Kahr T40 or K40?

[DMK]

** Please don't recommend or bash Kahr's polymer guns. I have no interest in a plastic framed gun. Let's not even discuss it. **

I've been considering having my dealer order me a reliable and shootable CCW to carry IWB and compliment my Colt CCO in the gunsafe. Now I'm trying to decide which one.

The Kahr T40 looks very interesting. Comparing specs it seems to be about the same size as a Sig P239, but with a 4" barrel. There doesn't seem to me a lot of love for the T series Kahrs for some reason though and is seems holster selection might be slim.

Another Kahr that caught my eye was the K40. That's a really compact little firebreather when you compare it to other guns of the same class.

Does (or did) anyone here have one of these models? How do you like it? What holster do you use with it? Any problems? Is there anything you do not like about it?

Did this gun replace something else, or did something else replace it? Why?

Are there any other guns(non-polymer), about this size, about this thickness, in .40 or .45 that you'd recommend?

 

[obiwan1]

I have a K40. LOVE IT!. It's nicely concealable. It's a little heavy but that's a plus when shooting it. It's a little large/heavy for pocket carry, but great on a holster/smartcarry. I occasionally carry it off duty when I need to be real low profile. Otherwise I carry my H&KP2000.

 

[tblt]

a hammerless snub nose 38 is a great carry gun,fits inside the waistband great even with no holster and nobody knows its there.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have an E9 (cheap version of the K9, before the CW guns) and think it is about right. A friend has a K40 which kicks like a SOB with serious defense ammo. I think the T40 would be more manageable.

I quit carrying guns in my waistband without a holster some years ago when my Colt D.S. slithered down my pants leg.

 

[DMK]

a hammerless snub nose 38 is a great carry gun

I agree they are great CCWs. I've already got an S&W 642(in my pocket right now) and a Ruger SP101. But, what I'm looking for here is something thin and with a longer barrel length for IWB carry.

It's a little heavy but that's a plus when shooting it. It's a little large/heavy for pocket carry, but great on a holster/smartcarry.

Yes, I like a little heft in a gun. Pocket carry isn't an issue. Got that covered with other guns in the collection.

A friend has a K40 which kicks like a SOB with serious defense ammo. I think the T40 would be more manageable.

Really? What kind of ammo is he using, Buffalo Bore or something like that? It seems to me that at 24oz, it would dampen the recoil pretty well. My SP101 is lighter than that with a higher bore, and doesn't seem too bad with 158gr 357mags.

I am leaning towards the T40 though. I like the longer barrel length for better velocity, longer sight radius and the grip would allow a better purchase on the gun when firing. I currently carry a Colt CCO IWB so the Kahr should carry similarly I'd think.

 

[DMK]

I just double checked the specs, the T40 is actually the same size, weight and capacity as a Sig P239, but thinner and it has a 4" barrel.

I just don't understand why this gun isn't more popular. A real sleeper CCW.

 

[Charles S]

a hammerless snub nose 38 is a great carry gun,fits inside the waistband great even with no holster and nobody knows its there.

Now that was a helpful answer that appropriately addressed the question. I must say I am most impressed with your intellect.

I think the T40 would be a great gun, but I have no experience.

Since concealed carry was my primary purpose then I chose the K40 and I love it. I will admit that it is a bit much for me in a situation where I put a lot of rounds down range (read a class). I shot a class where I used about 700 rounds over 2 days and my hand was quite sore for a week.

Really? What kind of ammo is he using, Buffalo Bore or something like that? It seems to me that at 24oz, it would dampen the recoil pretty well. My SP101 is lighter than that with a higher bore, and doesn't seem too bad with 158gr 357mags.

If the hotter 158 grain loadings in a snub 357 don't bother you you won't have trouble with the Kahr. I find the 158 grain loadings quite tedious within 100 rounds through my Ruger SP101.

I will highly recommend the Kahr K40. A great gun, reliable, accurate, and concealable. If you don't mind a bit larger, then I am not sure how you could go wrong with the T40.

Good luck.

 

[skipjack_1st]

Can't comment on the T40, but do own and carry the K40. Absolutely love it. 100% reliable, as well as accurate. Only down side is the weight but that comes with the territory when going with a steel frame. I have no issues at all with the recoil. Practice rounds are the W/W 180 gr, (if memory serves me).

Holster wise, I've settled on an IWB by Tucker gun leather, the cover up plus. Very comfortable when worn with a good quality gun belt. The 'tuckable' feature of the hoster has come in very handy.

Good luck and enjoy your purchase

 

[DMK]

Only down side is the weight but that comes with the territory when going with a steel frame.

Yes, but weight is a blessing when you shoot.

A good holster and maybe more importantly, a good belt will help with the weight, but I don't think I'd want to shoot .40 in something as light as my S&W 642.

Thanks for the comments folks.

