jimbo555
Member
Bottom line, the glock 43 can fit into some pockets just not as easy as the pm9. It is larger and heavier.
Kahr PM9 vs Glock 43
- Thread starter MoreIsLess
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@ C0untZer0
Certainly not trying to be an ignoramus toward OP's question, but I simply cannot dispense from my own negative and unreliable experiences with a given brand. Guess that makes me stubborn, but I won't pretend a brand with widely experienced reliability problems is all sunshine and rainbows.
Yes, you can pocket carry a PM9 easier than a G43, which won't be a pocket gun for many owners.
Certainly not trying to be an ignoramus toward OP's question, but I simply cannot dispense from my own negative and unreliable experiences with a given brand. Guess that makes me stubborn, but I won't pretend a brand with widely experienced reliability problems is all sunshine and rainbows.
Yes, you can pocket carry a PM9 easier than a G43, which won't be a pocket gun for many owners.
Widely experienced reliability problems? Odd that the majority here have stated that their PM9/CM9 pistols have been reliable.
FYI - Glock is another manufacturer that, per the internet, has "widely experienced reliability problems". Gen 3 .40SW reliability problems with weaponlights mounted, numerous Gen 4 9mm problems, Gen 4 BTF problems that have never been adequately addressed, and don't even get us started on the Glock 36.
By that measure, no one should ever buy a Glock either. But the fact is that, just like the little Kahrs, they are by and large reliable, but not perfect, pistols. Sorry your experience has fouled you so much.
Jlr2267
Member
good to know. I've had a G23 under my bed for years with a light mounted, but have never shot it with the light (guess I'd better get it to the range fully dressed and make sure it runs).
Well first of all, I'm glad your Kahr has worked, and am fully aware most of them have.
Nonetheless, my own brand experience is different than the majority opinion, and while I'm happy for you getting a good one that doesn't figure into my negative experience. That is to say that what happened to me has no bearing on what 70, 80, or 90% of Kahr owners experienced. It simply was what happened.
Second, we're not talking about a Gen 3 .40 Glock, or a Glock 36. And BTF is annoying, but not a reliability issue IMO. My Kahr stopped firing. BTF requires the gun to still fire. And in any case, while unfixable BTF hasn't been something I've experienced with Glock, I can still entertain the notion that others have had different experiences without getting persnickety.
I didn't actually say that no one should buy a Kahr. Please, for the sake of being a gentleman, stop putting words in my mouth. A question was asked and answered, and nowhere in there did I tell someone else what they should or shouldn't do.
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If you have big pockets, I'd go with the g43. I have a kahr cm9 as my edc. Pocket carries in a galco pro460 very easily. This gun is reliable.
My other kahr is a problematic cw45. It's on its second trip back to kahr. Ftf, fte, nosedive jams, failure to return to battery, and a slide stop that won't stay in place. For the past year I've used it as a failure drill gun
First time it went back to Kahr, they replaced the frame, and it still didn't work correctly. This time I'm asking them to look at the cocking cam and the extractor.
My story is way too common. Check out Kahrtalk.com. Oh, and they have the rudest customer service people I have ever dealt with.
I believe Kahr firearms are a gamble. If you get a good one, they are great. If you get one of the many with qc issues, you are in for a frustrating experience.
My other kahr is a problematic cw45. It's on its second trip back to kahr. Ftf, fte, nosedive jams, failure to return to battery, and a slide stop that won't stay in place. For the past year I've used it as a failure drill gun
First time it went back to Kahr, they replaced the frame, and it still didn't work correctly. This time I'm asking them to look at the cocking cam and the extractor.
My story is way too common. Check out Kahrtalk.com. Oh, and they have the rudest customer service people I have ever dealt with.
I believe Kahr firearms are a gamble. If you get a good one, they are great. If you get one of the many with qc issues, you are in for a frustrating experience.
MIL-DOT
member
I believe this is the crux of the issue, and has long settled the issue of considering a Kahr, for me personally. There are too many quality, reliable, properly backed pistols covering this niche, to take the chance.
It's like buying a Taurus. WHY ????
wild cat mccane
Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
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- 977
That was absolutely uncalled for. Placing Kahr with Taurus.
In all seriousness, kahrtalk should let a reasonable person see that Kahr might have one of the highest quality control issue of all the major manufactures.
(I've owned four Kahr)
In all seriousness, kahrtalk should let a reasonable person see that Kahr might have one of the highest quality control issue of all the major manufactures.
(I've owned four Kahr)
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jimbo555
Member
Go to any manufacturers forum and you'll find folks having issues with every popular handgun out there. I have a 10 year old pm9, no problem never been back to Kahr. Also have a cw45 that runs perfect.
FireInCairo
member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 710
I tend to agree since they upped the weight on their triggers a few years back. Their original engineered triggers were very good.
Jlr2267
Member
Having owned several Kahr pistols over the years, I've experienced both the good and bad. My general experience has been:
1) the 9mm models are less prone to problems
2) the steel framed models are also less problematic
3) they generally do not like longer OAL loadings
4) the warranty sucks
5) their customer service sucks even worse (worst I've experienced from *any* company, by far...and not just once, but *every time*)
That said, my pocket carry is a cm9 that has been 100% reliable with SD ammo. I have sworn off Kahr after my last experience with their CS, but I'll keep my cm9 until it breaks I suppose.
