Shield 9 vs. Kahr CW9

CaptRon956 said:
Wow, makes no sence to me why a guy would talk down about a brand new pistol that he hasnt shot yet. why did you even buy it if you have your mind set that it already needs money invested in it to make it "run better"? If you want to spend $92 bux on a aftermarket trigger because you feel the engineers at S&W are incompetent then that's your choice. Me, I would rather see you spend $92 bux on ammo and then come back & talk to us about how smooth the pistol got after you ran 500 rounds thru it.

The Shield MRSP is $449, the Kahr MRSP is $460


I owned a Kahr CW40 which is very similar to your CW9. And although I did like it initially, it wasnt my cup of tea & I traded it in for a new Shield 40. Although both pistols are nearly the same in size the grip on the kahr with a magazine is about 1/2" longer.

Things I didnt like about the Kahr.

1. Grip was too thin for my hand (i have medium size hands)
2. Front sight is pinned on polymer plastic
3. comes with only one magazine
4. Magazine springs were a b!tch to put back in after disassembly for cleaning & the polymer follower has this silly metal tab in it that protrudes & rubs against the inside of the mag well..
5. There was noticable play (up/down movement) in the rear of the slide when pulling the trigger.
6. there is only one recoil spring that is apart from the recoil guide rod (non captive spring) and it's not the easiest to put back in after cleaning... and finally.
7. Take down on all Kahr's is not difficult but if you're not careful you can damage the slide release spring when reinserting the take down/slide lock lever. That spring by the way is screwed into the polymer frame, if that ever strips out, you're going to have to get the frame replaced...In addition Kahr only has a 5 year warranty and the warranty is not transferable to a new owner if you go to sell it.

Now on to the S&W Shield & why I traded my Kahr for another Shield.

1. S&W lifetime service warranty that is transferable
2. the fit & finish on the Shield is top quaility, no movement of the slide while depressing the trigger.
3. recoil springs are a captive design making it much easier for maintainence
4. Shield's come with two magazines.
5. Shield fits better in my hand...
6. Both front & rear sights are steel
7. Magazines are easier to disassemble & reassemble & are smoother in operation when compared to the Kahr.
8. There are more accessories & holsters available on the market for the Shield's.

What stores can you name sell Kahr magazines? The Academy 2.8 miles from my home stocks S&W mags for many models including the shield every day. Kahr mags cost a few bucks more too ...

Now dont get me wrong, Kahr makes a fine pistol but for the money invested, one is better off with a M&P Shield. I feel the quaility, fit & finish, the extra mag, the much better captive recoil spring, the melanite coating on the slide is the toughest in the industry & the S&W lifetime warranty for the Shield is a no brainer...

I have a Texas CHL & my Shield 40 is what I trust my life with...
Click to expand...
The mag purchase thing is different everywhere. None of my stores carry Shield or Kahr mags unless it's just some off chance they got a few. Otherwise it's Sig 226, 220, Glock and M&P
 
Either will get the job done

Really can't go wrong with either, I've found when comparing just about any other quality EDC against a Kahr it all comes down whether one likes, tolerates, or hates the Kahr triggers.

I was an early adopter of the PM9 and it is my summertime EDC. In colder months I transition to an XDs .45. I also have a CW9 and love it as much as my PM9 but will probably "move it along" because it really doesn't fit into my rotation. I'm in the camp that loves the Kahr triggers. I love the smoothness and the predictable break you get with the Kahrs. Now, I will admit there have been times when I've recently transitioned from the XDs that I have short stroked the Kahr trigger. That aside, my Kahrs have been Uber reliable and I'm a fan of Kahrs in general.

On the flip side my nightstand gun is a 40c and I also have a Pro 9 5". I love the M&P line and they have their place with me as well, just not as carry pieces. My EDC must be small, even pocket-able in the warmer months. It also must be at least a 9mm. So in conclusion, if you like or tolerate the Kahr trigger it's hard to beat a PM/CM9 for carry period. If you are moving up to something the size of a Shield then the Shield would probably get my vote even though the CW9 is a great value. Also worth considering, with the Shield there is better aftermarket support especially regarding sights and trigger upgrades.
 
