Anybody own a Kahr 9mm pistol? I am deciding on a CM9, PM9, P9 or CW9 model. Any advice?

I test-fired the CM9 at the range a few weeks back it was probably the least comfortable CCW specialized weapon I've ever fired. Pops like crazy, you need so much pressure to hold it together and it is almost too light, plus the grips were just not comfortable whatsoever when throwing down range for more than a few rounds. Crappy build quality too, as I saw another guy completely drop a clip mid mag and my mag never sat flush. If you are looking for a CCW 9mm I'd go with the R51 (Ive got a close buddy on the design team and i couldnt be more impressed with a CCW 9mm) or the Baretta Nano. Both are much more solidly built and have a better all-around feel. I can't comment on any if the others from experience, but I've heard the CW9 is better. I wouldn't touch Kahrs personally but I recognize that I could've just been unlucky with my own experience.

Thanks. Right now I have 9mm Sig P938. I am just wanting to get a smaller pocket pistol.

Another vote for the R-51. Ugly but well done.

Picking up a hammerless S&W 642 in P+ .38 for the missus' CC piece Much better reliability and safety for her than the auto platforms. Never thought I'd look at these but they make a ton of sense.

(03-15-2014 11:58 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Another vote for the R-51. Ugly but well done.

Picking up a hammerless S&W 642 in P+ .38 for the missus' CC piece Much better reliability and safety for her than the auto platforms. Never thought I'd look at these but they make a ton of sense.

My cousin owns one of them. She really likes it for CC.

Good to hear. My thinking is its light, no edges to snag, no worries about safeties to fumble with under duress, can repeat fire from a purse if need be, and with a cc piece for a lady I think the ability to acquire and show quickly is more important than the ability to put a larger round on target at distance. My only question is how heavy the pull will be.

(03-15-2014 02:21 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Good to hear. My thinking is its light, no edges to snag, no worries about safeties to fumble with under duress, can repeat fire from a purse if need be, and with a cc piece for a lady I think the ability to acquire and show quickly is more important than the ability to put a larger round on target at distance. My only question is how heavy the pull will be.

Good question, however, I never fired it.

I own a CM9. PM9 is a little better machined around the edges (my CM9's mag catch was a little sharp, but that's no reason to spend another $300 and it's easily fixable), and I love it. Perfect pocket pistol, highly recommended.

If you get one, I highly recommend this pocket holster. Fits like a glove, and the material they make it out of, the gun practically sticks to it and holds it in place. Hold it by the tab that's supposed to catch on your pocket, and shake it, and it's not coming loose. At the same time, it has no problem coming off when you draw the weapon.

http://www.remoraholsterstore.com/Remora...ies-3b.htm

(03-15-2014 11:04 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I test-fired the CM9 at the range a few weeks back it was probably the least comfortable CCW specialized weapon I've ever fired. Pops like crazy, you need so much pressure to hold it together and it is almost too light, plus the grips were just not comfortable whatsoever when throwing down range for more than a few rounds. Crappy build quality too, as I saw another guy completely drop a clip mid mag and my mag never sat flush. If you are looking for a CCW 9mm I'd go with the R51 (Ive got a close buddy on the design team and i couldnt be more impressed with a CCW 9mm) or the Baretta Nano. Both are much more solidly built and have a better all-around feel. I can't comment on any if the others from experience, but I've heard the CW9 is better. I wouldn't touch Kahrs personally but I recognize that I could've just been unlucky with my own experience.

Pocket pistols aren't designed to be a joy to shoot at the range, they're designed to conceal well in a variety of situations (i.e. I live in Texas, so it's shorts and t-shirt weather 90% of the time here) and if necessary, save your life.

The CM9/PM9 does that better than any 9mm on the market, and will continue do it better than anything else until Glock gets off it's ass and makes a single-stack, subcompact 9mm.

Your friend that had the accidental mag drop, that was undoubtedly on him because I've never experienced it or even heard about that issue.

Kahr's are finicky before their break-in, but after that, they're money.

