Kimber CDS9 Optic Ready Rail 9mm: Full Review

Everyone loves the smooth, clean break of a single action trigger, but for years, limited magazine capacity has kept single action only (SAO) pistols from being viable concealed carry options. But now, thanks to companies like Kimber, you don’t have to choose between a good trigger and double-digit ammunition capacity. Kimber’s CDS9 bridges this gap nicely.

“CDS” stands for Covert Double Stack, while the “9” refers to its 9mm chambering. The CDS9 looks like 1911, but it's not. For one thing, it’s devoid of the hallmark 1911 grip safety. And unlike the 1911’s sliding trigger, the CDS9’s trigger is hinged. That said, grip angle, extended beavertail, thumb safety, and slide stop are all 1911-esque.

Instead of a 7- or 8-round magazine full of .45 ACP, the 9mm chambered CDS9 runs on a 13- to 15-round magazine. There’s also a 10-round magazine version available for restricted states.

The CDS9 is available in three models: the CDS9 Optics Ready (OR) Rail (RL), the CDS9 (OR)(RL)(TFS), and the CDS9 Classic/CDS9 Classic (OR). The TFS model is “Threaded for Suppression” and is the most expensive CDS9 variant. The Classic is the most economical variant. Unlike the other models, it doesn’t have an accessory rail, features polymer grips, and standard slide serrations. The CDS9 Classic is available with or without an optic cut slide.

I tested the CDS9 (OR)(RL). It’s 6.2 inches long, 4.56 inches tall, and 1.1 inches wide. It weighs 20.8 ounces (with an empty magazine). It features a 3.18-inch stainless steel, match grade barrel with 1:10 5R rifling.

The aluminum frame sports a two-slot accessory rail so you can add a compact light or even a light/laser combo unit to aid in identification and aiming, respectively. The VZ Frag Grip panels have large, square cuts, reminiscent of a fragmentation grenade. The Frag pattern wraps around to the front and back of the frame. The reddish/black grips provide a nice contrast between the gray frame and black stainless-steel slide, each of which wear the KimPro II finish for durability and corrosion resistance.

The undercut trigger guard and extended beavertail enable you to grip high on the CDS9 for optimal recoil control. Small pistols tend to have a snappy recoil impulse, which coupled with a shortened sights radius and often, a grip too short to accommodate your pinky, makes them more difficult to shoot than a larger pistol.

The CDS9’s recoil is manageable thanks in part to the full-length grip provided by the 13-round and 15-round extended magazines. The stacked recoil spring also mitigates recoil and the associated muzzle flip. Muzzle flip is dead time, when the muzzle is off target. Less muzzle flip contributes to faster, more accurate follow up shots. For personal defense, having a flat shooting pistol like the CDS9 is advantageous because it may take several well-placed hits to immediately stop a deadly threat.

Another advantage of the CDS9 is its ambidextrous design, with a thumb safety and slide stop level on either side of the frame. The magazine release is set up on the left side of the pistol for right-handed shooters but can be swapped to the right side of the pistol for lefties. Being able to operate the thumb safety and slide stop lever from either side of the pistol is also beneficial when relegated to operating the CDS9 one-handed, as may be the case if one of your arms or hands is injured. The controls are big enough to manipulate easily, without interfering with your grip.

The trigger on the CDS9 is flat faced. Unlike a 1911 trigger, which slides rearward when pressed, the CDS9’s trigger is hinged at the top. There is minimal take up before the trigger breaks cleanly at 90°, with 5 pounds of pressure, according to my NRA official universal trigger weight system. Although not quite as light or smooth as a quality 1911 trigger, the CDS9’s trigger is considerably better than that of most other pistols. The trigger guard is large enough to allow unimpeded access to the trigger, even while wearing gloves.

The slide features fish scale serrations front and rear. This gives the slide a unique look, but more importantly, it provides a solid grip for racking the slide, locking the slide to the rear, or conducting a press check. Optics Ready (OR) models come with a cover plate and integral black, serrated rear sight. The front sight contains a highly visible, red TAG Precision Fiber Lock fiber optic insert.

