Kahr PM9 - Review (Pic heavy)

[Just One Shot]

Here's the newest addition.





To get an idea of the size I took some photos of the PM9 along side my LCP as well as my M&P .40 Compact and my Para CCW.














As you can see, the PM9 is real small for a 9mm. I purchased a pocket holster and it looks like I'm carrying a wallet when I put it in the front pocket of my jeans. It will probably conceal even better in a pair of dress or cargo pants.

Now for the range report. Kahr recomends a 200 rd. minimum to break in the PM9 before CCing it so I took Fri. afternoon off work and went to the range. I took 100 rds. of cheap Wolf 9mm and 100 rds. of some Winchester white box range ammo to get the job done right away.

During the break in I had 1 fail to feed and that was on the Wolfe brand. I took the final 13 rds. of the Winchester and 2 fresh targets to see how accurate the little gun might be. One was at 5 yards and the other at 7 yards. I was standing shooting 2 handed with no support.

5 yards:



7 yards:




You notice the round in the 9 ring in the 5 yard target and the lower left corner of the 7 yard target. That's the shooters fault not the gun. I yanked on the trigger on the first round of each mag. Once I get use to the dual action trigger I hope to prevent this from happening again.

Over all I really like how compact the PM9 is. Accuracy was better than I expected on the first trip out with a new gun. The craftmanship is superb which one one expect on a gun of this price ($650.00 out the door for me).

Bottom line is, if you are looking for something small enough to pocket carry and prefer something with a little more power than the .380s that are out there, you might want to take a closer look at the Kahr PM9.

 

[verdun59]

Good choice, mine has never missed a beat nor has my P380 which is really pocketable.

 

[Sgt_R]

I love the PM9 and the P380. Like you, I was very surprised at the accuracy of both guns the first time out. I think I actually shoot them better than my G27, which is pretty impressive, considering how much smaller the Kahr's are.

To sum up: good choice. I hope you enjoy yours a much as we do ours.

R

 

[dryflyelk]

Nice pics.

I had a PM9 back when they were brand new. I liked it...and I hated it.

The mag release button was just...in the way. My thumb would hit it and the mag would drop when I was shooting.

Also, it jammed quite a lot. I put a ton of rounds through it hoping to "break it in" but that never happened. It was sent packing.

I now carry and use the p238. Not as powerful as the 9, but I haven't had a hiccup with this one and I love it.

 

[braceyourself07]

My wife and I each have our own PM9's with night sights and so far I really like them. They only have 100 rounds through them each so they aren't fully 'broken in' per Kahr's recommendation. The first 30 rounds or so of each had a few failures to feed and a couple of stovepipes. However, the last 70 rounds were flawless except when my wife shot them she had more failure to feed issues--but were likely due to limp wristing (we changed guns and I had no problems shooting hers, but then mine would get FTFs when she fired it--so we have that isolated down to the shooter). A little more practice should even that out... so right now we aren't carrying them until they perform flawlessly-- which means lots of time and ammo spent at the range with the honey!

 

[Just One Shot]

braceyourself07 may I ask what brand and style of night sights you have?

 

[braceyourself07]

I have the Meprolight Kahr TruDot green tritium night sights. They are quite visible in low light and am not disappointed I have them.

http://www.meprolight.com/default.asp?catid={7996D3EF-770C-4109-95AD-F3BEBF611F6C}

I also attached a picture of my Kahr PM9, though it's hard to see since I took the pic with my cell phone. I think night sights are a must on a carry weapon because of the likelihood that if you do use it, it may very well be in low-light conditions.

I know some people will prefer lower profile sights on a pocket pistol, but I can't get used to the stock style sights on the Kahr.

Thanks for your pictorial review!

 

[Just One Shot]

I have the Meprolight Kahr TruDot green tritium night sights. They are quite visible in low light and am not disappointed I have them.

http://www.meprolight.com/default.asp?catid={7996D3EF-770C-4109-95AD-F3BEBF611F6C}

I also attached a picture of my Kahr PM9, though it's hard to see since I took the pic with my cell phone. I think night sights are a must on a carry weapon because of the likelihood that if you do use it, it may very well be in low-light conditions.

I agree, I have had night sights on most of my carry guns. Thanks for the info.

 

[Vegas Silver]

Great review

Great, thoughtful review, with great reference pictures.

Around 2 years ago, I spent a lot of time deciding on a pocket pistol, and chose the PM9. It's been a great gun.

Thanks for taking the time to make a quality post.

 

[franco45]

Congratulations on your new PM9. I don't own a PM9 but I do have a CW9

and a CW45. Both have been very reliable and concealable. I have Crimson

Trace grips on the CW9. Kahr has just made night sights available for the CW

line. I will probably put them on the CW45.

 

[Anger]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I'm so "gun shy" to plink down that kind of cash and still have a pistol that jams even during the break in period. None of my quality mid-size and full size pistols ever miss a beat. Having had a bad experience with a like new PF9 which was sold to me without the disclosure it was a jam o matic, I'm extremely nervous about buying another thin/micro 9mm for 2x the price and still face the potential for problems. I so do want to add something like this to my stable though.

 

[DasFriek]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I'm so "gun shy" to plink down that kind of cash and still have a pistol that jams even during the break in period. None of my quality mid-size and full size pistols ever miss a beat. Having had a bad experience with a like new PF9 which was sold to me without the disclosure it was a jam o matic, I'm extremely nervous about buying another thin/micro 9mm for 2x the price and still face the potential for problems. I so do want to add something like this to my stable though.

