Kahr P-9 Range Report

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Aggie_engr
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Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by Aggie_engr »

Some of you may remember the Kahr that I bought for my fiance last week, well I finally got to the range to test it out before I fork it over to her. A point I would like to make is that I've never been a polymer gun guy even after shooting just about every other plastic gun out there, but I just fell in love with this little gun at the range. :thumbs2: Overall outcome of my range trial is that I'm completely confident in giving it to my fiance for her protection when I'm not around. :anamatedbanana
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The manual recommends 200 rounds for the break-in period, so I picked up 2 boxes of WWB FMJ from wally and headed to the Arms Room in league city. The gun functioned flawlessly, from the first shot to the last, alternating between both 7 and 8 round magazines, firing fast, slow, and one handed strong/weak. Also, the gun would load either by releasing the slide stop or working the slide with your hand. Basically I would rely on this gun to go bang every time, anywhere. Here's the gun again that was posted last week.
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Accuracy- all I can say is wow. The accuracy of this gun is way beyond my capabilites, as can be seen in the difference of grouping from 7 to 15 yards (one magazine each). My lack of experience with DAO triggers may have played negatively into the results since I am only familiar with single action triggers, but that's for another discussion. ;-)
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I collected some sample casings that were ejected from the Kahr to examine the integrity of it's striker system which as can seen below leaves a nice, deep dent in each of the primers. Also to be noted is that the casings didn't show any major signs of deformation or gouging, as with some other firearms that I've seen. To me, this means that the design allows the gun to function more smoothly and not "forced" per say. The ejection pattern was very consistent, back and to the right at about 4-5 o-clock.
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Another thing I noted while shooting the Kahr, besides it being super thin, was that the front and backstrap stippling really made the gun "stick" in my hands while firing. I think it is important that small, compact guns have a good grip texture because, well there's just less to hold on to.
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Just to show the amount of residue build-up in the chamber after 200 rounds with no cleaning.
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Last but also important for full caliber guns is that you can get a three finger grip on them. This was easily accomplished with the pinky extension on the 7 round magazine supplied by Kahr, even with my bear paws. :lol::
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maverick2076
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by maverick2076 »

I have a Kahr CW9, and I feel exactly the same way about it. MY only issue with it at all is that I found the grip stippling to be overly agressive, and it becomes painful. Luckily, the previous owner had put a Hogue handall on it, which makes this pistol just about perfect.
Tregs
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by Tregs »

Thanks for the range report. After trying severalCC rigs, I decided on the P9 also. I'm very happy with it. Accurate, reliable, lightweight, easy to carry, easy to shoot.
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Excaliber
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by Excaliber »

maverick2076 wrote:I have a Kahr CW9, and I feel exactly the same way about it. MY only issue with it at all is that I found the grip stippling to be overly agressive, and it becomes painful. Luckily, the previous owner had put a Hogue handall on it, which makes this pistol just about perfect.
An alternative (and much thinner) solution is the A Grip product from Brooks Tactical. It's what I use on all my polymer framed guns.
Excaliber

"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
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maverick2076
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by maverick2076 »

It sounds interesting, although they describe tghe feel as a short velvet or suede. I don't know...that just seems kinda "Austin Powers" to me. I may have to give it a try.
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nuparadigm
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by nuparadigm »

Thanks for the excellent report on the P9. My P45 has been my reliable carry for over three years. At one point (in a fit of lusting-for-cash-for another-firearm) I considered selling the P45. I'm glad that I resisted temptation; the P45 always goes "boom" no matter what I feed it.
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A-R
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by A-R »

Excaliber wrote:
maverick2076 wrote:I have a Kahr CW9, and I feel exactly the same way about it. MY only issue with it at all is that I found the grip stippling to be overly agressive, and it becomes painful. Luckily, the previous owner had put a Hogue handall on it, which makes this pistol just about perfect.
An alternative (and much thinner) solution is the A Grip product from Brooks Tactical. It's what I use on all my polymer framed guns.
AGrip is a very good product. Used it on my Glocks for a while. But it does - like any adhesive product - sooner or later start peeling off. I think both of mine lasted a year or more of heavy carry use on my two most commonly carried guns. After that though I finally bit the bullet and just heat stippled the guns myself. Now I LOVE the custom grips.
HankB
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by HankB »

Maybe they've finally worked the bugs out . . . I had a Kahr P9 and it was a pleasure to shoot . . . on those rare occasions it didn't malfunction. I had more separate problems with that wretched little thing than I've had with ANY other gun I've ever tried. Kahr eventually replaced it (good company) but I traded the unfired replacement for a G26, which isn't as neat a package but has yet to malfunction.

Maybe I had a Monday morning/Friday afternoon gun . . . I'm glad you like your P-9 and hope it keeps working for you, but I'm not ready to go out and buy another one just yet. ("Once burned, twice shy.")
Original CHL: 2000: 56 day turnaround
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2nd renewal, 2008: 81 days
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Barron76
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Re: Kahr P-9 Range Report

Post by Barron76 »

Congrats on a great gun & thanks for the range report!
Kahr makes one of the finest CCW weapons out there in my opinion. I carry one with me daily & have for a couple of years now. I've got a K9 & CW9 that I love and plan on picking up a .45 at some point this coming year.
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