Kahr CM9 nightmare!

[Rule3]

Wow... I had no idea Kahr was earning such a bitter reputation.... I was recently considering purchasing one of their handguns but I will certainly give them no further consideration. I am so sorry for your unfortunate experiences but thank you for sharing them here to help others avoid the same fate.

We are just the tip of the iceberg. It is actually to bad because when their guns work , they are very good and also accurate.It a Kel Tec does not work Oh well not that expensive When a Kahr fails and is 3 times the price well then that's an issue.

I have yet to find a true pocket 9mm that has better size and design than the PM9. The New Glock is almost the same size but a little longer. The Shield is bigger and not a true pocket gun.

Not really sure what the problem is??. They look and feel very well made.

One of my LGS will no longer sell Kahrs or Taurus. Just too many returns and unhappy customers.

Kinda like the Ruger LCP and the KT 380. The Ruger is a direct copy but more refined and much less trouble than the KT (I have both)

The KT 9mm is the right size but hard on the hand as the grip is aggressive,

 

[Mitlov]

I got two bad nags with my new Ruger P345. Ruger sent two new mags and a prepaid package for the original mags to be returned in. The way it should be handled.

Yep, and I've heard similar stories. Makes me want to do business with them. Some companies can be penny-wise and pound-foolish with their long-term business strategy, and nickeling-and-diming people on warranty issues is a classic example of being penny-wise-and-pound-foolish.

 

[torqem]

They've got this thing called a 'file". It will knock down the "aggressiveness" of plastic frames in about 10 seconds.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a CW-9 with a loose front sight After reading this I not sure I will send in . Guess will try to fix my self.

Loc-tite (or a similar material) available at hardware or auto-parts stores, will generally fix loose sights.

When I sent mine in with the front sight kicked off, the return ticket said something like "Replaced front sight with Black Max."
Black Max seems to be a somewhat rubberized version of Loctite.
Anyhow, my sight has not kicked back off, and not off my CW9 at all.

If it does, I have a gunsmith with a dovetail cutter.


Have you not shot the latest, Walt? Test, don't depend on Internet Rumor.

 

[Dean1818]

I would jump back in on this

Of the 2 Kahrs that I had, I did have one trip back to the factory for a repair on the CM9 (They replaced the gun)

I think the vast majority of people that buy a Kahr are happy with their purchase

I even dd a poll a year ago on another board and nearly 80% had 100% trust in their gun.

The Kahr K9 that I had was 100%

The 2 reasons that I dropped the CM9 was because I stopped pocket carrying completely (digging a pocket carry out is slow when you are standing, and almost impossible when you are sitting) and secondly the LONG trigger and reset make doubletaps innacurate for me.

Kahrs ended up for me not being my choice, but its not like a Jennings.....

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Have you not shot the latest, Walt? Test, don't depend on Internet Rumor.

I've shot it some, but not enough to be confident. But, even then, I'm not sure I'd have confidence for quite a while. I had complete confidence in the P9, and might just go back to that platform. I'm becoming less and less enamored of pocket carry, for reasons others have mentioned. Or, maybe I'll move to the steel version of the smallest Kahr 9mm. If I use an IWB or belt-slide holster, the weight won't be an issue. The steel guns seem very reliable.

I've not shot my CM9 that much (maybe only three or four boxes of ammo, thus far), I much prefer it to the Kel-Tec PF9. Seems like it has a better trigger, and less harsh felt recoil.

My problems with the Kel-Tec 9mms, however, is that they subtly seem different than the other gun I own and shoot. That may be a "ME" problem, and not a gun problem. If I don't shoot a Kel-Tec 9mm for a wile, I don't shoot it well at all when I first use it again. (I discovered this in an IDPA match -- it took me the first string to really get on track. After that, I did very well.

I've had that same kind of experience with the PF9, as I try to shoot it each time I go to the range, if only a mag full or so. When if I haven't shot it for a while, the first several shots never go where they should.) That seems like a bad issue for a gun that I use for concealed carry. That issue was why I traded away my P-11, and it may be why I'll eventually replace the PF9. Both guns were reliable and accurate. Other shooters don't seem to have this problem -- so it's probably just me.

The CM9 does not give me that problem: after a long lapse (weeks) I CAN hit something smaller than the broad side of the barn. I'll try it some more.

