounds, it delivers consistent pull and crisp break of a single-action trigger. The design and weight are optimised for reduced felt recoil for better accuracy.

Now a standard design in new weapons is ambidextrous control and with the R7 Mako the slide-stop and magazine release are friendly to left-handed shooters. Texture wraps around most of the pistol and with the trigger undercut makes it better to grip.

MSRP is US$599 for the Optics Ready and US$799 for the optics installed. Additional information from the company below:

We took what competitors did, and we did it better. We asked what experienced shooters wanted, and we delivered. The new R7 Mako. First things first, shooters wanted more capacity. The R7 Mako has 12 rounds total capacity using the flush-fit standard magazine, and 14 rounds with the extended magazine. That's just the beginning. This micro-compact, polymer, striker-fired pistol has a slim, 1-inch profile and carries all the attention to detail and upgrades you’ve come to expect from every Kimber.

No competitive micro-compact, striker-fired gun’s trigger compares to what you get with the R7 Mako. Its new Performance Carry Trigger™ has a consistent, short pull and clean, crisp break. It's the kind of trigger you normally experience only in high-performance, single-action handguns.

The R7 Mako is available with a factory-installed Crimson Trace® CTS-1500 reflex sight, co-witnessed to the TruGlo® Tritium Pro sights. The optics-ready model can accept any sight that fits the Shield pattern RMSc footprint.

Each R7 Mako also includes a flush-fit 11+1 magazine as well as an extended 13+1 magazine, ambidextrous controls, near-full grip texturing, and lots of upgrades, built right in. In short, the R7 Mako is what every concealed carry handgun should be.