Kahr Dilema

[Johnny Polite]

Hello, I am new to the forum and I am currently waiting on my plastic (mailed 6-6-09).

I have been looking into buying one of the little Kahrs (PM9, MK9, PM40 or MK40). I have been leaning more toward the MKs to absorb the recoil but also because I have read about the plastic frames swelling or distorting. Any experience any of you have had with any or all of these pistols would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your input.

[Mithras61]

Hello, I am new to the forum and I am currently waiting on my plastic (mailed 6-6-09).

I have been looking into buying one of the little Kahrs (PM9, MK9, PM40 or MK40). I have been leaning more toward the MKs to absorb the recoil but also because I have read about the plastic frames swelling or distorting. Any experience any of you have had with any or all of these pistols would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your input.

Well, I don't have a Kahr, but I do have a polymer frame pistol (a Springfield XD45 Compact, actually), and I've never had (or even heard of) any frame distortion with it. I suspect that you'll hear similar stories from Glock-lovers, as they are polymer framed as well.

I looked through Google, and I see there are a few reports of that issue with Kahrs on the Internet. Perhaps the Kahr owners here will have some info on that subject.

If you are concerned about deformation, adn would like a polymer pistol, perhaps one of the other brands would serve as well...

[joe817]

Hi Johnny, and welcome to the forum! Glad to have you with us.

I wish I could help you with your question, but I know nothing about Kahr's. But I'm sure someone here does and will be chiming in shortly.

[Johnny Polite]

I am actually a fan of polymer pistols. I shoot (and will carry when I get my CHL) a Glock 23. The Kahrs are the only pistols I have read about that have this issue.

[mr.72]

The MK-series Kahrs are also known for cracks in the frame under the grip in the mag well, some of them coming right out of the box brand new with these cracks. So the metal frame pistols may get you an improvement in durability over the poly.

I would not worry about the frame distortion of the polymer Kahrs, but if you find you have any kind of problem then their warranty service is extremely good, IME. I know of many people with Kahrs with thousands upon thousands of rounds. However, I would stick with 9mm Kahrs since those are the ones that have been around the longest and seem to have the fewest issues.

The PM9s seem to have a persistent barrel-hood peening issue that you might look into before deciding on that. MK9 probably has the same issue. Kahr replaces the barrels when they develop this problem but they might not fully understand the problem just yet. So I'd tend towards a P9 or CW9 and cut the grip to "Covert" length (does not void the warranty) if you need a PM9-size pistol. This winds up with a gun that is PM9-size but with 1/2" longer barrel & slide.

Check out the Kahr Club on Glock Talk: http://glocktalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Lots of good information on there.

[AEA]

I have a K9 (Metal Frame) and it is the neatest little pistol I own. It is a Blackened Stainless finish and does not even show fingerprints.

[Armybrat]

I've had my PM9 since they first came out. It ran smooth as butter straight out of the box and no problems at all through 750-800 rounds.
No peening or any of the other issues I've read about on the Kahr forum. Never sent it back in for the barrel recall several years ago, either.

Great little gun, very well made & shoots where I point it.

Am lookin' around for a new Kahr CW 45, since I hear they make bigger holes.

[shootthesheet]

I don't know if I would take the chance on a "SHOP Queen" unless I had something else to carry. It is bad enough to wait for the DPS processing times but then to not be able to carry because the gun had to go back to the shop is just beyond. I guess if you already own a decent carry gun then your okay. However, I have Glocks, Springfields, Berettas and even Kel Teks and High Points and none of them have ever had any real issues. I personally like the XD 45 Compact and their Sub-Compacts. The SC guns hide very easy and shoot great too with enough of a savings over a Kahr that you might be able to afford target ammo....if you can find any. Good luck.

[Johnny Polite]

Yeah, my primary carry will be my G23. I am looking for something that, if necessary, I can just throw in my pocket and walk out the door without worrying about what I am wearing. I definitely wouldn't carry it to protect myself until I had a couple hundred rounds through it. From what I have read, it seems like there are some isolated incidents with problems in these guns but for the most part they seem very reliable.

Also, I just want a new gun...

[aardwolf]

A buddy has a PM9 and it's been good for him but it's a carry gun not a range gun.