Also, stay away from the CW9. At that size, there are countless better options.

The guy who had a magazine drop out was one of the CCW trainers there test firing short-9's on an off day, so I doubt he had a problem with the load mechanism.

I understand that small arms like the CM9 aren't made for comfort, but they aren't made to JUST sit in a pocket holster for the rest of eternity either. I know if I've got a gun I'm going to go to the range and fire it, and I'm sure that's probably what Wilkie will do too. I just know there are WAY more comfortable models out there in the same weapon class, and I prefer those.

You're a Kahr owner and I'm a Beretta owner, so at least he's getting multiple outlooks. I'm a firm believer in the old addage that "you get what you pay for" and if I'm buying something that is intended to protect myself and those I love, I'm not buying something from a value line, especially when I've had personal problems with it. To each their own though, and it sounds like you've had an excellent experience with your Kahr, I've just had better personal experiences with other short-9's

(03-16-2014 02:51 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  The guy who had a magazine drop out was one of the CCW trainers there test firing short-9's on an off day, so I doubt he had a problem with the load mechanism.

I understand that small arms like the CM9 aren't made for comfort, but they aren't made to JUST sit in a pocket holster for the rest of eternity either. I know if I've got a gun I'm going to go to the range and fire it, and I'm sure that's probably what Wilkie will do too. I just know there are WAY more comfortable models out there in the same weapon class, and I prefer those.

You're a Kahr owner and I'm a Beretta owner, so at least he's getting multiple outlooks. I'm a firm believer in the old addage that "you get what you pay for" and if I'm buying something that is intended to protect myself and those I love, I'm not buying something from a value line, especially when I've had personal problems with it. To each their own though, and it sounds like you've had an excellent experience with your Kahr, I've just had better personal experiences with other short-9's

Right on, don't disagree with much of anything you said other than maybe calling the CM9 a value line pistol in the sense of it being cheap. The main difference between it and it's more expensive brother is the rifling (PM9 has polygonal rifling), which 99 people out of 100 would probably never know the difference.

Other than that, the differences are purely cosmetic.

(03-16-2014 03:19 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 02:51 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  The guy who had a magazine drop out was one of the CCW trainers there test firing short-9's on an off day, so I doubt he had a problem with the load mechanism.

I understand that small arms like the CM9 aren't made for comfort, but they aren't made to JUST sit in a pocket holster for the rest of eternity either. I know if I've got a gun I'm going to go to the range and fire it, and I'm sure that's probably what Wilkie will do too. I just know there are WAY more comfortable models out there in the same weapon class, and I prefer those.

You're a Kahr owner and I'm a Beretta owner, so at least he's getting multiple outlooks. I'm a firm believer in the old addage that "you get what you pay for" and if I'm buying something that is intended to protect myself and those I love, I'm not buying something from a value line, especially when I've had personal problems with it. To each their own though, and it sounds like you've had an excellent experience with your Kahr, I've just had better personal experiences with other short-9's

Right on, don't disagree with much of anything you said other than maybe calling the CM9 a value line pistol in the sense of it being cheap. The main difference between it and it's more expensive brother is the rifling (PM9 has polygonal rifling), which 99 people out of 100 would probably never know the difference.

Other than that, the differences are purely cosmetic.

I've only seen comparison photos between the two, as I've only gotten hands on with the CM9, but isn't the PM9 a bit longer on the barrel and grip?

(03-16-2014 06:43 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 03:19 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 02:51 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  The guy who had a magazine drop out was one of the CCW trainers there test firing short-9's on an off day, so I doubt he had a problem with the load mechanism.

I understand that small arms like the CM9 aren't made for comfort, but they aren't made to JUST sit in a pocket holster for the rest of eternity either. I know if I've got a gun I'm going to go to the range and fire it, and I'm sure that's probably what Wilkie will do too. I just know there are WAY more comfortable models out there in the same weapon class, and I prefer those.

