Kahr PM9 Range Report

[Climb14er]

I picked up a Diamond Kote PM9 at Sportsman's Warehouse here in Aurora for $539.99 plus tax. Yes, these Kahrs are expensive. More than my Sig P239 and some other pistols I've bought.

Got it home and took it apart. As others have mentioned, the slide stop is hard to remove. Got it off though and fully cleaned and lubed the pistol. Easy to disassemble and reassemble.

At the range, I shot 200 rounds of Wally World Winchester 115gr. FMJ and twenty rounds of Speer Gold Dot 115gr JHP.

I wanted to tell the forum that I had zero FTF's or blips. Actually, I had only ONE at round approx 150. Don't ask me why the blip occurred, could be the ammo. This pistol ran flawless and smooth. It actually ran better and was more accurate than the PM9 with SS slide I demoed last week.

Both mags, the flush and extended worked to perfection. It was very accurate though the small grip does take some getting used to. There's a tendency to want to pull hard on the trigger but the trigger is very smooth with a slight amount of take up.

The Speer Gold Dots were a piece of cake to shoot, a little sparky as I've found Gold Dots to be but accurate and totallt reliable a feeder.

When I got home, I fully cleaned and lubed the pistol and inspected the insides to make sure that things looked good. They did as far as my eye could see. No wear, no excessive beating on the poly or rails. There's a slight amount of play in the front of the PM9 but nothing to get concerned about. The barrel and pistol lock up fine and the recoil system worked very well. The feed ramp is a-ok and other than needing a good cleaning, the PM9 looks fine after the 220 rounds.

I've got to say that I am unbelievably impressed and somewhat 'relieved' that the Kahr is a SHOOTER! BTW, Sportsman's Warehouse has a warranty policy that in the first thirty days, if there are any warranty issues, they pay Fedex both ways back to the manufacturer. How's that for service.

So, all in all, I've got me a small CCW and will be getting a few holsters in the near term to accomodate the Kahr.

Thanks to all the previous posts and recommendations on the forum. I've got an Alessi Talon Plus coming in that I picked up on ebay. The previous owner only used it a few times and this was with his PM9 so the holster is basically like new.

 

[arinvolvo]

I am awaiting a highnoon holster for my new MK9 elite....i shot some 124grain +p gold dots through her this weekend, and they are a handfull, but not unbearable.

WWB 115 grain was much more pleasurable to shoot. But i had no malfunctions with either load.

I am thoroughly pleased with the purchase...got mine used (like new) from a forum member for 450....i am tickled pink. Qualification with it was a breeze....and i cant wait to start carrying her.


Funny you mention the 239 also, as i recently picked up a new one for a great price also. (495) before tax and whatnot. both are awesome pistols...but i have a feeling i will carry the kahr more often. The size is so tempting.

 

[12GA]

Congrats on your new Kahr. I've got the same one (black diamond finish) and through 300 rounds have experienced only two "blips" - both during the first 100 rounds. FWIW, I paid $599 + tax in January and feel that it's worth every penny.

 

[Will Fennell]

Covert

I just got a P9 covert.....small plastic frame/large[P9] stainless slide.....first 100 rounds of ww ball and 20 rounds of 127 gr Ranger +p+ have run through without a hitch. I'm very impressed. The trigger is MUCH better than an early K9 I used to own.

I've added Brooks Tactical "AGrip" to the frame, and looking for the right holsters now. I may add Heinie Nite sights later.

Its hard for me to get excited about a non 1911, but this one is certainly a keeper.

 

[mini14jac]

I've had a stainless for about a year now.
I think I just crossed the 1000rd mark yesterday.
It is an awesome gun.

 

[MyRoad]

For those of you with the "Black Diamond Finish" - how tough is it? One person wrote somewhere that you can scratch it with you finger nail. Also, do you know if the guns with the black finish come with the "Elite" trigger?

 

[fnforme]

MyRoad,

All polymer model Kahrs come with the Elite trigger as standard. I just spoke with a Kahr rep at my local dealer the other day and the Diamond Coat finish is actually bonded to the stainless steel, similar in process to tennifer for normal carbon steel. The Diamond Coat reduces friction to the point that it makes the pistol much, much smoother. I've tried the triggers of the normal stainless model and the blackened model side by side and the blackened model has a MUCH smoother trigger and the slide operates smoother too. When Kahr was considering the Diamond Coat finish they hired a research company to test it out- what they did was coat the inside of a pistol barrel with the Diamond Coat finish and proceeded to fire rounds through it without cleaning. After 3000 rounds they stopped because there was absolutely no wear at all . The stories about the crappy Black Diamond Coat are all rubbish in my opinion and from my experience. FWIW, I plan on buying one soon. My dad carries a PM9 and just ordered the Diamond Coat model after being pleased with his stainless model. They're great guns, but the blackened model is well worth the few extra dollars.