 

[stogiegila]

Stories like this really shake my confidence in the Kahr. My CM9 has not had any issues in the 500 rounds put through it so far. I love the size and weight. The trigger could have less travel to it but that is my only complaint.

Otherwise I love the gun, but all the horror stories really makes me wonder if I want to have it as my EDC eventhough it carries great!

 

[shootingthebreeze]

I must be a lucky one. I have a Kahr .45 and .380 and they both have functioned flawlessly even after shooting a lot of ammo though them.
The Kahr .380 got a real workout last summer - no problems.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'm becoming less and less enamored of pocket carry,

I know what you mean.
I will drop a Keltec .32 or even a S&W Bodyguard in a pocket, but nothing else seems to work.
I had the use of a friend's PM9 for a while and concluded that short as it is, I would still want a belt holster. So there was no reason not to get the CW9 when it came along at a good price. I have an old E9 which shoots well, but is nearly as heavy as my Commander. You can imagine which gun goes along when I care to carry that much weight.

 

[groundhog34]

Careful what you say about Kahr firearms on Kahr Talk. I guess all the negative press and recent problems with their guns has gotten to them over there.

I just found that I have been banned!!!

You have been banned for the following reason:
Negative Attitude / Brand Basher, no attempt to seek help from Kahr

Date the ban will be lifted: Never

I've been doing various gun forums for many years, this is a first for me.

They are moonies so they may also put a curse on you.

 

[oneounceload]

I have yet to find a true pocket 9mm that has better size and design than the PM9

Ever look at the Boberg or Rohrbaugh?

http://www.bobergarms.com/

http://www.rohrbaughfirearms.com/

Boberg is even developing a .45 pocket rocket

 

[gym]

The current PM9 I carry has been perfect. I had one, the first model, when they came out that sucked. I have also had Smith pistols, Colt pistols, Kel-tek pistols, Walther pistols, and several other brands that were just as bad if not worse. If you buy a couple hundred guns in 40 plus years, you are bound to get a few bad ones. "Like cars", just get rid of it and move on. Don't fall in love with things that are just machines, they will always disappoint you at some point. Anything that man builds is subject to flaws. That's why they say don't ever sell your car to your friend. Things break. Customer service is nice when it works, again you are relying on people to do what they forgot about 5 minutes after getting off the phone with you. Perhaps when you buy really expensive "stuff" you get treated a "little" bit better, but for the most part, we live in a disposable society.

 

[C0untZer0]

Don't fall in love with things that are just machines, they will always disappoint you at some point.

I love my HK P7M8.

It's just the truth, I love her.

And she's never let me down.

 

[riddleofsteel]

I have owned and sold around a dozen Kahrs. The list spans the steel and polymer models offered by the company over 16 or so years. I always thoroughly test all my handguns before carrying them. None of the Kahrs I sold were due to malfunction.
I have had to solve some problems with Kahrs mostly related to weak mag springs and worn or cracked followers. I never had any problems with Kahr customer service or parts department but I have never tried to send a pistol back to them either.
Perhaps the best comment I can make on Kahr handguns is that I recently wanted a small single stack 9mm. I bought a used Kahr P9. Hundreds of rounds later and I have had zero problems.

I have owned and fought problems with defective and poorly designed weapons from such diverse companies as Remington, S&W, Ruger, Thompson Center, and Glock. In handguns the only brands I have never seen pervasive problems with is Sig and Kahr.

YMMV

 

[Zaven]

Kahr's quality seems to be slipping. And if CS is getting shorter and more grumpy on the phone then that is usually a pretty good indicator that they are answering the phone NON STOP with issues. Not a good sign.

 

[340PD]

Possibly true, but we do not know both sides of the conversation.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

As noted earlier, I have a CM9 and am considering using it for concealed carry...

That said, my only interactions with Kahr CS have been very good, handled well by them, and quick. My used P9 (since sold in response to a good offer) had a mag release issue, and they, upon discussing the problem with me, sent me the needed part and instructions of how to do the fix. Got it a few days later. It was free.

It could be that CS has gone down a bit since then -- but their reputation in years past was always good. It could be, too, that some of their lower-cost guns are less durable, and that there is a bad apple or two in in the Kahr CS staff barrel. It also happens that people call in and expect a company to move heaven and earth for them -- and nothing less than such movements would satisfy some of THOSE types of customers.

