Here is the Kidon Kit fresh from Canada Post via Israel - Free shipping. Shipment took four days to arrive in Canada, spent fourteen days with Canada Border Services then took another five days to arrive in Terrace via Canada Post.
Here are the contents:
The body of the Kit
Sling with attachment
Two Pistol Adapters (PPQ 5", M&P 5" Pro
Allen Key Set (3 sizes for the kits construction. You will need a smaller one as well. I don't have the size I used but it was small.
Polymer "Iron" Front and Rear AR type sights, Adjustments require no tools
Manual
IMI website has a very good video showing how to assemble the Kit. Do it in the same order and you should have no problem assembling the kit. One note that I either missed or the video doesn't mention it. You may have to loosen the charging handle BEFORE you attempt to install the pistol. Too, make sure you get the gun level and engage the rails properly. It took me a few tries to get it right. I ordered two adapters. The one for the PPQ does not fit properly and I talked, then sent an email to the company in Nevada who sold me the Kit. Israel and IMI Industries are closed on Friday and Saturday. I expect I will hear from them early next week either by phone or email. The Adapter for the M&P fits perfectly and was an easy install.
I make no excuses I am not very mechanically inclined. What would immediately be obvious to those that are takes me several attempts doing pretty much the same thing before the light goes on. It usually eventually does. t took me about three hours of fiddling around the issue requiring the charging handle should be loosened then set for the chosen pistol. Then there was the case of the PPQ adapter. It took more than a minute or two before I decided the part was not going to fit as it should.
Like most polymer injected molded parts they tend to be tight fitting and this Kit is no exception. I have no doubt those parts that are affected by take downs for cleaning, storage or transportation will wear in over time.
The kit has a metal flash hider sleeve inside of a metal sleeve. The flash hider sleeve is adjustable to the pistol being used. This flash hider has the dual purpose of hiding the flash...da and protecting the polymer frame from flame cutting. This is a smart design feature. The butt stock has three settings and is essentially an AR stock and the kit will accept other AR butt stocks. I don't see the need for any change but you can if you want. The Kit comes with a sling and a single attachment. The sling appears to be very well made. The Kit also comes with an angled fore grip. It is a quality piece providing a firm purchase point for your weak hand. Ironically, if this grip was a vertical type the Kit would run afoul of the US FFA and even with a brace would be considered a SBR, requiring a "Stamp" for Americans hence the angled design.
I got a very good buy on the Kidon carry bag bought separately. It retails for as high as $100US. I paid less for it. IF you intend to shoot the kit without an Optic and IF you don't have a hard case to transport the "Carbine" and IF you want to store your gun in a different container then the kit is a well made option you will find a use for. It is compartmentalized for each piece, including the sling and the three pronged Allen Key set. Guess who has a case that won't be used much.
Completed Assembly with M&P Pro 9MM installed and ready for the range.
High HO High HO it was off to the range I go. I took out 100 rounds of my loaded lead topped cartridges. The load was 4.1 gr of 231 under the Lyman 356402 bullet sized .357 OAL 1.1".
The Vortex Crossfire I installed allows for co-witnessing the sights. I started at 10 yards in order to get the Horizontal axis set and the vertical centered. Once that was done I moved out to 15 yards to fine tune the setting. Next spring, when the weather is more conducive to sitting in a chair firing off shots, I will fine tune the Optic using 4 gr of Titegroup under the BDX 124 gr RN jacketed bullet I use in competition.
I then proceeded to follow the same routine with the iron sights. I just took six shots to get them shooting 1.25" groups off my shooting bag at 15 yards. Off a bag my M&P Pro shoots about the same with iron sights. Younger eyes that don't deal with the halo effect of early cataracts would see that group shrink to under an inch.
Shooting rapidly at 15 yards with the Optic placed 20 rounds inside a six inch circle free style standing. The IDPA Down Zero on the body of the target is eight inches in diameter. Recoil is not an issue with little or no muzzle rise. My body moves a bit standing so for me I was happy with the result. I did not experience any malfunctions. Shooting this pistol freestyle using iron sights would open this group up to eight inches on average with a reasonably fast cadence.
I tried removing the gun then re-installing it to see what affect, if any it would have on accuracy. Frankly, I noticed none.
Here is a target shot at 15 yards off my bag before I centered the Optic.
