Because of some issues very specific to my situation, I'm considering changing carry guns. I need to step up to a 9 mm and find something without an external safety or the need for de-cocking before holstering. The short version is polymer guns don't work out. I've tried multiple of many types (yes I tried several Glocks, Walthers, etc) and have finally found something that I think may do the trick. It's like a Glock and a Sig had a love child....the Kahr K9 stainless steel frame. It's DAO which is new for me. Not too heavy, so I think I can train one handed and even weak handed with this gun, and I expect to do 500 round weekend trainings so this is important. Anyone have any experience they want to share with this gun? Also need to figure out where to get this gun (local shops only carry the polymer frame Kahrs) and I need a paddle holster for training. It's a looooong trigger pull but at rapid fire I did well. Anyone think I won't be able to do 500 rounds in a weekend on this? My trigger control is very good but I obviously need to retrain out of DA/SA.
Kahr K9 SS 9 mm for carry?
- Thread starter FriedRice
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The Lone Haranguer
Member
This is a great carry gun. It may be that since the introduction of the lighter polymer frame models, the steel frame models are not as popular now, causing you to see fewer of them in the stores. Any dealer worth his salt should be able to order one for you. Fully loaded with a magazine and eight rounds of ammo, it still weighs well under two pounds, hardly excessive.
Jim Watson
Member
I have the rather crude looking E9 but it is a fine shooter.
Probably less felt recoil than your P232.
Probably less felt recoil than your P232.
My K40 is my favorite carry gun.
All steel keeps recoil down, and i find I can get back on target faster with the Kahr than with most guns.
Kahr's steel guns are amazing shooters. I'd have no problem with a 500 round weekend with the K40. The k9 ought to be a breeze.
If you're worried about recoil with high-round shooting, get a 4" ported bbl from KahrShop.
All steel keeps recoil down, and i find I can get back on target faster with the Kahr than with most guns.
Kahr's steel guns are amazing shooters. I'd have no problem with a 500 round weekend with the K40. The k9 ought to be a breeze.
If you're worried about recoil with high-round shooting, get a 4" ported bbl from KahrShop.
The steel framed Kahrs are great guns. They are very accurate and reliable. The K9 should be great for a class as it is a bit less whippy than the polymer framed guns.
The thing to be aware of is that Kahr recommends that you run 200 rounds through the gun before depending on it for carry. This lets all the parts burnish in, takes the tightness out of the springs and makes sure everything in nicely mated. You could do this before your class to insure it runs smoothly during the class or you can use the class as part of the break in, but you might run into feeding issues at first.
The thing to remember with the Kahr is that you'll need to let the trigger all the way forward for it to reset. Other than that, it is a very nice trigger...just press it all the way through.
I have a leather belt holster for mine, but I can highly recommend Comp-Tac's paddle holsters. I have a Settable Cant Paddle that I use with a Sig 220ST for carry and teaching.
The thing to be aware of is that Kahr recommends that you run 200 rounds through the gun before depending on it for carry. This lets all the parts burnish in, takes the tightness out of the springs and makes sure everything in nicely mated. You could do this before your class to insure it runs smoothly during the class or you can use the class as part of the break in, but you might run into feeding issues at first.
The thing to remember with the Kahr is that you'll need to let the trigger all the way forward for it to reset. Other than that, it is a very nice trigger...just press it all the way through.
I have a leather belt holster for mine, but I can highly recommend Comp-Tac's paddle holsters. I have a Settable Cant Paddle that I use with a Sig 220ST for carry and teaching.
Snowdog
Member
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- Dec 24, 2002
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- 4,606
I've been carrying a K9 since '96-ish and have found it so absolutely perfect for me that I still carry it more than anything else I have to this day. I was designed for carry and from my understanding built with +P in mind.
Mine's the electroless nickel non-stainless (ordnance 4140 high carbon, I believe) version and has seen thousands of rounds in the near 15 years I've had it and besides a new recoil spring, it's still in great shape. I can't foresee any reason why it will ever be usurped in it's role for my primary carry.
