My oldest just picked up (long story) an essentially free Kahr CW45.

Anyone have any experience with them? I've looked at a few reviews for him and the gun seems to get ok/good reviews.
But I told him I'd ask here to see what folks had to say.

He's thinking it will be an option as a small carry gun with big bullets...and this seems to fit the bill from what I've read.

But I'm wondering if anyone has any long term experience and how it is on recoil, practical accuracy, maintenance, etc. He's more than fit, shot expert in USMC, and handling it won't be a problem, but we were chatting earlier tonight and he hasn't had it to the range yet.

Is it a keeper? Or should it go on the block?

I had one for a while and generally liked it. Recoil is fine, but there’s a resonance through the plastic that makes your hand ring. A rubber grip sleeve helps. It’s accurate enough. I love the Kahr trigger. I don’t remember why I sold mine. Something shinier caught my eye, I guess.

"It was virtually free."

After that what difference does anything else matter? Kahr guns are generally well thought of and well made. Tell him to buy a few boxes of .45 ammunition, take it out and shoot it and draw his own conclusions. It's a small, polymer framed .45, it's going to have recoil!

If he likes it and thinks it will suffice for what he wants then keep it. If not then sell it, he won't have any trouble getting his money back!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I like a thin grip sleeve or you mee used free bike 1.75 innertube so smooth over some of the texture on a kahr . For me there more texture than needed . I have shot the CW45 but I wanted and bought the larger CT45 9 years ago when between 1911's . I like it and will keep it . Its a real good foul weather handgun and handles 45 super loads very well .

Tell your buddy to check out You Tube videos covering the cw45 and 1911 officers mags . Mine needed a small notch cut out of the bottom front of the grip for full size 1911 mags to lock it . The CW45 is a nice size pistol , not a pocket pistol but a good smaller 45 .

Depending on how much the gun has been shot, it may need a couple boxes of ammo to finish breaking-in. It's something they're known for. Excellent pistols, all around. I would probably rock Federal's 165gr JHP 'Personal Defense' to help with the recoil and control.

found the CW45 to be accurate & reliable.........also hard kicking and hard to rack, sold it ! but I drink Cosmopolitans

While I don’t have a kahr in 45 I have a friend who has several.Hehas 22 years in military plus over20in law enforcement.He loves his kahrs.I have Kahr pm9 I carry as my summer time gun for probably 17 years or better.I used to confound range officers by shooting better scores with it than issue Glock 21

Don't have a CW45, but I do have a CW9. Kahr control recoil with heavy recoil springs, so they can be tough to rack for some. As the new owner is USMC that should not be an issue. The trigger can take a bit of learning if you have long thin fingers like me. I tend to pull it low due to the hooked trigger and late break. Practice, practice...

Shortly after I bought the Kahr, PSA had a fire sale on the Walther PPS M2. It was all over for my other small 9s at that point.

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Release the Kraken

Have a CW45 and like it very much. Don't have any criticisms.

I've had 4 kahrs 3 still in the family one the ct45 still with me and none required any break , never had a run fail to funtion properly with standard pressure with a mid to heavy weight bullet for cartridge ammo IT can be more about the owner braking into the new to them handgun . Also do not run a reduced power ammo till you have few hundred rounds of standard 230gr ball run thru it . Kahrs are known for heavy recoil springs .

I have a P9, been 100% reliable since the 1 st shot. Very good guns imo. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Many thanks to all who commented. It is much appreciated. I'll be seeing my son over the weekend and will pass all the comments along.
Redcoat3340

I have a CW 40 and like it. Manufacturers instructions were to run 250 rds through it to ensure reliability, IIRC. Not bad advice for any new gun.

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Front sight and squeeze

I always felt its more about breaking the shooter in to a new handgun .

My first kahr , a cw9 came from a mad owner at a gun range that could not make his fire and cycle reliably so he offered it for sale on the spot for a very reduced price . It ran great for me . My be the shooter but he was a very seasoned shooter so maybe the ammo he used . What ever he got a chance to shoot it again a few weeks later and ended up buying another kahr we shoot together . The 4 kahr I had never failed to function a single time .

The PM9 and CW9 that I’ve had worked great.
I quit using them because of strong springs and
went to the EZ9.
The CW45 I briefly had wouldn’t handle HP ammo,
though it ran fine with hardball. Really, what else
would you need.

I like mine just fine. It's reliable, shoots .45s and is concealable. If it ever gets turned in for evidence, so be it. No great loss.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I had a CW9 and CW45 at one time. They worked just fine, but I lost interest in them as I do many things and sold them. I wouldn't have a problem with carrying either one today.

I’d say their triggers are pretty good.

I think Khars are one of the classiest looking of all the polymer handguns. The stainless slide, take down lever, and trigger have a very refined finish and the gun looks very high-quality. Its trigger is like a double action revolver and it’s the only semi auto pistol without a manual safety I’m comfortable carrying with a round in the pipe. May sound weird, that’s just the way I am.

No experience with the 45 but I've had my K9 for many years. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the finest pistols made.

I have the PM45 and the PM40. I generally carry the PM40 during the summertime based on the way I dress. Not too much difference in size.

Each is very small considering its chambering. The reason I went with the Kahr is the trigger pull. It's much more like the DA pull on a revolver than the S&W M&P or Shield, SA XD series.

I know all of these guns have FP blocks. Smith & SA and Glock have the "trigger safety" too. I know they're supposed to prevent accidents and probably do a good job of it. However the Kahr's long trigger pull and the FP spring being at nearly full rest, as compared to the others being nearly fully set, is my preference.

I suppose that isn't important if one carries with an empty chamber, however my habit is one in the chamber.