Kahr Durability?

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TL1234

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Okay, so I read some stuff that sounded pretty wacky earlier today on the Walther forums. Someone was claiming that a polymer framed Kahr has a service life of only 2500 rounds:what:

Now someone else was quick to refute that, posting an e-mail from Kahr saying pretty much saying it was not true, and then another person posted that the life is more about 8000. But that still sounds REALLY low to me. Are the polymer Kahrs really this flimsy?

I was thinking of getting a Kahr 9mm again, but now I'm not so sure. If all this is true, what is it that makes the other polymer frames last longer? I've never heard anyone say anything like this about a Glock, XD, or Walther. Whats the deal?
 
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I hear pretty much the same thing.

I think Kahr pistols are on the same level as the more affordable Kel-Tec pistols also.
 
actually, there ARE metal rails in a PM9 besides the upper polymer rails--look at a pic of a PM9 and notice the grooves on either side of the guide rod--that's where the rails are inside the frame
 
Kahr used very high quality steel. Why would it wear faster than others. Parts can wear, as they do on all guns, but that has nothing to do with the life of the gun. Some people mis-interpret relacement guidelines as the life of something. Most guidelines are well within useful life and are only there to insure reliability. I suspect a well maintained Kahr is good for many tens of thousands of rounds.
 
Friend of mine has a poly Kahr, has had problems with it feeding ammo (lately)and the poly rails are thinning from what they used to be. It has around 2000 rounds through it.
 
This looks more like a manufacture defect than a design flaw with the round count being so low. As with any mass produced product, there will be a certain number of duds produced and hopefully quality control can cull out the bad ones before they hit the door.

I've noticed over the past several months that there will always be a group that hate a certain product along with those that trust the same product with their lives.
 
Kahr doesn't use metal in the rails that contact the slide on the P series. This is a poor design. Everyone knows that slide to frame contact causes the most wear to a pistol.

By the way, I also owned a K9 in the past and had no issues.
 
Despite my high praise for Kahr pistols, and they are exceptional pistols, I have always struggled as a Christian with the fact that Kahr is owned by Justin Moon, (yes, of the Moonie cult). I have read interviews with him, and he seems like a nice enough guy, its just their theology bothers me , its always been in the back of my mind, but then again, I buy stuff from Walmart thats been produced by Chinese slave labor, so , its tough not to be a hypocrite these days, thought I would share a bit of Kahrs ownership history with those who were not aware of it.
 
:evil:

"Kahr is owned by Justin Moon, (yes, of the Moonie cult)."

Is Justin a leader in his dad's Church?

I'll thought of that too, but in my own life my dad was raised Catholic and I am Lutheran, I still love him and love to shoot his firearms (but wouldn't that be nice if he was a manufacture of Boom Booms :)) so I can't be judgmental.(not that you were)

Shooterer

ps, lets get back on topic, I didn't mean to be a thead highjacker.
(AKA; Move along, nothing to see here)
 
Same old stuff. If they were that bad, they should have been out of business 20 years ago. If you read the forums enough, you will find someone that either had a bad one or knew someone that did. Doesn't make any difference what it is, or how much it costs. There are folks out there that have problems with $1200.00 all metal Kimbers. I think Kahr has some problems, they all have. I also think that there can be thousands of perfect ones out there that you don't hear about. Very few of those people will talk about that, but if 1 person has a problem, puts it on 10 firearm forums, you can bet 100 people will pop up that knew someone that had one that was a piece of junk. Chances are they just read about it on another forum, and they have never looked at one. Folks that compare a Kahr to a Kel-Tec, have have evidently never looked at them very closely. I have both. Had some problems with the Kel-Tec, but they took care of it, and it has been fine since.

I have a PM9 that has been perfect with about 500 rounds through it. I bought it because it was small, light, easy to conceal in a pocket or IWB holster, and 9mm. I don't plan on putting 50,000 rounds through it, or the Kel-Tec. I have Sigs for that. I am not afraid to carry the Kahr, or the Kel-Tec, and I trust my life to either one.

If the gun feels good to you, get one. If you have problems, work with the manufacturer. The internet is a great thing, but sometimes you can get overloaded with information.

Scuse me, I gotta go put this soapbox away.
 
Kahr doesn't make junk, and it is NOT 'owned by Moonies".

The Mooney crap has been going around the internet for years, in spite of several interviews that Justin Moon gave in which he stated CLEARLY that his father nor his father's church have ANYTHING to do with Kahr or Kahr's parent company Seilio.
 
If the gun feels good to you, get one. If you have problems, work with the manufacturer. The internet is a great thing, but sometimes you can get overloaded with information.
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Well put. I have a PM 9 and have had problems with it. I fully expect Kahr will make it right. Am I happy about it? No. I have had it to the factory and am at round 50. Starting over. When I get to about 500 then I will carry it. If it doesn't make it, I'll send it back again. In the meantime I have plenty of carry guns. It ain't the end of the world. It's only money. I may sell it though if my patience wears too thin. Just because I can. I do like the form factor and the next in line is an R9. If I go there, the Kahr is a goner.
 
I hear pretty much the same thing.

I think Kahr pistols are on the same level as the more affordable Kel-Tec pistols also.
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:what: :banghead:

Have you ever handled or shot both these pistols?

