Kahr PM9 pocketable 9mm

[CDW4ME]

Couple years ago, I had a Kahr PM9 and foolishly parted with it. :banghead:

Long story short, after owning and trading a couple of other "pocket size" 9mm pistols that did not satisfy me, I ended up getting a Kahr PM9 again.

This PM9 has the "Diamond Black" over stainless finish and Meprolight night sights. I could have lived with a regular stainless slide, but this is what the gun shop had and the additional cost over regular stainless is minimal. From what I've read online the finish supposedly holds up well.

Kahr advises a 200 round break-in and this PM9 passed that mark without any malfunction.
I shot one 50 round box of 124 gr. FMJ and then proceeded to shoot various HP ammo, cleaning after about each 50 rounds.

Here is chronograph data from the 3'' barrel of the PM9 average for 5 shots minimum, most were average of two separate 5 shot groups:
Speer Gold Dot 115 @ 1,092 fps / 305# KE
Remington HTP 115 +P @ 1,105 fps / 312# KE
Federal HST 124 +P @ 1,120 fps / 345# KE
Winchester Ranger T 124 +P @ 1,139 fps / 357# KE
Winchester Ranger T 127 +P+ @ 1,161 fps / 380# KE
Corbon 115 +P JHP @ 1,264 fps / 408# KE

The Corbon 115 +P produced the most KE, but recoil subjectively felt less than the 124 +P loads; I felt I could reacquire the front sight about as quick with the Corbon as the milder Gold Dot 115 or Remington 115 +P.

No, the PM9 is not as small or light as a 380 LCP or P3AT; but, with the right pants/ pockets it is pocketable and it offers advantages over the smaller 380's.

The Kahr PM9 is pictured with a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster.

 

[SDGlock23]

Those little Kahrs keep their velocity quite well from what it seems, and I've gotten similar results. I had both a PM9 and the more economy CM9 and both really were fantastic little 9mm's. I have more .40 than 9mm so I now have a CM40 instead for my pocket gun, but I think they're great little pocket guns.

You're right that they're not quite as small as the LCP, etc, but they're a lot better gun with nicer features that also packs a lot bigger punch too. I've found them to be very accurate little guns as well.

 

[Fishbed77]

I have, on occasion, pocketed my CM9. It's about the largest pistol I'd try to pocket, but it can be done.

That said, mine has been a100% reliable, accurate, and surprisingly soft-shooting pistol for its size.

 

[wally]

My CW9 was 100% reliable for very many rounds, but when the front frame rail broke, I've found their customer support lacking

If you are happy with EAA-class customer service fine, but I'm not for a carry gun since I have so much time and cost of practice ammo invested in them, and thus have moved to S&W Shield for the superior customer support. I'm already shooting it better than my Kahrs despite 8+ years of practice with a variety of them.

 

[CDW4ME]

Those little Kahrs keep their velocity quite well from what it seems, and I've gotten similar results. I had both a PM9 and the more economy CM9 and both really were fantastic little 9mm's. I have more .40 than 9mm so I now have a CM40 instead for my pocket gun, but I think they're great little pocket guns.

I had a Kahr PM40 and parted with it a couple years ago too.
I considered the PM40 again (I like 40), but remembered how the 40 recoiled noticeably more than the 9mm.

I'm satisfied with my decision to go with the 9mm, the 124 +P loads are at my limit of control and any more recoil would negatively impact my ability to deliver a quick & accurate follow up shot.

Looking back, I see that the PM40 I had generated a PF of 164 with "softer kicking" ammo. The PM9 using the Winchester Ranger T 124 +P produces a PF of 141.
PF = power factor a calculation that can be used to compare recoil in similar size pistols.
One of the mildest 40 loads produces about 15% more recoil than a 9mm +P that I find challenging to quickly reacquire the front sight.