Kahr PM9

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Juna

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Hey folks,

Considering a Kahr PM9 for my wife for CCW. What do you think of them (those who own[ed] them)? Accurate? Reliable? Durable? Size? Weight? Recoil?

Anyone have a pic of one next to a ruler or common object so that I can see firsthand how big it is? I read the measurements, and I've seen pics of them individually, but it's hard to get a sense of the size without something for comparison right next to it.

Thanks!
 
I have had one for about 4 years now. I really like mine, it is reliable and is extremely accurate...

Jocko? Where are you my fellow PM9 owner?

Jocko will be along.
 
Love my PM9. It's been my everyday carry since January. Size and weight are great for carry, although recoil can be a little more than expected and takes some practice. I believe it's extra size and weight makes it easier to control than the P3AT I had prior to this, but the pistol is still small enough to disappear into the front pocket of my slacks. Mine has been utterly reliable out of the box with all the ammo I've tried, (round count is currently at about 1,200 rds) and it even handled some hollow point reloads I was experimenting with that made my XD9 subcompact stovepipe. (and the XD has seen thousands of rounds without problems) Costs more than some, but worth every penny in my book. If your wife is willing to practice and get used to the bark of this little pistol, it'll perform fine as a CCW.

For comparison:
http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.jpg
 
I've had mine for about two years and put about 1,000 rounds through it with no problems. Can't beat it for ease of concealment. Surprisingly accurate for such a small pistol. You have to expect a pretty sharp recoil from such a light pistol though. All in all, I'm very happy with it.

BUT - If this is for you wife though, let HER decide if it's right for HER! My wife didn't like the recoil of my PM9, but loved the Glock 26. If at all possible, have your wife shoot the PM9 before she decides if it's right for her. If she doesn't like it, she won't practice with it, and if she doesn't practice with it, she shouldn't carry it.

Ron
 
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POS

The kahr PM9 is a total POS. I have 13,400 flawless rounds through mine. damn thing goes bang every time. It shows no signs of wear, 3rd set of recoil springs (not happy about that either):banghead::banghead:

My kahr k9 is no better either, now at 3500 rounds and no issues at all.It won't shoot where I aim, it must be the gun, it cannot be me, for it is a kahr, that so many who never owned one BUT READ ALOT seem to say with ease, they have alot of issues, yadda yadda.

In this post I won't brag on my kahrs, for I know I got the ONLY TWO that seem to want to go bang all the time. (probably the above 3 posts before mine are none karh owners to, who just want to say nice thngs about kahrs)!!!! so kahr treated me right by selecting only two perfect guns for me to shoot--so far. Oh by the way the k9 I bought used off the AR-15 forum..

Hell, you may get a real lemon right out of the box to, most of the time that is not true with kahrs, but I would be a damn fool to tell you that karhs are issue free, anymore than glocks are. BUT THEY BOTH ARE GOOD GUNS.

If you want a PM9 buy it, come on this forum for help if you have an issue, or go to glock talk and hit on the kahr fourm. That is an excellent group of guys and if you read that forum, you will see that almost all love their kahrs
 
Another +1 for the PM9. I love mine! Fantastic carry pistol with many thousands of reliable rounds through it. More accurate than a pistol this small should be. :cool:
 
Thanks for the replies. I've always read good things about Kahrs.

My wife loves the size & weight of our P3AT, but hates shooting it. I don't love shooting it, but I can do just fine with it at minute of BG, and it's been 100% reliable out of the box (no fluff & buff) with zero failures of any kind. It makes a nice BUG for last ditch, up close & personal encounters. Its ease of concealment is just phenomenal. I could practically conceal it in my underwear. ;P

My wife is OK with firing a RAMI, but she thinks it's too heavy when loaded and too big to carry and conceal. She doesn't wear baggy clothes or have many places to put a double stack firearm.

So I'm thinking maybe a single stack 9 mm would be the way to go, hence the Kahr. Smallness and lightness factor, she will definitely like. She probably won't be crazy about the recoil, but she's a good shooter and will be able to handle it.

We're gonna rent one and try it out. I think it's about the perfect gun for what she's looking for. Other things I'm considering are a Bersa Thunder (MUCH cheaper, but smaller caliber) and maybe a Glock 26 if she is OK with the size/weight and firing it (although I don't anticipate it being much smaller than a RAMI). Haven't ruled out a wheel gun, either.

I like the fact that the Kahr is DAO without any safeties, etc. I'm not a fan of safeties, nor is she. We don't like anything coming between us and the trigger when the SHTF.

So if she likes the rental at the range, I'll save up and take the plunge. As expensive as it is, if she likes it and will carry it, I'm willing to pay for it. None of my guns is nearly as expensive, but she's worth it!
 
