Kahr PM45 range report

[Dan-O]

Finally got my new Kahr PM45 to the range today. It was awesome. I shot 100 rounds of Wolf 230 gr. through it. Then I shot 50 rounds of Magtech Brass 230 gr. as well. I would have shot more, but I wanted to shoot my also new M&P 340 .357. And I developed a nasty blister on my thumb as I lay it on top of the slide stop and I have not been shooting as much lately, and most of my calouses on my shooting hand have started disipating. I was also out of ammo, and did not want to shell out $20 for a box of .45 at the range when I have a safe full of $10 boxes.

I only had one failure, and it was ammo related. The failure was a FTE. It was with the Wolf. The aluminum casing couldn't stand up to the hefty extractor on the Kahr and the thin casing distorted and wouldn't eject itself.

I am thoroughly impressed with this gun. I am glad I spent more money on the night sites. I think they helped my shooting. This gun is deadly accurate. I was shooting next to some chum shooting a full size gluck .45. He commented on my accurate shooting and I told him it was the gun and not me.

Then I got out the head turner. I ran about 15 rounds of .38 through my M&P 340. I then ponied up and shot 15 rounds of .357 through it. That was all I needed. There is nothing like shooting .357 at the range. I think I will stick with shooting .357 in my Ruger SP101.

My only regret with the Kahr PM45 is that I waited so long to get it. I wasted a lot of money on other guns that don't hold a candle to this sweet shooter.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Glad to hear it. One thing does confuse me: Wolf aluminum cases? In any event, it would be unfair to blame the gun for a failure to digest incompatible ammo that it was not designed for.

I also agree with your comments about what I like to call the "fleaweight" magnum revolvers. I've shot fire-breathing magnums in a SP101, found them barely tolerable, and shudder to think of it in a gun weighing half as much and with a smaller grip. IMO, if a gun is unpleasant, painful or even debilitating to shoot, you aren't going to practice with it. If you don't practice with it, you aren't going to get good hits. And I find it inconceivable that you're going to somehow get magically better in a real shooting.

Your testing is not yet complete, BTW. IMO you need to try some JHP loads in it. Occasionally, a gun that was reliable with ball can choke on hollowpoints.

 

[jocko]

agree

yup now shoot some hp's through that PM45 and you will be good to go. I have no doubts it will be just as reliable. My PM9 never malfunctioned with hp's. I shoot the corbon dpx through it as my ccw and also their powerball. I like um both, they both work perfect, so why shop around for anything else. Once you find a good hp, just stick with it. why look for trouble

Darn nice gun, to me kahr has the little 45 market cornered..

 

[jocko]

wolf's casing

was that aluminum or steel casing wolf's 45 ammo???? I willnot shoot the steel cased ammo in any gun, just don't like it. Steel expands fast and doesn't contract like the brass casing ammo and if you have a tight chamber you might get some issues from steel cased ammo. The inside of my Kahr pm9 chamber is mirror smooth and shinny. I had the barrel throated and chamber polished by cylinder and slide when I had the custom work done on it, ...

 

[Tribal]

If you've shot one of the ultra-compact 1911s, can I ask how the PM45 compares to it? I've got a full-sized 1911 and a PM9; I'm wanting an ultra-compact .45. I'm leaning toward a 1911 because I prefer the external safeties (and I'm part of the very vast minority who actually likes the grip safety), but I have to say that my PM9 is is easy as anything (well, short of a P-3AT or Mini-Revolver) to conceal.

 

[Dan-O]

My bad, I guess Wolf is not aluminum, but steel. Regardless, I don't think it was the gun's fault.

I only carry Corbon Pow'r Ball in my auto's anyways. I have my own litmus test to get a gun carry and street ready, and after 150 rounds it is about half way there.

I also have a Colt New Agent, and I think the recoil on the Kahr was about the same, if not less.

 

[VA27]

How about a pic of the two together, so we can see how they compare sizewise?

 

[Tribal]

I wonder if a non-lightweight 3" 1911 would have less recoil than the New Agent and the Defender. Of course, at the range you're likely to need a gun like that perhaps a laser would be a better option than actual sights.

 

[Dan-O]

Tribal,

The Colt New Agent is not a range gun. At least it is not for me. I carry mine as a CCW, and it's lightweight, and unobtrusive edges are part of the reason that I bought it.