KAHR Reliability?

[randytrapper]

Buy the gun...
I got mine on the 24th or 25th of Feb. and I have 390 rounds through it. It has functioned 100% from shot #1. Never so much as even a hiccup. I shot 200 wwb 150 federals and 40 rounds of Winchester JHP.
One thing I did do was the "Prepping of your new Kahr" posted on the Kahr talk form. I also spent a few hours with snap caps before my first range trip. But mine has been flawless. I really, really like the gun.

**EDIT** I should add, mines a CW9.

 

[MrMike]

P380 reliability

I bought a new P380 last Sept. and have had a many feed/eject issues with it since I bought it (500 rounds now). When I first got it, I'd typically experience 6 or 7 failures per 50 rounds and that continued through the 200 round break-in. The feed issues could aways be solved by tapping the back of the slide but the FTEs required the mag to be dropped/replaced in order to clear.

This continued past the 200 round break-in using multiple brands and types of ammo. Remington, PMC, WWB, round or flat nose...didn't matter. I kept track of failures per magazine and neither was more reliable than the other. I contacted Kahr, and they sent a stiffer set of springs which solved the feed issues, but not the FTEs.

I just sent the gun back to Kahr and hopefully they can figure out what's wrong and make it run. I really like the P380 and haven't given up on it. It conceals like nothing else, has an outstanding trigger, and I can shoot it far more accurately than the .38 snub it replaced (Ruger LCR). I intend to add a CM9 or perhaps a PM9 depending on how satisfied I am with Kahr service.

I've got a G19 with 2,000+ flawless rounds, but the P380 is a gun you can carry when wardrobe/social situations limit your options.

 

[IdahoLT1]

I bought my first CW9 back in the spring of '08 when I first got my ccw. I put ~800 flawless rounds through it before it was stolen. I bought another CW9 in fall of '09 and it has since seen ~1200 flawless rounds. By far the most important gun in my safe.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Wife took my CW9 its been great pistol.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I traded an SKS for a Kahr CW9. I sold it to a buddy of mine when I went overseas with the intention of buying it back when I go home. Before that, I put around 3000 rounds of 9mm through it and carried Federal HSTs for CCW. It was very reliable and impressed the socks off me for how accurate it was for it's size, it just felt like a full-size handgun though it was slightly bigger than a wallet. The only issue I saw was when weak-handed people tried to slingshot the slide to chamber a round. The Kahr likes to have it's slide dropped with the slide release button, works every time. Also, I kept my Kahr well-lubed with CLP at all times, I never had any issues. I tried getting my wife to carry it but she hated the fact that the slide was so stiff for her hands and that it had no external manual safety. So she carries a Makarov.

 

[COLOSHOOTR]

Have a P9 I carry quite a bit. It runs great and I trust it to work when I need it. Only problems I've had were magazine related (the stupid pos extended mag) and were fixed by using another mag.

 

[larryh1108]

I bought my PM9 in March of 08. After the break in, I've had zero issues with it. I am the most accurate with it with the 124gr ammo. I did put a box of Ranger +p+ thru it and i did not enjoy it. Over 1600 rounds now and still running like a top. I am very happy with it.

 

[givemeabreak]

CW40 Reliability

I purchased a CW40 about 6 monnths ago at a gunshow. After getting home and before firing I read all the horror stories online. Took it to the range and was pleasantly surprised to fire 100 rounds without one malfunction. Got home and gave it a good cleaning. Next time at the range the slide locked back after EVERY shot. I called Kahr about the problem and they told me that I had probably assembled the pin for the slide stop underneath the spring instead of on top as is stated in the manual. They sent me a new spring(I actually bent the old one back into shape and it works fine) and I re-assembled it correctly. Back at the range and another 100 rounds cycled flawlessly. I suspect that much of the negative feedback posted online is from similar improper assembly. There are several videos on Youtube that show the correct way to do it. I am very pleased with its performance and would recommend it for CCW.

 

[Shipwreck]

Interesting to see the poll results. always see an occasional complaint that a Kahr is the worst gun in the world, but I didn't think it was as bad as some try to make it out to be...

 

[verdun59]

Three Kahr's for me an early K9 when that's all they made, which in a fit of stupidity I traded for a G26, an early PM9 with the dreaded VAxxxx serial number and most recently a P380. The K9 and PM9 have never missed a beat from right out of the box. The
most recent P380 had teething problems on feeding. I mailed it to Kahr on a Monday and had the gun back on Friday of the same week and it has never missed a beat since Do I think they are reliable --- Yes; however I personally wouldn't buy one in .40.

 

[Dean1818]

Why not a 40?


It doesnt kick that much more than a 9 in my opinion

(The range gun that I rented)

With a Hogue grip..... and maybe a ported barrel later,
I think it would be fine

 

[verdun59]

Dean1818,
That's just a personal thing with me about 40s. I think the round is hard on a lot guns, it has more muzzle flip, and I get on target quicker with a 9. Understand this is only my opinion and I don't want to start one of those never ending caliber wars.

