Kahrs Incorrectly Get Bad Rap

[a36bill]

I often see reviews that describe Kahr pistols as unreliable. Yes, Kahr suggests a 200 round break-in period, but that was not necessary with 3 of the 4 Kahrs that I own. My CW9, CW45, and CM9 functioned flawlessly right out of the box. I did have some issues with my P380, but a short trip back to Kahr and the gun is now very reliable.

Kahrs, by nature, are very tight guns. Shake a Kahr, and you won't hear the slide and other parts rattle like with a Glock (before you get defensive, I'm a Glock fan). I attribute the P380 problems to the fact that it is a very small gun, so the tolerances are more critical, and it just needed a few factory adjustments after it had some rounds through it.

 

[johnnydollar]

I've owned a CW-9, a CW-40, and two PM-9s. The two bigger guns were reliable; the two PM-9s were not. But in my world, "reliable" guns do not need to make a trip back to the factory. They don't even necessarily need an extractor (HK P7).

 

[rferizano]

Hand refitting of any CNC production gun of today can make all the difference in the world.

 

[Patriotme]

Got a CW9.
Great gun, no issues and I have complete trust in int.
Nuff said.

 

[sturmgewehr]

I have a CW9, CM9 and a P380. All three have been flawless performers with everything from high quality defensive ammo to Winchester White Box.

 

[hardluk1]

CM9 and CW9 and both have been 100% . I really think a percentage of problems are caused by the owners of small pistols. To many newbe's or inexperienced shooters will also buy a firearm and go directly to a range to shoot'um up and have problems then whine about it. Or simply don't follow basic directions. I bought my CW9 that way.

 

[usp9]

I'm a Kahr fan, but two of my seven Kahrs did not work reliably, having a combination of light strikes and ejection problems. My other Kahrs operate very reliably. IMHO, the Kahrs have little room left in their design for variances that may affect function. I'd rather the gun be more reliable even at the cost of a little weight.

The mags need to be redesigned as well as the well known nose drop can be problematic. This is a design flaw that should have been fixed years ago but wasn't. I still like the guns but I'd like them more if they were as reliable as my HKs.

 

[hardluk1]

When sw, kimber, ruger ,heck any of them have runs of issues with new pistols they all will fix them if you only you take the time to return them .

I have an ole riding buddy back in florida that had a 45 cal hk as one of the choices for a duty pistol. He retired with the police and moved over to the sheriffs depo. There He got another HK. It was a problem pistol, spent enought time in the armorers hands it finally was returned and he carries something else now.

 

[JohnBT]

"with 3 of the 4 Kahrs that I own"

That's a 25% failure rate.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

Actually Kahrs selling point is reliability. There were a few issues with some of the early releases but those were resolved. The majority of recent reviews are glowing.

 

[TarDevil]

Read Feb 2012 issue of Shooting Times review of micro .380's. Does not make me want a Kahr (or ANY micro .380 for that matter, but especially not the Kahr).

 

[BrainOnSigs]

I agree on any micro .380....any .380 for that matter. Not when you can have 9mm in something as small a a PM9.

 

[hardluk1]

John if you feel so bad about them why do you own 4 of them. Have a good shooter look them over first. If still a problem just send the problem pistols back to be fixed. Talk to rich at kahr, Write out a good solid letter with all issues. Some people give the CS people crap and then don't send a letter along detailing the problems so something gets over looked. That happens too.

It happens with all of the firearms companies. What would you do if you had a couple 1200 or higher dollar pistols that would not feed HP rounds relieably. Complan or get it fixed. It happens so often, or atleast thats the way some 1911 owners sound on these forums as they carry fmj not Hp ammo.

The kahr I have that sold me on them was from an older well seasoned pistol shooter that said his kahr cw9 was junk, not relieable. I cleaned it, looked for any thing to smooth or debur. Lubed it where needed and fired 600 rounds before recleaning. Not a single problem now with around 1200 rounds fired but it was junk to a seasoned shooter. Went out and bought a CM9 did the same thing to it and use the loger mags too.