If they're still made like they were when mine was made, they are solid solid solid little pistols, a quality detectable by most upon handling.
Mine's the electroless nickel non-stainless (ordnance 4140 high carbon, I believe) version and has seen thousands of rounds in the near 15 years I've had it and besides a new recoil spring, it's still in great shape. I can't foresee any reason why it will ever be usurped in it's role for my primary carry.
If they're still made like they were when mine was made, they are solid solid solid little pistols, a quality detectable by most upon handling.
usp9
Member
A few changes, but, yes, still a great carry gun. My K9 experience is with both an early model, a carbon steel '96 and a newer '09 with the elite trigger. I must say I prefer the shorter elite trigger to the longer standard K9 trigger pull length. My new K9 went through a trigger change.
I like the fact that the K9 had several grip choices. The standard polymer grips are very good, wood feels and looks great and you can add a laser by using the excellent Crimson Trace grips, which feel similar to the standard grips.
I currently have four Kahrs. They are all 9mm, two steel, a K9 and T9, two polymer a P9 and a TP9. All four have proven remarkably reliable. My evolving favorite may be the odd ball TP9. All I can say is; I really enjoy shooting that gun, but I'm not exactly sure why.
Just yesterday I took both my new K9 and a little older '03 P9 to the range for a little informal shoot-off. Both have Mepro night sights, (which I recommend), and both are well used and broken in. I have a hard time really distinquishing the two apart when shooting in all but the grip comfort. Here the K9 is better than the P9. Even with a grip sleeve the P9 grip is tad bit to small for me, whereas the K9 feels perfect.
Shooting, accuracy, trigger feel... all else seems equal enough that when time came to decide which I would want to carry, the lightweight P9 won the day with me, with it's 8 ounce advantage. I carry +P ammo and I always shoot a little bit of it along with my practice ammo at the range. Here the K9 is the easier gun to handle. I will normally shoot 100-150 rounds per session. I have to admit that a 500 round, two day event would probably leave my hand a little sore, with either gun, but certainly doable. Maybe take a glove.
So many good choices, so many viable options... no bad choices here IMHO.
I carry in a Mitch Rosen Premier, which by the way holds all four of my Kahrs.
Here's the K9, sporting an elite trigger, Mepros and CT grips. If this gun had the black finish, it would be the "almost" perfect CCW. Color is purely a personal opinion of course.
Last edited:
dfariswheel
Member
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- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,653
I have an early K9 in stainless steel. I'm not sure what Kahr is doing now, but my K9 has a stainless slide and frame, but most other parts are actually carbon steel that are hard chrome plated.
You have several options on the K9, mostly cosmetic, but you can choose the standard trigger model or the NYPD version.
The New York Police Department version has the original Kahr trigger action that's longer than the new "Elite" trigger that has a shorter trigger pull and is used on most models.
Many of us actually prefer the original longer trigger as used on the NYPD model.
The Kahr trigger was designed to feel like a tuned S&W revolver trigger, and if you're used to a double action revolver, the transition is very easy.
If you're only used to 1911's and Glock type triggers, you may have some issues with allowing the trigger to move far enough forward to reset.
A common mistake people make is to install lighter springs in the Kahr and have reset problems from a trigger that's too light.
As for actual shooting, the Kahr is about the best of the small mini-guns.
Instructors at the big shooting schools report that people with Kahr's are still shooting comfortably long after users of other small guns are worn out.
What helps is the grip of the K9 which feels like a miniature Browning Hi-power, and is very comfortable.
Like every other brand of gun, you do hear complaints about problems with the Kahr's, but you almost never hear any about the K9. What you do hear is mostly about the polymer versions and the micro-mini models.
Mine has been 100% reliable with anything, including some horrible old Egyptian 9mm ammo from the 1950's.
The K9 is one of the only pistols I've ever seen that really didn't need or particularly benefit from any custom work. The gun is almost perfect right out of the box, and the trigger is perfect.
