[randomman]

How about a few opinions and experiences with the Kahr PM9. I handled one yesterday and I think I fell in love, because I can't stop thinking about it. So, what are your shooting experiences? How do you carry yours? For those with the Tungsten DLC coated slide how is the finish holding up to sweat and moisture in general?

I'm thinking of picking one up for "always" carry in the Tungsten DLC coating. Something I can stick in my waistband under a t-shirt, or a pocket and forget about, until I need it.

Thanks,

-Rob

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I had an early P9 that worked fine and was accurate so long as only standard pressure 9mm was used. I suffered premature slide lock about 3 times per magazine with +P. It was reliablely unreliable with all of the +P ammo that I tried. It is my understanding that there have been some frame issues (warping) with P9's that are heavily shot, but I have not personally seen this. From what I've read, Kahr has addressed the weak slide stop spring that is used to tension the slide stop in the downward position as I do not see complaints of the malfunction that my gun was plagued with.

Best.

 

[BarryinIN]

I've had a PM9 Covert (short frame, standard length slide/barrel) for not quite a year.
I like it enough to carry it daily as my second gun. It usually surprises how easy it is to shoot for a small gun.

Mine had a few stutters early on with the Cor-Bon 115 +P JHP that I usually carry in 9mms. The Sierra bullet it uses isn't the easiest feeding bullet, so it wasn't a huge surprise. I used either Federal 9BPLE 115 +P+ or some Federal 124 Expanding FMJ that I had around until I got some Winchester Ranger 127 +P+ to try. That has worked fine.

All ammo tried has shot OK accuracy-wise.
For accuracy tests, I always shoot carry guns with a magazine-full, at 15 yards, handheld like I would "for real". I shoot as quick as I get a decent sight picture. Just trying to make it clear that the gun is probably capable of better than the following.
Cor-Bon 115 put 7 rds in just over 3", and hit 1" low.
Fed 124 EFMJ: 4" (all but 1 in 2.5"), and on the point of aim.
Winchester 127 +P+ Ranger: 2-3/8", and 3/4" high.

Regarding Kahrs in general-
I would avoid the mini Kahrs like the MK9 and MK40.
I had an MK9 (steel frame, compact) for a while a couple of years prior. That didn't work out so well. I often had incidents of the slide failing to completely return to battery. A nudge on the back of the slide would fix it, but it didn't make it OK.
It seemed to me, that when working the slide by hand, there was very little spring pressure forcing the slide closed at the last bit of it's travel. Others I hand cycled were the same.
The MKs use a telescoping, dual recoil spring system, and that last little bit appears to be pushed along by only one of the springs. The "bigger" Kahrs use more conventional spring system, and all of those I've handled felt like they had enough spring pressure.
A small gun that tends to be carried where it collects lint and crud to impede cycling doesn't need to start with a weak recoil spring setup.
But that's just my opinion.

 

[Guest]

I have a PM9 that I bought *previously owned*, but I'm fairly certain it was not fired. It has the SS slide and cost $385, IIRC. Unlike my P40, this PM9 has been 100% reliable with every sort of ammo, factory and personal handload, that I've tried. Again, unlike my P40, I trust this little gun and carry it often in an inexpensive Uncle Mike's cloth holster in my front pants pocket.

 

[oldlawman]

I have owned several Kahrs since they were first introduced - a K9, then a P9, now a PM9. While each may have had a few out-of-the-box issues, once broken in, they work great. The PM9, IMHO, is the best compromise in a small semi-auto. The .40 Kahrs, on the other hand, all seem to suffer a variety of problems. I like the look of the black slides, but they need some mild dehorning, so I stuck with teh stainless slide models. I have noticed similar problems other posters have with +p and +p+ ammo; there are lots of good standard pressure high performance 9mm rounds out there. Besides, I suspect most shooters don't shoot very well with the higher pressure rounds in the short guns, and the shorter barrels don't wring all of the performance out of those rounds anyway. Stick to something like the Federal 124 gr. HS, or the original gold standard of 9mm rounds, the Federal 115 gr. HP and you'll do just fine.

 

[Guest]

My PM-9 has been completely reliable with a wide variety of standard and +P ammo. It carries like it isn't even present. No excuse not to have a gun on you at all times if you own a PM-9. And with 124 gr. +P Gold Dots, it's got very respectable power in a package the size of a typical .380! I give the PM-9 a hearty thumbs up. If you can handle the weight, a K9 would be even better, but the PM-9 is much less noticible to carry.

 

[adguy]

Buy it!
I bought a PM9 last year. The black finish has held up very well. It is light, easy to carry and conceal and has been 100% reliable right out of the box. I usually shoot HiPowers and 1911's, so it took some time to get used to the trigger. I think both Novak and Cylinder and Slide are doing trigger work on the Kahrs, so that would take care of that.

The only thing I have close to this in weight, not size, is a 2" Model 12 that is a great revolver and weighs only 18oz.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Kahr. I believe NYPD allows officers to carry them as back-ups.

I've shot 124gr. +P (Gold Dots) and the Federal 9B's . I'd like to try the DPX 9mm, but my point is I have read nothing bad about them .

FYI I called Kahr and these used to have heavier recoil springs which are available through Wolff Springs.