Kahr PM9 Range Report, and Questions

[eric.cartman]

I took my Kahr PM9 ( http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=348965 ) to the range today.
The manual said to put 200 rounds through it before assuming full reliability. Well, the gun shot without a single hitch from the very first round. Both magazines functioned well; the standard 6 rounder as well as the extended 7 rounder. No problems there. Not a single FTF or FTE. Smooth as butter. Now the gun feels better, smoother.

One observation though: after locking the slide back, inserting the new magazine, and pulling on the slide back to chamber, it doesn't work. The round jams. Both on FMJ and JHP ammo. It worked flawlessly when I released the slide through the slide lock though. Also, if the slide is forward, and I insert a loaded the magazine, and cycle the slide by hand to chamber a round, the same will happen.

So the only way to load properly is to have the slide locked back. Insert the loaded magazine, and release the slide using the slide lock.

Has anyone seen this in Kahr pistols???

 

[StrikeFire83]

The slide lock (or slide release) loading method is the one called for in the manual, so I'd stick with that.

I experienced the same thing when trying to "slingshot" my K9 and got hickups galore. Problem cleared up when I went back to the slide release method.

There's no problem, though, because I train to use the slide release on all my semis.

Hope that helps.

 

[jocko]

dead right

strike fire is right. and the kahr manual so states to use the slide release to chamber that first round. My PM9 has worked perfect out of the box and after around 200 rounds, I can slingshot it also with zero issues. I normally now slingshot my slide but I also know what the manual says to. The slide lock works every time, so go with it for 2 to 500 rounds, get the handgun broken in properly and my bet is that you will be able to slingshot it.

You have a super handgun in that PM9. I have 9800 flawless rounds through mine and it is my 24/7 front pocket carry. Keep it lubed and just shoot it like u stole it...

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It says that in my manual.

 

[harbingerm]

It will break in. I slingshot my PM9 all the time without issues. Couldn't do that when it was new.

 

[Dan-O]

I am a proud new owner of a Kahr PM9. I have about 350 rounds through it and it is my current pocket carry gun. I just got my Meprolight night sights in the mail the other day. Going to take the gun in tomorrow and unfortunately I think will have to leave it with them for a few days while they install them.

 

[jocko]

better

Only one thing better looking that that kahr PM9 and that is a photo of its little brother the P380 next to it:banghead::banghead::banghead:

Best damn 9mm I have ever carried..

 

[kokapelli]

Only one thing better looking that that kahr PM9 and that is a photo of its little brother the P380 next to it

Best damn 9mm I have ever carried..

It's not the best 9mm I've carried, but it's sure the best small 9mm I have.

 

[jocko]

close enough

thats close enough

 

[harbingerm]

I'll even venture to say, in my opinion, it's the best damned small polymer framed semi-auto 9mm PERIOD considering the other choices. PF9 = Kel-Tec = junk in my opinion (go to KTOG and look at the track record). P-11 = Kel-Tec = not as bad junk as mine works well enough, but it has the absolutely WORST trigger I've ever seen on any semi-auto and the stock plastic sights completely blow chunks. Feels typical Kel-Tec "cheap", too and it's a lot bigger and heavier so not really a pocket gun for me. Rohrbaugh R9/R9s is too finicky, needs recoil springs at WAY too short of an interval, costs $1000+ and can't handle +p. G26 is too big to be in the same "pocketable" 9mm category for me by a LONG shot. I haven't seen a Walther PPS in person yet, but it's still bigger and heavier than the PM9.

 

[KingAirDriver]

Hmm, I just bought my wife a PM9 a few weeks ago and we've had nothing but problems with it.

It was jam-o-matic during that first 200 rds. We've only got about 250 through it to date, but the only problem we're really having is that about every 1 in 6-7 rounds the slide will fail to go into battery. I've cleaned it really well and oiled it, and we've tried different ammo (WWB FMJs and Wally World Rem JHPs), but have only used the two mags that it came with. Bought it NIB.

I have high hopes for this little gun, because it's a sweeeeeet shooter and I LOVE the trigger! It disappears when carried, too. I'll shoot it a bit more and see if we can get it going, otherwise it might go back to the factory.

BTW, how did the polymer rails that the slide rides on look in your guys' Kahrs? Ours look a little chewed up. I expect something like that in a Kel-Tec, being cheap and not much attention paid to smoothing things out, but in this $750 (w/night sights) gun it's a mess.

 

[jocko]

harbingerm

well you hit the ol nail on the head, especially with the kt's 9. Course I don't consider the kahrs in the same league as the kt's either, so have to cut them alittle slack there, but their track record is horrible. PM9 had some barrel issues at the git go but kahr stepped up to the plate and took care of it. the right thing to do IMO. All guns can give issues but when it happens time and time again, then it is time to recall them and make it right. I also have a k9 that I just ove to shoot at the range to. Super smooth trigger and extremely accurate, and carryable but nothing like the PM9. Mine shoots any round that goes n the pipe to. It has never been picky from day one, course now my range ammo is basically any 9mm ammo that I can find cheap (I don't shoot wolf steel cases in any gun-just because). My defense round is corbon dpx. I don't do alot of experimenting with different rounds. Wheh i find one I like, U just stay with it..

 

[harbingerm]

Yup, jocko, I know well about your feelings for Kahr and Kel-Tec from another certain forum be both know and love.

 

[jocko]

kingair

PM sent

 

[harbingerm]

KingAirDriver (nice plane, BTW), don't give up on the PM9. You already know and LOVE it for the trigger, ease of carry and how it shoots. These things really are much more accurate than they should be for such a small pistol, eh? Kahr has good customer service and they will make it right if it doesn't clear up. Mine's an early VAXXXX serial number and was in the barrel recall range but I never sent it in. I bought it new in Nov 2005 and it has been excellent. A few failures to feed/go fully into battery, like you're experiencing, at the very beginning (<100 rds), but it's 100% reliable now after almost 2000 rounds. Haven't even replaced the recoil spring(s) yet, either.

As for the polymer flashing on the rails, I wouldn't worry about it. The slide load bearing surfaces are the front and rear metal inserts in the frame. The polymer "rails" are only there to aid on guiding the slide back on during reassembly. I asked and Kahr even said they could be cut away completely and not affect the function of the pistol. If you want, you could cut/lightly sand off any flashing or just keep shooting it. If it's excessive, I'd sand it off as THAT interference might be slowing your slide down just enough that it won't fully close. I know mine's slicked up plenty over time. If I really "grip it and rip it", I can reliably slingshot the first round every time. I don't really like dropping the slide with the slide lock as I feel it will wear parts out prematurely and slides aren't cheap.

$750 is a bit of an "ouchie" of a price, though. Does yours have the Diamond Like Coating? I got my "naked" stainless PM9 w/ night sights for $495. Out the door, transfer/tax said and done for $525.

 

[KingAirDriver]

Yeah, no kidding "Ouchie!" It's identical to the one pictured above, but with the night sights as well. We bought it at Sportsman's Warehouse for $699 + tax. There was another PM9 with the black stainless, no night sights, for the same price at the range I shoot at, but we liked the looks and sights of this one.

I know I could've ordered one from some place like Budsgunshop and saved a bit, but my wife just took her CCH class (YEA!!) and is going to take a Ladies Defensive Pistol class here in another week, so I didn't care what we paid so much as to make sure she got what SHE liked and that she could practice with it.

She kept freakin' out about the price and I told her I don't give a flying crap about it, but that I cared more about her and what she wanted.

BTW, thanks for the advice!

 

[harbingerm]

Mine was a Florida gun show special. I guess I lucked out on getting a great price for older stock that didn't sell for some reason. Probably because of all the Kahr is Krap hype what was (and still is) floating around. I love mine and it's been a faithful shooter. Blasted the crap out of it over the holidays back in Arizona with zero failures. Sure, some, such as yourself, may have troubles with a PM9, but at least you're not bitching about it like some others who compare it to a Kel-Tec. Uh, sorry! Not even close... The PM9 is a QUALITY pistol that shoots great and has a trigger that would make the Kel-Tec junkies cream their shorts. If I had a problematic PM9, I'd work with Kahr to make it right and I've even read that Kahr has paid shipping both ways. I wouldn't spend the same time on a Kel-Tec because I think they're cheap junk and I don't like them in the first place. And I've owned several of them. Never again, at least with their pistols. Viva la PM9 as the greatest pocket 9mm to date!

 

[Seven For Sure]

My Kahrs do that also. When I train and if SHTF, I'll be using my thumb. I train that way with my glocks too. I love my Kahrs and they need a bath badly but keep chugging the ammo up with no malfunctions. I think I've put about 5-600 rds. through each without cleaning them. That would be four or five times out and about three months. I just oil the rails before I head out.

 

[kokapelli]

If I remember correctly, I paid a little over $700 for my PM9 with blackened stainless slide and night sights.

I have a K9 with Kahrs standard sights, but like the three dot night sights much better.

 

[jocko]

kokapsil

looking at the same photo, almost like mine. Mine started out that way, then I ported it by Mag-na-port and then sent it in (after 7 months) to clylinder and slide and oh boy did they do a number on that PM9. had the grip stippled 360 degrees, trigger/complete action job, now even better than it was and I thought it was great before even. Had installed the wolff 5# striker spring, Had the slide lock pin modified so that it did not stick out one bit on the right side of the frame. Looks like a frame pin actually and then had them heavily contour the slide lock lever and it is about 1/3 less in size and completly tapered all around. Looks super. I have some unecessary bucks in some of these mods but I do love the 360 Degree stippling of the grip and trigger guard and the slide stop, well it looks like a fightin gun. Then had xs 24/7 tritium big dot nite sites put on it. It is my pride and joy and I shoot it like I stole it to. Not to many guns one can brag on that has gone 9800 flawless rounds with not one issue- period. but this kahr pm9 is one of them. Great gun. no ifs ands or buts about it..

PS, I do wish kahr would blue or blacken the floor plate on the PM9 kahrs though. an all black gun with a silly silver magazine floor plate.

 

[harbingerm]

I LOOOVE that black DLC finish. I may have to send in my pimped bling naked stainless one in for refinishing. I think it would look cool with just the slide darkened and keep the silver trigger, barrel and slide lock. At least it would be different.

 

[RNB65]

Hmm, I just bought my wife a PM9 a few weeks ago and we've had nothing but problems with it.

Unfortunately, what you describe is quite common with new Kahr poly guns. They have some serious QC issues with the polys. Don't even mess around with it any more -- it's not going to fix itself. Call them and arrange to send it in for repair. I wasted 500+ rounds of ammo on my P9 before sending it in.

To the OP -- hang-ups on the first round out of the mag are also quite common. Get into the habit of hitting the back of the slide with the palm of your hand when loading the first round to ensure that it goes into battery. My P9 cycles fine when firing but the slide fails to close about 20% of them time when dropping the slide on the first round. I believe it's due to a magazine defect that allows the top round in the mag to easily tilt up and down rather then being held firmly in place. If the round tilts at the wrong angle it jams on the feed ramp.
-

 

[kokapelli]

jocko, the fact that you were willing to spend that much on your PM9 speaks volumes on just how good a gun it really is.

IMO the PM9 is as close to perfect for pocket carry as you can get.

 

[KingAirDriver]

Update

Thought I'd update you guys on the problems I was having with our PM9. We took it to the range tonight to try it out again after I Doctored it a little, thanks to the tips and suggestions I've received from you guys. I sanded the ragged edges on the frame, and got some polish and took my Dremel to the feed ramp.

It ran great tonight! We still had a few failures to go into battery, but only about 5 out of 200-225 rounds, instead of about 6 or 7 times that amount in the same number of rounds. I'm REALLY pleased with that!

The wife's gonna shoot a class this weekend (her 1st!) so we'll see how she reports on it.

Thanks again!

 

[jocko]

volumes

kokopelli, I agree, I have more in the mods than the gun but it is my 24/7 carry, I can take it ANYWHERE I wear the 5.11 tactical holster t-shirt and it is one awesome package for this small gun to. I wear it under my sweatshirt or under my harley leather vest, just dissapears there. You might want to look at this shirt. It will hide any J frame and I have many times carreid my k9 kahr int here with east. Kinda hard to explain how it works but you can go tothe NRA store.com and see the shirt first hand, that is where I bought mine at with the NRA log on it even. The lyra (spandex) design fits to the body very tight, the gun does not flop around .
Just read in combat magaizine of the PM45, what an awesome gun that is going to be. can't imagine a 17 ounce 45 so compact as this PM45 is. I am a 9mm fan all the way but oh do I love that PM45...can't wait until the kahr P380 hits the streets to. It will be with me alot to. can't believe how smallthey made it either. Kahrs has done it right..