Kahr K9

[Ghostrider_23]

What are your thoughts on a Kahr K9???

How's it shoot?

How's it's reliability?

How's does it carry?

How's it's longevity?

How would you rate it overall???

 

[obiwan1]

Being a steel Kahr I'd have to rate it high. I have a K40 and love it. It carries very well. It's a little heavy, but it keeps the recoil down. Change the springs every few thousand rounds and it should last years.

 

[usp9]

obiwan1,
What holster do you use to carry your Kahr? Do you carry the seven or eight round mags? I have a K9 on the way to my FFL as we speak.

 

[CWL]

Good enough pistol that I gave mine to my father for use as a SD gun.

I could not get use to the DAO trigger and long travel, but I'm a M1911 shooter... I know quite a few LEOs who carry it as either BUG or off-duty carry.
I've seen one guy (LEO) use it at local IDPA meets to very good effect.

My only problem with the one I bought is that the "stainless" steel gun came out-of-box with rust on the slide. Cleaned right off so it may have only been residual metal on the surace from manufacturing.

 

[dfariswheel]

What are your thoughts on a Kahr K9???

How's it shoot?
VERY well, but keep in mind it's a double action-only "people shooter", NOT a target gun.
Accuracy depends on how well you can "shoot the trigger".
I tell people to shoot the gun like it's a double action revolver.
The trigger feels very similar to a well-tuned S&W revolver trigger, and I use the same technique in shooting the Kahr trigger as I do a S&W.
Sights are some of the best ever put on a small auto.

How's it's reliability?
I have an early stainless model that has NEVER jammed, even with some really awful 1960's Egyptian SMG ammo that didn't work in most any other gun.
The factory mandates a 200 round break in before the gun is to be trusted, but the majority of K9 owners report no problems right out of the box.

How's does it carry?
Great, depending on HOW you carry and how well the holster fits you.
Due to the Kahr double action trigger and internal safety systems, the Kahr is as safe to carry as a double action revolver.

How's it's longevity?
With at least 5000 rounds through mine, I see no signs of wear.
Replace the recoil spring about every 1500 to 2000 rounds.
These Micro guns recoil springs take a real beating.

How would you rate it overall???
I rate the K9 as this generations "Gold Standard" in a personal defense gun.
It's totally reliable (Note the factory mandated 200 round break in), more than accurate enough for the intended purpose, and it's a SIMPLE gun with no switches, safeties, or other controls to fumble.
In this, it's a near-perfect "pull-point-shoot" gun.

Quality is sky high, and before the K9 I'd never seen a smoother finished gun internally than the K9.
It's expensive and deceptively simple, but you certainly get your moneys worth.

Finally, it's the first small auto pistol I've ever really trusted for reliability and power, and it's the gun I carry every day for person defense.
The best recommendation I can give is that I trust my life to it without reservation.

 

[aquapong]

What are your thoughts on a Kahr K9???
- I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
How's it shoot?
- For me it was one of the most accurate guns I've shot
How's it's reliability?
- It's been a while since I had it...I don't remember any failures though. The main issue I had was with the mags. The top round always seemed to work its way forward and pop out.
How's does it carry?
- Great
How's it's longevity?
- seemed pretty good. I traded mine away, and have regretted it ever since.
How would you rate it overall???
- Very good

 

[chaim]

I've shot range (range guns generally equals abused) K9s, my best friend's MK9 and his PM9 and all have been 100% reliable while I shot them (and my friend's guns have been 100% for him, though I'm not sure if he needed the recommended 200 round break-in on either of them first). They are accurate for what they are (compact to subcompact CCW weapons) and the K9s are even comparable to many full-sized service pistols. They are generally comfortable to shoot. They are all very concealable. I've been sidetracked over the years, but some variation or another of the Kahr pistols has been on my wish list since 2000 (right now it is the PM9 or P45).

 

[strambo]

Love my K9, dfariswheel's sentiments reflect my opinions and experiences with this gun almost exactly.

The top round coming out of the mag is only an issue if you throw a spare in your pocket. In the gun, no problem and I've never had it be a problem in a blade-tech mag carrier to include executing fast reloads.

 

[obiwan1]

USP:

I have the 6 round mags (remember mine is a .40). I use a DeSantis Cozy Partner or an Uncle Mikes OWB and keep a spare mag in a DeSantis clip on mag pouch. Sometimes I use an Action Direct pocket holster but the Kahr is at the upper end for size and weight for pocket carry. Belly bands and Smart Carry work well for this gun.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll like it.

 

[strambo]

USP, I usually carry my K9 in a blade-tech IWB holster. 7 round mag in the gun, 8 rd spare in a blade-tech single mag pouch.

 

[Texfire]

What are your thoughts on a Kahr K9???

I have one I purchased used, and I like it very much.

