Anyone familiar with Kahr (esp. PM45)

[erikpolcrack]

I've had one of the commander-sized Kahr 45s for years now. Really like it and find it easy to shoot and don't find the recoil to be any big deal. Use it as one of my top two big-bore carry pieces - along with my 44 Bulldog Pug.

 

[much ado]

Kahr?

As I read the original poster`s question to the effect "does anyone have experience with Kahr pistols?" I reluctantly raise my hand. My experience began around 1997 I believe when I purchased a K40. Thus began my novel of experiences with Kahr, service problems galore, multiple trips to the plant at my expense and general headaches. I traded the K40 for a P40 and the problems did not abate (although the weight did!). I still have the 3rd ?version of the original P40 after replacement of parts, slides, barrels and ultimately the frame. It at last is what I wish the first version was. I honestly wonder to this day if the service department gunsmiths were underpaid(although I guess we all could say that at sometime) and they resorted to what I believe is called "churning". It`s a phrase usually applied to stockbrokers but I think could be applied to all manner of service people as the pistols(in their various repairs) would arrive with maybe the original problem fixed but something else wrong. The S&W Shield was/is the correct answer to the pistol I wanted in 1997 and I don`t think you should stray too far from their banner although if you want a 9mm I think the P365 is a great little pistol too.

 

[Sistema1927]

I carried a PM9 for years, loved the trigger. When the P365 came out the PM9 went into the safe, and hasn't come out since, due to the increased capacity in a pistol not much bigger.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

My primary carry gun for years was a K9. It fits my hand like it was designed specifically for me, and with the weight of the all-steel construction, it's simply sweet to shoot. The only reason I moved it out of my #1 spot was when I started carrying all day at work, the weight of that steel started wearing on my back, and I switched to a P365.

A couple years into my K9 ownership I added a P45 to my battery. With the polymer frame and heavier caliber, it's definitely snappier in the hand, but I wouldn't call it abusive. With it's night sights, that one plays a role as one of my household "ready guns."

One thing I always point out to people considering a Kahr purchase: The guns often require a break-in period to be reliable. Kahr even points out that they recommend 200 rounds (as I recall) to smooth things out. I personally had no issues with the steel framed K9. With the P45, I had a couple stoppages with the first magazine-full, a couple more over the next 50 rounds, and maybe one more soon after that. And not a problem since. My personal recommendation to new Kahr owners is to take cleaning gear to the range with you. Clean the gun before you ever load it (just like you should do with any new purchase), then, assuming no stoppages shoot a mag, strip and clean it, shoot another couple mags, strip and clean, then clean every 100 rounds after that, until you have 100% confidence in the reliability. If you do get stoppages, immediately clear, strip and clean at that time.

 

[Walter Rego]

I have a K9 and like it a lot. I have no use for polymer framed handguns. The weight of the K9 doesn't bother me one bit. My K9 has never malfunctioned and has around 400 rounds through it. I also like the fact that it doesn't have a trigger safety like the Glock and many other compact handguns designed for CCW have. And that means you don't have to very carefully choose a holster that protects the trigger against accidentally blowing off your family jewels when you holster it in an appendix carry IWB rig.

While I have always prescribed to the bigger is better theory regarding calibers in a self defense handgun, ammunition advances, particularly in the popular 9mm cartridge and even more so in the last decade mean that the 9x19 with one of the premium self defense loads is a proven stopper.

The manual does say to chamber the first round from the slide locked back position. Maybe because due to the stiff recoil spring there is a risk of short stroking it and getting a misfeed. I have had no issues but I have excellent hand strength. For now at least.

 

[Well Armed]

I too prefer the steel Kahrs I have 5 and counting so far, so I can not speak on the PM45 or the polymer Kahr triggers. If they are anything like the steel frame triggers, the triggers are phenomenal IMHO. The triggers on my examples are a lot better than any of my DAO revolver triggers (I own S&W, Ruger, Colt, Kimber, and Taurus revolvers FYI).

 

[smoothshooter]

I have had most of the Kahrs at one time or another.
Have no plans to get another. The magazine springs are almost twice as long and stiff as they need to be, and I refuse to buy guns that cost what they do and require a 500 round break-in as suggested by the manufacturer. That’s a lot of money for ammo if you don’t reload.
Somehow Glock can get a gun out the door for less than $85 apiece that requires no break-in.
Maybe Kahr should hire some mechanical and design engineers away from Glock for consultants.

 

[Well Armed]

I have had most of the Kahrs at one time or another.
Have no plans to get another. The magazine springs are almost twice as long and stiff as they need to be, and I refuse to buy guns that cost what they do and require a 500 round break-in as suggested by the manufacturer. That’s a lot of money for ammo if you don’t reload.
Somehow Glock can get a gun out the door for less than $85 apiece that requires no break-in.
Maybe Kahr should hire some mechanical and design engineers away from Glock for consultants.

