How to shoot a Kahr

[bratch]

I know I'm just a youngster at this stuff (not by age, I assure you), but shouldn't it be most important that your carry gun be the one you are most accurate with? I mean, it seems to me that if paper is difficult at 7 yards, how's it going to be with a moving, ducking, shooting-back-at-you target? I would want to minimize the possibility of hitting store clerks, gas pumps, cars, innocent men, women, children, etc., whatever might be past my attacker by having my best shooter in my hand.

I'm not sure what level of accuracy he was referring to but I agree accuracy is very important. I've been told you only retain about 60% of your accuracy under stress. So a 1 inch group might open up to 2 inches.

This is one reason I do not feel comfortable with my Kahr yet. I can put rounds where I want them with both of my .45s but not so with the Kahr. Even at 60% I feel I could put most of the rounds COM.

I strive to be as accurate as possible with all of my guns mainly to make up for lack of skills when the blood is flowing.

 

[AStone]

Albanian +1. Practice may not make perfect (1 hole groups at 25 yds) but pushes one in that general direction. Trigger pull is so much of what it's about. BA/UU/R.

It was one or more of your posts that guided me to the K9. Thanks.

9teen11: can you tell me more, please, about "night sights"?

 

[P. Plainsman]

It would be interesting to know how well you do shooting a double-action revolver.

You might try this. Get hold of a good .357 wheelgun and load some nice mellow .38 Specials in it. (Or better, buy a .357 -- sorry, the thought of owning six handguns, with none being revolvers, makes me a sad panda.) Shoot some targets, using the same types of distances and drills you use with your Kahrs.

Quality revolvers these days tend to be rather accurate, especially given their price point. If you get the same poor results with a revolver that you do with your Kahrs, you know the problem is simply double-action shooting in general. The solution, as others have noted, is conscientious DA practice. Conversely, if your revolver targets are pretty good, then it's the Kahr in particular that disagrees with you.

Personally, I prefer my autoloaders to be single action or DA/SA, but I can shoot a double action revolver better than either. That was by no means the case at the outset; my DA shooting stunk for a while, until I finally started building some muscle memory and my shooting started to click.

It's a function of what one practices with the most.

 

[albanian]

Nematocyst-870,
Good to hear that you still like your K-9 and it was a match for you. Some people think they are too small but I remember your thoughts when you said you picked one up at the gun store and I had a feeling you would really like the K-9.

I am glad I was honest about the Kahr P-9 I had because sometimes I get over impressed with a new gun and talk it up too much. The P-9 did not impress me and even though it is a blow to ones pride to have to admit that a gun he just bought was a POS, it needs to be done to help others out. I still love my Kahr K-9s but the plastic ones will have to find other people to live with.

Also, I like to carry IWB and as you know, I have been looking for a good holster. The Clipdraw is my answer. It is a metal clip that sticks on the slide of any auto and hooks on your pants or belt. It works for me so if you are looking for a thinner way to carry your already thin K-9, give the Clipdraw a look. It is $19.95 and comes with 5-6 extra pieces of tape so you can try it on other guns if you don't liek it on the Kahr.

 

[bratch]

I need to get a revolver I've been planning on it since I bought the first 1911. Was going to buy a 642 until I bought the PM9 and the list goes on and on.

It would be an interesting comparison between the DA wheelie and the Kahr though maybe I can find someone around here with one.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Love them wheelguns. 642 vs. PM9 would be a semi-fair comparison. To compare to the K9 you'd need something like a S&W K-frame or a Ruger Security Six.

 

[Steelharp]

I believe our own 45Badger has a 642 for sale right now...

 

[Greymoor]

My PM-9 is a very nice little pistol. If I do my part, at 7 yards, I can keep 'em in a 3" circle consistently and sometime much tighter depending on the ammo and other variables. The sights are the same as on my Sig so it is an easy change over for me.

The carry ability of the PM-9 is awesome. It is light, small and with 6+1 of 124gr.+P Gold Dots on tap I always have a handful of protection ready. My loaded PM-9 with a spare mag weighs less than my P229 empty.

I like my Kimber TLE, I like my Sig P-229 and I carry them also. But when it comes to working in the yard, a quick jaunt to the store, or a hot day / light clothes situation the PM-9 is my grab and go weapon.

Makes for a nice BUG too when warranted. . .


Sad thing is that I am now thinking about a Kahr P45 for those times when ya want a little bigger bullet Er . . . Is that a sad thing?

 

[Lou22]

Greymoor:

I felt the same way you do. I also have a PM9 which I use for much of my carry. I got the itch for a compact 45, couldn't wait any longer for the Kahr, so I bought a Cobra Patriot which is very close to the Kahr in size and weight. Also a lot less expensive at $245 including shipping. I do get the occasional stovepipe with it, but only on the last round, so not a serious fault.

Lou

 

[bratch]

Went down to our farm today and shot the K9 again. The conditions weren't the best on my little impromtu range.

If I shoot it really really really slow I can get about a 6" group on a good try. The shooting was by no means up to defensive quality.

I really want to like this pistol I love the size I'm just getting discouraged with my shooting when using it.

I need to get to an indoor range and shoot in a little better conditions and see how I can do.

 

[Majic]

Bratch one of your problems is in 11 months you went from never shooting handguns before to learning to shoot and with 3 different trigger actions. That's asking a bit much of yourself.
Build up your hand muscles (especially your trigger finger) and concentrate on your basics. Above all else spend some time practicing with just one pistol. It will get better in time.

 

[bratch]

Majic I demand alot out of myself

I've thought about concentrating on a single style numerous times. I just can't decide if I want to concentrate on the 1911 which I'm already pretty good with and like or the Kahr which I have little skills but love the package.

I guess I could always do 90/10 with the Kahr-1911 just to keep my 1911 skills up to par as I would still be carrying one while learning the Kahr. I'm just concerned that I WON"T be able to shoot the Kahr and all the time, effort and money would be for naught.

 

[TC-TX]

Ba/uu/r?

Would someone please define BA/UU/R for me?

 

[hkmp5g17]

Kahr's are nice guns! I know you're frustrated but..... Please don't shoot it! The impact of the bullet could damage it!

 

[AStone]

Would someone please define BA/UU/R for me?

TC, welcome to THR.

I asked the same thing when I first joined.

Buy ammo, use up, repeat.

Translation: practice until it's second nature.

Nem

 

[TC-TX]

Thank you Nematocyst-870

Thank you Nematocyst-870 --

I love this one as I totally concur... What could Possibly be more fun?