I bought my Shield for $362 without the thumb safety and good have purchased the Shield with the thumb safety for $349.99. As far as what Hickok45 likes, he likes the trigger on the Shield just fine and recently stated that he purchased one for himself and has been carrying it. I just purchased mine and have ordered 1,000 rounds of 124 grain 9mm ammo from Freedom Ammunition and will see how I like the trigger after putting 200 to 500 rounds through the gun. Right now it doesn't feel bad to me and is actually better than the one that came with my M&P Pro that had a 7 lb. trigger pull (per specs, should have been 4 - 5 1/2) but rather than sending it back to S&W I went for the Apex FSS trigger kit to also reduce the travel. I had rented a Kahr and I thought that the trigger pull was way more than what I have with the Shield right now. I have large hands but the Shield feels just fine, especially with the extended mag, and between the grip and the trigger, I'm now selling my XDS. Anyway, it's all personal preferences regarding guns and the Kahr and Shield are both fine guns. However, I think you got ripped off on what you paid for your Shield. The only place I've seen that price is at Cabela's. Regards, Elliot45
 
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dullh said:
My Kahr was $300 even (NIB from Woodbury Outfitters), free shipping, $10 transfer fee upon arrival from an online auction. If you didn't know, the CW9 is the economy model Kahr.

The Shield was $519 + tax at a local gun shop.

That's how I figure the Kahr was $200 cheaper.

And, yes, considering what the Shields are going for nowadays (I've seen online auctions asking as much as $700 for them - no way I would pay that), I could sell it and make a profit...but I follow advice from Jeff Cooper I read a long time ago...I don't sell guns, because when you do the gun is gone and sooner than later so is the money you got for it.
Click to expand...


Wow! I paid $439 + tax for my new Shield 40 last week.
 
Looks like it's been a while since the last post but I will put in my two cents anyway. I am very fond of my Kahr's (CT45, CW40, K40 and P380) and I carry the CW40 daily with the P380 as a backup. Also love my M&P40 and my M&P45c to a lesser degree. Did own a 9mm Shield for a short time. Traded it as I don't like thumb safeties. Today I stumbled onto a new Shield in 40 cal with no thumb safety priced at $399.99 at my local pawn shop. I'm considering it but even if I do purchase it none of my Kahr's will go. Not going to break up the family. Have the triggers improved? Seems like I read that somewhere.
 
I have several different brands of guns and don't like confusion on where the safety is. I don't need it. I know some do. I will be back tomorrow to take a more detailed look at the Shield. I really don't need it but want often overpowers need with me.
 
FWIW- I paid $351.00 in October including tax and background check for a Shield with a made date on 4/29/15. The trigger is very good out of the box. With 1000+ rounds it's great. I considered doing a trigger kid but mine is too good to mess with.

If you have an older Shield, look into this DIY trigger work.
S&W M&P Trigger Job

I did have to adjust the rear sight and now it is a very accurate gun!
 
Move down to the CM9/PM9 and I think the Kahr pulls ahead. The Kahrs are a hair thinner than the Shield.
I find my PM9 is actually a pocketable pocket gun whereas the Shield is large enough to not be. Your pocket may vary.
 
dullh said:
My Kahr was $300 even (NIB from Woodbury Outfitters), free shipping, $10 transfer fee upon arrival from an online auction. If you didn't know, the CW9 is the economy model Kahr.

The Shield was $519 + tax at a local gun shop.

That's how I figure the Kahr was $200 cheaper.

And, yes, considering what the Shields are going for nowadays (I've seen online auctions asking as much as $700 for them - no way I would pay that), I could sell it and make a profit...but I follow advice from Jeff Cooper I read a long time ago...I don't sell guns, because when you do the gun is gone and sooner than later so is the money you got for it.
Click to expand...

You got great deal on the Kahr I had the same gun (great gun)
but you payed way to much for the Shield I can buy them all day long for $375 and you are right the Kahr has a better trigger
except the length of travel before engaging so I still like the Shield right out of the box JMO.
 
I also prefer a cw9 to a shield . I started as a DA /SA revolver shooter and carried a DA snubby for 19 years so a kahr is a natural progression for a first concealed carry semi-auto . I also have cm9 for work carry but with retirement I found I preferred the larger tp40 and now a ct45 over smaller handguns and gave my cw9 to a daughter for CCW . Wife edc is a m&p9c and she has a 9mm CORE and I got to do the break in on both . I had m&p full size I bought as a post hand surgery EDC but gave it to a daughter after shooting a sig p320 and unless my hands grip control improves a bit more I will continue to CC a p320 compact but with the purchase of a kahr ct45 that is wider and heavier than there small bore pistols and with a stock 4lb 12oz trigger enjoyable to shoot and carry too .

So is there a best carry pistol , NO . Many makes and models do the job very well for many people . But if kahr made a double stack ??

