Kahr MK40 Holster/Grips

[smirnoff a]

I finally made it to the range and tested our my new Kahr MK40 Elite by firing 200 rounds through it. The gun was 100 peliable and is now my #1 candidate for ccw.

I plan to carry it IWB and wondering you you have any suggestins for leather holsters? Also, how safe do you feel carrying Kahr with one in the pipe? Anyone use grips different from factory ones that came with it?

Thanks,

 

[steak-knife]

Congrats on your purchase and successful "break-in" session.

I guess you and I are now part of the "MK40 Elite Club."

Just about any of the fitted IWB/OWB holsters made by DeSantis or Galco will do fine. I have a DeSantis pancake with thumb-break, and it conceals just fine. If I pocket carry, I use a holster made by:

pocketholsters.com

My only gripe about my Elite '03 is that there are not too many grip choices. There's the rubber grip sleeves (Hogue, Pachmyer), the factory wood grips (expensive), or the factory plastic slabs that come with the gun. The sleeves make the Elite look a bit cheesey IMHO, the factory wood grips look/work great, but add thickness to the slim design, so my recommendation would be to stay with factory plastic slabs and purchase a set of stainless hex screws to replace the dull slotted screws. You'll be surprised on how much better the hex screws look and work.

Lastly, given a proper holster and proficiency, there should be no reason not to carry with one in the pipe.

 

[jocko]

Just

just my opinion, so take it for that. but to me a gun without one in the pipe is not a gun. If u intend to carry, there best be one in the pipe..

 

[smirnoff a]

Good suggestion on the screws steak-knife. Where did u get yours?

I always carry one in the pipe in my guns, but was just wondering of Karh reliability and safety in that department.

Does anyone use crimoson trace grips on these?

 

[Dr_2_B]

I carry my mk40 from time to time and I recently replaced the grips with these I found on ebay. I use Fist IWB holsters, but I carry the kydex version. I'd definitely carry the gun with a round in the chamber. The only safety that matters is your brain anyway. Keep trigger covered until you draw... keep finger off trigger until you shoot.

 

[D-Man]

I really like the Kahr wood grips from their site.



They add a little bit extra thickness which feels better in my hand, and also give a little bit extra grip as compared to the original plastic ones.

The Kahr is no different than just about all other guns as far as carrying one 'in the pipe'. As long as the holster you get covers the trigger guard, and you are proficient in gun handling/drawing to keep your finger away from the trigger until you're ready to shoot, you'll be just fine.

 

[Caipirinha]

What a coincidence. I also went to the range tonight with my unfired MK40 Elite to break it in. I ran 250 rounds through mine without a hitch. That really surprised me as I was really expecting some failures early on from everything I've read about breaking them in.

This is my first Kahr and so far I am really loving this gun. It's not light but it is small, shootable, accurate, and good looking to boot. Especially with wood grips.

 

[smirnoff a]

Ya, I was extremely pleased with my Kahr. I do like the trigger, but the recoil seemed a bit snappy, although not bad. The only issue I have is that the magazine hangs a bit low (3mm gap or so here). I posted my concern on glocktalk and got some responses of people having similar magazine issue. Kahr never responded my email regarding the issue.

My other ccw candidate was Sig P232. In fact, I was going considering having two carry pieces for in different holsters, and tested them at the same time. Sig p232 had 7 FTF issues out of abaout 100 rounds. I was very dissapointed, especially after hearing about excellent reliability reliability these guns.

I am now leaning more towards Crimson Trace grips, but still not sure about the holster. I am trying to go with leather.

 

[smirnoff a]

Here it is along with my "always gun". Note the magazine gap.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

With an internal firing pin safety and a long trigger pull, a Kahr is as safe to carry chambered as any weapon can be. I carry my PM9 (and all other guns) chambered. If the handgun is not ready to be fired it is little more than a bludgeon or throwing object.

 

[jocko]

smirnoff: My magazie gap is about the same. to me it looks like it is the floor plate with that little lip area that causes that. I have no issues with it though. works great. Just can't beat those kahrs IMO.

 

[critter]

My MK9 is my most carried gun. 'Nuf said.

 

[Caipirinha]

Smirnoff,

I too have the same gap but it doesn't bother me. I put wood grips on mine and I like them.

For a holster, you might want to also check out the Comp-Tac kydex/leather hybrids.

 

[smirnoff a]

Thanks for replies. I went ahead and ordered Crimson Trace grips for mine. I sure do like the wood grips and came close to ordering them, but thougth CT ones would be more practical.

I own a comp-tac holsters. I actually have one for my P99, but I think I would preffer leather for it. I am gonna continue looking at Galco and such and hopefully the one I buy would be comfortable. In the mean time, please feel free to continue input on the subject - highly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[HornsKeith]

I'm in a similar boat to some folks here. I have an MK9 Elite which I carry in a Comp-Tac MTAC kydex/leather IWB holster. Good gun, and I'm still getting it dialed in for both shooting and carrying.

I put the Crimson Trace grips on it this last week. I like the feel of the grips better than the factory slabs. Like my last CT (on a 642 J-frame), it took only minutes to get the laser aligned at my preferred distance, and it performed well on my one short range trip.

For carrying in the MTAC, it's going to need to have a small portion of the Kydex trimmed off to fit the bump where the laser is housed. I'll probably take a dremel to it tomorrow and report back on the results.

Keith

 

[HornsKeith]

As mentioned, here's the contact between the MTAC and the laser bulge of the CT grips on my MK9:



Here's how it looks after the dremel work. Much better.

 

[Rustynuts]

Here's a Tucker.



And a K&D, upper right.



And an Andrews pocket (yes, that's a round in the tube, but notice I'm off to the side!) I think I got a factory second as it seems boned a little loose and it was on the shelf when I called, wasn't made to order. Notice the muzzle peeking out a little at the bottom. Not worth mailing back and forth, may try to snug it up myself.

 

[smirnoff a]

I got CT grips for mine as well. I was originally going to order K&D holster, but after inquiring into it, was told that their holsters would would not accomodate CT grips, unless I do some of my own modifications to the finished holster. I called Kahr shop and was told hat both of their IWB holsters would fit the CT gripped Kahr just fine. So I went with Mitch Rossen pictured bellow. It is very comfortable and the draw is pretty quick for IWB. The holster clip is very stron and holster stays put when the gun is drawn.


Also, the wait on K&D holsters was estimated to be about 14 weeks. I did order their Dakota Defender model for my new H&K P7 and will post a short review once I have it.

I greatly appreciate everyones input in this thread.

 

[ronnieboy]

I also carry a Kahr MK-9 suited with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. Just an update, for those that may be considering the Comp-Tac MTAC kydex/leather IWB holster, you can now specify in your order that your gun is fitted with CT Lasergrips. Comp-tac will provide a version of the Kydex shell that accounts for the bulge in the CT Lasergrip housing. This MTAC holster is absolutely the most comfortable IWB rig that I own.

As pointed out by Keith, the original MTAC design for the Kahr MK-9 had a contact point between the CT lasergrip and the molded Kydex shell.

 

[InkEd]

Hogue grips and Don Hume holster. All you need.