Commentary:
One swallow doesn't make a spring but I really was impressed with this kit. The Kit will fit over 100 pistols. Almost all must be railed. There were no issues experienced during my initial outing with the Kit. The Kit shot and felt like my friends EVO. With the butt stock collapsed it is about the same length. Once I get a replacement for my PPQ adapter I think I will install my PPQ 5" in the Kidon. I would carry my PPQ Match with a Vortex Venom as a pistol for any two gun events we run at our club. Next year we will be running IDPA PCC monthly on Saturday afternoon and our IDPA pistol match on Sunday using the same stages. While legal for IDPA PCC Division shooters will want to check IPSC rules to see if the Kit is legal for their PCC Division.
I should add the take down, re-assembly is very easily accomplished. Push two tabs and a pin and the two pieces are apart. Open the tension flap on the right side of the frame and the pistol maybe withdrawn for cleaning. To reinstall you line up the rails and install the pistol. Line up the rails on the butt stock , ease it in witht he pistol adapter catching the beavertail of the pistol, give the butt stock a slap to engage the tabs, push the pin in and you are ready to go.
If you are considering a venture into Pistol Caliber Carbine (for IDPA that includes 9MM, .357Sig, 40 S&W, 10MM & 45ACP), this Kit combined with a railed pistol is a very good option. If you have a railed safe Queen or you want to use your favourite railed pistol, the Kidon Kit is worth a look. One advantage that occurred to me was my M&P Pro has the Apex Competition trigger kit installed. It provides a significantly better trigger than the stock triggers on the Ruger PCC, Beretta Stormor Kel Tec 2K I own.
I should put a plug in for YRS Action Shooters World Wide (.https://.yrsinc.com/product/imi-defense-kidon-newest-and-innovative-pistol-to-carbine-platform/ . The gentleman on the phone was most helpful. IMI in Israel had my order out the day it was received by Air Express - free shipping. Total cost $797.94 Cnd. includes the Carrying Case- see comment on same above. With the currency conversion the bag made up $76.Cdn
I received overnight an email from IMI in Israel requesting a picture of both sides of my Kit in order to assist them in resolving the problem with the PPQ Adapter. They apologized for the inconvenience and assured me the issue would be resolved.
I'll add to this review as time goes on as appropriate.
Take Care
Bob
ps I should add the Kit cannot be imported into the US by Canadians to shoot matches. With the butt stock installed it is considered a Small Barreled Rifle (SBR) under the Federal Firearms Act(FFA). Americans require a "Stamp" to own this Kit with a butt stock. The "Stamp" is not available to Canadians. Source ATF Office, Seattle, WA.
Here are the contents:
The body of the Kit
Sling with attachment
Two Pistol Adapters (PPQ 5", M&P 5" Pro
Allen Key Set (3 sizes for the kits construction. You will need a smaller one as well. I don't have the size I used but it was small.
Polymer "Iron" Front and Rear AR type sights, Adjustments require no tools
Manual
IMI website has a very good video showing how to assemble the Kit. Do it in the same order and you should have no problem assembling the kit. One note that I either missed or the video doesn't mention it. You may have to loosen the charging handle BEFORE you attempt to install the pistol. Too, make sure you get the gun level and engage the rails properly. It took me a few tries to get it right. I ordered two adapters. The one for the PPQ does not fit properly and I talked, then sent an email to the company in Nevada who sold me the Kit. Israel and IMI Industries are closed on Friday and Saturday. I expect I will hear from them early next week either by phone or email. The Adapter for the M&P fits perfectly and was an easy install.
I make no excuses I am not very mechanically inclined. What would immediately be obvious to those that are takes me several attempts doing pretty much the same thing before the light goes on. It usually eventually does. t took me about three hours of fiddling around the issue requiring the charging handle should be loosened then set for the chosen pistol. Then there was the case of the PPQ adapter. It took more than a minute or two before I decided the part was not going to fit as it should.
Like most polymer injected molded parts they tend to be tight fitting and this Kit is no exception. I have no doubt those parts that are affected by take downs for cleaning, storage or transportation will wear in over time.
The kit has a metal flash hider sleeve inside of a metal sleeve. The flash hider sleeve is adjustable to the pistol being used. This flash hider has the dual purpose of hiding the flash...da and protecting the polymer frame from flame cutting. This is a smart design feature. The butt stock has three settings and is essentially an AR stock and the kit will accept other AR butt stocks. I don't see the need for any change but you can if you want. The Kit comes with a sling and a single attachment. The sling appears to be very well made. The Kit also comes with an angled fore grip. It is a quality piece providing a firm purchase point for your weak hand. Ironically, if this grip was a vertical type the Kit would run afoul of the US FFA and even with a brace would be considered a SBR, requiring a "Stamp" for Americans hence the angled design.
