Kahr K9 - oldie but a goodie

[Palladan44]

The good old Kahr K9 has been around a long time, since 1995 to be exact. Not many single stack, striker fired Sub Compact weapons were available in 9mm when it came out.
Interestingly enough, the Single stacked, Sub Compact striker fired 9mm is probably the most carried CCW out there, and offered from several companies nowadays. Even Glock eventually jumped on the Single Stack bandwagon....about 15-20 years after Kahr had been producing theirs.

I still carry my K9 in summer, when Im wearing light clothing and I feel more comfortable with a Sub Compact weapon, otherwise Im packing a Glock 19.

Is their Love out there for this weapon still, or is in fading hard in favor of other more desirable options?

PROS:
-Well made of all steel (ss) construction
-Accurate
-Soaks up recoil, especially with +P ammo which I prefer to carry out of short barrels for extra boost in velocity.

CONS:
-Pricey compared to other CCW of similar size
-Heavier than most CCW of similar size
-Magazines dont hold up to being dropped on concrete as well as other models, Ive found
-Some folks complain about the long "double action revolver-like" trigger pull, but I personally dont mind it at all.
-Magazine release isnt as ergonomic and magazine changes require a little more attention than other weapons ive tried. But performance is still very acceptable.

Kahr came out with the CW series which is a redesigned polymer frame version of the K series weapons. They look very similar, and function similar, but the barrels are different, the slides are different, as well as a lot more...CW series is a budget version of the K series, with some reduced weight advantages as well.

Kahr K9 lovers or haters out there?

 

[JERRY]

in the late 90s early 2000s I had an Elite K9 and MK9. they were great guns but I fell off the wagon for the Glock hype, equal or less weight, more rounds, and same size.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Had one some years ago; it jettisoned its front sight early on, which kind of soured me on the package. Like Jerry, went down the Glock rabbit hole.
IIRC, these were approved for the NYPD, and Det. Danny Reagan carries one on Blue Bloods.
Moon

 

[luky-dude]

MK 9 or the G19 with me as well. Great guns

 

[Paul7]

A much better gun than the plastic Kahr versions

 

[JERRY]

A much better gun than the plastic Kahr versions

I had a PM9 that really was a gem, but I had a PM45 that shouldn't have left the factory (and English accent customer service rep Ian) that turned me off to them completely.

 

[TinNePa]

A few months ago, I came across a k40 sitting in a gun shop. It came home with me. I just thought it was a sweet all metal gun, and my only 40. Goes nicely with my pm9 and p380. Always on the lookout for an mk9 covert!

 

[Dan-O]

I like em. Had sam andrews make me a double shoulder holster. K9 under one arm mk9 under the other. Or a p9 under one arm pm9 under the other.....

 

[Monac]

I've had a Kahr E9 for a long time now. It was a short-lived "economy" version of the K9. There isn't much difference. It's a very good gun, accurate and pleasant to shoot. It's actually more pleasant than my Daewoo DP-52, a Walther PP-style 380. I think of the K9/E9 as the Colt 1903 32 automatic updated by 90 years,

 

[Project355]

Kahr came out with the CW series which is a redesigned polymer frame version of the K series weapons. CW series is a budget version of the K series, with some reduced weight advantages as well.

Got a PM9 and brace of PM45s. All three shoot well. The one PM45 was putting empties into my forehead with WWB, but stout ammo was no issue. Its limbered up ane shoots WWB fine now. Kahr uses marketing sleights to make the PM "seem" better than the CM, but really... Same frame and FCG. Slightly different slide cosmetics. Conventional barrel. One piece slide stop. Big woop.

I like the DA style trigger. Feels very safe with pocket carry.

 

[usp9]

I started with an early carbon steel, slab sided K9 but I never took to the original long trigger. I liked the concept enough to get a T9 and then a second stainless K9 equipped with the elite trigger. That trigger makes the difference and I still have that K9. My favorite model is the TP9. I've owned a bunch of Kahrs. About half were good, reliable guns. The other half were not reliable. Even my K9 broke, (trigger bar), and had to be fixed at the factory. I have a Love/Hate relationship with Kahr.

It's actually more pleasant than my Daewoo DP-52, a Walther PP-style 380.

The Daewoo DP52 is a .22lr. I guess it does shoot softer! I think you meant the DH380. Like all blowback guns, you feel it. Great gun though.

 

[Palladan44]

Ive also had a few ammunition related stoppages in my K9, I cannot use Ammo that approaches maximum OAL in the K9. Remington Golden Saber 124+P is one of those.....they are just a little bit longer than most. At first this was a bit scary to me in a carry gun, but now it doesnt bother me, since i know exactly what the problem is.

 

[Charlie98]

Never owned a K9, although I might pick one up if opportunity knocks. I think the sweet spot is the CW9, personally... and I've owned or own about 7 different CW9's in the past 10 years or so, along with a CM9, a PM9, a P45, and a CW45. My EDC is a CW9 or CM9...

A much better gun than the plastic Kahr versions

Describe 'better.' Personally, the majority of my poly Kahrs have been 100% I don't see how the additional weight of the K would contribute to it being 'better' than a CW, for example, other than it being a very good pistol.

