Kimber Micro .380 Auto
Model: 3300206
Kimber Micro .380 Auto
Model: 3300206
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
Kimber built the Micro .380 as a shrunken 1911, and it shows. The aluminum frame, single-action trigger with thumb safety, and checkered rosewood grips give it a fit and finish that most polymer pocket .380s cannot match. At 13.4 oz and 5.6" overall, the Micro splits the weight difference between featherweight pocket guns like the 10.2 oz Taurus TCP and the 15.7 oz Sig P365-380.
The 7 lb trigger pull is the heaviest in the .380 subcompact class, which is surprising for a single-action design. Owners report the pull is clean with a crisp break despite the weight, but it does require more deliberate finger pressure than the Glock G42's 5.5 lb striker or the Ruger LCP MAX's 5.8 lb hammer. Tritium night sights come standard, a genuine advantage over the painted dots on most competitors.
The Micro's Achilles heel, well-documented in owner forums, is a break-in period. Many owners report the gun needs 200-300 rounds before it runs reliably with hollow-point ammunition. The single magazine included in the box is stingy compared to the two magazines most competitors ship. Once broken in, owners generally praise the Micro's accuracy and the satisfying feel of its all-metal construction.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Tritium night sights come standard. Every other subcompact .380 in this category ships with basic white-dot or polymer sights. Tritium inserts are visible in complete darkness without any ambient light activation.
- The aluminum frame and stainless steel slide give the Micro a build quality that polymer pocket guns cannot replicate. At 13.4 oz, it absorbs more recoil than 10-11 oz polymer guns while remaining pocket-friendly.
- The single-action trigger, while heavy at 7 lbs, breaks cleanly according to owner reports. The crisp break is a different character than the long, rolling pulls on DAO and striker-fired pocket guns.
- The well-documented 200-300 round break-in period is a real concern. Multiple forum threads and published reviews describe failures to feed and failures to eject during the first few hundred rounds, particularly with hollow-point ammunition.
- Ships with only one magazine. At 7+1 capacity, a single spare means 15 total rounds on hand. The Sig P365-380 ships with two 10-round magazines for 30 rounds total.
Category Rankings
How the Kimber Micro .380 Auto ranks among subcompact .380 Auto handguns.
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar subcompact .380 Auto handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Glock G42 .380 Auto
Glock
|
— |
|
Ruger LCP II .380 Auto
Ruger
|
— |
|
Taurus 738 TCP .380 Auto
Taurus
|
— |
|
Sig Sauer P365-380 .380 Auto
Sig Sauer
|
— |
|
Ruger LCP MAX .380 Auto
Ruger
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rounds does the Kimber Micro .380 need to break in?
Most owner reports and published reviews suggest 200-300 rounds before the Micro runs reliably with hollow-point ammunition. During break-in, feed failures and occasional stovepipes are commonly reported. Use quality ball ammunition for the break-in period, then test your chosen defensive load for at least another 50 rounds without a malfunction before carrying.
Can I dry-fire the Kimber Micro .380 safely?
Kimber states in the owner's manual that dry-firing the Micro .380 is safe and will not damage the firing pin. The single-action design means you must cock the hammer before each dry-fire pull. Snap caps are still a good practice for extended dry-fire sessions to reduce firing pin wear over thousands of repetitions.