You're a Kahr owner and I'm a Beretta owner, so at least he's getting multiple outlooks. I'm a firm believer in the old addage that "you get what you pay for" and if I'm buying something that is intended to protect myself and those I love, I'm not buying something from a value line, especially when I've had personal problems with it. To each their own though, and it sounds like you've had an excellent experience with your Kahr, I've just had better personal experiences with other short-9's

Right on, don't disagree with much of anything you said other than maybe calling the CM9 a value line pistol in the sense of it being cheap. The main difference between it and it's more expensive brother is the rifling (PM9 has polygonal rifling), which 99 people out of 100 would probably never know the difference.

Other than that, the differences are purely cosmetic.

I've only seen comparison photos between the two, as I've only gotten hands on with the CM9, but isn't the PM9 a bit longer on the barrel and grip?

I've only handled a CM9, so I wouldn't know about any slight differences, but per Kahr's website, they are exactly the same in dimensions.

http://www.kahr.com/pistols/kahr-cm9.asp

I'm going to buy the PM9 w/ External Safety & LCI.



Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 6+1, 7+1 (magazine with grip extension)
Operation: Trigger cocking DAO; lock breech; "Browning - type" recoil lug; passive striker block; no magazine disconnect
Barrel: 3.1", polygonal rifling; 1 - 10 right-hand twist
Length O/A: 5.42"
Height: 4.0"
Slide Width: .90"
Weight: Pistol 14 ounces, Magazine 1.9 ounces
Grips: Textured polymer
Sights: Drift adjustable, white bar-dot combat sights
Finish: Black polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide
Magazines: 2 - 6 rd flush floorplate & 1 - 7 rd extended grip

I know it will cost more than the CM9, but I like the safety. If, I am worried about a gun fight, I can carry with the safety off. Any other time the safety will be on. So why did I chose this mode:

1) safety
2) sights are dove tailed. I can change sights.
3) Better barrel
4) looks better
5) I use to own a MK9 and still have two 7round mags that will fit the PM9. I like the MK9 but it was to heavy for pocket carry.
6) It is the smallest 9mm pocket pistol, which will be primary carry option pocket carry.
7) Kahrs are well made and very dependable.
8) Many Police offers carry PM9s as their backup pistol.

Only a hair larger but look at the S&W MP9C I absolutely love mine. Got on a tip from a member of Cincinnati's SWAT team...it is their backup piece.

(03-17-2014 06:32 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Only a hair larger but look at the S&W MP9C I absolutely love mine. Got on a tip from a member of Cincinnati's SWAT team...it is their backup piece.

That is a nice pistol, but it larger than I want for pocket carry. If I was going to buy a S&W pistol, it would be the M&P SHIELD 9m.

My sister carries a PM9, solid little pistol.

I'm currently deciding on a carry weapon, down to the PM9 or a P380. Prefer 9MM but really like the fact that the 380 is infinitely concealable.

(03-17-2014 07:22 AM)apoe Wrote:  My sister carries a PM9, solid little pistol.

I'm currently deciding on a carry weapon, down to the PM9 or a P238. Prefer 9MM but really like the fact that the P238 is infinitely concealable.

I own two P238s and both are excellent reliable pistols. One for me and one for the wife. The PM9 and the P238 are virtually the same size. However the PM9 wins with 9mm and is just 0.75 inch wide compared to 1.10 inch wide for the P238. Also, PM9 has a 3.1 inch barrel versus a 2.7 inch barrel for the P238. Both 6 & 7 round mags.

Here is a good comparison video:

I have a P9 Covert. It's a P9 barrel, slide, recoil set up with the chopped grip/same mags of the PM9.

Love it. They don't make it anymore, but it's one helluva gun. Accurate and easy to shoot.

The PM9 is more concealable with the shorter slide and barrel, but you get less velocity. In addition, the standard Browning recoil system of the P9 and P9 Covert is a lot more reliable than the Seecamp double-spring set up in the early PM9s.

The PM9s are probably more reliable now. The first couple of years on that model were hit and miss.