Are Kahrs fragile ??

[flinch]

Howdy,

I got a E9 and a T9 and I keep seeing these stories about how "they aint the gun they use to be". Are they delicate little things or can I go to war with a Kahr on the hip?

 

[Anyname]

I have a P9 and there is nothing fragile about it. The only drawback I see to the Kahr is that the spare magazine tends to dribble rounds into your pocket. It would be distressing to go for that spare mag and find it half empty.

 

[usp9]

IMHO, your E9 and T9 should last a lifetime. The steel framed Kahrs have an excellent reputation not quite matched by the polymer framed guns. The T9 is one of my favorite range guns...what a sweety. Kahr puts powerful rounds in small, lightweight guns and they wear accordingly. The quality is there.

 

[jocko]

My PM9 is a total POS. I only have as of today 18,700 flawless rounds through it. Had one cracked mag follower in all of the above.

FRAGILE MY ASS!!!!

 

[jocko]

ANYNAME. Only way I carry a spare kahr mag is in a uncle mikes magazine pouch with velcro cover. other wise, your picking rounds out of ur pocket.

Not really a draw back for me. Can't see carrying a spare magazine without a case for it either. but your right those rounds will exist with little resistance.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I too have had rounds work out of the magazine of my PM9 when carrying it loose in my pocket. I always keep the mag in a pouch now.

There is nothing fragile about the all-steel models whatsoever. On polymer models there have been reports of the plastic frame rail crumbling or breaking off. However, this is not a load-bearing area - the slide actually runs on steel rail inserts.

I would not take a Kahr to war, in the literal sense of the word - they were never designed for actual battlefield conditions. For civilian CCW, which they were designed for and where you can protect them from the weather and have the luxury of time to maintain them, they are just fine.

 

[jigglyjames29]

I think you have a much higher probability of getting a lemon from Kahr compared to other companies (if you go polymer). I've read many reports of abnormal wear on the rails and other issues that arise after a 200rd break-in.
This pisses me off because a P9 or T9 would be PERFECT for me. I'm just not willing to take that gamble.

 

[groundhog34]

I have a Kahr PM-9 with about 700+ rounds no problems no evident wear. So I would say no the are not fragile, however there seems to be a fair about of lemons although mine is not one I trust it.

 

[possum]

i don't think they are the best choice to have on your hip if you are going to "war", howvere they do make outstanding ccw guns, i love mine, there is nothing fragile about it. no issues to date and i have had it for years, and my dad years before that. i have a k-40

 

[jocko]

ur all welcome to look over my PM9 with 18.700 rounds through it. not one bit of wear on any polymer frame rails (which the slide does not run on anyhow) and barrel looks new, I have replaced one follower and recoil springs, and just recently put in a new 5# striker spirng. It has 18,000 rounds on it and I got a couple of lite strikes only on cci alumnum and when I tested the striker spring it was down to 4.5 pounds, so I felt I should change it. Installed a new 5# spring and proceeded to shoot 150 rounds of cci aluminum with not one issue. I would call all of the above normal maintenance, except the cracked follower, which never stoped the gun from functioning. Probably if one left the factory 7# striker spring in, they would never have to replace it either. I really like the 5# spring and I guess one change in 18,000 rounds is acceptable.

I try to base my opinion on acutal experience, not from reading "reports" on the gun sites. Some may be true, some may be false, many leave out details that might explain more to.

There are a hell of alot more people carrying kahrs today than 2 years ago...

Wish my $900 Para would have even come half as close to being as good as my 2 kahrs have been.

 

[FiveFiveSixFan]

I have a K9 and a T40 and have not found either to be delicate in any way. I like the ergonomics, the heft provided by the steel frame keeps recoil very minimal given the size and they have been totally reliable.

Takedown of the K9 took a little getting used to, but not as much as the Ruger MK l. I plan to keep them both for a long time.

 

[jocko]

I sure like my used K9, has about 4000 rounds through it. just goes bang every time, very accurate after I put a set of MMC adjustable sites on it

I bet that T40 is awesome..

