Is a Kahr worth it?

[Tom Servo]

I've got an MK9 that I love. Surprisingly accurate for its size, wonderful trigger, no malfunctions at all.

However, it's my second. The first was a lemon that had to be sent back when the slide cracked at about 300 rounds (WWB 115gr). The whole process was a real nightmare, and it took almost three months to get a replacement. Getting any sort of response from their customer-service department was like pulling teeth. Had the same negative experience when they shipped a defective pair of grips. Finally gave up and went directly to Frank Harris, the marketing chief, to get resolution.

Others have had good experience with their customer service, but it really varies for alot of folks. In short, great product, but if you need support, you're rolling the dice.

 

[The Reverend]

Kahr E9

Some years ago, I picked up a Kahr E9 (the now discontinued version of the K9) from a dealer in south Miami. The Kahr design is very comfortable and shot decently but I experienced several FTFs. I sent the gun back to Kahr with what I believed was the cause. They polished the feed ramp sent the gun back to me at no charge for any of the or shipping.

The gun is now flawless and is a great little hideaway piece.

Thumbs up!

God Bless!

 

[hightech]

Kel-tec Option

If you are looking for a small, light CCW pistol check out a Kel-Tec P 11. They both are the same size and weight. The Kel-Tec go for $350 in retail and $300 at the shows. Both will do the same job at less than 7 meters.

 

[albanian]

A Kel-Tec is about as far from a Kahr as you can get and still legally call it a gun. You get what you pay for and what you get from a Kahr is perhaps the finest small semi-auto on the market today. I think it is made better than a Glock or SIG even. SIGs are great guns but not designed quite as well as the Kahr. I am comparing the SIG 239 with the Kahr K series BTW since they are the closest in size/ weight.

I had a Kahr E-9 that I loved. It had some FTF because they come tight for accuracy. After a feedramp and chamber polish, it fed anything. The trigger was a little gritty and heavy at first but after break in and a drop or two of oil, it smoothed up quite nicely. I ended up selling it to someone I worked with and I never regreted selling any gun that much. I eventually bought a SS Kahr K-9 to replace it and it has been great. Shoots to POA and shoots small groups as well. So far I have had one FTE during the first 200 rds and none since. I have about 600 rds in it now and it is humming. I recently bought another Kahr K-9 just because I like them so much.

If any gun is worth the money, the Kahr is. Kahr doesn't have to bow down to any of the top gun companies in quality and design and I would rank them at the very top of the list in production guns. Some people think Kahrs cost too much for such a small gun but that is an odd way to look at it. I don't buy guns by the pound, I buy based on what I consider to be a good gun. There is more to Kahr than first meets the eye. The excellent DAO trigger is something that you will like once you shoot one. The low bore axis is rare but it helps tame recoil. My K-9s don't seem to recoil much at all.

I think you can probably find a better price than that but if where you live guns cost more than average, I would pay it or get one online.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have been carrying a Kahr PM-9 for about 6 months now.

I shoot it quite a bit, and have had no problems, zero, zip, zilch, nada.

I carry it in a pocket holster (Desantis Nemesis), and it disappears in the right pocket.

I clean and lube it without fail once per week.

I think that if I was to lose it that I would be willing to pay $1,000 to replace it, it is that good.

What is your life worth? The Kahr PM-9 is the gun that you will have on you when it is inconvenient to carry a gun.

 

[Blue]

I really liked looking them over. They LOOK like they would be nice little carry pieces and fun to shoot. I have never handled or fired a Kahr model pistol and was wondering what those of you who have think of them. Are they worth the bucks?

Your post sounds like I did several months ago..I got it in my head that I wanted a small compact pistol to go with my 17,P99,M9,5904,Mak and Bersa..
I had read all the glowing reports about the Kahrs on the internet...After checking prices at every dealer I could find I bought a new P9 for 509.00 ..It was compact,light to carry and concealed easily,workmanship seemed to be ok.

Well the bottom line for me was selling it after 2 months at a lose to get rid of it.It was not near as accurate and harder to disassemble than any of my other handguns. I could not see 500 dollars worth of pistol in that Kahr, and cursed myself for buying it.

