Talk me out of a Kahr K9...

[g_one]

So I've known I want a CZ P-01 for a while now. 99.9% sure that it will be my next purchase now that I've gotten a new EDC in 9mm (BU9 Nano). It will fulfill the role of primarily being a nightstand/home defense gun, for me and when I'm out of town for my recoil sensitive wife. It'll also double as a carry gun, but not EDC (only on the weekends when I IWB or in the winter when I OWB), and obviously it will make a great range gun.

The reason I say 99.9% instead of 100% is that there's this slight nagging feeling in the back of my head that makes me want to reconsider and go for the Kahr K9 instead. All steel (instead of the P-01's alloy) and narrower (single stack), plus I do like Kahr. I just like CZ more.

So do me a favor and tell me why I'm silly for second-guessing myself and wanting a K9. Or if you can give me some valid reasons, tell me what I don't want to hear which is that the K9 is the better choice.

Thanks!

 

[wally]

The extra weight of the all steel K9 will be a boon to the recoil sensitive, but since you like CZ why not go for the all steel CZ75 as being a bit larger it'll have even less free-recoil energy than the K9.

 

[ahtoxa]

Just buy them all.

 

[bannockburn]

I have a P-01 and a Kahr PM9, both of which for me are somewhat on the opposite ends of the CCW spectrum. The P-01is more of a multi purpose pistol in that it can be used in the concealed carry role and also be well suited for home defense with the addition of a light mounted on the rail. It also lends itself accuracy wise for range use. The PM9 is first and foremost a near pocket size auto that is the perfect size, weight, and caliber for concealed carry. I wouldn't really consider it much in terms of it being used for home defense or range work. So basically you have one gun which is more multipurpose in its applications and another one which is more highly specialized for a specific role. The choice is yours as to which one will serve you best.

 

[g_one]

The PM9 is first and foremost a near pocket size auto

Yeah, I almost went with the PM9 for my pocket gun, I ended up leaning towards the Nano instead though. A little blocker maybe but I work a desk job and the brand of pants I buy have nice big pockets that make pocket carry a breeze. It's the K9 (semi-compact all steel single stack) that I had in mind as an alternative to the P-01

 

[hardluk1]

You want a smooth shooter , by a t9 kahr and then a cw or cm9 for lighter concealment is needed.

 

[thomis]

All you need to do is dry fire a Kahr and you are sold. The Kahr trigger is second to none.

 

[usp9]

It will fulfill the role of primarily being a nightstand/home defense gun, for me and when I'm out of town for my recoil sensitive wife. It'll also double as a carry gun, but not EDC (only on the weekends when I IWB or in the winter when I OWB), and obviously it will make a great range gun.

I'm confused. You say the Nano is your EDC, yet you want the Kahr for that use as well??

IMHO, if your desire is mainly for a home gun, easy to shoot for you wife's benefit, then get a gun that does that. Something big, heavy and easy on recoil. The K9 is OK in that regard, but it just isn't as much a range gun, nor as easy in recoil as say a larger duty type gun.

If you want a K9, then get it, but don't expect it to be both a small CCW and a big soft range gun.

 

[hardluk1]

I missed the wife part ! NEVER pick a firearm for your wife. Beg , barrow or rent if you must but let your wife decide what SHE likes.

 

[KSDeputy]

Get a .45acp pistol.

 

[saltydog452]

Good stuff

Kahrs seem to have a disturbing tendency to multiply.

salty

 

[19-3Ben]

I had a K40 for a while. It absolutely nailed the intersection between carry size and shootability. It was a bit snappy in .40 cal, but my friend's K9 was actually very soft. I am definitely on the lookout for a K9 and will get one one day. It felt and shot like a full sized gun, but carried very very nicely.

 

[TheGoldenSaber]

Lol, everyone's talking you into one instead of out of one. I've been looking at the Kahr CW9 and I'm a little concerned because I've heard of a few problems. A lot of the people with problems seemed like morons, so that could be it, but who knows. I've also been hearing that some Kahrs need a break in period. Someone said their tolerances are so tight that they need break ins like custom 1911s. With that being said, if I wasn't in the market for a carry gun, I would get a CZ 75.