It's a 300 round break in suggestion which usually results in problem free rounds fired. You should be firing $300 (ideally more) rounds through any new pistol before carrying for self-defense anyway, so it's a moot issue. Kahrs have tighter tolerances than Glock, so they simply recommend running 300 rounds through it so parts can mesh together. On the other hand, the iconic HK pistol use strong recoil springs for reliability purposes, so HK recommends running 124gr 9mm through their VP9, P30, and USP, and other pistols.

As far as the recoil springs go, I've never heard anyone else complain about recoil spring length. I own dozens of Kahr mags in 9mm and 40s&w, and I've never had an issue loading their mags to capacity. S&W M&P mags on the other hand, most people complain about how hard it is to load the last round. Matter of fact, many semiautos are hard to load to capacity hence the reason why Uplula loaders or so popular. I actually run Lakeline extra power springs in my EDC magazines which are even stiffer for added reliability. That said, the common complaint I hear about Kahr mags has to do with their followers which shed a round if not kept in a fitted mag holder.

Glocks cost $85 a peice?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Strong Spring? Try a Detonics Pocket 9.
Small 9mm that fires open breech.
Not much to grab-hold on to.

 

[Borderboss]

I pocket carried a PM-9 for more than 15 years before I got a hankering for an S&W 940 to pocket carry. The 940 is interesting, but the PM-9 is a more practical pocket carry gun.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I carried a J frame 357 for several years but as I've gotten older it's become harder to shoot well....

Well in that case a PM45 wouldn't be a good choice.

 

[robvious]

late father had an early K9.. back when they only made one model (1996)... broke it in with European submachine gun ammo.. worked wonderfully for dad until arthritis made him park it.. much later I acquired a PM9 & CW9 in a package deal... both great, but traded the CW9 off... having the bigger one felt silly.. carried the PM9... very stiff recoil springs.. wonderful double action triggers in neat little robust package... but hand strength is required....

 

[clang444]

OP - another possible solution to your problem: load that J frame with .38 Special instead of .357 Magnum and it might not be so uncomfortable to shoot. Grip selection is also important, Pachmayr Compacs are pretty nice on a J frame.

 

[hardluk1]

smoothshooter Your so whiny and a glock show that your just a glock fan but so run along back to the glock forums with your blinders on .

The 4 kahrs I had have never failed to function as designed over the decades and many thousands of rounds fired . Even a mutt like you should know you should fire a few hundred rounds form any new to you handgun just to be sure its functional as the rest of the shooting world knows glock's have had that fair share of problem handguns that needs customer service . Now you could search Glock handgun problems that go way back in there history with gen 1 pistols up to current gen 5 model .

 

[sheepdawg]

My Kahr CW 40 was a jamomatic. I gave it away.

 

[smoothshooter]

My primary carry gun for years was a K9. It fits my hand like it was designed specifically for me, and with the weight of the all-steel construction, it's simply sweet to shoot. The only reason I moved it out of my #1 spot was when I started carrying all day at work, the weight of that steel started wearing on my back, and I switched to a P365.

A couple years into my K9 ownership I added a P45 to my battery. With the polymer frame and heavier caliber, it's definitely snappier in the hand, but I wouldn't call it abusive. With it's night sights, that one plays a role as one of my household "ready guns."

One thing I always point out to people considering a Kahr purchase: The guns often require a break-in period to be reliable. Kahr even points out that they recommend 200 rounds (as I recall) to smooth things out. I personally had no issues with the steel framed K9. With the P45, I had a couple stoppages with the first magazine-full, a couple more over the next 50 rounds, and maybe one more soon after that. And not a problem since. My personal recommendation to new Kahr owners is to take cleaning gear to the range with you. Clean the gun before you ever load it (just like you should do with any new purchase), then, assuming no stoppages shoot a mag, strip and clean it, shoot another couple mags, strip and clean, then clean every 100 rounds after that, until you have 100% confidence in the reliability. If you do get stoppages, immediately clear, strip and clean at that time.

Guns that cost as much as Kahrs do should not need a break-in period, especially when ammo cost and availability are sometimes an issue.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I have a CM9 and a CW45. I've carried the CM9 for many years now, but recently switched to a Sig P365 for waist carry. The CM9 I still pocket carry in the summer. It's super reliable now. It wasn't at first. Mine kept locking the slide back before the magazine was empty. The next bullet in the magazine on the way into the chamber was brushing the slide lock lever. I had to grind a tiny little bit off of the slide lock lever so the next round could load without locking back the slide. There's not much room inside the CM9. The tolerances are tiny. It's been flawless since. The CW45 has always been reliable. It rides in the truck.

 

[local_dirt]

Carried a PM9 for 12 years. Also have an MK9. Both are great guns. Started carrying a 365XL for more capacity.