How's it shoot?

It shoots as well as I do, plenty accurate for a carry gun. I used to think the trigger pull was too long when I first picked one up. This was cured for me when I fired a P11, which currently holds the crown for longest/heaviest pull in a carry gun for me. The trigger on the Kahr is long, but it's also smooth and consistent with little stacking.

How's it's reliability?

It's been boringly reliable for me with any ammo I've shot.

How's does it carry?

The very slim cross section lends itself to carry. The only reason it's not a regular carry for me is my High Power has almost twice as many rounds in a slightly wider package.

How's it's longevity?

I picked mine up used, so no real idea how many rounds have been through it. I've never had to send it in for servicing. It just goes bang every time.

How would you rate it overall???

Overall, this is a fine carry gun, and you really can't go wrong choosing one. There are other carry guns that are lighter, equal it in reliability, carry more rounds, or have a shorter trigger pull, but there are none that match the K9 in all these categories at once. That said, it's large and heavy enough to rule out pocket carry for me, your mileage may vary. I picked up a PM9 for pocket carry, but I'm running it out some more before carrying it.

Tex

 

[hankrearden2000]

What are your thoughts on a Kahr K9???

I love mine.

How's it shoot?

Great!

How's it's reliability?

100% so far.

How's does it carry?

The easiest carrying and most concealable "belt gun" in my arsenal.

How's it's longevity?

Mine was so well-used when I bought it that the previous owner's thumb had worn the texture off of the rubber grip in one spot. I changed the recoil spring and I was in business.

How would you rate it overall???

My favorite "under a t-shirt belt gun."

 

[Ghostrider_23]

Mine

I have purchase a used K9 in blue with wood grips. It belonged to a very wealthy business owner who gave the gun to his wife. She did not like it because it was too heavy. Before he gave it to her he sent it off and had a bit of work done to it:

1. Truglow night sites.
2. Hard chrome the barrel, glid rod and back plate.
3. Polished to ram,(this thing looks like a mirror).
4. Trigger job.

Well, I went out and shot the pistol at the range. WOW, it feeds very well and the trigger is perhaps one of the smootest I've ever shot in my life. It breaks clean and functions perfectly. It's like s super tuned 1911 in 9mm.

Thanks guys for your help.

BTW, I use a Don Humes JIT holster and do not even notice the weights.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

There's never been any issues (or even chat rumors) about the metal-framed Kahrs. They're EXCELLENT in every respect. I've owned both the K40 & the T9models and found them to be among my favorite handguns. They're just a bit on the heavy side & the trigger reset is rather l-o-n-g for an autoloader...but the steel-frame Kahrs are World-Class Carry Guns.

 

[Zundfolge]

I've got an MK9 Elite98 that is my secondary CCW pistol.

It shoots wonderfully, is more accurate than one would expect from a pinky-dangling, short barreled 9mm. Its also been 100% reliable.

I used to have an MK40 Elite98 that was less accurate, but just as reliable.

As for longevity, I've known guys with tens of thousands of rounds through their K9s and other than replacing recoil springs they've been fine.

Like any other DAO trigger, the more you shoot it, the better it gets.

There's never been any issues (or even chat rumors) about the metal-framed Kahrs.

Not entirely true. The early steel Kahrs were Carbon Steel, not Stainless and they had some surface rusting issues (poor quality finish), also for a while in the late 90s there were some QC problems with the stainless steel Kahrs ... mostly just poor tooling and casting marks (not effecting reliability or accuracy, but still not what you expect on a premium priced pistol).

That said, I'd trust a steel Kahr over a poly one fresh out of the box (after break-in, the poly ones are fine, but based on all the reading I've done the poly ones are more likely to need to go back to Kahr than the steel ones).

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Yeah Zundfolge, you're RIGHT & I forgot. Before there was an Internet, before there were Cellphones, before there was Cable TV...there WERE some Finish Issues on early K9 pistols. That had to be +25 years ago. And I still don't recall ANY issues ever effecting the accuracy, reliability, durability, longevity or overall performance of the K9 since the Reagan Administration. In fact, for a time, there were customized versions directly available from none other than Wilson Combat. But you're right, early production K9s had a flakey finish. Hey Ghostrider 23, don't buy a K9 made before 1980!

 

[CWL]

...there WERE some Finish Issues on early K9 pistols. That had to be +25 years ago.

Are you kidding there GT? Kahrs came into existence in 1995.

And Like I already said, my NIB stainless K9 came out of box with rust dusting the slide.

 

[TC-TX]

Kahr K9 - the Gold Standard for CCW...

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Y'all are RIGHT! I was wrong. Kahr Arms was founded in 1994. When you get as old as me, the only way you know it's Sunday...is if the Funny Papers are in color. Thanks for the correction.