Hunterdad
Member
Just picked up a CM9 for my first CCW. I couldn't be happier. I have nothing to compare it to, but it's a dream to carry IWB.
Kahr CM9
- Thread starter bondjames628
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silicosys4
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Yea...really coincidental that there are a huge number of threads on various forums describing the same problems....slide stop spring bending...tight chambers....mag release problems....reliability issues...
guess that's why my polymer magazine catch broke....not enough lube on the slide. That's why Kahr quietly had to change the design, and then didn't issue a recall, huh?
I have many of those "unreliable" designs and find that they are indeed reliable, if taken care of and cleaned properly. Yet my Kahr pistols, no matter how clean, what its fed, and what kind of lube is applied, how tightly they are held to prevent limp wristing, do not run. I see many people here who know what they are doing say the same thing. Their Kahr does not run.
Kahrs are NOT that common compared to other pistols, like glocks, sigs, S&W's, etc....yet there are a huge amount of complaints about them if you research, and of a type and consistency that is disconcerting. There are almost as many threads about Kahr problems as there are Glock problems, and there are far more clocks out there, trust me.
to each their own but this "operators error" excuse people keep making for Kahr doesn't hold water against the amount and type of complaints people are having.
If you are a huge fan and are tired of hearing about these issues with your beloved precious, I say go find a gun that doesn't have these problems.
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Since my Kahr CM9 has none of these problems, it would seem that I have found just such a gun.
And the "beloved precious" comment (personal insult?) holds no water. A defensive pistol is a tool and nothing more. Either it works or it doesn't. My experience with numerous 9mm Kahrs show that, while not perfect in design or execution, they tend to work very reliably.
Industry statistic show that Kahr (Saeilo Inc.) produced more pistols in in US 2012 than Colt, Remington, Glock, FN, Para-Ordinance, or Springfield.
http://www.shootingindustry.com/u-s-firearms-industry-today-2012/
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silicosys4
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^^
Makes sense since only colt manufactures primarily in the US of those companies, and colt isn't a good comparison. They make the 1911...and they have plenty of competition.
The better comparison would be in numbers sold, of which kahr would be nowhere near FN, Glock, beretta, etc.
Makes sense since only colt manufactures primarily in the US of those companies, and colt isn't a good comparison. They make the 1911...and they have plenty of competition.
The better comparison would be in numbers sold, of which kahr would be nowhere near FN, Glock, beretta, etc.
Seven High
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- Dec 7, 2004
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- 755
The CM9 has a strong recoil spring, which when coupled with weak factory practice ammunition, can cause reliability problems. If the shooter remembers to take a firm grip when firing it reliability will be better.
I have 1 Kahr PM-9 with night sights, 6 mags, and I love it, I keep 2+1 on me, and 3 on the nightstand. That is my pocket carry and it goes everyware with me, including now in my pants pocket.
But I have several other guns for trips to other places than my home. Usually a 45 goes along for the ride, like a glock 30 or an xds. 2 guns are always better.I oly carry 9 and 45 now and it only took 4 decades to figure it out.
But I have several other guns for trips to other places than my home. Usually a 45 goes along for the ride, like a glock 30 or an xds. 2 guns are always better.I oly carry 9 and 45 now and it only took 4 decades to figure it out.
Not sure if you were paying attention, but not many pistols remained unsold in 2012.
No one's saying Kahrs are as common as Glocks or Berettas, but the fact remains that they are a lot of them out there, and most of them are of the same or similar design (unlike S&W, Ruger, or Beretta's more diversified pistol/revolver lines).
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
If some have found flawless Kahrs, then awesome! That doesn't really change my response to the OP.
Kahrs are very spotty, and have many different issues in many different models. Overall reliability with Kahr is not nearly as high as overall reliability with Glock. Kahr is a gamble. You have to often change the way you do things, and baby it like nothing else; but even then, they still often have issues.
Kahrs are very spotty, and have many different issues in many different models. Overall reliability with Kahr is not nearly as high as overall reliability with Glock. Kahr is a gamble. You have to often change the way you do things, and baby it like nothing else; but even then, they still often have issues.
I find it so weird that no one I know has had problems with with their Kahr's, including myself. I only hear of negative experiences on forums. I am not telling anyone they're doing something wrong but get the feeling that the people with issues have guns with flaws which need to be fixed by Kahr.
Kahr had a cult following that grew to be mainstream, I bought the first model they made about 20 yrs ago, It only came in 9, and was a pain in the butt with FTF and FTE's every other round. Now it's rare to hear of a bad one. I took mine to the range after I traded a M&P 9c, for mine, ran 5 mags with 5 different types of ammo and it ran perfectly . It seems like they fixed the problem that they had with QC. I carry it daily with no reservations weather it will fire or not. It pocket carries easily and is very accurate. I shoot it as well as my glock 26.
orionengnr
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- Jan 3, 2005
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- 5,711
Well, I've had three, and looking forward to the fourth showing up (one day soon, hopefully.)
I've owned my PM9 for eight years plus. That is probably the longest I have ever owned a particular handgun...and it's not going anywhere. I trust it every bit as much as any of the j-frames I've owned in the same period, because it has proven worthy of that trust. And I shoot it better than any of the j-frames.
bondjames628
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- Jun 14, 2006
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- 32
Thanks for the responses everyone! I really do appreciate it. After reading through everyone's advice and doing an extensive amount of research, I've decided to skip the Kahr this go around (as most reviews were 50/50 everywhere I looked) and instead went with the S&W M&P Shield and traded a problem gun for a Ruger LCP. Got to take them both to the range and had absolutely zero issues with either, so I feel like I made the right choice. Thanks again to everyone for your guidance!
