What defensive rounds best feed in a Kahr PM9

[jetman]

I just finished my "300 break-in rounds" (FMJ target) in my new PM9. Everything went smooth and bang every time... until I tried the +P Speer Gold Dot JHP's. Every once in awhile it didn't want to chamber the load and hung up on the edge of the hollow point. I still have another 100 rounds of the +P Gold Dots. Shoudl I keep trying to see if it will "like" them after more break-in time or does anyone know of a more reliable defensive Carry Round I can buy for the little Kahr??

ANY input on high power 9mm rounds in the Kahrs RELIABLY feeding.

 

[cratz2]

Regardless of what we recommend, it comes down to what actually works in your actual gun. The 124 Gr Gold Dots have been reported by several as problem rounds in the Kahrs but I put about 600 through my P9 Covert with zero problems.

In general, the Golden Sabers and the Ranger Ts are very feed friendly rounds but I don't care for the Golden Sabers in 9mm. Winchester is supposed to replace (or maybe augment) their 127 Gr +P+ Ranger Ts with a more standardized 124 Gr +P. I think that will be a fine carry round if it proves reliable in your gun.

Alternately, it has been said that the Kahr was designed around the CorBon rounds... They are a bit shorter overall than most 9mm rounds and according to some 'experts' have among the most effective street records. I just prefer something a bit more affordable and something heavier than 115 Gr.

 

[jhiller]

Both Cor-Bon PowerBall and Cor-Bon dpx will work. I have a brace of PM9's and have never had any problem with either round. Both should provide all the effectiveness that you need for self defense.

Both show impressive expansion and penetration in various media including jello both clothed and bare. DPX penetrates another few inches and PowerBall expands more uniformly
Jim

 

[Morgan]

My PM9 runs fine with Speer 124gr +p Gold Dots.

 

[jetman]

Thanks guys as an older .45 guy..... I guess I have some research to do on 9mm rounds.

 

[Rock]

Mine feeds Gold dots fine. As well as Ranger, Golden Sabre, ProLoad and Federal.

 

[Landric]

I've seen a couple of 9mm pistols that did not like the Gold Dots. You might consider the Winchester Silvertip 115 grain JHP. Not very excitiing, but very feed friendly, accurate, low recoil, and proven (FBI stupidity aside).

 

[eyz]

for that auto based on personal experience, winchester 115gr JHP personal protection white box. $10 per box at walmart. then you can practice with your defensive rounds. six quick well placed is better than one+shot recovery time.

 

[MyRoad]

My PM9 does fine with the Speer Gold Dots 124gr. +P, and chokes on the Cor-Bon 115gr. +P. If you sit those two rounds next to each other, there is a significant difference in their length (the Cor-Bon's are quite short). I have other 9's that are the exact opposite, and prefer the Cor-Bon's -- but it's no wonder to me that a specific gun might like one more than the other, and it's a real tribute to a gun design when they both feed flawlessly (so far my P7M8, and my P225 have never choked on anything I've fed them, for instance).

Honestly, I don't carry +P in the PM9 anymore. I guess I'm just a chicken sh-t, but holding onto that little plastic grip with two fingers, the kick from +P feels like it's going to rip the slide right off and throw it back in my face. I know, it's probably not possible, and it's certainly not probably, but I like to practice a lot with my defense rounds and I am not comfortable throwing 100's of rounds of +P out of that little gun. I ended out getting a K40, and if I need to go small and light, I just carry standard rounds in the PM9. YMMV.

 

[Missouri Mule]

My PM9 likes the Cor Bons. Feeding and accuracy are excellent.
I am only using them for defense though. I haven't tried the gold dots.

I have had trouble with the GD's in just about every autoloader I have ever tried them in. Could just be me....

Another defensive loading my PM likes is the 147 Hydra Shok available at your friendly Wally World.

 

[Watch-Six]

You have to use what works in your individual pistol. However, my PM9 works fine with Gold Dots. Watch-Six

 

[jetman]

thanks for the input guys. I still have 100 rounds of the +P Gold Dots left and figure I'll shoot them up and see if it loosens up some. I've had good luck with the Winchester Silver tip in my 1911's as well as Hydra-Shoks..... I do have one 50 round box of Black Talon 9mm left... but I think I'll still hang on to it for awhile

 

[Michigun]

Federal's 124-grain +p EFMJ is another good choice… even though it’s labeled as a +p it really isn’t much over a standard 124-grain round.

I use either the above or Winchester’s 147-grain Ranger-T in my polymer Kahrs.

(If I had to choose a standard 115-grain round I’d go with the Federal 9bp.)

Here’s my latest Kahr purchase, it’s a P9 Covert: