Kahr PM9 - alternatives, accessories

Status
Not open for further replies.
Snejdarek

Snejdarek

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
735
Location
Czech Republic, EU
I am about to buy my first sub-compact for concealed carry and I am some 70% decided that it will be Kahr CM9 (I went for PM9 first but decided for CM9 instead). I need something that I can easily conceal also when wearing suit and my CZ 75 Compact D simply won't do the job (although it will remain my primary carry for most other clothing options).

I would like to ask you guys of THR whether there is any reason not to buy the CM9? Is there something better on the market (I don't want thumb safety and prefer double action-like trigger to feel comfortable with round in the chamber)? The seller was trying to convince me to get a Glock 42 instead, however I like the Kahr's trigger better and moreover I am limited to FMJs and SPs by law, so .380 auto seems as a bit too little for self defense.

Also, where can I order a couple of holsters and spare mags from US online? I would like to have it all in a single package to save on the overseas shipping. Do you have any recommendations for pocket holster (front pocket in trousers, pocket in jacket), IWB holster and shoulder holster? For some reason the LGS that has CM9 has just one IWB holster for a pistol of this size and dozens of holsters for compacts and full size guns.

Thank you in advance.
 
the PM9 would be my choice over the G42 simply because of caliber.

Theis makes great holsters as does Galco, and Bianchi. the magazines can be bought direct from the company. there are so many good sources for holsters it really depends on your preferences and of course the amount of money you have.

good luck.
 
I traded my pm9 as I generally pocket- carry a smaller gun. But I still have the all metal mk9 as, for hip carry, the extra weight isn't nan issue.

Another thread, probably on another forum, asked about Kahr reliably. One poster claimed an Internet search yielded more problems with the cm series than with the pm series. I'd spend the extra money for the pm; mine was great.

I found the extended capacity Kahr mags to be a problem in both my pm and my mk.
 
I am limited to FMJs and SPs by law, so .380 auto seems as a bit too little for self defense.
Click to expand...
.380 FMJ tends to penetrate 18"-20" of bare 10% ballistic gel, and 16"-18" of 10% ballistic gel faced with heavy clothing. If you can't have JHP ammo by law then .380 actually makes as much sense as 9x19 in a pocket gun. Is the Kahr P380 / CW380 an option? And how does .380 / 9x17 compare in price to 9x19 in the Czech Republic? Also, have you considered a .38 special revolver like a S&W 642? It should be easier to find good performing SP / JSP loads in .38 Spl than 9x19, at least in the US - but, again, I don't know what ammo availability is like in your locale.

As for pocket holsters for any of the three, I'm partial to the DeSantis Super Fly. Unfortunately I have no idea who in the US would ship one and a mag to Europe.
 
A couple years ago I carried a PM9 in a state where I couldn't get a CM9. Now that I'm in a state that I can get a CM9, I'm going to. They're excellent CC choices. They're not meant for heavy range shooting, but I'm sure you don't want to pound rounds with a CM9, anyhow. They're reliable, about as small as you can get without compromising caliber, and the triggers are excellent. It's a good choice.
 
ugaarguy said:
.380 FMJ tends to penetrate 18"-20" of bare 10% ballistic gel, and 16"-18" of 10% ballistic gel faced with heavy clothing. If you can't have JHP ammo by law then .380 actually makes as much sense as 9x19 in a pocket gun. Is the Kahr P380 / CW380 an option? And how does .380 / 9x17 compare in price to 9x19 in the Czech Republic? Also, have you considered a .38 special revolver like a S&W 642? It should be easier to find good performing SP / JSP loads in .38 Spl than 9x19, at least in the US - but, again, I don't know what ammo availability is like in your locale.

As for pocket holsters for any of the three, I'm partial to the DeSantis Super Fly. Unfortunately I have no idea who in the US would ship one and a mag to Europe.
Click to expand...
I haven't really given much thought to P380/CW380. I was primarily looking for 9x19 since this is what my primary CC gun uses. Prise wise .380 is about 1/3 more expensive than 9x19; availability is not an issue, this is the country of Sellier & Bellot after all.

I have discarded revolvers due to the added thickness of the barrel. Also I want to have the possibility of giving a warning shot and I don't think I could ever do that knowing I would be left with 4 rounds and not-as-easy possibility to reload.

