My pocket gun saga continues...looked into Kahr..why so expensive???

[saturno_v]

I visited the Kahr web site...they advertise impressive small sizes for their 45, 40 and 9 mm ultra compact guns....
Only one problem...why these guns incredibly pricey?? Geez, 1000 bucks MSRP for a ultra compact??? I don't think I'm going to spend that kind of money for a pocket pistol..

How are Kahr in quality?? They match their stellar price??? Can I easily find a used one in great shape and save a bundle?? Or better stay away from used pocket guns??

Thanks....

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Kahr model MSRPs

OK, some models with all the "bells and whistles" (black ceramic-like finish on some, polish jobs on others and night sights) have MSRPs over $1000. No one pays those prices. I got my PM9 (stock #PM9093, MSRP $727) for $485 plus tax, although this was two years ago; currently they are going for $600-ish. I saw a P45 (stock #KP4543, MSRP $805) today for $650.

If that is still too high, consider that value does not necessarily equal the amount of money spent. There is nothing else on the market that combines the attributes of the PM9 (small size but still firing a service cartridge, trigger pull, sights, etc.)

 

[jgo296]

check out that new p380 looks like its going to be the new king of pocket pistols

 

[jlh26oo]

Exact same as T.L.H.- it's been a couple of years but mine was $485 for a basic pm9 no N.S. no D.C. For me kahr was right in between baby glock quality and kel tec size (nothing will be both). Trigger is nice too. Kind of long but smooth.

And if you were sticker shocked by kahr for a pocket pistol, don't ever look into rohrbaughs!

 

[cowssurf]

I have to agree. Why are Kahrs so expensive? Are they better made and more reliable than Glocks? XDs? M&Ps? I could get the new Sig P250 for less than the beloved Kahr PM9. I realize the PM9 is smalller, and slimmer for deep concealment, but I'm trying to ask is it's workmanship and quality that much superior to Glocks, XDs, M&Ps, and Sigs? Better than the Px4 Storm? Because the PM9 is anywhere from $60 (over the Sig) to $150 (Glocks and XDs) more expensive. Does the son and firm believer in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon as Christ reincarnated really know that much more about making a quality firearm than these other manufacturers? Can Kahr, a subsidiary of the Unification Church International holding company, really justify these prices? Why are they so great?

 

[jgo296]

what kahr owned by sun moon?

 

[jocko]

kahr

I paid $525 for my pm9 with the black diamond finish. I certainly didn 't think that was to much at all. They are super made handguns and you won't find anything that size and quality. You mentioned some other good guns to. nothing against the Sig 250 but it sure won't ride in ur pocket either Just alot of quality in kahrs. and my pm9 has as of today 11,800 flawless rounds through it and shows zero signs of wear anywhere. I personaly have never shot a better handgun and certainly never one as flawless as this one is. Maybe I just got lucky but I don't think so, also have a k9 with over 3000+ rounds through it and it has never failed on me once. If you want something cheap, yup, u best look elsewhere.

 

[jocko]

son owns it

Mr. moons son owns kahr. I have no issues with some of this hype going around. It is 100% American made, top quality gives alot of people work. great gun, respected as one of the best, Now lets close the plant down because Mr. Moon's son owns the plant. WOW. will it never end!!!!

 

[Mad Magyar]

Does the son and firm believer in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon as Christ reincarnated really know that much more about making a quality firearm than these other manufacturers? Can Kahr, a subsidiary of the Unification Church International holding company, really justify these prices? Why are they so great?

Didn't you read Johnny Quest's warning? Let's stay away from this religious stuff w/Kahr...I enjoy these threads on Kahr w/o being shut-down...

 

[jocko]

lone haranguer

u probably could not have said that any better either. Just kinda hard to put a price sometmes on good quality but IMO the kahrs are not over priced. You stole your pm9 for uncer $5 bills, I considered myself lucky to getmine for $525 with the balck diamond finish. the PM9 do come with two magazine so that is a nice plus to. Mine has never failed me one time. and I have since had it customozed by CYLINDER AND SLIDE and actually have more in the cutom work than the gun itself, BUT to me it was worth every dollar. It is my 24/7 gun, it is my range gun to. (If I can't shoot um, I don't want um). and the work that cylinder and slide did to it is awsome to........Nice post haranguer.

 

[Tribal]

I got a stock PM9; if I had it to do over again I would definitely have gotten the blackened slide and the tritium sights.

Kahr's main advantage is the quality for its size. Even a Baby Glock is huge compared to the PM9, and if you want anything smaller you pretty much are going down to .380.

With the blackened slide and night sights, a PM9 should cost you between $700-800. That's no small bit of change, but there are very situations where you can't carry it. The only gun I've ever forgotten I was wearing was a NAA Mini-Revolver, but the PM9 is close.

 

[.44 magnuholic]

You might check the CW9. I believe it's polymer framed, and very nice sized for a pocket 9mm.

Also, the biggest perk is it's the cheapest one in the lineup, yet just as good as a steel framed pistol. I've seen CW's in my local shop for betwee 300-350. That's good stuff right there.

 

[wingman]

I have owned an Mk9 elite for 4 years now and the quality is excellent, accurate, reliability, at the time I thought man this is high priced but after owning and shooting commerical &reloads a few hundreds rounds it doesnt seem so expensive.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I was really skeptical about the pricing too, but my research kept leading me back to Kahr.