Other than night sights, there really isn't anything needed, and all that's left is custom work just to make the gun individually "yours".
On mine, I stippled the front strap and the under side of the frame tang to improve the grip.
For holsters, Kahr sells some very good ones by top makers.
The rubber grips are perfect and give an excellent grip, but if you want, Kahr sells fancy wood grips made for them by Hogue.
The best advice is to buy only genuine Kahr magazines, and the company recommends replacing the K9 recoil spring about every 1200 to 1500 rounds.
When you replace the recoil spring, buy only a factory weight spring. These mini guns are operating right on the edge of what's possible and the gun was carefully engineered to operate properly with the factory weight spring. Many people replace the spring with an extra power spring and actually cause problems where there were none.
The Kahr does have one "quirk" and that's a tendency for ammunition to work it's way out of the spare magazines.
In many magazine pouches or in pocket carry, it's common to pull a magazine out and find loose rounds in the bottom.
Experiment to find a method of carrying the magazines so you don't have this problem.
For ammo, experiment to find a brand and type that's reliable in your specific gun. What works great in mine may not in yours.
You can use anything to break the gun in with the factory mandated 200 rounds, but you need to qualify the gun and ammunition combination with at least 100 rounds of the ammo you'll carry for actual defense.
Remember, that in a true "people shooter" like the Kahr, accuracy isn't important, reliability is all that counts.
Accuracy may not be great until you "learn" the trigger. I tell people to shoot the Kahr like it's a double action revolver.
Here's my K9, which has been my personal defense gun since I bought it and found out it was so reliable. Prior to this, when I needed a small gun I carried a Walther PPK/s. When I found the Kahr was the same size, and a far simpler less cluttered design, I sold the Walther.
You have several options on the K9, mostly cosmetic, but you can choose the standard trigger model or the NYPD version.
The New York Police Department version has the original Kahr trigger action that's longer than the new "Elite" trigger that has a shorter trigger pull and is used on most models.
Many of us actually prefer the original longer trigger as used on the NYPD model.
The Kahr trigger was designed to feel like a tuned S&W revolver trigger, and if you're used to a double action revolver, the transition is very easy.
If you're only used to 1911's and Glock type triggers, you may have some issues with allowing the trigger to move far enough forward to reset.
A common mistake people make is to install lighter springs in the Kahr and have reset problems from a trigger that's too light.
As for actual shooting, the Kahr is about the best of the small mini-guns.
Instructors at the big shooting schools report that people with Kahr's are still shooting comfortably long after users of other small guns are worn out.
What helps is the grip of the K9 which feels like a miniature Browning Hi-power, and is very comfortable.
Like every other brand of gun, you do hear complaints about problems with the Kahr's, but you almost never hear any about the K9. What you do hear is mostly about the polymer versions and the micro-mini models.
Mine has been 100% reliable with anything, including some horrible old Egyptian 9mm ammo from the 1950's.
The K9 is one of the only pistols I've ever seen that really didn't need or particularly benefit from any custom work. The gun is almost perfect right out of the box, and the trigger is perfect.
Other than night sights, there really isn't anything needed, and all that's left is custom work just to make the gun individually "yours".
On mine, I stippled the front strap and the under side of the frame tang to improve the grip.
For holsters, Kahr sells some very good ones by top makers.
The rubber grips are perfect and give an excellent grip, but if you want, Kahr sells fancy wood grips made for them by Hogue.
The best advice is to buy only genuine Kahr magazines, and the company recommends replacing the K9 recoil spring about every 1200 to 1500 rounds.
When you replace the recoil spring, buy only a factory weight spring. These mini guns are operating right on the edge of what's possible and the gun was carefully engineered to operate properly with the factory weight spring. Many people replace the spring with an extra power spring and actually cause problems where there were none.
The Kahr does have one "quirk" and that's a tendency for ammunition to work it's way out of the spare magazines.
In many magazine pouches or in pocket carry, it's common to pull a magazine out and find loose rounds in the bottom.