If you are wanting to buy one make sure you get ahold on one before hand, shoot it, disassemble it and make sure you want to put that kind of money in a Kahr.Try to find one that someone wants to get rid of at a reduced price... There are much better pistols available..

 

[Alan Fud]

If you "like" Glocks, you'll "love" the Kahrs. If you don't like Glocks, then in all likelihood, you won't be too fond of the Kahrs either.

 

[bnolsen]

I looked at a few.

Just like the XD's there aint' enough meat to hold onto. But I have pretty large hands, I love my glock 20 and EAA witness, nice and meaty.

Strangely the bersa feels better in my hand than the kahrs.

I haven't fired any of them so I can't comment on that.

 

[Sawdust]

Love my PM9. Fantastic carry piece.

HTH,

Sawdust

 

[ThirdShiftRich]

I disagree with the "if you don't like glocks, you won't like Kahr's" comment. Although I feel more comfortable with a traditional sig-like design, I love my MK9 Elite and don't like anything about glocks other than that they function well. If you don't like glocks because they are plastic or can't stand the grip shape/size, you may feel right at home with a stainless steel KAHR.

 

[strambo]

I've had a K9 for nearly 3 years. $565 new with night sights. No malfunctions ever. Off hand, I can't think of ever hearing anything bad about the "K" series...just the "P"s on occasion.

 

[harrydog]

I've had my K9 for about 3 years and have never experienced a failure of any kind, even during the initial 200 round break-in period.
It's certainly not a pocket gun, but for belt carry, it's great. I use an Alessi WSDT.
It may be a bit on the heavy side for it's size (not an issue at all if carried in a good holster and belt), but the benefit of that is a very durable gun (The K9 was designed around the Cor-Bon 115gr +P) that will easily last for many, many thousands of rounds and also one that is easy to shoot with relatively mild recoil. I think they are worth the money, but shop around - you can find good deals, even on new ones, if you look.

 

[Mark13]

Corncob got it right, the Kahrs are not target pistols. The trigger is too heavy, and too close to the grip. This makes it hard to pull straight back on the trigger, it's very easy to pull the muzzle off target when shooting quickly.

I have a K9 I paid $550 for 6 or so years ago. It's reliable, well made, and a great carry pistol for when you need something easy to conceal.

 

[Jonathan]

I've heard more than once now that taking down a Kahr is difficult. Perhaps the polymer ones are different, but here are my experiences:
http://microsqft.com/files/kahr_strip.avi

Also, someone expressed interest in video I had of a first-time-shooter using a Kahr:
http://microsqft.com/files/kahr_new_shooter_1.avi
http://microsqft.com/files/kahr_new_shooter_2.avi
http://microsqft.com/files/kahr_new_shooter_3.avi

 

[Dees]

Thank you sir

 

[Missouri Mule]

If I am not carrying one of my 1911's chances are my PM9 is riding in a Milt Sparks SS II.
My Kahr fall within the barrel mod recall serial# range, but it has yet to fail to feed even once. I did have to swap out the stock mag catch for the improved design part. All that too was an email, two days in the mail and five minutes to install it.

Do I like Kahrs? Yes! I will very like own a (P45?) after the newness wears off, and if it ever does come out.

 

[FlyinGN]

I had one of the production K40's in stainless for years as my carry gun. It shot sweet and accurate and never broke or jammed once.. BUT I never got over the flinching and low shooting of the long trigger. I like single actions better and traded it on a new Armscor stainles 1911. I love the Armscor..

Frank

 

[sabre2]

I have a p9 that has been 100% reliable. Very light. Very thin. Very shootable. The p models are a lot thinner than the K models. They are also a handful. I don't like to shoot more than one box per session. For general all around use the k is going to be more fun. For carry the p is going to be ticket.
There is a kind of consensus on the boards, that the problems that have occured, are usually when a new model has just come out. After a year or so, you don't hear about any more problems. In kahrs defense, I would say that guns as small as their products are pushing the envelope. That these short barreled, light, and thin full power guns work is quite a feat.
john

 

[duncan]

Had a Kahr E-9 years ago - never failed me but got bored and traded it.

Have a Kahr PM9 - great gun, a blast to shoot Hydrashoks through.

Have Glocks, 1911s, P7s, Sigs, Kel Tecs and carry the PM9 when my miniGlocks are too thick and heavy.