Kahr CW9 vs Ruger LC9s

LVSteve

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This question is going to be answered soon, as I just ordered the Kahr (hot deal at CDNN) and I own the Ruger.

I have shot the LC9s and found it a handful. I think the grip is so slim I'm getting minimal contact at the sides with my slim hands. When I bore down to control the gun all my grip was fore and aft, great for accuracy, but it felt more like I was shooting a Glock 23 recoil wise. I could try a sleeve or some Talon grips, but the Kahr deal was too good to pass up. Web research suggest that the Kahr has a very powerful recoil spring and the grip is just a tad fatter. I also like the long DAO concept with no external safety.

I have some other issues with the Ruger. Draw drills with the LC9s have not been too successful. The safety is very small and easy to miss and will sometimes re-engage during the draw if you holster the gun with it off. Technique? Holster design? Don't know. To be honest the LC9s trigger seems too light and short action to be carried with the safety off. The Pro version has no safety. Good luck with that, I say.:eek:

Any experiences from you guys?:)
 
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I put Talon grips on my CW9. Made a world of difference. Love Kahrs, carry my K9 daily.
 
I put AGRIP on my P9 and find it very accurate and easy to shoot. After a concealed carry lesson, one group of four wanted to stay afterward and shoot more with their chosen carry guns, which I allow. When the subject of what can you really hit with these small guns came up, we went to the 20yd plates, for which the Kahr is plenty good...once you learn to shoot.
 
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I recently looked at the LCP and CW380, bough the Kahr even though it was more money.
Haven't gotten to the range yet, will do so next week.

Just looked, you got a real deal. The CW's usually come with only one mag, you got two and a holster.
 
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CW9..you will love it. Great egros and very accurate. Put a piece of bike inner tube on the grip for a little more purchase and go have fun.
 
This question is going to be answered soon, as I just ordered the Kahr (hot deal at CDNN) and I own the Ruger.

I have shot the LC9s and found it a handful. I think the grip is so slim I'm getting minimal contact at the sides with my slim hands. When I bore down to control the gun all my grip was fore and aft, great for accuracy, but it felt more like I was shooting a Glock 23 recoil wise. I could try a sleeve or some Talon grips, but the Kahr deal was too good to pass up. Web research suggest that the Kahr has a very powerful recoil spring and the grip is just a tad fatter. I also like the long DAO concept with no external safety.

I have some other issues with the Ruger. Draw drills with the LC9s have not been too successful. The safety is very small and easy to miss and will sometimes re-engage during the draw if you holster the gun with it off. Technique? Holster design? Don't know. To be honest the LC9s trigger seems too light and short action to be carried with the safety off. The Pro version has no safety. Good luck with that, I say.:eek:

Any experiences from you guys?:)

I disliked my CW9 for the same reason you did the LC9. Grips are to thin

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Grips are a personal thing. I have a pretty medium hand. I like the Kahr CM9. As someone who shot double action revolvers for many years, the CM9 was an easy transition. Recoil is very manageable for me. I've been carrying mine daily for years. The only addition I made was to put Crimson Trace on it.
 
Itchy found a LC9s that she really liked.. Lightweight 38s she had carried for 45 years were hurting her hand.

I was concerned about the transition from a revolver to manual safety automatic if the stuff hit the fan.

She likes her Kahr CW45 but it's a lot to pack for a gal. I got her a Kahr CW9 and she took to it like a duck to water. She really likes the no safety and revolver like trigger.

I wound up with the Ruger LC9s. I'm use to 1911s so the safety is not a problem for me. I put a Hogue grip sleeve on it and I'm good to go.
 
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The Ruger LC9s comes in two models. The regular LC9s and the LC9s Pro. The Pro model doesn't have the external safety.
 
I'm not ready to trust a striker fired gun with a trigger like the LC9s and Pro have without the safety.

The Kahrs have a good firing pin safety that doesn't release until the last thing on that long trigger pull. I like that on my CW45 and her CW9.
 
I have the PM9 which is more or less the same gun. I carry that more than my Glock 43 nowadays. Put big dot sights on and installed the Talon grips. Perfect little carry piece.

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My sister has a CW9, it's a nice gun but to small for me to shoot well. The small grip is part of it, trying to wedge my finger into the trigger guard is a bigger issue.
I have a LC9's Pro which fits me much better.
 
I agree with the statements about the LC9s - which is why I bought a first-gen hammer-fired LC9. The trigger is much more reminiscent of a revolver - and I like that. I have large-ish hands (wear size L or XL gloves). But they are pretty blocky - my fingers are kinda' short and thick for the size of the rest of my hand.

The LC9 has an external safety, but I feel completely comfortable carrying it with the safety disengaged, due to the pull-length and weight of the trigger. Of course it is in a pocket holster when in my pocket, or an IWB holster or in the elastic-band holster in the inside pocket of my vest when I carry it. So the trigger isn't even exposed unless or until I draw it.

Personally I pretty much don't carry any SD gun that requires manipulation of a safety. No matter how practiced I am with it in non-critical situations, I just can't get past the possibility that in a high-stress situation I might not perform as perfectly and might forget to take off the safety.

One of those additional risks I'm not willing to take since I don't need to.
 
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I have a Kahr CM40. It was between that and the LC9s. The Ruger had a nice trigger, but I felt more comfortable with the Kahr. Plus the 40 was a bigger cartridge in a smaller package. The recoil was nothing like I expected. It was less than my Charter Arms .44. The CM9 is the same length and height but a little thinner and lighter. I would strongly consider the CM9.
 
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