Experiment to find a method of carrying the magazines so you don't have this problem.
For ammo, experiment to find a brand and type that's reliable in your specific gun. What works great in mine may not in yours.
You can use anything to break the gun in with the factory mandated 200 rounds, but you need to qualify the gun and ammunition combination with at least 100 rounds of the ammo you'll carry for actual defense.
Remember, that in a true "people shooter" like the Kahr, accuracy isn't important, reliability is all that counts.
Accuracy may not be great until you "learn" the trigger. I tell people to shoot the Kahr like it's a double action revolver.
Here's my K9, which has been my personal defense gun since I bought it and found out it was so reliable. Prior to this, when I needed a small gun I carried a Walther PPK/s. When I found the Kahr was the same size, and a far simpler less cluttered design, I sold the Walther.
Mike Kerr
Member
K9
I have a K9. To be blunt its a damn good small 9mm. Its a rock solid model and a 500 round weekend (training class I assume) should be no problem - except you will probably be tired of loading 70 magazines of 9mm unless your thumbs are in shape.
Trigger is long but very easy to adapt to. Reset is long but if you are a shooter you will quickly adapt - and develop your timing. Its concealable in many ways of carry and totally concealable in several others.
Despite the fact that several polymer framed models, from Kahr and other Makers, absorb "felt recoil" very well because of their ability to "flex" I think the K9 is far superior in handling felt recoil in a compact size.
Look on gunbroker specifically for Kahr K9 - you might find a base model as low as $ 425 used (at auction end) if you look for a couple of weeks. Elite trigger group models and stainless with upgraded night sights etc. can go up to $700+ if they are New old stock or LNIB.
Regards,
I have a K9. To be blunt its a damn good small 9mm. Its a rock solid model and a 500 round weekend (training class I assume) should be no problem - except you will probably be tired of loading 70 magazines of 9mm unless your thumbs are in shape.
Trigger is long but very easy to adapt to. Reset is long but if you are a shooter you will quickly adapt - and develop your timing. Its concealable in many ways of carry and totally concealable in several others.
Despite the fact that several polymer framed models, from Kahr and other Makers, absorb "felt recoil" very well because of their ability to "flex" I think the K9 is far superior in handling felt recoil in a compact size.
Look on gunbroker specifically for Kahr K9 - you might find a base model as low as $ 425 used (at auction end) if you look for a couple of weeks. Elite trigger group models and stainless with upgraded night sights etc. can go up to $700+ if they are New old stock or LNIB.
Regards,
So I seem to be getting a universal thumbs up on this gun. No one has posted negative feedback, just some in another thread around my reasons for switching from a Sig P232 for carry. I'm working on getting this gun in my hands in the next few days so I have break in time and time to do the holster dance. It's not that easy to get a paddle holster quickly for this gun but I think I found a place. I appreciate the detailed reviews above and the pics. I have to commit on Monday and have it ordered. Anyone have any negative feedback other than price?
usp9
Member
Several paddle holsters are available diretly from the Kahrshop web site. They usually ship quickly.
http://www.kahrshop.com/index2.asp?cate=acc&model=mitch
The K9 is a little more difficult to field strip than most of the other Kahrs. Because of this Kahr sell a "Takedown Block" to assist in disassembly. Extra mags can be found less expensive on other sites or at gun shows. The longer 8 round mags will fit and give you one more round, they just poke out of the grip a little.
http://www.kahrshop.com/index2.asp?cate=acc&model=mitch
The K9 is a little more difficult to field strip than most of the other Kahrs. Because of this Kahr sell a "Takedown Block" to assist in disassembly. Extra mags can be found less expensive on other sites or at gun shows. The longer 8 round mags will fit and give you one more round, they just poke out of the grip a little.
