[Monkeybear]

I know that poly Kahr firearms have a reputation for being unreliable but how about steel framed Kahr guns.

Please feel free to leave coments about your expierence with Kahr, mention what model you are expierenced with too if you can.

Please, please leave a comment if you have expeierence with the Kahr MK series.

Thank you:)

If you vote no please tell me why.

[Autolycus]

I been looking at purchasing a Kahr myself. I just wanted to see the results.

My friend has one he uses for offduty. I am not sure what model but he likes it since it slips into his pocket.

[CWL]

Bought a SS K9, very nice pistol although it came NIB with some rust stains on it (huh?) Cleaned-up OK and rust never came back.

I trust it enough to have given it to my father for his SD weapon.

[How you gonna get down that hill]

I've had experience with steel framed kahrs but not MK series. K-40 and K-40 covert. I modified them with "elite triggers" and different springs. The K40 has been totally reliable. The covert needed an ejector replaced after an ammunition malfunction. customer service was excellent.


not exactly what you wanted but close enough I hope.

[Kimber1911_06238]

i had a chance to shoot them about 5 years ago. heavy trigger pull and they were just too small....but I have gorilla hands.

Not sure if they improved the trigger....

[esheato]

I have a P9 that I bought a few years ago. Flawless in operation and manufacture.

I know a lot of people have had problems, but my gun has performed exemplary. Especially considering the fact that it has primarily seen reloads.

I don't put guns that don't work on my permit. My Kahr is on my permit. Enough said.

Ed

[psyopspec]

I didn't vote bc you don't have an option that says, "Mine's good, but I know some people have had problems with them."

[sierrabravo45]

I own a P40, and it is my Concealed Gun. I haven't had one misfire with it ever. It hasn't jammed and runs very smooth. I shoot 1911's for competition and this gun is a nice transition since the grip angle is the exact same. Recoil isn't bad, and though the trigger pull isn't great, it is long and smooth and I like it a hell of a lot better than XD's and Glocks.

I have put prob around 1-2K rounds through the gun and it runs well.

It is worth every penny in my book, and I will probably buy another in the future just to have around.

[RNB65]

I bought a new P9 about a year ago. Had to send it to the factory to correct a frequent failure to go into battery problem. It's worked fine since it came back.

[Stinger]

I had a K40 Electroless Nickel...

Superb firearm in every way. It carried well (tad heavy, though), was accurate, and had an excellent trigger. The trigger was long, but broke like a glass rod. Accuracy-wise, it was as good as most factory pistols I have shot, which is impressive considering the short barrel and sight radius. Fit and finish were great. It is the only pistol that I have never had any malfunction from. My Glock chocked on a WWB 9mm round that was covered in packaging glue, but a malfunction nontheless, so I count it.

I traded it off a out a year ago. I carry a Glock 19 or Ruger GP100, and the Kahr just couldn't seem to get into the rotation. Some days I wish that I still had it.

[redneckrepairs]

I own a couple of poly kahrs , a pm9 and a p9 Both are used for ccw bet your life on it guns . I also have a fiew friends who have steel Kahrs and they feel the same about them as i do the polys i own .

[MrDig]

I have no experience with them but I want to watch the poll.

[Hogfan1911]

I had the all-steel K40, sold it to get the polymer P40 strictly for the lighter weight. I liked the feel & better recoil control of the K, but the lighter weight of the P more than offsets them after a few hours of carry. The trigger on both of mine were fine right out of the box (this from a guy who prefers single-actions), and the only problem I've had is one of the mags for the P wouldn't lock the slide back when empty.

[RockyMtnTactical]

I sold my K9 because I didn't trust it.

[grimjaw]

I can't fit my response in the poll with the options available.

I've only had the K9. It was reliable with every cartridge I tried, probably ten different types in a relatively short span. I trust it to function, but I didn't trust my ability to hit the target with it as my main CCW.

jm

[RockyMtnTactical]

Grimjaw, I was the opposite, although I didn't like the trigger, my K9 was about as accurate a weapon I've ever shot.