Juna, shop around. I got my PM9 brand new for $525 out the door which is FAR less than MSRP. Got it at a gun show of all places. The recoil is surprisingly not that bad for such a small pistol and I use +p for my carry ammo, which I shoot out from time to time to replace it. :cool:
 
Juna, and the upside or downside of buying the PM9 and she not likeing it,, is that DARN YOU MGHT HAVE TO KEEP IT YOURSELF
 
I can't chime in about the PM9, but my wife chose a CW9 over my P3AT, a glock 26 and glock 19.

In fact, I bought two CW9's...I don't like to share!
 
I have one that I use for a pocket gun. Compared to a .38 - to say nothing of a .357! - snubnose revolver, it has far less recoil and blast, sights you can see, a smooth light trigger pull and two more rounds of what is arguably a more efficient cartridge. I did however have to send mine back to make it straighten up and fly right.

(Regulars will forgive me if I've written this a few times. ;))
 
I've owned 2 PM9's. My first, I bought used. It was totally reliable save one FTF after about a hundred ridiculously dirty reloads. I sold it, missed it, and a year later had to buy another.

My second, I bought new. It's been 100% since day 1 (which was about a month ago, not long!). I have a little over 500 rounds through it now, with 125 of those being GDHP +P's. The PM9 does bark a bit, and it will bite the skin at the base of my thumb. I usually wrap a piece of athletic tape there to prevent it, or I will bleed.

So done, I can shoot the little guy all day, it's a hoot.

Great guns. I'm currently waffling on which Kahr 45 to buy.
 
I do

I do most of my shooting with a pair of those el cheapos wal-mart fingerless bicycle ridng gloves. the palms are padded and can be bought for about $10 . just lets one shoot alot longer at the range..
 
My wife loves the size & weight of our P3AT, but hates shooting it. I don't love shooting it, but I can do just fine....
Click to expand...

Okay, now we have a frame of reference. I've had two P3ATs and didn't like shooting them either. :)

The PM9 is a bit "barky" compare to a larger 9mm, but is fairly tame compared to a P3AT, IMHO. Mine has never bitten me.

I've had mine a bit over two years and it is my constant companion for 9 months per year (P45 the other three months). The PM9 is in my pocket right now. :)
 
I own two PM9s from different production runs (based on serial numbers). Both have had standard ammo reliability issues and turned out to both work best with higher pressure/+P ammo. Both have had barrel peening. Standard pressure ammo woes were that the gun would fail to cycle properly and not collect a new round off the magazine and would fail to lock open on empty sporadically. Often if rounds were collected, the gun would fail to fully go into battery, falling about 1/8-1/16" shy of being in battery.

After going to +P ammo, the only problem I seem to have is that my hands are such that during recoil, my weak hand thumb can sometimes contact the slide stop and cause the gun to lock open prematurely. This problem existed with standard pressure ammo as well.

In going with +P ammo, I have been hugely pleased with my PM9s. The PM9 is my daily carry, either as a primary when I can't carry large or as my BUG to my full size 1911. Between the two PM9s, I have approximately 12K rounds down range.
 
lots of threads about pm9 pistols if you use the search function. but everything i hear is either positive, or lemon at first until after kahr's excellent customer service.
 
burning squirrels;

That is the same scenario for every mfg-er. It is positive or it is a lemon. Happens not only with guns, Just bought the best GE Micro Wave money could buy. got it all installed and the lights in it won't work. GE sent me a new mother board and when the installer came, took it out of the box and it was cracked. waiting now on another mother board. lemon, probably, product from reading and talking to others is ultra quality. I just got one made on Friday afternoon. It will get repaired properly and I will not think anymore about it. guns are not much different. If one has a problem, most factories stand behind their product and will make it right. Some people do not have the patience to do so and choose to hammer the product without giving it or the factory a chance to make it right.
 
Pm 9

Mine had to make one trip back to Kahr. Been fine since and 450 rounds through it.

I still don't know of an auto in a 9mm you can pocket carry. Perhaps a Rohrbaugh but they are $900 plus and are a handful.

I like mine.

P2140020.jpg

P2140003.jpg
 
What are you talking about DAdams??? The PM9 is perfectly pocketable. I pocket carry mine every day and I'm not a big guy, either.
 
I just picked up a PM9 with the DLC finish and 3 magazines like new in the box for $550 which I feel is a fair price.

Now what ammo has everyone found to be the best for self defense?

I'm thinking about going with Federal HST 147 or 124 grain standard pressure loads.
 
I have one- 150 rounds thru - in break in period- with no issues. Yes its got some recoil, but much more comfortable to shoot than my J frame snubbie.
 
too small for my hand, too big for pocket carry. but thats just me. ultimately your wife has to hold it in her hand and maybe even pull the trigger b4 she will know. but if reliability is all you're asking here, it seems most people will give it a 2 thumbs up. i own the bigger kahrs and love em.
 
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