Mods to Kahr P45?

[32winspl]

Hey Folks. I have a Kahr P45 and would like to make it more pocket-friendly.
Ok, first, my (left) hand plus the p45 is a very tight fit in my front left pocket. I'm willing to lose one round to shorten the frame butt and magazine so that I can carry the pistol in my left front pocket. In stock trim, I can just barely pull the pistol from my front pocket... and that's not a straight pull... I have to lever it back and forth to draw it. Has anyone made this modification yet?
Second; the trigger guard has a slight upsweep in the middle that interferes with my trigger finger as I sweep the trigger to the rear. Can the trigger guard be "melted" downward to give my trigger finger more clearance? Even though I only use the pad of my finger on the trigger (as opposed to the first joint ), my finger drags on the guard, and affects my aim.
The last 3 or 4 years I lived in Tn (Wi resident now for 9 years) I carried an AMT Backup 45 in an inexpensive "rough-side-out" suade leather pocket holster. I'd still have it if I hadn't gotten into a seriously bad spot financially.

Heck, depending on your responses, I may go back to an AMT.
Robb

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't see why you could not saw the butt off to take the PM45's five shot magazine and gain .31" in height. A saw cut and some sanding would be all that it required. It will cut through the checkering pattern, look odd, and kill the resale value.

I think the curve of the trigger guard is to keep your finger from getting pinched between the tip of the trigger and the guard. I don't know what it would take to open that up.

 

[fineredmist]

Go back to the AMT, don't ruin the Kahr as it is worth a bit more than the AMT. Just my opinion.

 

[orionengnr]

Trade in the P45 on a PM 45.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A P45 is mighty big for a pants pocket. I carry a PM9 -- a much smaller gun -- in my pocket, but only in "relaxed fit" jeans, cargo pants or some casual slacks with larger pockets. It is too tight in a "regular fit" jeans pocket.

 

[gtmtnbiker98]

I started carrying am MK40 in the pocket and couldn't even imagine the P45. My MK40 feels as if my pants are subject to rapid drop at any given moment - it's that heavy.

 

[shooterer]

Quote "I lived in Tn (Wi resident now for 9 years) I carried an AMT Backup 45"

Don't let Gov. Doyle catch you.

 

[CPshooter]

I want a P45, but I also don't like how tall it is. It has a 3.5" barrel which is the minimum I would trust to get sufficient velocity out of a .45acp round, and at 18oz and 1" wide throught the slide and grip it is perfect for CCW.

However, pocket carry is a little extreme for this gun in my opinion...while it's a PERFECT size to carry a .45 IWB, it's just not a good gun for pocket carry. A 9mm like a PM9 or a KT PF-9 would do the job much better and still have some power behind it, unlike a .380 or something smaller. Then again, there are some lunatics that pocket carry Glock 26/27s. lol.

Now back to the P45. Every other dimension is perfect, but at 4.8" tall without the magazine base pad, it is a little taller than what I'd like. I think it might print through a shirt a little easier than if the grip was chopped down a bit to the PM45 length. Of course, it would then only hold 5+1, but that's still good enough for me as long as I'm still shooting .45acp I think it would be an easy modification, and I was thinking about buying one and doing this myself. A hacksaw, a few different types of files and sandpaper, and patience would easily do the trick and keep it looking clean too. Ideally, I'd like to chop it down, and then hope that Kahr makes a 6rd mag w/ a "pinky extension" like the PM9/40s have. I think Kahr made a "covert" P9 at one point, which was a P9 slide and a PM9 frame and magazine. Chopping down a P45 would essentially give you a "Covert" P45. I'd love to have one of these in all black.

Anyways, if you want to pocket carry, you might want to try a different gun. If you like the P45 or think you can pocket carry it with a shorter grip, then I say go for it. Money comes and goes, so unless you have other financial responsibilities that should come first(ie: child support, bills, and such lol), don't let the money stop you.

 

[32winspl]

Hey guys,
The reason I haven't tried to cut a half-inch from the grip of my Kahr P45 is more the magazine than the actual butt of the pistol. I don't have the skills or equipment to either (1), cut out a 1/2" section out of the middle of the mag and re-weld with a smooth weld both inside and out; or (2), cut 1/2" off the base of the mag while retaining the proper amount of steel to retain the "wings" required to remount the necessary (and removable) basepad. Actually, the cutting would be easy enough, it's making the nice, clean, square 90 degree bend (no radius) that intimidate me.
I also suppose this modification would render any warranty void.
Any further thoughts would be appreciated.
BTW, who makes the PM45. I suppose I ought to check one out before giving further consideration to chopping down what is otherwise a good gun.
Thanks folks.

 

[Jim Watson]

Kahr makes the PM45 right alongside the P45. Just smaller.

 

[CPshooter]

Hey guys,
The reason I haven't tried to cut a half-inch from the grip of my Kahr P45 is more the magazine than the actual butt of the pistol. I don't have the skills or equipment to either (1), cut out a 1/2" section out of the middle of the mag and re-weld with a smooth weld both inside and out; or (2), cut 1/2" off the base of the mag while retaining the proper amount of steel to retain the "wings" required to remount the necessary (and removable) basepad. Actually, the cutting would be easy enough, it's making the nice, clean, square 90 degree bend (no radius) that intimidate me.
I also suppose this modification would render any warranty void.
Any further thoughts would be appreciated.
BTW, who makes the PM45. I suppose I ought to check one out before giving further consideration to chopping down what is otherwise a good gun.
Thanks folks.

Actually, Kahr makes the PM45. It just became available to dealers recently, but I still haven't seen one. You don't have to worry about welding any mags here.. the PM45 mag is shorter and holds 5+1 instead of the P45's 6+1. You just need to make a good cut to the grip, and then buy a PM45 magazine from Kahr.

 

[32winspl]

cpshooter. I bow my head to you and stand in awe! I don't think it could be much simpler than that. You Sir, are DA MAN!!!

 

[Jim Watson]

Why wasn't I da man back in post no 2? I quote a usually reliable source (me): "I don't see why you could not saw the butt off to take the PM45's five shot magazine"

 

[32winspl]

Mr Jim Watson; I appologise. You, Sir, are even Da Man(er). At that time, I didn't know that Kahr made the PM45; an even smaller and more concealable P45. Heck, by now, I'm bowing so far that I think that I think it may be my own rear-end I'm smelling! Sheesh! If it weren't the odor in this room, this would most-assuredly be the best website I've ever visited.
Just so's ya knows; I am awesomely impressed with THR, and Mssr's Watson and CPshooter! This IS a good place!