1) the 9mm models are less prone to problems
2) the steel framed models are also less problematic
3) they generally do not like longer OAL loadings
4) the warranty sucks
5) their customer service sucks even worse (worst I've experienced from *any* company, by far...and not just once, but *every time*)
That said, my pocket carry is a cm9 that has been 100% reliable with SD ammo. I have sworn off Kahr after my last experience with their CS, but I'll keep my cm9 until it breaks I suppose.
I own the PM9, CM9 and a Glock 43.
The Glock 43 is about a half inch longer but all three are about the same weight.
I have big pockets and the G43 fits fine with the same pocket holsters as the Kahrs.
The Kahrs hide slightly better in the pocket with their shorter slides and smaller grips.
I have larger than normal hands and the G43 fills my hand better than either Kahr. The Kahrs have more aggressive stippling so sweaty summertime hands are not an issue.
The G43 recoils a little more than the Kahrs.
I like the shorter trigger reset of the G43 but if you've had the Kahr for awhile and are used to the longer reset it's not an issue.
I don't notice any difference in accuracy between the three with 115gr and 124gr ball and 115gr Corbon DPX. The DPX is very accurate in all three guns.
If I were you and had a reliable working PM9, that I shoot straight with, I wouldn't waste money replacing it with a G43. The G43 is a nice gun though so if you just want to get one for the heck of it that's fine.
My carry gun (where legal to do so) is a Springfield XDS 45. I'm very accurate with it and it fits my hand very well. The G43 is the same length as the XDS but noticeably lighter.
The Glock 43 is about a half inch longer but all three are about the same weight.
I have big pockets and the G43 fits fine with the same pocket holsters as the Kahrs.
The Kahrs hide slightly better in the pocket with their shorter slides and smaller grips.
I have larger than normal hands and the G43 fills my hand better than either Kahr. The Kahrs have more aggressive stippling so sweaty summertime hands are not an issue.
The G43 recoils a little more than the Kahrs.
I like the shorter trigger reset of the G43 but if you've had the Kahr for awhile and are used to the longer reset it's not an issue.
I don't notice any difference in accuracy between the three with 115gr and 124gr ball and 115gr Corbon DPX. The DPX is very accurate in all three guns.
If I were you and had a reliable working PM9, that I shoot straight with, I wouldn't waste money replacing it with a G43. The G43 is a nice gun though so if you just want to get one for the heck of it that's fine.
My carry gun (where legal to do so) is a Springfield XDS 45. I'm very accurate with it and it fits my hand very well. The G43 is the same length as the XDS but noticeably lighter.
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Zerodefect
member
The Surefire lights seem to mitigate this better. Looser, but secure mounting, maybe. The XC1 has been fine on my G3, but it usually lives on my G4 which hasn't the light problem.
Sam C
Member
I own both and like them both. My PM9 has been extremely reliable and so has my G43. IMHO the PM9 has a better trigger than the G43 and I shoot the PM9 better. Also, to me the PM9 has a bit less recoil. Lately I've been carring the 43 trying to get acclimated to it, sometimes you need a little time with a pistol to become proficient, time will tell.
I don't have any experience with the PM9, but I have no trouble hiding the G43 and getting a firing grip when carried in the front pocket of Levi's 501 jeans. The thing I like about the G43 is that I can shoot it as much as a full sized gun and not worry about its longevity, and spare magazines are relatively cheap and plentiful. That is worth some trade off in size to me. (I gave up a Sig P938 in favor of the 43.)
Warners
Member
Wow....I regularly carry my P45 in my Duluth trading front pocket. No issues whatsoever. I'd think either the PM9 (which I just ordered) or the G43 would be no issue at all. Again, the pants make a huge difference. I'm sure neither would pocket carry in anything but the loosest jeans with deep pockets. Since the Duluth pants are what I wear every day, that becomes a non issue for me. I'm sure opinions and results vary.
Warner
Warner
Holstered CM9 in 2 pairs of generic jeans
Here are some comparison photos with 2 different brands of generic jeans. I didn't fiddle with the pockets or anything, I put the holstered gun in the pocket, walked down a flight of stairs, sat down , stood up, walked up a flight of stairs, and moved around slightly to actually take the photos.
I noticed that when I put the holstered CM9 in my front pocket, I could look right down and see the butt of the gun. The CM9 holds the pocket open slightly – about ¾ of an inch. the CM9 only sits in the pocket a ¼” deep. With the CM9 there is only ¼” of space from the top of the gun to the opening of the pocket. I think because the CM9 doesn't sit in the pocket very deep, it sort of holds the pocket open by about ¾”.
The Glock 43 is even bigger than the Kahr CM9, so you can draw your own conclusions...
Here are some comparison photos with 2 different brands of generic jeans. I didn't fiddle with the pockets or anything, I put the holstered gun in the pocket, walked down a flight of stairs, sat down , stood up, walked up a flight of stairs, and moved around slightly to actually take the photos.
I noticed that when I put the holstered CM9 in my front pocket, I could look right down and see the butt of the gun. The CM9 holds the pocket open slightly – about ¾ of an inch. the CM9 only sits in the pocket a ¼” deep. With the CM9 there is only ¼” of space from the top of the gun to the opening of the pocket. I think because the CM9 doesn't sit in the pocket very deep, it sort of holds the pocket open by about ¾”.
The Glock 43 is even bigger than the Kahr CM9, so you can draw your own conclusions...
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