 

[possum]

Does (or did) anyone here have one of these models? How do you like it? What holster do you use with it? Any problems? Is there anything you do not like about it?

i have a k-40 and i love it, i used to carry it everyday but the wife decided that she wanted it so she now has it. holsters i use a don hume open top don't remeber the exact model number, but it is a paddle and great for the little kahr it is so comfortable i forget that i have it on. no issues. i wish they were a little les expensive but then i would probally own more than i need!

 

[usp9]

Is 9mm close enough? I have both a T9 and a K9, as well as a P45. These are all very nice CCWs, all with a different personality.

The K9 is just about the perfect size for concealment, reliability has been perfect with all ammo tested. I do not however carry this pistol as the trigger, a standard Kahr trigger, is a bit "off" for me personally. Too long and a bit of build up at the end. Kahr does offer the "Elite" trigger group and it would be well worth getting. Good holsters are easy to find.

The T9 is the pistol I compare to the HK P7. They are almost identical in size, weight, accuracy, quality and reliability. The T9 is a very, very nice pistol. It comes with the softer, lighter elite trigger, and that alone makes this a sweet shooter. The only fault I can find with this pistol is that neither Kahr nor anyone else offers aftermarket grips. For carry I'd prefer rubber grips to the excellent wood grips that come with the gun standard. Holsters are not as easy to find.

For a small, steel, very robust concealment weapon, it's hard to beat the Kahrs in either 9mm or .40. I would recommend the night sights offered as factory options, they are excellent, (I have the Mepros).

I would feel comfortable carrying any of the three Kahrs that I have. I'm testing the P45 now to see if it will become my new CCW, but the older steel frame guns have already proven themselves utterly reliable, accurate enough and as easy to hide on my body as any gun I own.

 

[loop]

I sold a Glock 27 and a KelTec P11 after I got my Kahr K40. It was heavier than either of them, but no bigger. It was much more accurate than either and has never failed to function.
With heavy loads it does get a little hard to handle. My two-handed grip ends up one-handed after each round, but then I load some pretty hot .40S&W.
It serves as my main carry gun when I have to conceal under light clothing and as a BUG when I dress in heavier clothing.
Don't recall the models, but I use an Old World belt slide for open carry, a Milt Sparks IWB for regular concealment and a Pager Pal for when it is a BUG.
During the heat of the summer, 110+ every day in Bullhead City/Laughlin, I use the Pager Pal and carry a KelTec P32 in a pocket holster.

 

[Zen21Tao]

I just added a K40 to my collection a couple of weeks ago. I have had a Kahr PM40 for a few years now. It started out as a "now and then" pocket pistol but quickly became my daily carry weapon.

But early on I did have a peening problem that caused my PM40's slide to hand up every few shots. I know you don't want to hear about any of the polymer guns, I am only mentioning this because I was very impressed with the excellent customer service I received from Kahr when it was sent to them. The gunstore I bought it from said they would ship it back and after a month I got antsy and called Kahr. They said that they has just received the gun about 3 days before my call (I verified this to be true), but that they would put my gun at the top of the list and try to get it fixed ASAP. In about 2 days I received a call saying that it had been fixed and had been mail back to me.

After receiving my PM40 back, I became so impressed with it that I told myself I would trade in my Glock 27 (also in .40S&W), which was one of my primary IWB guns, if I could find a decent deal on the slightly larger Kahr K40 or P40. Then a couple weeks ago I finally found a deal on a like new K40 that I couldn't pass up.

I must admit that I haven't yet fired it, but if it is anything like my PM40, I am sure I am going to love it.

Let me add that if you are looking for the ultimate in concealment for a .40 caliber handgun, you might want to take a look at the MK40 (the all steel version of the PM40). While the T40 is a 4" barrel and the K40 is a 3.6" barrel, the MK40 is a 3" barrel. As for he differences in grip sizes, the T40 has an overall height of 5.0" (7rnd mag), the K40 as a overall height of 4.55" (6rnd mag) and the MK40 has an overall height of 4.0" (5rnd mag or 6rnd mag w/grip extension).

 

[DMK]

It serves as my main carry gun when I have to conceal under light clothing and as a BUG when I dress in heavier clothing.

Just curious Loop, what's your primary when you carry the K40 as a BUG?

Let me add that if you are looking for the ultimate in concealment for a .40 caliber handgun, you might want to take a look at the MK40

I actually am considering an MK9 for a second purchase from Kahr if I'm happy with the first. I don't think I'd want a .40 chambering in a gun that small.

While the T40 is a 4" barrel and the K40 is a 3.6" barrel, the MK40 is a 3" barrel.

Right now, my primary is a Colt CCO. That's a 1911 with a 4" barreled Commander slide and a 7 round alloy Officers frame. I think this is the prefect sized CCW for a primary and I'm looking for something comparable to that with first gun I purchase this year. The Kahr T40 is actually smaller than my CCO in all dimensions but grip length (where it's exactly the same length).