Thank you for the information about penetration. I read here that 9x19 has about double of muzzle energy compared to .380. How does that translate in self-defense scenario? My first pick would be CZ 92 but I discarded its 6,35 mm Browning as underpowered. Now I see that it may have quite respectable penetration, but only about fifth of muzzle energy of 9x19.
 
CPO15 said:
Another thread, probably on another forum, asked about Kahr reliably. One poster claimed an Internet search yielded more problems with the cm series than with the pm series. I'd spend the extra money for the pm; mine was great.
Click to expand...
Does anyone happen to have any information suggesting lower reliability of CM9? Obviously, I don't mind spending more for a gun I want to bet my live on.

I actually originally opted PM9 since the pictures of CM9 I've seen on Internet kind of looked like they were made by third world children (I mean especially the KAHR engraving in the slide). I called two LGS. One told me they are out of stock and with Kahr changing representation in Europe they don't expect deliveries for a couple of months at least. Other told me on phone they have it but when I arrived I found out they have only CM9 (and many larger Kahrs), but in person it actually looked really good.

The other gun that made it on shortlist was Sig 290RS. I called a LGS that has them on their web but the guy told me he doesn't sell it anymore because he considers it to have too hard trigger to be useful for any shooting other than a few meters. He was trying to convince me to come and see P938 but I don't want safety on my CC gun.
 
Most posts that I've seen on the web (this site and others ) speak highly of the CM9 as far as reliability and being very concealable. Many feel the extra money for the PM9 is not worth it.

My personal experience with my CM9 has been 100 per cent reliability with both ball and hollow point. The trigger is excellent, especially if you have shot revolvers DA.
 
I also have been very satisfied with the overall quality and construction of my CM9. It has one of the nicest triggers I have ever found on a DAO auto.
 
When you are wearing a suit unless you wear a coat all the time it will be hard to conceal the Kahr. I would look at a Ruger LCP. You can just slip the Ruger in your pocket. I want to look nice when I am in a suit. You can't look nice with a gun bulge in your pocket.
 
Johnny_B_Goode said:
When you are wearing a suit unless you wear a coat all the time it will be hard to conceal the Kahr. I would look at a Ruger LCP. You can just slip the Ruger in your pocket. I want to look nice when I am in a suit. You can't look nice with a gun bulge in your pocket.
Click to expand...
Ruger LCP has horrendous reputation in the Czech Republic. I met few people who had them and were very happy to part with them. It may be more of an urban legend now, but LCP is simply something a good Czech should not put hands on.

Do you have different experience?
 
My super reliable CM9 is my every day carry. I pocket carry in a Galco pocket holster. I also have a CW45 that has been back to Kahr twice in the past 12 months.

I spend a fair amount of time on Kahrtalk. My impression is that Kahr does let some lemons out the door (and that's been my experience with the CW45). I don't know if they do it more or less than your average gun manufacturer. A big batch of P9s and CW9s had insufficient clearance between the feed ramp and the magazine, causing broken magazine followers. A big batch of CW45s had front frame rails that were too short, causing all kinds of mixed malfunctions. Seems like their 380s are spotty, but I haven't been paying attention to what the issues are. Overall, it seems like Kahr does 9mm guns best. Of course, I have no hard data to back this up except my own experience with one CW45, one CM9, and a lot of lurking on Kahrtalk.

I don't think quality control is any better or worse with the P/PM series. With the P/PM models you are paying more to get poly rifling, a non-mim slide lock, a slide with a more refined exterior, one or two more magazines, and front and rear adjustable sights.
 
I have owned a PM9 since late 2005, and carried it every day for large stretches of time, interrupted by dalliances with other types. :rolleyes:

The DeSantis Nemesis is my choice for a pocket carry holster. http://www.desantisholster.com/THE-NEMESIS
The one I use was made for the mini-Glock, because back when I bought it, they did not make a Kahr-specific model. Mine is still in great shape, but if I were to buy a new one, I'd try the Kahr part number.

I also have a leather Don Hume IWB--I believe it is a 715 of one sort or another. Price is right, and leather work is good quality, but if I'm going to carry IWB, I will go a bit larger (Kahr P45).

Just my opinion.
 
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am bit concerned with the fact that the Nemesis doesn't cover the trigger guard completely (at least on the pictures), but it seems to cover trigger itself well enough.

CZ 75 Compact D will remain my primary carry for IWB, I just can't conceal it well enough in a suit, so that's why I am looking into the CM/PM9.
 
