Opinions on a couple of pistols?

[epijunkie67]

Since everybody was so helpful for my last question I'm going to pump the group for opinions once more. Lately I've been looking at a couple of different pistols for CCW and was wondering if anyone here has had experience with them. I currently have a Taurus PT140 which is nice but the trigger tends to get on my nerves. I do like the fact that it is a true double action though (every trigger pull results in a primer strike) and the fact it's a .40 doesn't hurt either.

First up in question is the Kahr PM9
http://www.kahr.com/pistols_PM9094.html
and Kahr PM40
http://www.kahr.com/pistols_PM4043.html

Both are really small, light, and hold decent firepower. Although the page says DOA they are not true DA. You rack a round which sets the firing pin and the trigger pull only gets you one strike. A misfire means you have to rack the slide to be able to try again.

No external hammer and no safety. Opinion about the good/bad of that varies.

The other weapon I've seen recently that I got interested in is the Bersa Thunder 45 ultra compact.
http://www.bersa-llama.com/bersa_specs.html

Larger with fewer rounds but it is a .45, a round I have great faith in. I handled one in the store the other day and was amazed at how smooth the action and trigger pull were.

Has anyone here ever fired any of these? Any suggestions for similarly sized weapons in these calibers I should look at? A gun store I called offered to sell me the Bersa at a cash price of $300 and the PM 9 cash price of $540. If they are both good weapons I might even snag both! So, opinions?

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

I have considered the Bersa, too. I plan to buy a .45 for CCW, and will probably go with a Glock 36, but I have looked hard at the Bersa. I really like my Bersa Thunder .380. I haven't read much about them, but what I have read is all good. A couple of people have reviewed this gun at "HandgunReview.com" (http://www.handgunreview.com/make.asp?make=Bersa). If I learn more before I buy the Glock, I may consider the Bersa.

I will also consider the new Ruger 345 if it is available before I buy the gun.

 

[Preacherman]

Although the page says DOA they are not true DA

Errr... I think you mean DAO...

 

[Sykokinesis]

Honestly, I wouldn't buy any of the weapons meantioned.
The SA XD40 is wicked and a great carry weapon.
I see you want a super small gun, they make an XD Compact.
My friend carries one and he loves it.

I guess I have a thing about ity bity guns. Could it have something to do with my penis size?
Nah, I would have bought a .50cal Desert Eagle.

 

[Jiml3]

I own a Kahr PM9 and can tell you that it is strictly a defensive gun.
With that in mind, it has no external safeties, conceals well, is snag free
and is well made. It can shoot P+ rounds therefore I don't feel the need for a 45 mini gun. It's a quality gun that is very slim and something that I feel confident will serve me right in a bad situation.
Look over the specs on the guns your interested and see what suits your needs.
More importantly, which will you be able to shoot best. No matter what you
pick, there always is a tradeoff. The smaller and lighter it is, the more recoil and less accuracy.

Good luck!

 

[cratz2]

It seems to me that the small guns based directly on larger guns (Sub compact XD, Glock 26, 27) feel extremely blocky to me... I like the feel of the XD and the G19/23, but the subcompacts feel like they have just scads of stuff over the grip. The Kahrs and the Smith CS9 do not feel like this at all. And I too am a fan of the DAO or single action... action, but I have complete faith in the Kahr ignition system. No failures at all and a very nice, consistant trigger pull.

You'll probably get mixed reviews on the Kahrs. To some folks, they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. To others, they will claim that you will never, EVER get two rounds to fire without a failure of some sort. I can only offer my direct first hand advice. I bought a P9 Covert (PM9 grip, .5" longer slide/barrel) from a member on this forum and never had a failure with it in over 800 rounds. It was my primary daily carry gun for about 9 months... Just decided I wanted to go with a slightly larger gun. Honestly, the difference between the Kahr P9 Covert and my CZ PCR is pretty minimal. Both are quite trim and don't require any different 'belt settings'. I have to cant the CZ while the Kahr was carried straight drop. Other than that, the CZ is not one bit more uncomfortable than the Kahr.

If you do go with a Kahr, just words of advice, more assembled from others than first hand, I'd go for either the Covert or the full P9/P40... Both have the 3.5" slide and barrel and it seems they have less failures reliably feeding good ammo. And if you're carrying it IWB (as oppposed to pocket or ankle) you'll never notice the .5" difference in slide length but not only will you get a bit more velocity, the gun is a bit more likely to cycle reliably.

No clue on the Bersa... never even handled a 45 but the 380s seem very nice for the price. I'm also not sure as to the differences between the CS9 and the CS40 or CS45 but from handling the CS9, they might be worth a look.