Handgun selection, Kahr owner input

[happy g]

Gurnard,
I had a PM40. The recoil is a bit harsh. I traded it in. It kept breaking followers. That got old really fast. But, over all the gun was 100% reliable. But, you have to be able to practice with it... So, if you choose to get one... keep it very well lubed and buy some shooting gloves. All in all they are great little guns.
Regards,
Happy

 

[Russ]

I have a Kel-Tec .380 and it has functioned flawlessly. This is my main carry piece since it is so light and is great for pocket carry.

I also have a Kahr MK 40 which I like alot. I don't carry it much but it is a reliable gun. At 24-25 ounces, it is a bit heavy so not made for pocket carry. I think Kahr makes top notch guns but some do seem to have problems. I have heard both good and bad things about their polymer offerings. However, if you like them and the weight go for it. Send it back if it is not working well. Kahr will take care of you.

 

[jetman]

I've been into handguns for decades now and still love them. I work in a very BAD neighborhood and have to open the store up when I'm on call, late at night and all alone. I've been carrying "something" long before my CCW permit made me Legal. I've tried many different guns to carry but since I bought my PM9 I leave them all home, and sold several of them. It is my MAIN carry weapon and have about 1000 rounds through it now and it runs like a Swiss watch. It is much more accurate than any 3" barrel has a right to be. It had some "teething problems" during it's initial break-in, but is flawless now. I have a smaller frame build and it disappears under an untucked t-shirt and pair of shorts with an IWB holster. The recoil is a little jumpy for a small, light gun, but definitely manageable. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. I looked at a Glock 36 but it was much too blocky and heavy for me after being used to the Kahr. I even sold my 3" Kimber Ultra Tactical II since all it got was closet time, after the Kahr. They definitely aren't meant to be a range/target pistol, but a self defense weapon. For that they are the best.... in my opinion

 

[Mark13]

I like my K9. It conceals easily, which is its primary role. If I'm wearing a jacket I go with a larger pistol though. The trigger is smooth, and fairly light for DAO, but it's not my favorite.

My hands are smaller and I can get my whole hand on it for a good grip.
I think the original K9/K40 Kahrs are the smallest 9mm/.40 autos that can take a life time of abuse from the hottest loads in those calibers.

I've heard some good things and some bad about the smaller "MK" ones.

 

[gunslinger387]

Gurnard,

I usually carry a 342PD however this past weekend I went out of state to a less than desirable area for a couple of days, I carried my K-40. If I knew trouble was brewing and had to have a pistol I would prefer my Sig P220ST. I find the Sig too large to carry, however the K-40 is easy to carry and has plent of oomph. I found it more reassuring than the 342.

 

[MyRoad]

I know that many of you have several handguns from different manufacturers. Does switching between brands/models give you any trouble?

I have a K40 Stainless (2003) that I bought to carry. I love everything about the gun - it definitely is high quality. The trigger pull is very smooth, much lighter than my SW442 (for a small revolver comparison), but it is *long*, and as mentioned, does not stage. In the end, if I practice with it a lot, I can shoot it accurately, even with double taps. The problem is that my shots take a full second longer than with other guns. I can't untrain (and I really wouldn't want to) the trigger memory I have for 1911's and others I own. Specifically, I "squeeze" the trigger at a certain *speed* I'm trained for regardless of the trigger pull - if I go any faster I'll jerk the gun. With a 1911 'squeeze and fire' are in a fraction of a second - with the Kahr, I just keep squeezing until it goes off, and since I'd rather be accurate than fast and miss, it takes a full second longer each time. Bottom line, I don't carry the Kahr, but I do respect it.

I also have a PM9. It's accurate, reliable, and the factory night sights are great. My personal issue... I won't shoot 124gr. +P through it. I'm sure the gun can handle it, but the snap is intense enough that it feels like the slide is going to snap right off that little plastic grip and hit me in the head. I know, it's stupid, but it makes me think about the gun instead of the target, so I stick to standard loads.

 

[jetman]

About 500 of the 1000 rounds through my PM9 were Speer 125 gr. +P Gold Dots.

Once fully broken in it shoots great with +P or standard loads. I've never had any issues at all with the +P rounds through my PM9

 

[Preacherman]

I'm afraid I'm one of the few who really doesn't like Kahr pistols. Not that there's anything wrong with the design - they're small, easy to carry, accurate, and all of those are Good Things. Unfortunately, I've owned 3 at various times (bought an MK9 and a P9, and acquired a PM9 in a trade), and all three have proven to be insufficiently reliable for me to trust them with my life. I reckon I've had an average of 2-3 malfunctions per 100 rounds with them - and that's simply not acceptable.

I don't know why this is - I don't think it's me, because I shoot other autopistols and revolvers just fine, so I don't see myself mishandling these Kahrs. They just haven't been reliable enough for my standards. I've sold them all, and now concentrate on small revolvers for my BUG's and pocket carry.

 

[drf]

You've got many responses but I hope you read this....

I've got the Blackened P9 in 9mm and it has been a flawless gun...

Some say its not reliable but that is the earlier versions of the poylmer kahrs.
If you order or specify the blackened Kahrs it will be one of the new ones with the bugs worked out....

Get a hogue jr. grip for it and you'll be all set...

I shot 100 rds from this gun without the hogue and it wore me out, with the Hogue slip on it was a different story....

I have never shot a PM (smaller version of the P9) but if your going to shoot it all the time the P9 is the gun to buy.

Also, it is very easy to conceal and extremely light!

The P9 will feed any crap ammo or high quality ammo you put threw it...

I have about 500rds through it now and it has performed like I said flawless! Even when extremely dirty........drf

 

[contactcole]

In CCW it's about compromise

Have the P9. I think the Kahr P9 is the perfect compromise between CCW size and shooting performance/comfort. Key word is "compromise". After 150 rounds I'm done shooting this gun, whereas I can put 300+ through our G17 or USP40c comfortably no problem. And, both easily outshoot the P9. However, I don't want to CCW either all day every day, in summer or winter wear. And, for comfotable IWB (for a small frame build like me) the Kahr is hard to beat. Bottomline: The smaller the gun the more likely you'll carry it, period.

 

[contactcole]

Owned the Kahr P9 and MK9. Both shot well given there smaller size and intended use. I really liked that P9 as a compact CCW.

The P9 seemed cheap, but the MK9 was solid. Both were great guns to CARRY but my Glock 23 is the better gun to actually SHOOT. I prefer performance, so traded both and carry the Glock 23 as I carry what I shoot best.

That P9 was a great little 9mm, but the MK9 performed less so due to small size. Again, both were good shooters and both were 100% reliable.

Carry size is always a trade-off to performance. I'd NOT get the .40 in ANY Kahr P-series as 9mm recoil was about all I wanted in such a small/light gun.

 

[grimjaw]

It's a good thing we discuss how to deal with zombies on THR, because I see threads come back from the dead constantly.

jm

 

[contactcole]

Funny. I just noticed that date too on the last post... and I was the last one to post when I had the P9. I did like that gun, but in the end went with the gun I shoot better (The Glock 23)