 

[M&PVolk]

I will never own another Kahr. I had a CW40 that was a complete POS. It jammed every 5th round, far past the 200 round break in. Additionally, the slide would lock back past the slide lock! It would crumple brass, etc.

Beyond the functionality issues, the steel parts of the Kahr were machined decently, if not great, and looked like they would last a long time. The plastic grip, however, was a very hard plastic molding with little flex. The lack of flex made recoil much harsher and put undue stress on the polymer. My FFL said he had seen some polymer cracking. I imagine that to be a strong possibility based on my experience. Also, I did have a mag follower break, but that might be because of the defective feed magazine.

The biggest problem to me was Kahr's terrible customer service. They told me that my problems were ammo based, yet I only put quality ammo through the gun and tried all the major brands with no success.

I will NEVER own another Kahr.

 

[possum]

will never own another Kahr. I had a CW40 that was a complete POS.

there polymer lines i am not a fan of and the only issues i have ever heard of with the kahr line is the cw line which is an econmical model, i will keep my kahr for sure, and i will stay away from that model. and advise others to do the same. Just because ruger has had a recall on the lcp and the sr9, that shouldn't keep folks from buying a p345, p95 etc.

 

[OleCodger]

Hey Jocko......

It ain't necessairly "accurate" when you hit the four sides of a barn and you're standing inside the barn...........

 

[jocko]

possum: all the internals of a cw are exactly the same as the k, T and P models.

they left out the polygonal rifled bbl, more engravng on the slide, no dovetails sites, spare magazine. None of these lessen the functioning quality of the cw line. Actually the cw line is by far kahrs best selling gun do to price but not lacking in quality, IMO..

 

[jocko]

I sure didn't know the polymer grips on these semi's was supposed to FLEX.

I best send my glock and Smith back !!!

 

[saltydog452]

I don't know about the shorter Kahrs, but I bet the farm and contents on MY K and P 9.

I carry a BHP or Commander though.

salty

 

[HankB]

I had a P9 that I'm sure it would take a long, LONG time to wear out . . . simply because that wretched POS spent more time going back and forth to the factory for service than it did in my hands.

 

[Wolfebyte]

+1 to Jocko


Thanks! .. I love my CW model and have had not one issue with it in 2 years and a little over 3k rounds through it. (I don't get to shoot as often as I'd like)...

I found extra mags on ebay, I carry the CW daily, either IWB or in a Galco pancake. When I'm on the bike, it's in a vest carry or shoulder rig..

 

[M&PVolk]

jocko said:

I sure didn't know the polymer grips on these semi's was supposed to FLEX.

I best send my glock and Smith back !!!

Polymer framed/gripped handguns are all given to a certain amount of "flex" during recoil. The flex will vary in intensity based on the particular compounds of the polymer and design of the frame. The flex in all forms is extremely light, however, it is there, and can have a legitimate impact on how recoil is transfered through the frame and grips.

 

[jocko]

extremely light, indeed, hell steel flexs also. grip design (shape , size etc) would have far mor eto do with recoil than any flexing. IMO.

 

[M&PVolk]

Actually, the flex of poly is often cited as a primary reason for the reduced recoil feel of polymer based handguns. See the new Ruger LCR as an example of how much a decrease in recoil can be attributed to polymer grip frames.

 

[jocko]

HUMM: learn something new every day!!

 

[Justice5]

I had an MK 40 for a few years and loved it. I eventually traded it in for the PM 40, obviously the polymer version. I did this because I thought it would be lighter and still basically the same gun. I regretted doing this and have since rid myself of this thing. Even after the 200 round breakin, I had problems with the slide not fully closing, about ever 4 rounds or so. I also had a bad magazine. Sent it back to Kahr. They told me it shot fine from a bench, but the still replaced the recoil spring, and polished the feed ramp. They gave me a new mag as well. Never had a problem with the rails though. It shot better after they did this, but I still had the occasional slide not closing again. So very accurate though, for such a small gun. Loved shooting it aside from the problems. I heard the PM9 never had this problem, but I needed a 40 cal. I would definitely go with a non-polymer version and I think it will serve you well. I hate to deter anyone from buying a specific gun, but the PM40 does NOT appear to be a quality handgun in my opinion.