The only pistol, a, firearm that ever gave me a problem that I could not deal with in 40 years was a p-11. Could not figure it out and ended up going back for a look over. Came back great, an darn near a completely different pistol. Even had the trigger smoothed up a bit. Great pistol after that. I did not complain or bad mouth it on these forums. Just took care of it. I also carried a pf-9 for 2 1/2 years that was a fine little pistol, very dependable if not a bit hard on the hand. Both KT's are now with other family memebers after getting my 2 kahr.

Like I have said before , some of the problems is with the owners some with the firearm. Some just leave um lay and bad mouth them, some trade them off with out being look at. That just pass's a possible problem to another person for them to bitch about. And the cycle goes on.

 

[340PD]

I am just about to go out the door with the carry gun I trust and shoot the best.

 

[a36bill]

I subscribe to your channel and have seen your Kahr reviews. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge via YouTube

 

[a36bill]

Sturmgewehr- I forgot to add your name to the previous reply. I enjoy your YouTube reviews.

 

[wild cat mccane]

My PM40 was a turd. Broke first shot back from the factory.

PM40's are well known for shattering the mag followers. Very googleable. Kahr just send you a new one. No fix.

The +1 magazines are known for not being as reliable as the flush fitting in both PM9 and PM40. Very googleable. I think it is the rule that most do not have 100's of rounds through their +1 magazine without a failure. The exception is the person who has.
(brings up another point. The "flush" fitting mags make the guns longer than advertised. They aren't flush at all.)

Kahr has the most unsupported magazines in the gun world. Put a mag in the pocket and it dumps the rounds. The second round shifts forward easily due to this. Great causer of nose diving rounds. Very googleable

Kahr's like to fail to go into battery. Very googleable.

No, their rep is spotty for some reasons.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Kahr's like to fail to go into battery. Very googleable.

That's because people don't read their manual on how to load your first round. If you use the slide release as the manual recommends - no problems.

My cw9 was 100% and I'm about to pick up a cm9 this Friday. I love kahrs.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

If you use the slide release as the manual recommends - no problems.

Lefties be damned!

If I'm looking at a pistol, I want one that can be used by both arms, with or without the support of the opposite hand. If I have to drop the slide with only my left hand, how am I supposed to do it lefty in a reliable way? I suppose I could try and release it with my left pointer finger like I do on my XD but you lose grip when you do that.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

CW40 and P380. The CW40 took 150-200 rounds to break in, but is settling in very well. I sometimes have an issue with chambering the first round. It gets slightly caught on the feed ramp and I'll have to tap the magazine from the bottom. The last 100 shots (I'm approaching 300) have been flawless, though. It is good enough for me to trust when my Glock 22 is too big for high necessity concealment.

The P380 is still within the break-in period, around 100 to 150 rounds. It is technically my wife's gun and she thinks that at this point, it only has issues with one of her magazines, not the other 2.

I certainly can't put Kahr into the same category as Glock or M&P or XD, but then again they don't make a 6" long, .90" wide .40sw pistol. Apples and oranges, I suppose.

 

[wild cat mccane]

I patiently await correction of my other concerns.

I agree that using the slide helps, but that doesn't solve all the FTB's Kahr's get.

 

[SteampunkQueen]

Ive been giving a lot of thought to getting a Kahr, they're nice pistols from what i know. Ive wanted to pick up the new MK9, all stainless pistol.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Watch sturmghever's YouTube review. You'll be a believer after that. Seriously idk why your having ftb. Good luck with it though. I'm curious now too. I love mine.

 

[JohnBT]

"I trust and shoot the best."

You have a Rohrbaugh too?

 

[OldCavSoldier]

A very good friend had nothing but trouble with his Kahr...back and forth to/from Kahr three different times to fix the problem, but no good. I do realize that that was just one pistol, but, seeing how much trouble my buddy had, I have opted for SIG pistols. They may not be as small or light as a Kahr, but, I have never had any failures of any kind with any SIG, starting right out of the box all the way to ~10,000 rounds.