CW40, Is it Worth It?

[MagnumDweeb]

My fiancee has fallen for shooting my Glock 23. She shoots my STI Spatan 1911 .45 fairly well, as well as my Ruger P90, but she seems to have the best luck with my Glock 23.

I actually carry the Glock 23 as a pocket carry, yes my suit pants pockets are that large and actually tuck it behind my wallet and I can still draw it rather fast. Still it doesn't go in all of my pants and jeans like I want, and since the fiancee wants it for herself, it's the perfect opportunity to opt for a new pistol and since I have over 2k rounds of .40 fmjs sitting around, I want one in .40 S&W.

I think the Kahr CW40 fits the bill, it's supposed to be smaller than the Glock 23, how much I don't know but I'm going to the LGS this week to fondle one and see if I'm going to buy one.

I know a lot of folks don't care for .40 but a 180 grain JHP out of my Glock 23 is just perfect for me for rapid shots at twelve yards, the CW40 has a smaller capacity but if it can go more places with me than my Glock 23, it washes in the scheme of things.

Anyone else have any experience with the CW40, good or bad?

 

[[email protected]]

I have only held a CW40 and I will admit that it seemed to handle nice. I cannot talk bad about the recoil of the 40 S&W since I also carry one or three of them Glock 22 on duty, Glock 27 in the summer, and Glock 23 for the winter. IIRC the Cw40 is thinner than the G23 and the grip is a little shorter. I dont like to suggest that someone should get a different pistol that what they were asking about, BUT if she is planning on carrying the Glock 23, have you considered a Glock 27.
Your fiancee sounds like a keeper since she likes shooting. If you give her the Glock 23 dont forget " With this gun I thee wed" wont work. You will still have to get her a ring.

 

[ScottieG59]

I hope you always use a holster with your Glock. Otherwise, it can ruin your day when it goes off at the wrong time. I am guessing you must be a big guy to pocket a G23; I can sometimes carry my G27 that way, but it really shows.

I like Kahr pistols, though they are a bit costly. Of course, there is nothing wrong with getting another G23. If you want thinner, you can go with a G36, in single stack 45 ACP. XD and S&W have some good options available as well.

Still, I like the ease of maintaining Glocks. It is so easy to completely disassemble and reassemble.

 

[chris in va]

I think once Kahr deviated from the darn near perfect K9, things started going downhill in the reliability department. Might just want to stick with the CW9/P9 if you're looking for a polymer Kahr.

 

[skt239]

Are you using a holster? I can't imagine cramming a 23 and wallet all in the same pocket.

 

[shooter1]

The CW40 is a lot smaller, thinner, and lighter than the 23! Either one is WAY too big for my pockets. I have shot the CW40 (50rds or so). I was favorably impressed. I have a couple of Glocks in .40 (22/35). The 22 was my duty gun, the 35 is my action pistol "Limited" and ESP gun. The .40 is a great cartridge, and the CW40 might just be worth consideration. Hope you get to try one before you buy.
str1

 

[Skylerbone]

My father's CW9 disappeared into the pocket of his chinos first time he tried it and at ~175 lbs. he's not what most folks around here consider big.

I liked his Kahr so much I wanted one myself but, just like high school I had to buy my own Kahr so I chose the K9. With its increased weight pocket carry is not advisable (I still recommend some sort of holster regardless).

If both of you like the G23 then consider buying her a new one. If you're set on buying a Kahr, buy her a new Glock and you a new Kahr. Don't buy anything without first discussing things with her as you have with us and get her signed up on THR. That way you'll have one more thing to enjoy together.

 

[burk]

I'd stay away. Light small .40's are tough to control, and I have yet to meet a customer who likes the Kahr .40. If you must go .40 go M & P shield or Walther PPS, I'm not a fan boy, but of the small single stack .40's they really are better able to take the recoil. I'd much rather spend the extra money for the XD-S in a .45. My take on .40 is that it has some advantages in double stack configurations (lots of firepower in a smaller package). But very little advantage in a single stack concealable gun. They require far more training to shoot consistently and the range ammo is pricier.

I'm not anti-Kahr by any means. I think the .9 mm guns if maintained and broken in are excellent choices.

 

[danweasel]

My CW40 SUCKED.

It had a ton of issues with multiple ($40+) magazines. Failed to return to battery multiple times, and a ton of stove pipes jams. It didn't shoot to the point of aim, even from the bench.

It was however a nice feeling and pointing weapon. The recoil is snappy in such a small gun but not anywhere near a deal breaker. I would jump at the chance to buy a used one if I could test fire it first.

In fact it was so "dead to me" that when I ETS'd out of Alaska I didn't remember to pick it up from a local gunsmith who was going to give it a look. I got it for free from a friend who was fed up with it so I wasn't all that upset.

 

[Billy Ray]

I have one, haven't had any issues with it so far in just under a thousand rounds but it is picky about HP ammo. The gun carries great but it is a little jumpy - pretty snappy recoil and a thin grip. I added a hogue rubber sleeve to the grip and it helped quite a bit.

 

[Doogledog]

I, like the OP, have a G23 and I shoot it very well and it has been my carry pistol. (Not pocket carry.) However, I recently purchased a Kahr CW9 and have been thoroughly impressed with it. It points and shoots very well for me. I like it so much, I really want a CW40 and will buy one as soon as the funds are available. Shooting the .40 just takes practice and the recoil just doesn't bother me. If the CW40 shoots as well as the CW9 its got to be a great pistol. And for $399 I don't think the price is too bad either.

 

[silicosys4]

I have 3 Kahrs, a cw40, pm9, pm40.
The cw40 stays in my glovebox, and its surprisingly accurate. single hole groups at 15 yds accurate, which is fine by me.
Make note though; the Kahrs are NOT idiot proof. They have a small spring around the takedown lever, and its very easy to accidentally install the takedown lever with the spring tucked under the lever instead of over it. I saved $300 on the pm40 because someone had assembled it wrong after cleaning and because it was reassembled wrong, it was an "unreliable pos" that works just fine since I reassembled it correctly. Since then, I'm always on the lookout for those "POS, unreliable Kahrs", 9/10 times its assembled incorrectly and literally a 20 second fix.

 

[JustinJ]

For a single stack sub compact forty i'd much sooner go with the SW Shield. If it were just a little bit smaller i'd probably replace my LC9 with the 9 mm version.

 

[jfrey]

I'm with Burk and Justin on this one. I would rather get the Shield or PPS in .40. I had a CW9 and traded it on a G19. The Kahr was finiky and wouldn't shoot my loads unless I seated the bullets shorter than I wanted. Any gun that doesn't shoot my loads doesn't stay around very long. Haven't had any problems with the G19 or my new Shield with the same ammo. If you only shot factory ammo it doesn't matter. I have heard lately that Kahr CS can be spotty at best. Haven't used it myself in several years.

 

[gb6491]

I have a CW9 and 45, like them both. They been reliable (neither has been finicky about what I shoot in it) and accurate for me. They're also carry well.
That said, in .40S&W, I've only one pistol and that's a Glock 27. It's been a great gun for me. I've never considered anything else in the same caliber.
Regards,
Greg

 

[Paul7]

I had a P40 that was a complete POS.

 

[GlackAttack]

Wow, I would have issues fitting a g26 in pocket..