3" S&W 64 or Kahr K9?

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amprecon

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Ok, I thought I had it all figured out. A 3" .38spl for the wife, HD or just plinking around. And then there's the Kahr K9. Smaller, lighter, thinner in a more potent round.
As a side note, I have previously owned a early version of the Kahr K9, but got so frustrated with it rusting through the oxide finish I sold it. We also owned a Taurus 85CH in .38spl with a 2" tube.
I loved the Kahr K9, it was surprisingly accurate for a small gun, recoil was pleasant and it was fairly easy to take-down. Besides the constant rusting, their was really no other complaint I nor my wife had with it. She enjoyed shooting it as well.
The Taurus 85CH was an ok gun, accuracy wasn't great, but acceptable for within 7yds and recoil could be punishing using +P ammunition. Not to mention that cleaning revolvers suck. With a five shot cylinder you had 6 cylinders to clean plus all the nooks and crannies. It was also bulkier. The only real advantage was that it didn't eject empty cases helter skelter which isn't a real concern unless you reload.
I understand Kahr has remedied the rusting problem by applying a new teflon/chrome finish that is said to be around 52 on the Rockwell C hardness scale compared to 60 something for Glocks' tenifer finish. We don't really want a stainless finish.
Another variable to mention, we do have children at home. With previous supervised experience they have a harder time chambering a semi-auto than they do operating a revolver. For untrained children the auto may have an advantage as far as safety is concerned if the gun is accessed. However, a trained child may need to operate a weapon to save their own or anothers life in which case it would be advantageous for them to operate the weapon.
My wife and I are leaning heavily towards the K9, but for simplicity and reliability I lean towards the 64. Another note is that I remember the slide being heavily springed on the K9 and it took quite a bit to rack it back, moreso than on my Glock 21.
Decisions, decisions.
 
I've had a model 64 since '80-'82...forget. I really like it.

My criteria(again) is the gun fit shooter, in a platform, reliable with ammo in a caliber that affords the shooter quick accurate hits to stop an immediate action. FOR ME my 64 accomplishes this. 'nuther thought, at the prices of some guns...I personally feel the used K frames offer a lot of gun for the money...heck one can get two used Kframes for the price of some new semi's...just thinking out loud...got a 9mm semi also, but not a Kahr...gun fit again FOR ME...
 
And then came the Kahr K9. Smaller, lighter, thinner in a more potent round.
I would rather have a .38 Special +P LSWCHP than any 9mm round.

Another variable to mention, we do have children at home. With previous supervised experience they have a harder time chambering a semi-auto than they do operating a revolver. For untrained children the auto may have an advantage as far as safety is concerned if the gun is accessed. However, a trained child may need to operate a weapon to save their own or anothers life in which case it would be advantageous for them to operate the weapon.
Your young children should not have access to any gun. I wouldn't leave any gun unsecured that I or my wife did not have control over.

I would choose a .38 Special revolver over a 9mm semi-auto for a home defense gun, especially if non-dedicated shooters may have to use it.

The revolver is easier to load and unload, and verify loaded or unloaded status. Some women have problems racking the slide and loading the magazines of a semi-auto.
 
65---???

If you believe that power is important-- IE--the 9 is "more potent" than the 38 --(which I don't agree with -- try +P)

Then get a 65 Same gun in 357--
 
Hmmm... Can your wife handle the double-action pull of a revolver as easily as the striker pull of a K9? I know when my wife shoots my revolvers, she always wants to shoot them single action, which I regard as essentially worthless (or worse, even counterproductive) as training for SD or HD situations. The K9, however, she shoots just fine. It is a bit hard for her to rack; but we keep one in the pipe (as I would with any SD or HD handgun). As far as reliability, semiautos don't get much more reliable than the K9. Still not a revolver, I undestand; but I've had one failure in, what, 1,000 rounds? Pretty good odds, I'd say. I guess you're just gonna have to do what we all do and end up with one of everything :p

cg
 
If you can afford it get them both if you can afford them .They are both good guns and by all means secure them so the children cant get at them.:)
 
Ultimately it's her call.

It has to fit her and she must be comfortable with it. My wife liked several different models but when I let her try a 4 inch K frame she completely fell in love with it. Now the problem is keeping ammo loaded for it! Nice problem to have.
 
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