Which is "better" Walther P99 or Kahr K9?

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Nobody

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I come to you seeking your experience. I've handled both of these guns but there is no option where I live to fire either one of them. The pistol would also see duty as CCW. I currently have a Ruger P95 which I really like to shoot, but it's a good bit too fat for CCW. Anyone who has fired both a P99 and a K9? Which is the better shooter? From what I've seen in stores, quality specimens of both have similar fit and finish. I know the triggers are both are different but they both seem pretty nice as they are designed. I'm really interested in which gun is the better shooter, which has less muzzle flip, etc.? Thank you very much for your experiences.
 
Hey, Nobody.

If you are going to carry one of those two, the K9 is going to go down a lot easier. It's slim and it fits, to my hand, at least, great. It's remarkably accurate and the weight of the steel frame tames recoil very pleasantly. I've handled but not shot the P99. It feels like a nice gun to me, but not as easy to carry. I do know it has lots of devoted fans--but so does the Kahr.

Now, this may sound like it compromises my unbiased view in the last paragraph, but I happen to have a K9 I've been thinking about selling. I bought it for my wife, and it turns out she's more comfortable with revolvers, which is fine with me. I carry a revolver myself, so the real virtue of this gun--its balance of ease of carry and reliable, accurate performance--is not getting used (when I shoot 9mm in IDPA, for instance, it's a Glock 17, which is way too big for me to carry). My K9 is in excellent condition and has been highly reliable. I don't know how far east you are, but I'd be willing to meet you at a range in Raleigh if you wanted to try it out and consider buying it from me. I know you'd like it if you had the chance to shoot it. In fact it hurts to think of letting it go, but I've developed a painful need for a marlin .357 lever gun.

So, whether you're interested in my offer or not, there's my partially informed opinion, and the best of luck to you.

CG
 
I am getting closer & closer to picking up a P99 myself. I considr it a mid-size gun good for IDPA, self or home defense but compact enough for concealed carry. They seem to fit my hands really well & the triggers just seem so precise & quick.
The Kahrs I've tried have been nice, but very use specific. Nice, smooth, but long trigger and a 6 or 7 round capacity.
It will really depend on your application, but I'd find more use from the P99.
 
Yep, I hear what you're saying about the P99. I've got a high cap Ruger P95 and I really like it. I know that Ruger autos get bashed a lot but mine shoots well, is amazingly accurate for me, and never, never fails....if only it wasn't so fat and chunky.
The P99 of course, fits my hand a lot better than the Ruger but if I get the P99, I've essentially got two pistols of the same kind (one a draft horse and the other an arabian race horse). If I get the Kahr, I've got something that's probably better suited to carry, but likely not very good outside of it's niche. These are the things I'm trying to balance out. A firearm purchase to me does not come but once in a very great while.

Any ideas on which would be more durable in the long haul?
 
Knowing that you have a Ruger already & your gun purchases are few & far between, puts things in a slightly diff't light. The Kahr is a good shooter and would fill a niche in your collection. My first impression was to recommend you to sell the Ruger for the Walther, but you mentioned that the RUger has worked well for you & I don't believe in selling guns that have proven themselves reliable for their owners. So, I'm changing my recommendation to the Kahr.
 
I think both have proven to be reliable and well designed. Either will probally outlast you if taken care of. If you intend on the kahr for carry be sure you are confortable with its weight. Many people complain that it is to heavy. Personally weight on anythig other than the ankle has never really effected me as I use a good belt but that is the only complaint I ever here about the kahr (I have 5 of them). Additionally the springs are pretty stiff sepecially for the mk or pm models so if you have a significant other who will depend on the weapon also make sure they can rack the slide.
 
I'm a devoted P99 fan, but if you're main concern is for concealed carry then I'd probably recommend you take a second look at the K9 as well, for reasons previously mentioned. Despite what many P99 devotees will tell you, it's not the best choice for regular concealment unless your of relatively large stature. I'm only 5'8", 140 lbs and wouldn't easily be able to conceal a P99 day after day. But being from California, I wouldn't be able to conceal anything day after day.
 
I have (had?) both and consider them two pistols for different reasons.

The Kahr K9 is a GREAT CCW pistol because of it's size and ease of use. The only drawback I saw in it was an relatively long trigger pull.

The Walther P99 to me is more of a service pistol, but some people can probably carry it concealed also. Again, to me, it's a bit big for that.

I still have the Walther but the Kahr is on my delear's wall for sale. I HAD to get rid of something in order to afford the new purchases coming in. Did not want to do it, but economics have a way of forcing decisions.
 
Ha! Well, technically speaking I'm a LARGE 6'1" and I can actually get away with concealing the P95 but it's not made for that purpose and I feel it. :scrutiny: I don't like weight any more than others do, but I like a comfortable shooting pistol and will tolerate weight if it's well distributed and not superfluous. When I handled a Kahr I was actually surprised to read how much it weighed as it felt very well balanced. Same with the P99. I'd love a poly Kahr but I'm hesitant given some of the problems I've read about and I also believe that it might not be worth the weight loss for the increase in snappy recoil.