Just so you know i just picked up my new Christmas present a month early when i went in to the LGS to inspect it when it came in. Mine isn't the PM9 tho, I got the MK9 which is the same exact gun except has the stainless steel frame and not polymer.
There was no way i was leaving that shop without that gun in my hand.
Now i gotta pick out a new Christmas gun and that wont be easy as i will only buy a gun that i can completely rationalize and have an exact purpose for. With 3 carry guns now it will be hard to justify another, Very hard.
My CCW package is this:

Full sized - 5" 1911 in .45acp
Mid sized- 3.5" officers 1911 in .45
Pocket mouse- MK9
So i think i have everything covered except maybe i can sneak another Sig p238 for when i need a "Speedo" gun.

Too date the most i had ever paid for a gun was $600, This one ticked just over $700.
But i did alot of research before i ever spend that kind of money, Heck i spend days upon days just buying a $400 gun.
Ive not shot it yet as its winter in Ohio now and in the low 30's so that leaves only indoor ranges for options and im waiting for my Gov. 1911 to get home from the refinisher that should have been home by now. But im starting to think i cant wait anymore.

But i can tell you a few things about the gun that could help you.
For one the quality is the highest ive seen on a gun ive owned, This is the first gun i didn't need to do a fluff and buff on the trigger. The trigger is so smooth and breaks at just the right point it is the best DAO trigger i ever pulled. Its amazing at how smooth it is and consistent. No burrs or machining marks needed attention either.

I cleaned it and lubed it well with Slide Glide and as many people at http://kahrtalk.com suggested i took the mag out and worked the slide 500 times.
I didn't count and im sure i wasn't even close, But it so smooth i see no reason to keep doing it.

One thing i like is you can buy any part for your gun right off their site and not send it in for repairs as in most cases i prefer to work on my own guns.
But ive also heard their CS is really good and fast at turn around.

Also the CW and PM line are two of the most recommended lines Kahr has due to reliability.
I did do some manual feeding with fmj and hp's and all fed and ejected just fine at such slow speeds.

As you know there isn't many options in the 9mm mouse guns, But Sig will have the P290 out soon and i think it may be a tad less expensive.
But for me the MK/PM line has many years of getting the bugs out, And Sig buyers for the first year will be beta testers.

This is my first Kahr, But i have a feeling a PM45 may be in my future.
It will take a miracle for someone to build a .45 so small and reliable as the PM45 is. But im a 1911 guy so it would be a battle for that little gun to knock my 1911's off my belt and put the PM45 in it.

I only use the MK9 as a bug or as a quick back pocket gun when i don't have time to holster up. But for most its more than adequate as a main carry gun.

 

[frank c]

I love my Kahr pm9 it is my pocket most of the time as my carry gun.I also have the nite sites.I have shot at least 500 rounds threw mine and it has not missed a beat yet.

 

[Anger]

DasFriek, I also am considering the MK9 as a primary choice but I would take the PM9. My distributor sold out of the low priced MK9's recently (less than 2 weeks ago) as I had one in my cart. I decided I'll just wait for them to come back in stock. Again, I think I'm willing to try either the MK9 or the PM9. I like the heavier, sturdy alloy frame of the MK9 but at the same time I wouldn't turn my nose up at the lightweight bro, the PM9. I'm just reluctant to plunk down cash on another cow if it ain't gonna produce milk if you know what I mean.

 

[JQP]

Kahr is an outstanding choice for concealed carry.

I was a skeptic of Kahr because it wasn't Glock or Sig, but that was because I never had any real exposure to one - in other words, it was because I was biased without good reason (can there be bias even with good reason?...I digress).

Now that I own a Kahr CW9, all I have to say is that it really is an outstanding little pistol, and the only other legitimate contender in the space is the Walther PPS, but for me, I just liked the Kahr better (but they're both great).

I really don't need any of the features of the P9, which don't increase reliability/durability, and I do prefer the slightly longer site radius and grip of the CW9 over the PM9, but then again, the PM9 is better as a true pocket carry weapon.

 

[DasFriek]

Anger- If you have a local store that does decently priced transfers you could order one from buds at $659 which is the lowest base price, Its what i got also.
BTW cheaperthandirt.com also has the same gun at that price also.

What makes you think this gun will be a lemon? The CW and PM/MK line of guns are well known to be some of the most reliable guns Kahr makes. Far as i know anyhow from my research.
But buying from a local shop that does guarantee all sales like many places do may be what you need to calm your nerves about spending so much for a gun. I know one place i buy from has a 30 day guarantee and will make you happy one way or another if you get a lemon gun.

Have you held and inspected an MK9? My first reaction was "Wow, what a chunk of steel this is!" I mean the MK9 is solid and actually heavy for its small size. But not overly heavy tho. I think from living in a world of polymer guns that dont weight 14 oz's feel like bricks.

Im gonna shoot mine in the next few days as i cant wait any longer for my Gov. 1911 to come back from the refinisher anymore. So when i do ill give a range review here if that helps.

 

[Anger]

DasFriek, re MK9 and PM9 reliability. Have read mixed reviews and I tend to believe based on my bad luck with some purchases (not Kahr, but still). These micro semi-auto pistols seem to be the most problematic in general. Also, I've seen the MK9 for $545 and the PM9 for $500 (plus $15 ship) so I'm holding out for those prices. Forum member, waterhouse, does my xfers for $10. Thanks for the info and please post a range report, perhaps in another thread as not to hijack this PM9 review?

I'm probably leaning towards the PM9 even though I much prefer the alloy frame pistols. The PM9 would fill the niche that the kel-tek PF9 filled and I already have a decent subcompact pistol, the XD40sc (Although it's not MK9 small).