Joe44va To bad you don't have a kahr in 40sw , your opinion would be different but the cw9 is comparable to a 357 2" still . Just have to pick a better class of 9mm ammo .

Is your model 60 a 3" 357 version ? The 2" version gives up to much accuracy and velocity to be comparable to anything but a 9mm . My old cw9 will exceed 1120fps with underwood 124gr+P ammo . Being an old revolver guy first and buying my first 357mag in 1976 I will debate whether a kahr pistol can compare . Lets compare to the kahr 40sw . A buddy has a cw40 and I have a tp40 . With underwood 155gr gold dots it will average 1281fps in a cw40 that is the size of a snubby and just about as fun to shoot as a 357steel snubby .

Now bump up to my tp40 4" kahr that still smaller than a 3" model 60 will average 1321 fps with that same 155gr underwood load , ad 95fps for a 135gr load . It takes a 4" barreled 357 rem mag to do that reliably , a 3" might with a few loads not likely and the 3" model 60 is all ready a longer heavier handgun than a tp40 . Accuracy - You are comparing both when shot as double actions right ? A 4" tp40 kahr is a sub 3" 25 yards pistol and granted the 3" model 60 might beat that but is it really better . 3" groups are about what most full pistols will do so its far from bad for a defensive handgun , cw series , add another 1" . And a cw40 or tp40 is not a 5 shooter !
 
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I love my Shield .40 and I love my Kahr cm9. I can't find anything wrong with my Shield, but there are a couples of things that are less than ideal with the Kahr. So why do I like it?, because it is SMALL! This isn't comparing apples to apples. In fact if I throw my Glock 27 into the rotation, it makes my Shield a tweener.
 
I sold my CW9 to buy my first Shield.
While I liked the CW9, I have no regrets
 
Late to the party....just picked up my first KAHR (CW9)
Also have a few other 9 compacts...each is slightly different, but aren't we all looking for the "perfect" compact 9?
I'll be shooting it next week alongside the Shield PC, and probably my HK.
Time will tell if it's "The one"
 
Hey....as I said.....New to the party....gimme' a break...(and you another Floridian.....) VBG
 
I prefer the Nacho Cheese Doritos over the Cool Ranch flavor, but in the end they're both empty calories.
 
I like the looks of the Kahr guns, but I keep hearing about reliability issues. Just cannot handle that, and don't want to introduce that into my system. No need to.
 
Gotta' try it....who knows, this could be my "huckleberry"
At least I can rack the slide ....some of my compact 9's are getting difficult...old age catches up with all of us/you...
What's the "worst" thing that can happen ??
 
Well... the OP hasn't visited our beloved forum in 3 years, but I still don't understand his comment about needing to throw a lot of money into an upgraded trigger for the Shield.

Mine is stock and it's just fine.
 
My Shield is a Performance Center model, I gave my "old" one to my son, there is a difference in the PC, the trigger is really smooth...and much better sights....(I could do with out the porting....I think that just "fluff") but it was bought on a rebate...so that part was "free")
And as far as "visiting" I just happen to be mostly on Glock Talk, but do visit just about all the "gun" M/B's), and have been shooting for over 70
seventyyears !!!
 
My Shield is a Performance Center model, I gave my "old" one to my son, there is a difference in the PC, the trigger is really smooth...and much better sights....(I could do with out the porting....I think that just "fluff") but it was bought on a rebate...so that part was "free")
And as far as "visiting" I just happen to be mostly on Glock Talk, but do visit just about all the "gun" M/B's), and have been shooting for over 70
seventy years !!!
 
Back in the day when this thread was started I bought a CW9. I was a Glock guy but wanted that smaller/lighter package. The Kahr is a nice pistol but with the trigger pull so long I never shot it well. Fast forward a few years later when S&W came out with the Shield 45. It was love at first bullseye.
 
I have a CW9 that I bought in 2013. I like it very much. I also have a Shield .45 Auto that I bought in late 2016. I like that very much to. I carry the Kahr because of Arthritis and Carpel Tunnel. They are both very accurate hand guns.
 
CatSnipah said:
You also run the risk of getting picked apart by a legal defense attorney regarding your "intent" to shoot someone if you upgrade your trigger, add a crimson trace laser, etc. Not saying it sticks, but more and more, I read or hear anecdotes regarding this topic.

.
Click to expand...

just curious.... can you name a single time that this happened?

not opinion, but an actual case?
 
Prosecutor: So your intent was to shoot the BG who threatened your well being using that upgraded trigger and laser?

Me: Yes, shooting him was my intent.
 
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