[.45mac.40]

JohnnyPolite.... and CHL gang !
Love my XD .45 BUT, I carry my CW40 90 % of the time ( 24/7)
I take her dancing at the range, once a month, she sings and works beautifully, I trust her with my life.
I met Ms. Kahr at Guns Galore, up in Kileen. Paid tha' man about 458 bucks to take her home.
I'd Marry her again !!
Mac .40 >>>>>> @

[ntexaschl]

I have both a PM9 and an MK40. The PM9 carries/conceals a bit easier. I bought Kahr's pocket holster for it. It rides in the front pocket of Dockers very comfortably. I have a Hogue HandAll Junior Universal Grip added to mine. Not many aftermarket options are available for the PM9. Out of the box, there were a few issues. Failures to fire were common...so were failures to return completely to battery. Sent it to Kahr...they paid the postage both ways. They fixed the issues, and, it has been flawless since. My MK40 is my EDC. I've never had an issue with it. Bought Kahr's SS guiderod and the aftermarket grips shown on their webpage...the darker set shown on the MK9. They add some grip width which improves presentation. Luv 'em both, but, the MK40 is my pet.

[Mike1951]

My love affair with Kahr's began with a K-40 over ten years ago. I have since added a second K-40. They have always been 100% reliable. I upgraded both with the elite trigger parts and one was refinished in Black-T.

However, I bought a PM9 in 2001 that it took Kahr years to fix. For a couple of years, they denied there was a problem while I worked on the feeding issues myself. Then they asked for my barrel to be returned so that they could reprofile it. Only when they eventually did the barrel recall was my problem solved.

Fast forward a few years and I bought a P45. I carefully documented every malfuction with detailed records and close-up photos. First, they sent me parts to change out myself. Then they asked for it back twice to work on it. Finally, they replaced it with a new P45 with the diamond-like black finish and installed a set of night sights at no charge for my trouble. They usually threw in a new mag for my trouble. I now have 11 mags for it.

The replacement P45 still has one unacceptable issue that prevents me from carrying it. On the last round, about 1/3 of the time, the empty case is jammed down into the empty mag, making it impossible to quickly clear or even remove the mag.

The last time I talked to Kahr, I know I ticked them off. I told them I was perfectly willing to tuck it away in my safe for a couple of years, until they learned how to fix them. It's been about 2 1/2 years now. Maybe it's time.

Kahr's steel guns are great. I won't buy another polymer from them until it's been on the market at least five years.

Their service department was always polite and accommodating, but that didn't mean they could fix anything.

[Velocity]

The PM9s seem to have a persistent barrel-hood peening issue that you might look into before deciding on that. MK9 probably has the same issue. Kahr replaces the barrels when they develop this problem but they might not fully understand the problem just yet. So I'd tend towards a P9 or CW9 and cut the grip to "Covert" length (does not void the warranty) if you need a PM9-size pistol. This winds up with a gun that is PM9-size but with 1/2" longer barrel & slide.

Check out the Kahr Club on Glock Talk: http://glocktalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Lots of good information on there.

I've had a PM9 for a few years now, and it did develop the barrel peening problem. Kahr replaced the barrel and upper slide to "get a matched set". Had several hundred rounds thru it since then, and no sign of the problem coming back yet. They replaced all springs while it was in there too. I HAVE had occasional problems with JHP ammo (but never with standard FMJ target ammo) "catching" on the feed ramp when the mag is full (mag spring fully compressed) and just got it back from a "Stage 1" workover at Cylinder & Slide, which I HOPE will resolve this problem as part of the package includes "Throat and polish the barrel feed ramp for improved feeding reliability". Have not had it to a range since it came back from C&S. Perhaps this weekend. :-)

I wasn't comfortable using this gun as a full time carry gun because of the occasional (rare, but occasional) feeding problem and wound up getting a Glock G26 which is what I carry most of the time. Why spend so much on the PM9 to try and get it to function right? Well, it's just SO concealable that I REALLY want to get it 100% where I feel I can use it for carry. Would probably still carry the G26 more of the time due to it's added capacity (10+1 vs PM9 6+1 or 7+1 with extended mag), but when I want to conceal deeply, the Kahr simply cannot be beat.

I second the recommendation of the Kahr forum on Glock talk. Go thru there and read the threads and you'll get more info than you can probably digest on the Kahr series of pistols. :-)

[03Lightningrocks]

I've had my PM9 since they first came out. It ran smooth as butter straight out of the box and no problems at all through 750-800 rounds.
No peening or any of the other issues I've read about on the Kahr forum. Never sent it back in for the barrel recall several years ago, either.

Great little gun, very well made & shoots where I point it.

Am lookin' around for a new Kahr CW 45, since I hear they make bigger holes.

I haven't owned mine as long as you, but mine has also performed well. I have been very happy with it. Very easy to conceal too.

I didn't know about any problems with warping or distortion. I plan to keep an eye on it. Hopefully it isn't a very common issue.