Ringer
Member
Great choice. While I have two Kahrs that work fine I just bought a Shield and so far really liking it. I prefer the M&P trigger to the Kahr.
I've got a PM9 that, so far, hasn't had a hiccup. Chewed through WWB for break in, plus some 124gr hand loads. Now it goes most places with me loaded with Critical Defense. Size is perfect for my normal attire - cargo shorts and a golf shirt.
jaysouth
Member
David Dawson of Dawson Precision is the gunmaker of choice for top gun dancers. He makes the Para Ordnances that Todd Jarrett competes with. Here is what he says about the Kahr (narrative is down the page from the ad)
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000E24-1388518202
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000E24-1388518202
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I have a Kahr CM9 and it has fired 100% of the time. It has not had a mechanical stoppage of any kind. I have 200 rounds of practice ammo through it and about 30 rounds of Hornady 135 grain +P Critical Duty through it. The pistol is very accurate and even handles the +P ammo very well.
Having said that, I do have an issue with my Kahr. It has cracked one of the followers in the magazine. Basically, what happens is the feed ramp hits the corner of the follower on recoil...and I guess it would be the last round. This situation can be found over on Kahr talk dot com or you can do a google search. It seems to be more common with the 40 S&W than with the 9mm. Even though the follower has a crack, the pistol still did not malfunction.
I contacted Kahr on December 23rd and explained the problem. The CS rep told me he would send me a new follower but if it broke another one, the gunsmiths at Kahr would need to see it. Now that I see where the crack developed, it will continue cracking followers until it is fixed. Apparently, the fix is to remove a very small portion of the feedramp until it is no longer contacting the follower.
It is now January 6th and I still have not received my new follower. I understand with Christmas and New Years things might be busy but I think it has been plenty of time. I'm willing to give Kahr a chance to fix it because it is really a fine little pistol.
In the meantime I have been carrying my Glock 27 in a new SHTF Gear hybrid holster. I now wonder why I have not tried one of the hybrid holsters out sooner!
Having said that, I do have an issue with my Kahr. It has cracked one of the followers in the magazine. Basically, what happens is the feed ramp hits the corner of the follower on recoil...and I guess it would be the last round. This situation can be found over on Kahr talk dot com or you can do a google search. It seems to be more common with the 40 S&W than with the 9mm. Even though the follower has a crack, the pistol still did not malfunction.
I contacted Kahr on December 23rd and explained the problem. The CS rep told me he would send me a new follower but if it broke another one, the gunsmiths at Kahr would need to see it. Now that I see where the crack developed, it will continue cracking followers until it is fixed. Apparently, the fix is to remove a very small portion of the feedramp until it is no longer contacting the follower.
It is now January 6th and I still have not received my new follower. I understand with Christmas and New Years things might be busy but I think it has been plenty of time. I'm willing to give Kahr a chance to fix it because it is really a fine little pistol.
In the meantime I have been carrying my Glock 27 in a new SHTF Gear hybrid holster. I now wonder why I have not tried one of the hybrid holsters out sooner!
Elkins45
Member
I have three, all 9mm polymer guns. All have been equally as reliable as the Glocks I own.
JimC
Member
PM9 owner here since 2011. All black model purchased NIB.
My PM9 has had to go back to Kahr twice (on their dime) for two separate problems. Kahr fixed it both times.
It currently has 2056 rds. thru it and has been permanently "retired" to my gun safe because simply...I don't trust it as my EDC gun. I went back to my trusty G27.
Split mags, broken followers, broken or failing recoil assemblies which were replace by Kahr w/o question twice.
The Kahr PM and CM series pistols are a great idea but they need to correct their quality control or re-assess their engineering ideas.
I don't pocket carry. I've thought many times that I should have purchased the MK9 instead of the PM9. There seems to be less problems with the all steel models than the polymer frames.
My PM9 has had to go back to Kahr twice (on their dime) for two separate problems. Kahr fixed it both times.
It currently has 2056 rds. thru it and has been permanently "retired" to my gun safe because simply...I don't trust it as my EDC gun. I went back to my trusty G27.
Split mags, broken followers, broken or failing recoil assemblies which were replace by Kahr w/o question twice.
The Kahr PM and CM series pistols are a great idea but they need to correct their quality control or re-assess their engineering ideas.
I don't pocket carry. I've thought many times that I should have purchased the MK9 instead of the PM9. There seems to be less problems with the all steel models than the polymer frames.
mrdeltoid
Member
I've handled the CM9 and shot the CW9. Both seem like great carry options to me. Small and a little snappy, but that's normal for the small pistols.
stogiegila
Member
Have a CM9. When I first got it I followed the instructions provided on the Kahr site, which included cleaning out the firing pin channel with brake Kleen.
I have not had any problems in 400 rounds of mixed ammo. While I love the G26, the CM9 is significantly smaller in EVERY dimension.
I have not had any problems in 400 rounds of mixed ammo. While I love the G26, the CM9 is significantly smaller in EVERY dimension.
The Shield is a good choice.
I had a K9 and a CM9, and once I decided pocket carry wasnt for me (Nor the long trigger and reset of the Kahr) I sold the Kahrs I went to an M&P 45C and a 40 Shield for EDC.
I liked the Kahrs...... But love the Shield and 45C
The Shield trigger will be a little rough out of the box but will smooth out nicely
Good Luck and be safe!
I had a K9 and a CM9, and once I decided pocket carry wasnt for me (Nor the long trigger and reset of the Kahr) I sold the Kahrs I went to an M&P 45C and a 40 Shield for EDC.
I liked the Kahrs...... But love the Shield and 45C
The Shield trigger will be a little rough out of the box but will smooth out nicely
Good Luck and be safe!
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