Kahr P9 Reliability?

[Don't Tread On Me]

How many current owners or past owners of similar Kahrs (K9/P9 type) pistols have had malfunctions or, instead, have had perfect function?

 

[dsk]

You probably shouldn't group K9 and P9 pistols into the same poll. Many people with early P9's had numerous issues, but almost everbody who's bought a K9 has had no trouble. I have an early P9, and while it has been mostly trouble-free it does have the walking trigger pin issue. However I'm too lazy to send it in to be fixed.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Was this corrected on new-production P9's?

 

[Dollar An Hour]

There's a guy here with the screen name Albanian who loves his K9 (I think he has more than one) and had a bad experience with a P9.

There's also a thread in the Kahr Club forum on the Glock Talk website that Albanian started with alot of comments from other Kahr owners. There are some people very happy with P9's but there are some very unhappy folks too. It looks like they have improved since first coming out, and Kahr's customer service is said to be terrific.

Whereas everybody with a K9 loves 'em, just a bit on the heavy side...

 

[strambo]

I have a K9 in the no problems at all category. Great gun.

 

[dsk]

Was this corrected on new-production P9's?

Yes, the new ones have an extra through-pin to keep the hammer pin from walking out. For me it's not a big deal to just push it back in every 200 rounds or so when it starts to move. One of these days I probably gotta get it fixed, however.

 

[Janitor]

Started the breakin of my P9 with JHP. 450-500 mixed rounds later we are still at zero ftf, fte issues.

 

[DR]

I have two K9s: the first one is an older model that wouldn't reliably feed Gold Dots. After a trip to Kahr it's been fine. I have about 1000 rounds through that one.

I just had my first malfunction with my other K9 after about 3500 rounds. I somehow managed to shove my left thumb into contact with the slide, causing the slide to short stroke and giving me a lovely blood blister in the process.

So, keep your thumbs out of the way of the moving parts and you should be good to go.

 

[Tim James]

I have two K9s: the first one is an older model that wouldn't reliably feed Gold Dots. After a trip to Kahr it's been fine. I have about 1000 rounds through that one.

What did Kahr do to the gun to fix it? I did some comparison tests on self-defense ammo this weekend, and my brand-new P9 had one failure to eject and one failure to battery with Gold Dots. In the 905 rounds I've put through the gun, the only other failure I've had was a stovepipe on the first round I ever fired through it. It had no problem with other brands of hollowpoints, so I'm wondering what makes Gold Dots so different.

 

[drf]

I have posted this before but I'll do it again..
I have a DLC blackened P9 which is the newer verison of this gun and have had zero problems in over 600 rds threw it,(it has been flawless) that is with many types of ammo..
If you want to make sure your getting a newer version with the so called bugs worked out get a black one ....
Its a great gun for deep concealment.......drf

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

I have a P9 that had two FTE in the first 100 rounds, and zero malfunctions since.

 

[DR]

What did Kahr do to the gun to fix it? I did some comparison tests on self-defense ammo this weekend, and my brand-new P9 had one failure to eject and one failure to battery with Gold Dots. In the 905 rounds I've put through the gun, the only other failure I've had was a stovepipe on the first round I ever fired through it. It had no problem with other brands of hollowpoints, so I'm wondering what makes Gold Dots so different.

They polished the feed ramp, replaced the slide stop, and replaced the trigger group. I'm pretty sure the slide stop was the problem: the rounds would nosedive and jam, leaving some jacket material on the slide stop. I think the part that engages the button on the mag follower was a bit too long. I've no idea why they replaced the trigger group. It worked fine before and works fine now.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

**RANGE REPORT**


I've just lost a LOT of confidence in Kahr.


Here's my story.


Found out that a local range has a Kahr E9 for rental. 9mm, not-polymer. So I go down there, rent it. Deal comes with range time +50 rounds of regular pressure ball ammo. During my 3rd magazine, the slide stop totally shatters. This thing broke it off, and the outside part of the lever hit my hand. Didn't hurt me, but I felt it alright.


Did some searching here on THR. Seems that the E9, CW9 class pistols (being the budget models) have MIM parts. MIM = metal injection molding? Basically what Taurus revolvers and even S&W have been using on internal parts (hence the crappy trigger pull).


OK, I can see using this on non-load bearing parts. But on a slide stop pin? Past threads on GlockTalk's Kahr section say that Kahr uses MIM to make the slidestop, and to compensate for the loss of strength, they make it thicker than the solid-steel, machined part used on K9, P9 models.


The range didn't refund my rental cost/range package, but instead gave me one of those mini-Glock 9mm's to finish off the ammo I had left.


I've always had a negative vibe for MIM parts, now I am convinced they are total garbage. I don't care what a pistol costs, I will be buying ALL STEEL. MIM isn't innovation, it is cost-cutting crap for gun manufacturers to rip you off at the cost of safety and reliablity.


I'll still consider a Kahr that has REAL steel parts - so long as I know it doesn't rely on MIM. CW9, E9 type pistols are out of the question. For that kind of money, that is unacceptable. Might as well get a Kel-Tec and save a few bucks.


**Edited to add...


After my range session, I looked around their shop. The range master said that the pistol only had 500 rounds through it, and that it was relatively new. He said that the last E9 they had did the same thing 1 month ago, but it had a higher round count.

I walked over to the other counter where they sell firearms, looked at an XD and a few other pistols including a few E9. Salesman there said "oh you know, those range guns are abused, it probably had 10,000 rounds through it"....typical apologist.

 

[XLMiguel]

I have an early production P-9 that had 'the slide stop problem'. Sent it back to Kahr, had it back in 10 days, has been fine ever since (1100+ rounds). I like mine, no worries.

 

[larry starling]

Mine had some issues during break in, but after that has been real solid.....Like a idiot I sold it to a friend......

 

[TC-TX]

Bad things happen to Great guns -- ALL Great Guns -- just like everything else in life... I would not throw the baby out with the bathwater in this case...

My Kahr is flawless and is a statment to quality workmanship...

'nuff said.