I've had a few problems with a number of different guns, over the years, and CS has been good with all of them. Even Taurus! The only problems -- SIG and BERETTA -- was when the didn't have the needed parts in stock; there was never a bad attitude or an unwillingness to help. Beretta, I had to deal with them several times, never gave me a warm feeling, but they did what was required to get things right. (Once, with a new Tomcat, when they were first introduced, they had to replace the gun -- and it took MONTHS...)

.

 

[flyskater]

I have have over 2000 rounds through my CM9 (which I bought 2 years ago) and used it for my daily CCW. Although I never had problems with my CM9 or dealt with their CS, it is sad reading the horror stories. Having my own businesses, I believe CS is the pinnacle and extremely important in this day and age. I did buy the M&P shield last week which is a little bigger than the CM9, but at least I know that when a problem will arise, Smith will be there. In addition, supporting a company that stands behind their products and services with courtesy and dignity.

 

[clance]

I've owned a first generation K9 and still own a first generation TP9 which I traded the K9 for. The only issue that I had with the K9 was the finish was not what I would expect from a quality pistol, wearing rather quickly, and not all the edges were radius leaving sharp edges that I actual cut myself on. Other then that, my Kahrs had no issues no matter what I fed them.



The only thing that I can come up with from the stories told on this thread is that those that had problems should have spent the extra money and got the top of the line Kahrs instead of going cheap with the CM/CW lines...

 

[gym]

Most pro's love them, Hickock, Nutin fancy, every ex cop I know. I believe Mass even commented positively on the guns. More than average good reviews. Mine is perfect, half a dozen friends love there's. Rare that you get a Pm9 Basher. Do the research and see what you come up with, as I said you get good and bad in every brand. I don't keep guns that don't work 100%. I just sell them or trade them back to the dealer and get something else. Right now I am on lists for 4 or 5 pistols, Out of which I will buy 2. But the PM9 goes in the pocket carry role. Life is too precious to carry a faulty pistol.

 

[SeanSw]

I had a CM9 for a month and ran less than the factory suggested 200 rounds for break in. I loved the size of the pistol. Great trigger, great accuracy, but way too many problems in a few boxes of ammo for me to waste any more time. Quite a few FTE and dozens of slide lock failures. I only ran one type of ammo but was using two separate magazines (6 and 8 rd) that were loaded down to test the first round chambering and the last round slide lock. No loading issues but basically 100% failure to lock the slide on the last round. The slide stop also bashes my thumb pretty good while shooting.

I admit, I did not give the CM9 a fair shake by not even running it through the 200 round break in period or trying a variety of ammunition. Why bother? I can't afford a variety of ammo to experiment with and chances were good that I'd have to pay return shipping a second or third time, then wait for repairs, possibly pay a new ffl transfer fee (internet rumor is that some frames were replaced causing the need to transfer it like a new firearm) then run another $60 of ammo through the gun before completing a second break in period, and then doing the same thing again with premium carry ammo. Ain't nobody got time for that.

It's a shame. The CM9 was a perfect sized ccw for me but my resources are limited and I can't assist Kahr with their R&D. I'm not bashing the company as they don't even know who I am or what my problems were. I just had to cut my losses early and move on down the line.

That said, next week I am picking up a Walther PPS as a replacement.

 

[NWCP]

I've owned my PM9 for a few years now and have never had an issue with it, or the mags. In fact it's been a well behaved deep conceal carry pistol. I would buy another Kahr based on my experience with the pistol I own. Sorry you've been having a nightmare situation.

 

[Esoxchaser]

My experience with the CM series of Kahrs. CM40, CM9, both operated just fine with 6 rd mags. Neither would feed reliably from the 7 rd. Doesn't appear Kahr is capable of resolving the issue.

 

[gym]

That's very true also, I have 1 out of 7 mags in the 7 round capacity. It is the newer one that has a black thick plastic piece for a follower, not the curved one that you normally see. It is made by Kahr and works. I have heard the 7 and 8 rounder's have problems.

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

Man, I didn't realize there were so many people who had issues with Kahrs, I have had 2 PM9's and absolutely love them. I was thinking about getting another Kahr in the near future, might be rethinking that.