[gbran]

I have the poly PM9. It came with a 6 rnd and a 7 rnd magazine. It is 100% reliable with the 6rnd mag, but has alway gave fits with the 7rnd mag. It has problems chambering the 1st rnd, but runs the rest fine. I bought a 2nd 6rnd mag and it too worked flawlessly.

[Kor]

I IWB-CCW a stainless K-40 that I first got way back in '98, and it only hiccupped maybe 2X in the first 50 rounds. Ever since then, it's run like a top, and I actually managed to win an IDPA match with it once - not just Stock Service Pistol, but Overall Match Winner.

I just managed to pick up an MK-40 as a companion piece to the K-40, but I haven't yet gotten to the range to really wring it out...

[arthurcw]

I have an MK9 Elite 2K (well sort of... read on).

I like it.

After several hundred rounds the extractor broke. I sent it back to Kahr and they replaced the slide. They didn't manufacture black birdsong slides at the time (actually I believe they don’t any more at all) so they replaced slide and barrel with an Elite 2k3 SS slide. So now it's a Franken-gun with a Elite 2K black birdsong frame and an Elite 2k3 SS slide. Which is just fine because it matches my hard chrome P-3at.

The gun runs great. The trigger is very smooth. It has very little kick even with +p ammo. I’m wearing it right now, in fact. It’s a pretty good 24/7 gun. Heavy for its size but very well balanced.

It gets equal duty with my P-3at, although I favor it over the .380 during the winter month (Not a type-o. We only have one).

I'm not a fan of the balance of the PM series. It just doesn't feel right to me. It's not a Plasti-fobic thing; I just can't take the feel of them next to the feel of the MK's.

[mdao]

Had two, PM9 and CW9. Both were unreliable when I got them. The PM9's barrel suffered from severe peening after ~200 rounds, and the CW9's breechface had a major flaw that prevented the pistol from feeding. Both issues were resolved by Kahr after one trip, and both guns ran great after that.

I've also run into cracked followers on my mags. The poly followers have a metal stud used to engage the slide lock, and both followers on my original PM9 mags developed cracks around that area. Kahr replaces the followers for free, and supposedly the newer followers do not have this issue.

[sierrabravo45]

Rocky Mountain,

Want to explain why you don't trust your Kahr.

[critter]

My MK9 is perfect and flawless. It is my most often carried firearm.

[rodinal220]

I have a blue finish K40.I got it when they first came out back in the late 90s.With factory ammunition it was 100% reliable,with crappy reloads I was forced to use for training it choked.The blue finish wasn't very durable and prone to rusting,I had to wipe it down every day,no pitting occurred but the blue wore off.

I still have the K40 and I would stake my life on it.The chambers are a little tight but just use good reloading practices and components,chamber guage and your good to go.Keep it clean.

My K40 is very accurate and while I'm no fan of DAO,this one is an exception.I shot perfect qualification scores with it,never with my .38 snubby.The DAO is very smooth and it "feels' lighter than the eight pounds.The K40 handles like a full size gun but is in the same size class as a PPK/s/Sig P232.The 26oz(unloaded) weight was never a problem with a IWB holster and was very comfortable.

While the polymer guns seem to be more popular,I personally do not like them.If I bought another Kahr it would be steel.I wish Kahr would make an all steel 45 ACP 8+1 "fuller" size gun.

[ThirdShiftRich]

I have had an MK9 Elite 98 for a few years. Probably 2500 rounds through it. I have had a couple failures to feed, but in the firearms' defense it was absolutely filthy after having gone to the range twice with hundreds of rounds each time. I've never had it fail in the first ~250+ rounds after being cleaned. It shares pocket carry with my P3AT. I would bet 100 out of 100 times it would empty the magazine in the manner that I keep it clean for carry.

[mgh]

I have the K9 Elite. I like it because it's small, but heavy enough to manage recoil. Fits my hand perfectly. 100% reliable. In my opinion an excellent 9mm for carry. I was trying to think of something negative to balance against all the good things I said, but I can't. Well, it was a little pricey.

[grimjaw]

RockyMtnTactical, I didn't mean to imply that the gun was inconsistent. I just couldn't master the trigger.

jm

[yongxingfreesty]

i know of someone on a diff forum who has 3. he seems to love them.