I prefer all steel guns with hammers. Regardless of what anyone says I feel like steel guns are made better than anything polymer. I like to stick with what's tried and true so I would go with the CZ 75B. They have a shorter version(forgot the specific model), but I would just go with the classic CZ 75B. Every best pistol of all time thread that I've seen has the CZ 75s in them. I don't recall seeing Kahr nearly as much, if at all.

If I were you I would get the CZ 75B. It's all steel so it will soak up recoil and your wife will probably like it more. You'll own one of the best pistols ever made, and it can still be carried if you need to. If you have the money you could just get the CZ 75 for the house and get the budget Kahr that I'm looking at, the CW9, for concealed carry. They run around $400 if you shop around, maybe less. Just keep in mind that the Kahrs might need break ins if you buy one. After they're broken in though they seem to be really good from what I hear.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Sorry for rambling and probably being redundant but it's almost 4am and I'm not proof reading lol.

 

[19-3Ben]

I prefer all steel guns with hammers. Regardless of what anyone says I feel like steel guns are made better than anything polymer.

I don't know that steel guns are "made better than anything polymer" as that's kind of a very harsh absolute, and there are sure to be exceptions to that, but I do like the feel of an all steel gun. For those of us who want steel, but also like a striker fire mechanism, Kahr is the only option. If you prefer hammered guns, there are many more.

The CZ75 you recommend is one heck of a great gun.

 

[mfcmb]

g_one: I love my Kahr CW9, but won't rely upon it for carry and defense because the cartridges tend to pop off the tops of magazines carried in pockets, or even in most magazine holders. Even the magazine holders with angled pockets, such as those made by Comp-Tac for the Kahr, don't completely prevent this.

TheGoldenSaber: The Kahr manual says shoot 200 rounds to break in the gun. I think that's no big deal. Beyond that I had to send my CW9 back to the factory twice, early on, to resolve issues. That's not so good. Since then I've shot several thousand rounds through it with nary a hiccup, and the gun is more accurate than I am. It shoots every kind of ammo I've put in it except Corbon DPX, which it wouldn't chamber reliably.

 

[ETXhiker]

A few years ago, I violated the "don't pick a gun for your wife" rule and bought her a Kahr K9. The steel frame adds enough weight to dampen recoil and it is totally reliable and as accurate as you are. These days, my wife has burned through a great deal of ammo with many different pistols and the K9 is still her favorite to shoot. I should mention, however, that she recently bought a Kahr CM9 to carry because of its lighter weight and smaller size. She shoots it very well also.

 

[gym]

I am getting a CZ p01, Have a PM9. Need both. shooters need all we can have. Different purpose gun, one is more of a concealable pocket gun, the other can fill many roles.

 

[Ben86]

To me the K9 is more of a CC gun. While the P01 is great for HD and can also be used for CC, so it's more versatile. Also, because of its size, the P01 will likely have less recoil as well.

It seems to me that the P01 would likely suit you needs better at the moment, and the K9 would make a great addition to your CC battery later.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The K9 is a fantastic little pistol, but if you have larger hands, it may not agree with you. Very small grip. Great for females, but not so good for a lot of guys. I can touch my palm with my fingertip holding the wife's K9.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you need to be "talked out of it"
it sounds like a deal made just for you.

If you're not takin food outta the baby's mouth, go for it.

If you just can't afford it right now, well there's your reason to pass.

 

[PapaG]

O.K. Don't buy it. There. Problem solved.
I bought a CW9 and the only problem with it is that after fifty or so rounds the "nubby" backstrap started to chafe. Put on a Hogue slipon and solved that issue.

 

[Agsalaska]

I have a K40, the .40 cal version, and have big hands. I absolutely love that pistol. It is an extension of my hand and is one of the few guns I enjoy shooting. I no longer carry it on a regular basis but it has nothing at all to do with the pistol. I will say that, last year while moving my sister out of her house while her husband was at work, I carried it over my Taurus 85(my normal carry gun) and my Glock 19 and 32(my two house guns) among others.

So, in the most recent moment of truth so to speak, I turned to it over many other viable choices.

On a side note, I do not carry it every day because I am more comfortable, physically, with the 85 in the IWB holster.