The CDS9 ships with orange and green fiber optic inserts that can be used in place of the red. It’s a simple procedure using the supplied Allen key. For those who prefer a less busy sight picture (and one that won’t distract you when using a red dot sight), there’s also a black insert included. For testing, I mounted a Burris FastFire C red dot sight directly to the CDS9.

These days, I consider a red dot sight mandatory on any of my carry pistols. Can I shoot with iron sights? Of course. I’ve done so for years, but red dots simplify aiming, which enhances speed and accuracy – particularly as distance increases or the target size decreases. With a red dot, there are no sights to align. Just put the dot on the target and press the trigger.
If you prefer to use a red dot sight but also back up iron sights (BUIS), you’re out of luck with the CDS9. Removing the optic cover plate leaves the pistol without a rear sight. Without BUIS, it’s imperative that you practice aiming through the window of the optic. You could even use a portion of the housing to help aim should the dot fail, but this is something you have to practice ahead of time to gain an understanding of where your rounds will impact at various distances.

Like a 1911, the CDS9 is thin. This helps it carry flat under a cover garment for easy concealment. Being thin also enables your hands to more completely encircle the grip to help manage recoil. For those squeamish about carrying a pistol in the appendix position, the CDS9 has a manual safety that must be disengaged to fire. I have no qualms about appendix carrying the CDS9.

Its smooth contours and rounded edges help prevent the CDS9 from snagging on your garment when drawing from concealment and help ensure a comfortable shooting experience. The model I tested was not only smooth but also blemish free like a quality 1911 – the type of pistol Kimber is best known for.

As with a 1911, the thumb of your shooting hand should rest lightly atop the safety when gripping the CDS9. Once the muzzle is on target, simply apply downward pressure to disengage the safety. The only time your thumb should be below the safety is to click it upward to engage the safety.

For accuracy testing I bench rested the CDS9 15 yards from the target and fired four, five-shot groups with three different loads. The overall average group size was 1.4 inches. The best group was ½-inch using Black Hills 125 grain Honeybadger, which also produced the best average grouping at 1.2 inches. These impressive results are possible due to the right combination of ergonomics and craftsmanship.

Ease-of-use and accuracy are important attributes of a concealed carry pistol but those don’t mean much if the pistol isn’t dependable. In a self-defense situation, you need to be confident that your pistol will run reliably. Based on my testing, I trust the CDS9, as it didn’t incur a single malfunction. It uses on an external extractor, which many feel is more reliable than an internal extractor.

Offhand, the CDS9 proved to be flat shooting, especially given its compact size and light weight. It strikes a balance between concealability and shootability that many small pistols can’t. If you’re used to shooting a 1911, the CDS9 will be familiar. The fact that there is no grip safety just means it will fire even without a perfect grip.

Unlike pistols that run on single stack magazines or that have a short grip, the CDS9 holds plenty of rounds. The metal magazines eject cleanly from the pistol with a press of the oblong shaped magazine release. Extended baseplates ensure you have something to grab hold of should you need to strip the magazine from the pistol, as would be the case when clearing a double feed. Witness holes reveal how many rounds are in the magazine.

If you’re looking for a single action 9mm pistol that’s easy to conceal and shoot but not restricted to single stack magazine capacity, the CDS9 is worth considering. It handles like a miniature 1911 with a capacity that rivals many full-sized pistols. It comes with quality sights but is also cut for the direct mounting of any of optic using the popular RMSc footprint. With an MSRP of $1,075, it’s an affordable option with features that belie its price tag. For more information, visit kimberamerica.com.

Kimber CDS9 (OR)(RL)

• Type: Hammer-Fired, Semiauto Centerfire
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 13+1, 15+1 (2)
• Barrel: 3.18 In., Stainless-Steel, Match Grade, 5R Rifling 1:10
• OAL/Height/Width: 6.2/5.0 (W/ 13-Round Magazine)/1.1 In.
• Weight: 20.8 Oz. (With Empty Magazine)
• Construction: Aluminum Frame, Stainless-Steel Slide W/ Kimpro II Finish
• Sights: TAG Precision Fiber Lock Front, Black Fixed Rear
• Trigger: 5 Lbs. (Tested)
• Safety: Ambidextrous Thumb Safety
• Price: $1,075
• Manufacturer: Kimber, kimberamerica.com