I like to think I have some decent firearms in my collection and you couldnt pry either of my PM9's away from me if you tried. ;)



Same old stuff. If they were that bad, they should have been out of business 20 years ago. If you read the forums enough, you will find someone that either had a bad one or knew someone that did. Doesn't make any difference what it is, or how much it costs. There are folks out there that have problems with $1200.00 all metal Kimbers. I think Kahr has some problems, they all have. I also think that there can be thousands of perfect ones out there that you don't hear about. Very few of those people will talk about that, but if 1 person has a problem, puts it on 10 firearm forums, you can bet 100 people will pop up that knew someone that had one that was a piece of junk. Chances are they just read about it on another forum, and they have never looked at one. Folks that compare a Kahr to a Kel-Tec, have have evidently never looked at them very closely. I have both. Had some problems with the Kel-Tec, but they took care of it, and it has been fine since.

I have a PM9 that has been perfect with about 500 rounds through it. I bought it because it was small, light, easy to conceal in a pocket or IWB holster, and 9mm. I don't plan on putting 50,000 rounds through it, or the Kel-Tec. I have Sigs for that. I am not afraid to carry the Kahr, or the Kel-Tec, and I trust my life to either one.

If the gun feels good to you, get one. If you have problems, work with the manufacturer. The internet is a great thing, but sometimes you can get overloaded with information.

Scuse me, I gotta go put this soapbox away.
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I couldnt agree with you more Muddflap......even if you ARE a Jayhawker :D
 
Well put. I have a PM 9 and have had problems with it. I fully expect Kahr will make it right. Am I happy about it? No. I have had it to the factory and am at round 50. Starting over. When I get to about 500 then I will carry it. If it doesn't make it, I'll send it back again. In the meantime I have plenty of carry guns. It ain't the end of the world. It's only money. I may sell it though if my patience wears too thin. Just because I can. I do like the form factor and the next in line is an R9. If I go there, the Kahr is a goner.
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But it could be the end of your life if it fails when you really need it.
 
Considering how terribly inconsistent quality control has been on NEW poly Kahrs, I suspect the life expectancy of same will be equally inconsistent. Some will begin falling apart at 5000 rounds and others will still be going strong at 20,000.

As for the Mooney business... Considering that one of my favorite rifles was manufactured by a company that "belonged" to Joseph Stalin, perhaps the greatest mass murderer in history, I could care less if my Kahr was manufactured by a company that may or may not be indirectly owned by a goofy little religious cult leader.
 
HK, SIG, XD, Glock

One of these makers should have a pistol for you, and then you'll know you're good to go.

I got an XD Subcompact as an alternitive to a Khar. Not as small, but better in many other ways.
 
i have an xd subcompact, and while I agree it's a great pistol with a proven design and I love it and trust it, it's not at all the same sort of pistol as the kahr and doesn't fill the same niche--it's really a belt gun or a heavy coat pocket gun at best, whereas the kahr really will function as a pocket gun.

am I more confident in my xd? Absolutely. Is the kahr better than nothing if it's the only pistol I have that I can find a way to carry in a certain situation or with certain clothing? yup.
 
I must have just got lucky. I bought my first PM9 right when the first came out. I bought my second one a few years after that. I carry one daily and the other stays in my truck. Temps inside the truck range from 115 degrees as of last Wed. when I got in it to in the single digits on our coldest winter days. This gun has yet to fail on me. Either gun has yet to malfunction. I hope it stays that way because these are both accurate and very comfortable guns to carry.
 
timely thread, my P45 saga,

bought 06/2006, ser#SA202x

return #1
-out of box app 30% fail to fire, light strikes, sent back, Kahr ground down the striker shoulder so the pin projected further out of the slide and replaced the trigger group due to a redesign?

return #2
upon receipt pistol fired 100% but slide would not lock on last shot, Kahr sent new slide stop lever and spring, no help, sent new followers, no help, returned to Kahr

upon receipt pistol fired 100% and slide locked back but before my 200rds I noticed both followers were broke, sent new followers, then mag cracked at top rear corner, sent new mag, second mag cracked same spot, sent new mag

Now, app 2000 rds later the trigger won't reset and I am waiting for a reply from Kahr...
 
jdmb03

But it could be the end of your life if it fails when you really need it.
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Exactly right. That is why I have never carried it for pd....other than back and forth to the range in a bag. It has never seen service. Perhaps after I get 500 rounds through it without a hitch I will trust it for cc.

Until then I carry a revolver.
 
Some people just have no luck with some brands, it seems. My MK40, made back in 1999, has been perfect. The slide locked back prematurely a few times, first time I shot it, but I'm fairly sure that was because of me bumping it with my thumb. Stopped happening after I changed my grip.

On the other hand, I've heard almost nothing but good about NAA, and personally, I like the company and their politics, but 2 out of 2 guns from them I've owned have needed to be sent back for repairs. Not reliability work or anything else, but actual repair, because they just plain broke. But both guns are now apparently just fine with their new owners.
 
I have always struggled as a Christian with the fact that Kahr is owned by Justin Moon, (yes, of the Moonie cult)
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So I take it you don't own a 1911 or BHP? (Designed by a Mormon).
What about a CZ75? (designed by some Godless commies).
Or in rifles, you own any AKs? (designed by another Godless commie).
Or an M1 Carbine (designed by a cop killing moonshiner while in prison).

I imagine if you dug into the lives and beliefs of the designers and manufacturers of most of the goods you use (not just guns), you'd find a lot of them that you disagree with.



Anyway, I've had tons of good luck with steel Kahrs ... but never owned (or wanted) a polymer one. I'll admit that if they are running the slide on polymer rails instead of steel inserted rails (like my Steyr pistols) than I wouldn't expect them to last too long.

Is the poly part of the frame the "frame" by legal definition? Or are just a skin that goes over the frame and can be changed out without considering the gun to be a new gun?
 
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