I got a very good buy on the Kidon carry bag bought separately. It retails for as high as $100US. I paid less for it. IF you intend to shoot the kit without an Optic and IF you don't have a hard case to transport the "Carbine" and IF you want to store your gun in a different container then the kit is a well made option you will find a use for. It is compartmentalized for each piece, including the sling and the three pronged Allen Key set. Guess who has a case that won't be used much.
Completed Assembly with M&P Pro 9MM installed and ready for the range.
High HO High HO it was off to the range I go. I took out 100 rounds of my loaded lead topped cartridges. The load was 4.1 gr of 231 under the Lyman 356402 bullet sized .357 OAL 1.1".
The Vortex Crossfire I installed allows for co-witnessing the sights. I started at 10 yards in order to get the Horizontal axis set and the vertical centered. Once that was done I moved out to 15 yards to fine tune the setting. Next spring, when the weather is more conducive to sitting in a chair firing off shots, I will fine tune the Optic using 4 gr of Titegroup under the BDX 124 gr RN jacketed bullet I use in competition.
I then proceeded to follow the same routine with the iron sights. I just took six shots to get them shooting 1.25" groups off my shooting bag at 15 yards. Off a bag my M&P Pro shoots about the same with iron sights. Younger eyes that don't deal with the halo effect of early cataracts would see that group shrink to under an inch.
Shooting rapidly at 15 yards with the Optic placed 20 rounds inside a six inch circle free style standing. The IDPA Down Zero on the body of the target is eight inches in diameter. Recoil is not an issue with little or no muzzle rise. My body moves a bit standing so for me I was happy with the result. I did not experience any malfunctions. Shooting this pistol freestyle using iron sights would open this group up to eight inches on average with a reasonably fast cadence.
I tried removing the gun then re-installing it to see what affect, if any it would have on accuracy. Frankly, I noticed none.
Here is a target shot at 15 yards off my bag before I centered the Optic.
Commentary:
One swallow doesn't make a spring but I really was impressed with this kit. The Kit will fit over 100 pistols. Almost all must be railed. There were no issues experienced during my initial outing with the Kit. The Kit shot and felt like my friends EVO. With the butt stock collapsed it is about the same length. Once I get a replacement for my PPQ adapter I think I will install my PPQ 5" in the Kidon. I would carry my PPQ Match with a Vortex Venom as a pistol for any two gun events we run at our club. Next year we will be running IDPA PCC monthly on Saturday afternoon and our IDPA pistol match on Sunday using the same stages. While legal for IDPA PCC Division shooters will want to check IPSC rules to see if the Kit is legal for their PCC Division.
I should add the take down, re-assembly is very easily accomplished. Push two tabs and a pin and the two pieces are apart. Open the tension flap on the right side of the frame and the pistol maybe withdrawn for cleaning. To reinstall you line up the rails and install the pistol. Line up the rails on the butt stock , ease it in witht he pistol adapter catching the beavertail of the pistol, give the butt stock a slap to engage the tabs, push the pin in and you are ready to go.
If you are considering a venture into Pistol Caliber Carbine (for IDPA that includes 9MM, .357Sig, 40 S&W, 10MM & 45ACP), this Kit combined with a railed pistol is a very good option. If you have a railed safe Queen or you want to use your favourite railed pistol, the Kidon Kit is worth a look. One advantage that occurred to me was my M&P Pro has the Apex Competition trigger kit installed. It provides a significantly better trigger than the stock triggers on the Ruger PCC, Beretta Stormor Kel Tec 2K I own.
I should put a plug in for YRS Action Shooters World Wide (.https://.yrsinc.com/product/imi-defense-kidon-newest-and-innovative-pistol-to-carbine-platform/ . The gentleman on the phone was most helpful. IMI in Israel had my order out the day it was received by Air Express - free shipping. Total cost $797.94 Cnd. includes the Carrying Case- see comment on same above. With the currency conversion the bag made up $76.Cdn
I received overnight an email from IMI in Israel requesting a picture of both sides of my Kit in order to assist them in resolving the problem with the PPQ Adapter. They apologized for the inconvenience and assured me the issue would be resolved.
I'll add to this review as time goes on as appropriate.
Take Care
Bob
ps I should add the Kit cannot be imported into the US by Canadians to shoot matches. With the butt stock installed it is considered a Small Barreled Rifle (SBR) under the Federal Firearms Act(FFA). Americans require a "Stamp" to own this Kit with a butt stock. The "Stamp" is not available to Canadians. Source ATF Office, Seattle, WA.
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