I had a PM9 that really was a gem, but I had a PM45 that shouldn't have left the factory

I bought a used PM9, it's pretty decent. I know why he sold it... there is an issue with the spring that holds the slide stop pin... the pin can back out under fire. It's up on the bench for repair at the moment. Comparing my PM9 to my CM9, I find very little difference in actual heads-up shooting; the trigger might be a little lighter, but they both shoot about the same and are otherwise 100% reliable.

I also bought a used P45... I was very excited to get this pistol, I wanted it for my EDC. The pistol turned out to be a train wreck with what I ultimately decided was a short chamber. A call to Kahr left me pretty sour on the whole deal, and I traded the P45 off, instead... for another CW9 and some magazines. Thankfully, the quality of the Kahr pistol is better than their customer service. I also bought a CW45 a few years ago... again, used... and it's better than the P45, but nothing I would trust with my life.... so it's a range pistol.

I really think the sweet spot with Kahr pistols is the 9mm. The 2 .45's I've had have been plagued with problems, and this was not surprising based on what I've read prior, but thought I would give them a try, anyway. Same same with the Kahr .380's... I'm dying to try one, but from what I've seen on forums, you either get a good one, or a bad one... and I don't care for those odds.

A friend of mine used to have a K9... and even though he sold it some years ago, he still gushes on about it, and kicks himself for selling it. So, if he doesn't eventually buy another, I'll probably pick one up just to see if it's as good as everyone says it is.

 

[ddc]

I had two K9's and one MK9. Long trigger pull but shorter than a Rohrbaugh R9.

As stated the magazines were a weak point; not great for dropping on concrete floors.
I took a defensive pistol class at an indoor range and by the end of the weekend had one barely functioning mag; started with six.
After additional similar instances decided to move on. They have a happy home with a guy who only shoots outdoors.

 

[Armybrat]

I understand the mag followers were redesigned, which improved their reliability.

But all four of my plastic Kahrs from the early PM9 to the recent CW9 have been totally reliable..... so far.
An all steel Elite is on my want list.

 

[Palladan44]

I understand the mag followers were redesigned, which improved their reliability.

Yes, there is also that last round in the mag glitch, where the last round can catch if the slide is softly charged. I guess the new followers addressed that issue. The issue was the original baseplates being a hard plastic, prone to cracking. Im sure theyve done something about this-sounds like an easy engineering fix to me

 

[Armybrat]

I changed the plastic base on my primary CC magazine with the (expensive) stainless steel base from Kahr.

 

[obiwan1]

I love my K40!

 

[Obturation]

Some folks complain about the long "double action revolver-like" trigger pull,

like the DA style trigger

My biggest criticism of the design. Squishy weird trigger- some say like a DA revolver, I disagree. Feels like pulling a popsicle stick through lumpy mashed potatoes with a mile long reset. I'm not a trigger snob but the triggers on the 2 I've owned were just plain bad.

The 2 .45's I've had have been plagued with problems,

The one I've still got gave up at about 200 rounds, it does still kind of work sometimes but the best I can explain it is that it just wore out. With no ammo , if you pull the trigger you can watch the slide rise up in the rear some. It's unreliable .



Don't misunderstand , I don't hate kahr. They have some good features but they come with quirks and I can't see myself getting another one. The 40 s&w gun was unpleasant to shoot and would actually draw blood sometimes. The 45 is better in that regard but just couldn't survive actual use.

 

[Palladan44]

Obturation and Charlie98-
Are we talking about the CW series weapons with polymer frames that you dislike?
I dont own a CW or polymer frame Kahr, just the K9.

 

[Obturation]

Obturation and Charlie98-
Are we talking about the CW series weapons with polymer frames that you dislike?
I dont own a CW or polymer frame Kahr, just the K9.

Yeah, both I've had were cw- polymer frame

 

[bannockburn]

Had a CW40 which had some issues with it's polymer frame and then there were other problems even after the 200 round break-in period. Trigger was okay but quite a bit of muzzle flip with some of the hotter loads. No problems to report with my CM9. The trigger is nice and smooth with a short reset and compares favorably with the triggers on my S&W J frames. I kind of think the 9mm. is about as good as it gets for the polymer frame Kahr pistols.

 

[Monac]

deleted, wrong message quoted.

 

[Monac]

I started with an early carbon steel, slab sided K9 but I never took to the original long trigger. I liked the concept enough to get a T9 and then a second stainless K9 equipped with the elite trigger. That trigger makes the difference and I still have that K9. My favorite model is the TP9. I've owned a bunch of Kahrs. About half were good, reliable guns. The other half were not reliable. Even my K9 broke, (trigger bar), and had to be fixed at the factory. I have a Love/Hate relationship with Kahr.

The Daewoo DP52 is a .22lr. I guess it does shoot softer! I think you meant the DH380. Like all blowback guns, you feel it. Great gun though.

You are exactly right about my Daewoo being a DH380. Thanks for setting the record straight; I hate to spread misinformation.

 

[TTv2]

Leaving out 1911 clones, the K/MK 9's and 40s that Kahr makes are like the last of the pocket sized steel frame single stacks in the calibers now that the P7 has been out of production for years. I'm not generally a fan of steel frames, but I like the Kahr's.