 

[12GA]

The black diamond finish on mine is tough as nails. I've done some really stupid things with mine, e.g., dropped it into my jacket pocket which contained a set of keys (did this a few times already), had it fall out of my pocket onto ceramic tile when I sat down on the can (only once, before I got a pocket holster), and smacked it with the side of a screwdriver while I was trying to pop the slide stop out. Not a single mark on her.

 

[MyRoad]

Interesting. I recently bought a K40 Elite 2003, and bought the stainless model because someone online told me (and another poster confirmed) that the non-polymer (K series) diamond coat models did not have the elite trigger. I tried to contact Kahr by email to confirm this, but they never responded. I love my K40 and the stainless finish is beautiful, but I HATE shiny carry guns, and now I'm considering having it refinished (i.e. blackened). I wonder why they don't just use the Elite trigger on all of them? Having had the choice between the black finish and the elite trigger, I chose the trigger. Wish I didn't have to choose though.

 

[12GA]

someone online told me (and another poster confirmed) that the non-polymer (K series) diamond coat models did not have the elite trigger.

That's odd. I'd not heard that.

 

[Waste of Money]

I just purchased a Black Diamond finish PM-9 with night sights today. I walked into the gunshop and the owner dropped the PM-9 w/NS on the counter with a NIB $499 tag on it I bit.

I'll have to wait till Monday to add it to my license. Hopefully I'll have a range report by the end of the week.

Keep on shooting yours and fill me with warm fuzzies.

 

[wardog]

I picked up a PM9 with the black diamond finish and night sights for $599.

Stripped and cleaned it and took it shooting. Several jams and several failures of the slide going fully into battery. Took it home, cleaned it again, and back to the range. No feed jams, but after 40 rounds or so the slide would never go completely into battery. The recoil spring seemed extremely weak in its last 1/2 to 1/4 inch of travel.

Very dissapointed.

Sent it back to Kahr.

I'll give it another chance when it gets back.

 

[tok]

Wardog, did you fire the PM-9 enough to break it in before sending it back?
Manual says 250 rounds for break in. Before 300 rounds, I had a couple instances of failures to feed and not go into battery.
My PM-9 is very occasionally (~150 rounds) not going fully into battery. I've been practicing with cheapy Winchester ammo, so I want to try some different stuff before calling Kahr about it.

Even with the issues, this is still the perfect carry pistol for me.

 

[wardog]

Yep, took it apart, cleaned and lubed as per the manual and did the break in. I put about 300 rounds through the pistol, and the problem seemed to be getting worse. The pistol was actually more reliable in the first 100 rounds than in the last 300. Before the second trip to the range I took it apart again and cleaned/lubed again. I took it to my dealer to see if he thought I should put a few hundred more through. He said "lets just send it in."

 

[tok]

Would you mind posting a follow-up with the results? Curious to read the results of the repair.

 

[wardog]

Would you mind posting a follow-up with the results? Curious to read the results of the repair.

Yep. It's been two weeks now, think I'll give them a call. I really want to like this gun. It's so tiny, and light, and seems pretty accurate too. It's kinda frustrating that my $218 P3AT has been flawless (after the fluff n buff) and my $599 PM9 is the one going back to the factory.

 

[Jiml3]

To Waste of Money:

Sounds like you got a great deal. Could you post the name and phone number of the dealer? I'm interested in getting a PM9.
If you don't want to post it, please e-mail me at [email protected].

Thanks,
JimL3

 

[Waste of Money]

Sounds like you got a great deal. Could you post the name and phone number of the dealer? I'm interested in getting a PM9.

The dealer's business name is "Collector Rifle and Ammo, Inc". He's located in Hopewell Junction, NY. He's on RT 82S, 2.5 miles off of the Taconic Pkwy. Once I found out how good his prices were, I've purchased all my firearm related goodies(except ammo) from them.

Their phone # is (845)227-4100.

I always feel guilty going there because I rely on more local gunshops to sample the wares but end up driving 30 minutes after work to make my purchases.

He's a 3.5 hr drive from Patchogue or about 2 hrs from the Throgs Neck Bridge.

 

[Jiml3]

To: Waste of Money;

Thanks for the info, I'll give him a try.