Kahr CM9 vs Ruger LC9

[SorenityNow]

Hey all, Im lookin for a new pcket carry. Im leaning towards the Kahr, but I really dont know much about the Kahr name and this makes me a little "gun shy". I own Rugers and Smith and I love em. How is Kahr's reliability and customer service vs Ruger. Id rally like any feedback you all may have thanks

 

[pikid89]

i tried pocket carrying both my Kel Tec PF9 and my dads Kahr PM9 (same size as the CM9)

The Kahr shot far easier than the Kel Tec, in that it felt and shot like a bigger gun than it was.

Ultimately, I sold the Kel Tec and my dad sold the Kahr and we both ended up with Ruger LCP's because of the far easier pocketability

 

[MICHAEL T]

Kahr a nice pistol cost more than a Ruger, and I feel a better pistol. I have a CW-9 and its a good pistol . So good other 1/2 took and I now have a KelTec PF-9

 

[AJChenMPH]

IMO, they're both a bit big for pocket carry -- I have a PM9 and I've handled an LC9. The PM9 is a little blockier than the LC9, which seems to feel a bit more streamlined, but the LC9 is also a bit bigger in height and length vs. a PM9.

I've put several hundred rounds through my PM9 (the previous owner shot 200 rounds through it before me) and I had exactly one failure to feed in the first session I shot it because I hadn't learned yet how to load the mags (they're a bit finicky). I also really like the trigger on the PM9.

Most accounts I've read by LC9 owners are that they really like it, with perhaps the only complaint that the trigger pull is very, very long before it breaks. But it seems to be dead-nuts reliable out of the box.

I've heard mixed reviews of Kahr's customer service -- but Ruger's consistently seems to be top-notch.

 

[SorenityNow]

I noticed that the Kahr is a striker fire but it wasnt like my glock that i have. It has a longer trigger reset. But like anything else,practice, practice, practice.

 

[AJChenMPH]

It's pretty close to a nice, smooth DAO revolver (though nowhere near as heavy as the trigger on the J-frame I shot last week).

I've never shot one, but supposedly the MK9 trigger is even smoother and nicer due to the all-metal construction...but that definitely ain't no pocket pistol!

 

[owlhoot]

I chose the Kahr, and I've been a happy camper. Reliability has been fine, recoil is very manageable, and accuracy is impressive. Can't say about the responsiveness of customer service. I have no experience with the Ruger.

I generally wear Jeans, and jeans don't lend themselves to pocket carry. I can do it, but it's a mighty tight proposition. If pocket carry were my first priority, I guess I would purchase one of the mini .380's.

 

[MikePaiN]

I've had both the LC9 and CM9....Both were/are very reliable and easy to carry but the CM9's refined DAO trigger and shoot-ablity won me over to it. So I sold the LC9 and the CM9 has become my EDC.

 

[97guns]

ive owned a pm9 and pmforty, sold them both off because of reliability issues and just picked up an lc9. for me i'll trade a 1/10 of an ounce here and a 1/10 of an inch there for reliability. ive totally lost confidence in khar and kel tec for that matter.

 

[SorenityNow]

ive owned a pm9 and pmforty, sold them both off because of reliability issues and just picked up an lc9. for me i'll trade a 1/10 of an ounce here and a 1/10 of an inch there for reliability. ive totally lost confidence in khar and kel tec for that matter.

Thats helpful. Did you have a talk with Kahr cust service?? I hear ruger service is really good. But who wants to turn in their weapon for repairs?

 

[97guns]

no, never did the 9 was pretty decent compared to the 40, that thing ate mag followers like crazy and never ran anything close to 100%.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I've heard wonderful things about Kahr's reliability. But as with anything else, there's always a case or two here and there of people having issues. I voted with my wallet on the Kahr cw9.

IMO, they're both a bit big for pocket carry

I agree. Edit::IMHO, neither fit my blue jean pockets. Both are more of a really comfortable IWB solution, or something that doesn't print in a high riding OWB holster under a tshirt.

I really, really disliked the trigger pull on all of the pocket 9's I tested. Keltec, ruger...didn't really matter. None of them felt quite as good to me as the Kahr.

 

[Alicia]

I've got an LC9 and when I wear my husband's pants it fits quite nicely since men's pants have deeper pockets than mine. I don't know for men how comfortable it would be.

 

[RinkRat]

I am looking for a small 9mm too. I've read a lot of things about the CM9 and I don't think I want to take a chance, the LC9 is way too West Coast for me ... safety this and indicator that. I was leaning towards a PF9 but I was at the local big-boy toy store over the weekend and I was added on too their short list for Beretta's new Nano which he quoted me at $380. OTD and I didn't have to put a depo down cuz I shop there a lot. He said they could start arriving any time over the next couple of weeks so once I get to compare it in person to other choices, if I don't like it I'm most likely going to get a PF9 over the CM9.

 

[Orion8472]

I have looked at both [in the gun store], dry firing both to check the triggers out. Also tried a Kel-Tec PF9 and Bersa CC .380acp as well. Out of those guns, and many other guns I also tried, the CW9 fit my hand the best, AND it had the best trigger out of all of them. That will be the gun I will choose.

 

[RinkRat]

^^^ people buy firearms for various reasons .... a trigger might feel as smooth as warm butter but if I read reviews questioning it's reliability as a CCW the trigger can feel how ever it wants to as long as when I pull it the firearm gos baah-boom. The human hand is a very versatile tool it will become accustom to using any tool with enough usage.