 

[heeler]

Interesting what you said Vedun because the outfit I bought my PM9 specifically commented to me that as far as the PM series goes they said the 9 is the way to go because of the muzzle flip of the 40 usually has customers complaining and or trading.

 

[verdun59]

heeler,
As I'm sure you know more than one manufacturer has had problems with their guns chambered in 40. I don't want to name any of them so as not to incur the wrath of the 40 shooters. For me if I shoot greater than 9 I'll go to 45, it's bigger and a easier shooter. Does't break as many guns either.

 

[Dean1818]

Maybe a bit off topic, but I like having only one caliber to stock and my "other" gun is an awesome P226 in 40

 

[kdstrick]

I have 3 Kahrs. All have been perfect. My wife took the cw9. I carry the cw45 often... it is a remarkably soft shooting 45, lightweight and easily concealable. I highly recommend Kahr...

 

[verdun59]

Dean1818,
I understand completely, and as stated earlier don't want to get into caliber wars, so in answer to you original query, yes I believe Kahrs are reliable. Go for it.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Before I bought my CW9 the first time, I rented a CW40 at the range. My thinking was if its too much recoil I could bump down to 9mm but if I just bought the 9mm I might never know how the 40 handled. The CW40 was a pain to handle IMO. Just has too much recoil for a 16oz gun. It's controllable, but the CW9 is just that much better of a shooter in my experience. And this is coming from a 10mm shooter(granted the guns weigh twice as much as the CW40) if that says anything.

 

[P7]

I've had several Kahrs. My K9's, K40 Covert, Mk9, and PM9 have been very reliable. Sold my P380. Unreliable even after two trips to Kahr and 1400 rounds.

 

[Dean1818]

After reviewing the 9mm vs 40 cal expansion rated on good HP ammo, I decided to go to a K9

The difference is somewhat small

(It also gives me a better platform for my wife and daughter to shoot)

 

[John_galt]

The only gun I ever got rid of was a P40 about 5 yrs ago.

After shooting around 700-800 rounds - I still had problems and still didn't trust it. A magazine follower broke inside 200 rounds. To Kahrs credit they sent me two news no charge.

For me personally it was too much bullet for too small a gun. The recoil is tolerable but it isn't a fun gun to shoot. I can live with that - it's a carry gun not a range gun. I didn't like the trigger. I will say though I have dryfired several since then and they have improved quite a bit; or I had a bad one. I was very suprised how accurate it was, even in rapid fire strings I could get fairly good groups. Even though it didn't seem to me like I was getting sites back on target I was getting 3-4 inch groups at 7 yards rapid fire.

All the above seems like fairly good report. The bigger problems - frequent jams. Most often was failure to RTB and stovepipes. Another problem was me - I'm left handed. To keep a secure enough grip to control the recoil, I would frequently have the magazine eject either fully or partially due to contact with the mag release.

Finally field stripping was a problem. It was too easy to replace the slide release and catch the spring leaf under it. Then it would lock open after every shot. Had to be very careful to get it in right and then function check it after reassembly.

Despite all that I want to get another one. I think the platform is better suited to a 9mm. At least for me being a lefty. It was a gun I really wanted to like but couldn't. I plan to try again with a 9 mm someday. (Unless the Rugwer LC9 really impresses me).

 

[Control]

I'm one of the unlucky ones. I've tried and failed with the Kahr PM9 several times. My last one was a NIB replacement from Kahr (long story involving seveal guns and parts...) that I sold unfired with a note to the buyer that while it was a new gun I just don't trust them. Hopefully that last factory replacement ran for him!

I have a nice leather PM9 pocket holster that I am hoping fits the Kimber Solo once they become more available.

I really wish I had the same luck that other PM9 owners have!

 

[Peakbagger46]

Bought a PM 40 a little under 3 years back. What a piece that was... first firing the rear sights flew off the gun. And did it ever jam... with good loads, all the time, WELL past the magic 200 mark. The fresh round refused to go into the pipe often, catching on the feed ramp.

I'm back to a glock 27. Not near as small, but it runs and runs, and holds ten rounds.

Feeling too lazy to cary the 27, I'd rather have 5 rounds of 38 than any amount of rounds in the piece of work Kahr.

Obviously others here have had better luck, just stating my experience.

 

[hardluk1]

I picked up a nice used cw9 for 250 and and old cross bow. I know the guy that had it and was dependable for him. It has been good for me with another 600 shot. Only complant so far is funtion thang for me. It is the first pistol i have owned that did not easy chamber that first round when slowly controling the slide by hand. Just not a smooth chmabering of the 1st round. Pull it back and let go, it works. Other than that ,it fine, Feels good in my hand and carry well.

 

[RedAlert]

My PM40 has been completely reliable. I did have some feeding problems when I was testing SD ammo with large open hollow points at the range. I eventually ended up with Cor-Bon Power Ball ammo because its rounded shape was completely reliable in my testing. I know others didn't have this problem, but I did and chose to pick the ammo to suit the weapon in this case.
I've had mine Mag-na-ported and really like the way it shoots. More controllable for second shots IMHO.
I most likely would not get another DAO pistol though as I really prefer DA/SA weapons.