I carry a PM9 in an OWB holster under a light jacket from Fall through Spring. It is the perfect CCW for me when carrying like this. I don't like to carry this in a pocket, because it's bigger and heavier than my LCP or P32.

I wouldn't buy one for pocket carry; I wouldn't go without one for IWB/OWB carry.

YMMV

BTW, mine has been perfect.
 
I can pocket carry my Rohrbaugh R9 in business slacks. I've carried that way in business meetings and seminars and never had it print. I do have to be carefull when I sit down that the gun and holster slide to the side rather than sit on top on my leg. I don't think I could pocket carry in business slacks with my CM9. Also, the actual measurements of the PM9 and CM9 are larger than what Kahr lists on their website.

The only problem I had with my CM9 is that it initially broke the front of the magazine followers, and that didn't affect the function of the gun. I sent it back to Kahr and they ground down the feed ramp and gave me new followers.

I never did have any functional failures with the gun and a few hundred rounds since getting it back from Kahr and it still is working fine.

Here is my review of it:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=754205

The cost of the CT9 is so low now - it is close to a SCCY and I've been thinking about getting one for a "Truck Gun" actually it would be for my car. I have my R9 in my pocket most times but getting a gun out of your pocket when being car jacked is pretty tough. I want a gun that just sits to the right of my car seat. I'm seriously thinking about the CT9
 
I have 2 CM9s and they have both been 100% reliable.
If the CM9 has more reports of issues than the PM9 I would bet that is probably because they sell a LOT more CM9s than PM9s.
Personally I don't see the perceived value of the PM9 in proportion to its price beyond the CM9.

I pocket carry in one of those Uncle Mike or Blackhawk cheapo holsters.
 
No

Remington Outdoor Company bought out Rohrbaugh Firearms and they don't have their production line up and running yet to produce the pistols.

One of the things I like about the CM9 is that it will cycle the typical 115gr practice ammo like Winchester "Target" and Federal Champion. I think it is fairly weak stuff compared to the premium SD ammo and probably stresses the gun less.
 
Johnny_B_Goode said:
When you are wearing a suit unless you wear a coat all the time it will be hard to conceal the Kahr. I would look at a Ruger LCP. You can just slip the Ruger in your pocket. I want to look nice when I am in a suit. You can't look nice with a gun bulge in your pocket.
Click to expand...
When wearing lightweight wool dress slacks I always revert to my PM9 in a well made leather pocket holster. Never a printing issue and very handy way to draw when needed as I can keep my hand in my pocket when the situation warrants.
back.jpg front.jpg
 
The tiny subcompact 9mm options are pretty limited. I've owned the Ruger LC9, the Kahr PM9, and the Beretta Nano. I don't really trust Keltec pistols for personal protection, though I've never owned one, it's based purely on what I've read online.

The Kahr beats out the Ruger in size and the Nano in shooting comfort. The Kahr has a better trigger than both, too. The Nano was prone to limp-wristing for my wife because of the short grip.

Because of all this, I'm going to buy a CM9 as a carry weapon as I sold my PM9 a while back to fund a relocation.
 
The Kahr PM9 is pretty much the smallest 9mm that will fit in a front pocket. That being said Kahr also has a pretty poor reputation for working out of the box.

Many many of them in 380, 9mm and 45 have had to go back to the factory to get them to work. This is not internet hearsay I have been there done that,:(

I carry a PM9, it went back 2 times. The 380 also went back along with a PM 45. I no longer have them. When they work they are excellent,

The PM9 is smaller than the SW Shield, Berreta, NANO and SIG P290RS

The Rohrbar is also another horror story for a another time, beside they are so damn expensive!

If you are able to ship a Kahr back to the factory for repairs if need, then it is a great gun. If not I would look for something with a better track record like your wonderful CZ's!!:)

Despite the Cech reputation the Ruger LCP in 380 is a very good gun,:)

This chart was originally used to show the comparison of the Seecamp to other mouse guns.

http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

JonB
  • Locked
PM9 at Local Shop
Replies
18
Views
710
gym
G
M
  • Locked
Ruger LCP vs. Kahr CM9 size comparison
Replies
18
Views
7K
hardluk1
H
C0untZer0
  • Locked
Review of Kahr CM9
Replies
23
Views
3K
hardluk1
H
MoreIsLess
  • Locked
IWB, which cant?
Replies
15
Views
1K
1SOW
1
C
  • Locked
Kahr CM9 vs PM9
Replies
15
Views
2K
gym
G
Back
Top