There are very few choices available for 9mm handguns in that size range. One is the $1000 Rohrbaugh, which is even smaller than the Kahr. It is very well made, but extremely unpleasant to shoot. The other is the new Walther PPS, which is no cheaper and darned near impossible to find. Kel-Tecs are nowhere near the same class in terms of quality or reliability. That leaves the Kahr.

I finally broke down and bought a Kahr P9 Covert (P9 slide and barrel with PM9 grip) for $600. It is a fantastic gun so far. I've only got 100 rounds through it, so it is not even broken in by Kahr standards. I have yet to experience a single malfunction. The gun is very accurate, pleasant to shoot and have a truly wonderful trigger. I fired about 75 rounds at one target at 10 yards and put all but two or three shots inside the 3" bullseye without even trying that hard. It is far more of a shooter than I ever expected a gun that small to be. It was worth every nickel.

 

[pogo2]

Street prices

The actual prices paid for a new or used Kahr are well below the MSRP prices. I bought a slightly used MK9 less than a year ago for $500 from the original owner. It has been an excellent gun, and the price now seems like a bargain to me.

 

[MCgunner]

I ain't tradin' my Kel Tec P11 for TWO Kahrs. I'm sure the Kahr is a good gun, but the P11 works great and I shoot it well and that's what matters in self defense. It's 100 percent reliable and quite accurate. You may not like the looks of it, but it works and I gave $260 for it back in '97.

There are alternatives if you're not a Koolaid drinker. I won't rule Kahr out in the future if they have something I want. Just think they're over-priced.

 

[jocko]

tribal

I love the blackened dlc finish. I have over 11,000 rounds through my pm9 and there is zero signs of any surface wear. A great finish and IMO more durable than my sons G19. I had the xs 24/7 tritium big dot nite sites installed on my PM9 and they are awsome. I think Kahr will even install the xs sites even over their own nite sites. great guns, IMO one of the best out there, some complain about the price of kahrs, their MSRP is not cheap but no one pays msrp (unless you go to gander mt) I never compare the price of one gun to another company's gun either. If I want a kahr, I will pay the price for it. Not a hard decision for me..

 

[saturno_v]

McGunner I agree with you, I'm the first one that I do not buy the hype.

I heard only good things about Bersa and I could not be more happy with my Thunder 40 specially when i saved over $300 compared to a SIG and the Argentinian pistol is more nice looking too...

BUT....

The impression I got ont he Kel-Tec is that they are a bit of hit and miss...you can get a good one or you can end up sending it back and forth for service, something I do not want to do (I got rid of my EAA Witness because of this...ship back and forward at your own expenses is clear disrespect for customers)

I was ready to shell out $270 for a P-11 or a PF-9 (both brand new) last Saturday at a gun show...but the number of negative comments I heard on Kel-Tec made me hold my purchase....

Would I trust Kahr without researching?? No Way...I'm not the type of person easily charmed by the price tag.....

 

[Conqueror]

I owned a Kahr P40 and PM40 and was pleased with both. I only sold them to generate NFA money. At the Raleigh gun show this weekend, I could have purchased any number of Kahr P-series guns for $4-500.

 

[jlbraun]

The reason Kahr is so expensive?

Gotta fund the Moonies... they're owned by the Unification Church International holdings company.

IMHO, no different than buying a Glock as those funds go to an admitted Nazi.

Neither here nor there.

 

[jocko]

to much

best advice, if one thinks kahrs are to much, just don't buy one, lots of other good guns out there higher and some lower, what ever bends ur crank, go with it. I sure won't knock kahrs because of their price.. I sure in hell won't hold it against the kahr company and being American made with many employees making a good living from this gun company by using the "moon" thing as an out. FWIW IMO.

 

[jocko]

wingman

I traded back about 9 months ago for a k9 that a fella said he bought and never fired it. I normally don't buy used stuff, but my pm9 was so good I thought what the hell and we traded guns more or less. This k9 is just one absolutley super handgun, goes bang every time Have over 3000 rounds through it, shoots much better for me than I do the pm9 which I truly love and is my 24/7 carry. this k9 is just an awsome all steel handgun, and I figure I have trade for trade about $400 in it. Kahrs are what they are, not a cheap made handgun, but certainly IMO not an over priced handgun..

 

[saturno_v]

I just called Kel Tec
They said that if the gun is less than 6 months old they cover all the shipping costs, if the gun is over 6 months they cover only the shipping back to you....turnaround time is about 6 weeks at the moment.

Is still better than EAA...they didn't cover any shipping cost....

 

[jeepmor]

They are neat little guns, overpriced IMO, but still neat. I've shot my neighbor's PM40 as was pretty impressed. Not so impressed I'd go buy one, but if I stumble on a used one in good shape at that right price, I could be converted.

Personally, I simply can't see paying that kind of money when there are lots of similar form factor models out there for considerably less. I'm not one to pay extra simply to have a logo.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Brother......

"Fund the moonies"

As previously stated, AMERICAN made, AMERICAN jobs, good to excellent quality. If that doesn't say it all - - it should.

I got my two K-40s several years ago for - TA-DA - less than $400 each. In case the price at the gas pump has not gotten your attention, prices ARE going up. When was the last failure I have had to date? Long enough ago that I can't remember. Actually I had one failure in each gun, in the first range session (where have we heard statistics like that before? - Very common - NOW, not so common several years ago).

But HEY, elect Billary and watch the prices REALLY go up.