[orionengnr]

I have a PM9 and a P45.

I carry one or the other all year (depending on weather).

Love both, and trust both with my life.

Accuracy is impressive, recoil is unremarkable (even with +p), reliability is perfect, concaelability is awesome (esp the PM9).

No experience with the steel versions. I've picked them up, but put 'em right back down as soon as I saw what they weighed. :)

[Guns_and_Labs]

I carry a P9 regularly, when I need the absolute lightest and most concealable -- but reliable -- gun possible. I practice with it regularly, one box per week usually, and it's never failed to function. I had a K9 for a while, same story but just a little too heavy.

I must say, though, I just picked up a Springfield EMP 9mm that will replace the P9 as soon as the paperwork goes through. Everything a Kahr has, but with all the benefits of a 1911. Yee haw.

[Monkeybear]

Guns- what benifits dose a 1911 have that a Kahr dosn't?

[RockyMtnTactical]

RockyMtnTactical, I didn't mean to imply that the gun was inconsistent. I just couldn't master the trigger.


No, I know what you mean.

That trigger is tough to master. I wish it had been a bit shorter...

[pfgrone]

My wife bought the Kahr P9 for cc about a year and a half and loves it. She shoots it regularly. I liked hers so well that I bought a PM9 for myself. I think I like her P9 better because of the longer grip. No real complaints about either one though. They have been good out of the box.
Paul G

[vynx]

I don't own a Kahr but I have handled a few and they feel great and seem like they would be a great CCW.

The closest I can come to a Kahr in size and feel is my Colt Gov't model .380 and I think that is the perfect size for me - not too small yes a gun can be too small and not large at all.

I voted NO for the reason I don't own a Kahr - for every I love them I read at least 1 I hate them - I won't rely on a 50/50 chance - maybe my perception is wrong but those I hate them's are pretty vocal - I don't hear it about glocks or sig's or baretta's not at the same rate so until I hear more good things about Kahrs than bad things I'll stick to my colt .380, sig. P239, S&W airweight, etc.

Meanwhile keep making them Kahr and make them better because I really want a PM40!

[possum]

i feel very confident with kahr firearms, as a matter of fact i carry one as a ccw in the warmer weather. they are great firearms and i have never had any reason to doubt them. i have experience with the k-40 the most which is what i own and i have approx. 700rds through it with out a single issue.
i also have experience with the p-40 and it was a nice reliable gun but i personally like the balance and extra weight of the steel framed. i also have experience with the k-9 elite which is by far the smoothest kahr i have ever shot. the triggers are awesome, plus all the other pro's that come with having a khar. lightweight, concealable, and relaible. i just wish that magazines were cheaper for them.

[j1133s]

I'd risk my life on my PM9s, but they didn't work right out of the box. So I picked "needed a bit of tuning".

[DHart]

My PM-9 has been a flawless little trooper... totally reliable and so easy to pack, there's no excuse not to!

[distra]

My P45 had to take a trip back to the factory for trigger reset issues, but was fixed in 2wks and has run flawlessly since. One of my 2 main carry guns.

[FNHP35]

I had one failure with my PM9. It was a failure to go into battery. It was with the first magazine of some 9mm +p Ranger ammo. I've fired more rounds of that stuff through it now and haven't had any issues with it since. I've fired probably 500 rounds of WWB ammo and no issues. Unlike what others have said, with a PM9 and the Ranger ammo, the pistol jumps a bit. Perhaps I'm not as recoil tolerant as some, but you know you shot it. It is an accurate little pistol though. Light, reliable and accurate with a decently powerful pistol round, pretty much all you need in a ccw pistol. I carry it almost daily, when I am not at work.

Andrew

[gbelleh]

I had an MK40 a few years ago that worked perfectly. I sold it because I wanted something with a little more capacity. I also had PM9 that had 2 failures to go fully into battery during the first 100 rounds. The next 800 rounds of any ammo were perfect. I carried that PM9 for a year, but I had to sell it to pay some bills. :(
I might get another PM9 this spring for summer carry.

[Common Tater]

I trust my life to my P45. It works without a hitch.