Broke it in today
I picked it up and shot my 200 rounds today. The new K9 trigger pull is shorter than the one I tried at the range. I still can't accidentally pull through trigger all the way through the leather on the belly band, so that safety issue was eliminated. Other than the occasional tendency on my first shot to pull that trigger 80% back and then sight in and fire, the trigger pull is fine. I assume that's just me moving out of DA/SA trigger pull muscle memory. No problem with the trigger finger after 200 rounds in one hour. Accuracy for me is just as good right out of the box as my Sig P232 380, and it's much less snappy. It conceals better. I did notice that recoil spring is tight but I'll store it overnight for a night or two with the action locked open and I bet that'll take care of it. I noticed about 4 cartridges wanting to drift out of the top of those spare mags (I've got 4 mags). We'll see how they do stored upside down in a mag pouch.
I did notice 4 times that when I popped in the mag and racked the slide, no fire. The slide didn't move all the way forward. So when I tapped, racked and fired again, a live round popped out upon racking and shooting went smoothly after that. Any ideas on what that's about? Every time it happened, the slide had not fully engaged forward. No issues otherwise.
My hand feels perfectly fine. We'll see how it is tomorrow. Because the grip is so small there is no way for me to get any of my left hand on it, so I stuck with the thumbs locked down "revolver grip" to keep it smooth. I'll be doing much dry firing in the next few weeks so I'll experiment with grip. Field stripping sucks so I'll be looking for this "takedown block" All things added up = I like this gun.
I picked it up and shot my 200 rounds today. The new K9 trigger pull is shorter than the one I tried at the range. I still can't accidentally pull through trigger all the way through the leather on the belly band, so that safety issue was eliminated. Other than the occasional tendency on my first shot to pull that trigger 80% back and then sight in and fire, the trigger pull is fine. I assume that's just me moving out of DA/SA trigger pull muscle memory. No problem with the trigger finger after 200 rounds in one hour. Accuracy for me is just as good right out of the box as my Sig P232 380, and it's much less snappy. It conceals better. I did notice that recoil spring is tight but I'll store it overnight for a night or two with the action locked open and I bet that'll take care of it. I noticed about 4 cartridges wanting to drift out of the top of those spare mags (I've got 4 mags). We'll see how they do stored upside down in a mag pouch.
I did notice 4 times that when I popped in the mag and racked the slide, no fire. The slide didn't move all the way forward. So when I tapped, racked and fired again, a live round popped out upon racking and shooting went smoothly after that. Any ideas on what that's about? Every time it happened, the slide had not fully engaged forward. No issues otherwise.
My hand feels perfectly fine. We'll see how it is tomorrow. Because the grip is so small there is no way for me to get any of my left hand on it, so I stuck with the thumbs locked down "revolver grip" to keep it smooth. I'll be doing much dry firing in the next few weeks so I'll experiment with grip. Field stripping sucks so I'll be looking for this "takedown block" All things added up = I like this gun.
Yeah. You're supposed to insert mag and then hit the slide release on Kahrs. At least till they're broken in. My K40 works either way.
You done well. Enjoy that little K9. Kahr's K series guns are just about as perfect as I can imagine for a CCW gun. THey're small, but they point naturally, and shoot accurately like a much larger gun.
You'll need to use the slide stop to release the slide for the first couple of hundred rounds...it should be all loosened up after your first outing.
The reason is that the Kahr is tightly sprung coming from the factory, it needs all the travel the slide has to chamber the first round. The problem is that the short grip reduces the leverage you have when holding the gun still when racking the slide. Many folks will allow the gun to rise (limp wristing) when racking and that throws off the timing of the action. If you drive the gun in the opposite direction as you rack the slide it should chamber just fine. You should actually always do this when racking, but some guns offer some leeway.
Just leave the mags loaded for a couple of days...my Sig 220 had the same issue when new.
I'm going to have to get a picture of my grip on my Kahr CW9. I'm getting a full grip on it...I'm using the fingertips of my right hand as the locator for my left palm
The reason is that the Kahr is tightly sprung coming from the factory, it needs all the travel the slide has to chamber the first round. The problem is that the short grip reduces the leverage you have when holding the gun still when racking the slide. Many folks will allow the gun to rise (limp wristing) when racking and that throws off the timing of the action. If you drive the gun in the opposite direction as you rack the slide it should chamber just fine. You should actually always do this when racking, but some guns offer some leeway.