I already got a S&W Mod. 60 3" that's usually my woods bumming gun. Sometimes I carry it as well. I'm definitely leaning towards the Kahr as it would be flatter and actually designed for CCW. Most of the time I carry a KT P32, which is definitely designed for CCW and feels it as well. I'd like something with a bit more pep than the P32 for CCW.

Thanks for all your input. This is like thinking out loud in large group of experienced people. Very productive! :)
 
I have shot both and I prefer the P99. It is possible to conceal it well. Takes a little time and patience. I also like the way it feels in the hand.
 
MK9 as pocket ???

denfoote,

I've been considering the MK9 as a replacement to my NAA Guardian 380 for a pocket gun...how do you find the MK9 as a pocket gun?

Just curious. Looks thinner, but about 1/2" taller and longer.
I'm thinking front pocket.

Thanks,
jd
 
MK9 is HEAVY. Bad for pocket carry, though I am sure somebody does it.
MP9 would be a better fit, but I have no first-hand experience with it.

K9 (esp. with a trigger upgrade) would be easier to hide. If you have only one CCW gun, make it a smaller one so it works year-around. I'd much prefer P99 for colder months and something smaller for warmer months...extra magazine capacity is useful.
 
lets talk about ways to conceal the P99............how does everyone conceal theres? opinions? suggestions?
 
The trigger on the Kahr is too smooth and light for pocket carry, unless we're talking pocket holster.

The MK9 I had was really nicely made. I don't think the construction was anything less than Sig caliber. The all steel construction also appealed (I'm getting away from plastic, ever played with 40 year old plastic toy or car part?)

In the end I sold it (to a good friend) because I'm not large enough for pocket holster carry but could hide a P7 belt holster as well as a Kahr holster. I would certainly recommend them, though.

The only warning I would give is about the trigger, it is good for shooting, but is not particularly safety minded. This gun needs to be carried in a good holster.
 
Nobody, I am 6'2'' and about 175 pounds. I carry my P99 year round with no problems. Just need to be careful when bending over, use your knees.

David S, I use either a Graham's Custom Leather "Falcon" Iwb, or a Blade-Tech IWB. My current favorite is the Falcon, but that can change day to day. I recently, bought an Aker Yaqui belt slide for my P99, but haven't tried it out very much yet.
 
lets talk about ways to conceal the P99............how does everyone conceal theres? opinions? suggestions?
Click to expand...

When I carry my P99/.40 I carry it in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II.
 
I carry my P99 in a Delfatti ISP-LP during the cold months when I can wear a sweater or other covering garment. It conceals just as well as my P7M8, in some cases better since it can sit a little lower in the holster and it is certainly lighter...
 
I've got both in .40, and I carry both IWB from time to time... Mostly though, I carry the kahr. (80/20%)

I can carry the P99 in a Comp-Tac IWB with the usual oversized shirt and/or cover garment (usually an unbuttoned flannel or "Japanimation" style shirt). Sitting too long gets uncomfortable because of the way the magwell juts back out at the bottom for the last finger rest. It pokes me in the back. I have to be careful about bending over since the grip is so long... It prints badly.

The K40, I can carry IWB in a Comp-Tac IWB with only a regular sized (XXL) t-shirt. Doesn't have to be over-sized, and doesn't need a cover garment. It just has to be untucked. Sitting down is no problem at all. Bending over is no problem either, unless I try to touch my toes without bending my knees or something.

For comparison, I'm 6'3", 235#.

If you didn't have the Ruger, I'd have a harder time. But since you do, then for CCW, the Kahr is a no-brainer answer.

I'll actually stick with 10-ring's original thought... I'd buy the Kahr, then sell the Ruger and buy the Walther...
 
Nobody:

I have been carrying concealed for almost 12 years now. I have carried the very large in autos: the S&W 645, a great gun very reliable, very accurate, the very large in revolvers: a 4" round butt S&W 29. I have carried the very small in autos: the light Kel-Tech P32 and the small in revolvers: the S&W 442. There certainly is a happy medium somewhere between those choices. For your choice of concealed carry I would buy a Kahr. I have been carrying a Kahr for a little over a year now and I really like this gun. I carry strong sided IWB. It is the most comfortable for me regardless of the size and weight of the pistol. I can most easily conceal a weapon IWB when I am active. My current holster is a Blade Tech IWB.

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Hope this helps.

Charles
 
My Kahr K9 is one of my favorite guns, it conceals easily. I carry mine in an Alessi Talon Plus for IWB and a Sparks Legacy for OWB.
 
For CCW carry I would pick the K-9 its a smaller gun but they are well built and reliable.They are fairly easy to manage in 9MM but the 40 Cal version the K-40 is a snappy kicker.:)
 
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