 

[Kiawah]

Have a Kahr PM9, and it is a fabulous pistol. Hand cycled to break in, and have not had one problem with it. Absolutely wonderful trigger, and accuracy.

 

[Sulaco]

I think they are both good guns and hickok45 has a "pocket carry" video which gives you a good idea of the differences in size, etc. Personally I like the baby Glocks for pocket carry. I am not a big fan of the long trigger pull on the small Rugers or the long trigger reset of the Kahr's. Both good guns, though just not for me.

 

[RinkRat]

^^^^^^ go to Kahr talk under PM an CM Series Pistols .............

 

[ForumSurfer]

^^^^^^ go to Kahr talk under PM an CM Series Pistols .............

So you read reports of failures on a product specific website. It happens.

If I go to any product specific website for anything I own, there will be reports of failures and negative opinions. It happens. It is the internet. The people with bad experiences speak louder and more often than people with good experiences.

 

[doc540]

shot both and prefer the LC9

for some strange reason I can shoot it very accurately

 

[Ledgehammer]

I'm hoping the release of the nano will make the Kahr Cm9 price drop a little bit. It's already on my short list to look at for pocket carry. I may just go with the LCP for pocket if the CM series feels too big.

I owned a CW9 and loved it. Trigger was silky smooth and reliability was 100% through about 250 rounds. You are supposed to load the first round by releasing the slide -not slingshot method. The slingshot causing a ftf. That's what the manual recommends. I have full confidence in Kahr pistols.

 

[okc-zee]

I own a Kahr CM9 with so far about 2k rounds thru it...so far it's been flawless...It replaced my PF9 for carry...I just bough a CW45, and so far it too has been spot on...

 

[hardluk1]

I carried a KT pf-9 for a bit over 2 year and it ran great but after getting deal on a used cw9 and liked it so much I bought a Kahr cm9 for pocket carry. I have shot a ruger lc9 and like all rugers it shot fine and is build lika tank, weighs like one too. Recoil is not as smooth to me as the lighter kahr cm9 and trigger were about the same pull length but again to me the kahr is smoother ,like a very nice da revolver. The kahr does shoot like a much larger pistol in that recoil is very controlable. hard call. Around here the kahrs seem to cost about 10 to 20 dollars more than the ruger with the Kahr cm9 and cw9 going for 410 dollars. Rugers are right at or just below 400 dollars. I DO NOT want a safety on a DA only striker fired gun and that would be a killer for the ruger with me. The rugers safety to small to have to fumble with if needed but i have carried a revolver for 20 years and now stricker fire pistols that funtion the same way for several more. I would stay that ruger would have better long term CS and warranty work. Its a ruger, longer track record there. I really like my cm9 and cw9.

 

[RinkRat]

^^^ true-dee-true-true and when folks are not happy about something there are more complaints posted then complements which has been my reading experience and I genuinely base my firearm purchases on those real time experiences but YMMV ... and I'm not intent to turn this into a urination-contest or bash any products as I am sure there are those that love their Kahrs ... and Taurus firearms for that fact, but ... they are not for me.

Back on task;
and yes, that is why there are product specific/firearms websites and general forums such as this one. But when you read posts over-and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over again-and-again of / nose dives, recoil spring problems, the same models eat some ammo < I said the same model firearm like a CM that some will and some will not eat the same boolits in the same model firearm of the same manufacturers boolits "get it" >, having continual FTF, FTE, or just plain FTW and then you call their CSD and they say "ya that is a common problem with those just send it in through your FFL and we will get it taken care of ... oh and by the way ... NO we will not pay for shipping to and from." and your reply is "Well I did that twice already and it's still doing it!!" And now add insult to injury Kahrs are not an inexpensive firearm so it seems your are not getting what you are paying for this time. And for crying out loud Kahr or anyone else whom makes stuff that's meant to work, if you know your products have a common problem why not just fix it like most everyone else does?????? That's a great selling point of reliability for a self defense firearm that I want to stake my life on!! Oh we know it might not work so send it back and we might be able to fix it so it does and if not send it back again and we will try to fix it again.

So the OP said they were looking at the Kahr CM9 which MSRP is $565. and the Ruger LC9 which MSRP is $443. and the PO typed they didn't know much about Kahrs and was "Gun Shy" about the Kahrs and wanted some feed back. Well if they are content on one of those two I would get the LC9, * but * if it were me personal I do not care for all the Custom California Features on the LC9 so that one I would not buy, and like I suggested forget any Kahrs. But I would consider a KelTec PF9 which MSRP is $333. which gets a lot of good ink ... yes it is a bit rough around the edges so you give it a little TLC and it can be very very very reliable and if you have a problem KelTec's CS is second to none, they even send you free replacement parts most of the time if you ask nice.

Now too add to the confutation, Beretta is a boot to flood the mini-9 market with their new Nano which MSRP is $475. and I'm on my LGS's waiting list for one and they quoted me $380. OTD and we all know how reliable a Beretta can be, and yes new products do have some gremlins sometimes but with Ruger being Ruger the LC9 didn't get much if any if bad ink, so my guess is Beretta's Nano should be * I said should be * ok too. After all it is a Beretta.

So what would you get? Your street prices may vary so shop around

CM9 for about $425. +FFL +BGC
LC9 for about $365. +FFL +BGC
Nano for about $350. +FFL +BGC
PF9 for about $250. +FFL +BGC

YMMV