Just leave the mags loaded for a couple of days...my Sig 220 had the same issue when new.
I'm going to have to get a picture of my grip on my Kahr CW9. I'm getting a full grip on it...I'm using the fingertips of my right hand as the locator for my left palm
The K9 was purpose built to be a carry gun and it shows. I have a Kahr K9 and think it has a ton going for it as a carry gun. In terms of size it is near ideal, large enough that it is still easy to shoot it and run it well yet small and thin enough that it conceals very well. It is more accurate than most shooters. In fact, when I have had it side by side at the range with other guns like my glock, sig 229, EMP, etc it compares very favorably. The only thing that keeps me from carrying it as my CCW is that it is not as reliable as other guns I have. I just do not have the confidence in that gun that I do in others that I own. This comes from the fact that I experience significantly more stoppages with the Kahr. I have often considered buying another Kahr to see if I can get one that offers all the things I love about it with better reliability. I may also look at a P9 or possibly the CW9 since they are even thinner and lighter. The only other draw back might be that it has a relatively small magazine capacity compared to some other popular 9mm carry guns. That is part of the trade off for the size though.
In sum a reliable K9 would make a very fine carry gun IMHO.
In sum a reliable K9 would make a very fine carry gun IMHO.
Pictures would be helpful. I do have a little soreness in the web right at the top this AM, but I did shoot 200 rounds quickly, not what I would normally do. My left thumb wants to drift into the trigger guard in anything but the revolver grip. When I try the thumbs forward grip I wind up not using my support hand much at all.
LlanoEstacado
Member
+1 for K9 stainless. I've had mine several years. It conceals well, points well, with a smooth trigger. The pull is long and takes some getting used to if you shoot 1911's. The ONLY thing I don't like is the mags will shed cartridges when carried in a mag carrier (at least the Bagmaster pouch I use - but then it is really a .45 ACP pouch, could'nt find a 9mm).
I just realized what you're doing...it didn't occur to me before :banghead: ...and it makes perfect sense about not having any room on the gun for your other hand.
I just confirmed on my CW9...getting pictures isn't as easy as it once was, my son is away at college and trying to corral my daughter isn't easy either.
You're gripping the gun too low with your support hand. You'll need to get you hand higher on the grip and extend the thumb forward so that it is parallel with the bore...think classic fencing grip, the extended thumb is an extension of the top of your forearm
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, here's what I think your thumb forwards grip looks like...just kidding, I made my 8 year old daughter help me and she wanted a picture of her hands up there too. I found it interesting how she adopted the Ayoob "Wedge" grip without instruction
Here's what it should look like...ideally the left thumb should extend forward more
Here's what the strong hand looks like by itself, the support hand fills in all the open space on the gun
Here's what it should look like...ideally the left thumb should extend forward more
Here's what the strong hand looks like by itself, the support hand fills in all the open space on the gun
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,653
Another K9 owner asked me the other day how often he needed to replace the K9 recoil spring.
Since he has no PC I emailed them for him.
Kahr recommends the K9 get a new standard recoil spring every 1200 to 1500 rounds.
Since he has no PC I emailed them for him.
Kahr recommends the K9 get a new standard recoil spring every 1200 to 1500 rounds.
Yes, very helpful. I just unloaded and changed my grip prior to seeing the pics, trying to figure out what you meant. I saw it immediately. The pics confirmed it. With that grip I can get lots of my hand on the pistol! Excellent. Please thank your daughter. She's probably genetically gifted! I also found out what the orange plastic thing was in the box that I almost threw away. It's the take-down block that will make my life much easier. If I have to replace my recoil spring that often, I better stock up.
I also found out what the orange plastic thing was in the box that I almost threw away. It's the take-down block that will make my life much easier. If I have to replace my recoil spring that often, I better stock up.
usp9
Member
Wood brings out the best in a K Kahr IMHO.
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