[SouthpawShootr]

My K9 and MK9 have been pretty good. A caveat here: If you buy a used MK9 gun, don't buy guns with a GA serial number. The grip frame was changed after about 500 of them were made and you can't get new grips (or wood grips) for this model. Kind of annoying. :cuss: My MK is among in this SN range. I didn't know when I bought it, but I kept the gun b/c it's a decent performer.

I bought the first PM9 I saw and that was an error. I've already sent the barrel back for the feed ramp polish but haven't made it back out to the range with it. I think I had about 200-300 rounds through it when I sent the barrel back. The gun would fail to fully chamber frequently. I'm going to get it out and start shooting it more to see if any peening problems pop up. If it does, I'll have Kahr fix it then I'll dump it when I get it back.

Bought a used K40 not too long ago. Looks new. Still haven't made it to the range with it yet.

[nhhillbilly]

My son has a PM 9 I purchased for him for CC when he grad. HS. My daughter wants a steel KM9 when she grad's. this year. Good small handguns.

[Loanshark]

I voted NO for the reason I don't own a Kahr - for every I love them I read at least 1 I hate them - I won't rely on a 50/50 chance - maybe my perception is wrong but those I hate them's are pretty vocal

Don't forget, the average dissatisfied customer tells 11 people. While the average happy customer tells 1.

[Mark G.]

I have poly & steel and have had no problems at all. I trust my life to them every day and would not trade them for any thing. The real problem was with the PM9, check the Kahr Forum. I believe now, they have worked out most of the problems with the PM9.

[Frazier]

I have the CW9. Many of the LEOs here are buying them for backup. The salesman told me they usuallly need an initial 200 rounds through them to be reliable, and frequently need to be sent back to Kahr for initial problems. However, once past any start up problems they are dead reliable, and thats why the LEOs are getting them. Mine was perfectly reliable from day one.

The trigger pull is very long and heavy, but smooth and predictable. It takes practice with that trigger, but it can be accurate for the size. In my first 200 rounds I went from a 12 inch pattern at 15 yards to a 3 inch pattern. I like the gun enough that one of my next purchases will be the T9.

[MassMan]

I bought a MK9 used ( only way to get one in Mass now) and it was like new. I have put 500+ rounds through it of various brands and have yet to have any problems. The only thing I can complain about, and it is minor, is when the 7 round mag is loaded with one in the chamber, it tends to rattle in the gun as if it was not locked in. This rattle tends to give away its stealth capability. Load it with 4 or 5 rounds with one in the chamber and not a sound. I can't figure it out.

[HMMurdock]

I own a 9mm Stainless K9 9mm. Trigger is crisp and short and smooth as a baby's youknowwhat. Reliable and comfortable to carry. I'd bet my life on it's reliability, and I do.

TRL

[Ichiro]

I've only tried a P-9 and a K-9, once each. They both failed to return to battery more than once in my brief sessions with them. Accuracy, for me, was also nothing to write home about. I really want to like Kahr, because they feel good in my hand and I like the idea of a DAO semiauto, but I'm not sold.

I found the Sig 239 to be fantastic, however. But it's a much larger gun.

[sbellan]

Never had an issue with it. I did need to fire about 300 or so rounds before it fed well. I keep it loaded with GECO B.A.T ammo.

[cherryriver]

I traded into an MK40 Elite 98 last summer and despite a bad slide lock (I was mailed an updated one in a blink when I called), it has gone on to be nearly perfect.
I have about 600 rounds through it without incident so far. It's snappy but good for the power/size point it hits.
What's shocking to me is how well I shoot it. I have a good number of high-quality snubs, especially good old Colts, and it pains me to say:
I shoot the Kahr more accurately at the same speed.
Boy, that hurt.
Plus, it's a .40, not a .36.
Bill

[DAdams]

I recently purchased a new PM9. Going through breakin. These Kahr designs are 2lbs of stuff in a one lb container and the design is unconventional to attain the compact size. I have had 4 fail to feeds in 350 rounds. The last 150 had two and I expect it will improve. If not back to the factory, Kahr always makes them right. I like this package so much I am willing to work through any hitches to get it right. In the interim I carry a S&W 642.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/dadams111/P2140017.jpg