My Carry Cunundrum - Kahr CW9 or PM9 or KM9

View · by **Izod** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 1:21 pm

I've had a few years to drag my feet on this and I've narrowed it down.

Wife has the LCP - my opinion is that it's kinda crappy. Sucky ass open sights, and long stiff trigger pull

My home defense gun is a FNP9 - way too big for me to carry on a daily basis.

I've borrowed a Glock 26 - Just not impressed with the way they feel in the hand or how they shoot... I won't deny they are highly reliable but i just don't get excited over Glocks at all.

Borrowed a Kahr PM9 last summer - small, comfy grip for me, accurate in my hands, butter smooth trigger (but long). He had a FIST iwb holster and i carried it for a few days and i was much impressed.

I'm looking harder now into finally making a purchase and I'm thinking of going the Kahr route. Can't say i love the boxy slide release, but looks like i can polish the corners down to make it less sharp on the thumb. Don't like the idea that they Don't recommend releasing the slide by pulling them back and releasing it with the hand cuz it will hang up with the feed... I'm thinking if i went the Kahr route the PM9 would the one for me. Do any of you have personal carry or lengthy shooting experience with any of these Kahrs?

My reasoning so far:
CW9 - Cheapest -

PM9 - More spendy - Comes with 2 mags, Nice design, Sounds like this model has a better finish especially over the edges than the CW9, Polygonal Rifling (not sure that really matters for me)

MK9 - Spendy SPENDY - Never have had a full metal frame, much sexiness added if i got wood grips, Don't need it but damn it would be NICE.

I wouldn't turn my nose up to a used one if it was in good shape either.

View · by **Thunder71** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:20 pm

CM9 is probably what you want based on your own assessments.

I've carried a PM9 and MK9 (with wood grips), great carry guns...

I now carry a Springfield XD-S which I prefer personally.

The MK9 and PM9 I sold:

View · by **Thunderjohn** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:04 pm

Agree with Thunder71.
The CM9 will save you about $170 after you buy the 2nd mag.
Standard rifling and not as pretty of a slide. MIM slide stop lever.
Rack the slide fast and release and you'll get rid of the round hanging up.

The MK9 is nice but the poly frames shoot real nice.
I've had many Kahrs, new & used. Never a malfunction with any of them.
I've carried the PM9, CM9, P9, CW9, K9 and K40.

View · by **Izod** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:58 pm

Between the three, or the ones you owned, could you feel if there was any difference in the trigger at all?

Any difference in the comfort of the handle? I'm assuming the CM9 an the PM9 have the same exact handle.

View · by **Thunder71** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:05 pm

No trigger difference in my experience, main difference was the MK9 had slightly less felt recoil due to added weight and different recoil spring assembly.

View · by **cobb** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:36 pm

Thunder71 wrote:No trigger difference in my experience, main difference was the MK9 had slightly less felt recoil due to added weight and different recoil spring assembly.

Is different recoil spring that visually obvious?

My PM9 has been 100%, owned it since they first came out in the black. Later I purchased a PM40 when they became available. The PM40 was nothing but problems, it would be out of battery after fired, I believed it was bouncing out of battery. If I limp wrist the PM40 it ran fine, if I lock in, solid grip and stance it would be out of battery about 50% of the time after a shot. I would just lift a thumb up and press into battery to fire. Again only with a solid grip would it do this, that is why I thought it was bouncing out of battery. I was told at that time by Kahr that the PM9 and PM40 used the same exact recoil spring assembly, which I thought odd and the reason for my problem.

So that is why I ask if there was a visual difference with the MK9 recoil spring assembly, was that because there is a physical design difference?

Far as the OP question. When students or other shoot my PM9 and ask about getting one, I suggest that they also look at the CM9. A few less frills, also less money even with purchasing another magazine or 2.

View · by **dtapper2** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:41 pm

I have a CM9 and I love it. I've had it for just over two years and I have around 1,000 through it without a problem. I ditched my slightly smaller LCP for it, and haven't looked back. It's an extremely accurate pistol, but that's not what's most important in a carry gun. It needs to be comfortable and reliable and it is both of those also.

View · by **Sorcerer** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:06 pm

I own 2 Kahrs. CW9 for summer carry and on the motorcycle. K9 for winter carry. Both use the same mags and holster. Both hold 7+1. The K9 for me is more accurate.

View · by **Thunder71** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:23 pm

Yes its quite different, I don't recall offhand but it's noticeable and not interchangeable.

The main issue for Kahr at least when I had one was that they don't trim tecoil springs. I had one that was 3 coils too long, locked up my slide.

View · by **Spartan** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:23 pm

skip them and locate something else

View · by **cobb** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:13 pm

I will recommend a PM9 all day. My PM9 is my second most carry gun, have a PM45 that I am trying to transition to that roll right now and as always a 4" 1911 as my primary. My PM9 has been used in classes that I have taked that I had to transition from my primary to a backup, my PM9 ran whatever practice ammo that I used. The practice ammo has been Winchester, S&B, Federal and a few others that I just wanted to get rid of. For carry ammo and tested for reliability on the range I use Speer Gold Dot or Corbon. Both reliable and currently carry Corbon which I have shot the most of through my PM9 with no problems except maybe for the perceived recoil.

View · by **gun_fan111** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:23 pm

Like my CM9 but every couple of month debate on trading it in for a CW9. Comfortable grip vs. Concealment. Then I think about buying all those new mags and stick with CM

View · by **Thunderjohn** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:26 pm

Izod wrote:Between the three, or the ones you owned, could you feel if there was any difference in the trigger at all?

Any difference in the comfort of the handle? I'm assuming the CM9 an the PM9 have the same exact handle.

Same internals in the C series and P series.

View · by **Countryfried Frank** on Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:44 pm

Mrs. C. had a CW9 up until recently. It functioned well on everything we fed it except for some 147 gr handloads that also gave an USP a hard time. Only sold it to fund a something more appropriate for her to carry.

View · by **Series 70** on Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:44 am

My daughter has a CM9. I've shot it a bit and find the trigger identical to an old P-40 I used to own. She went with the CM9 over the CW9 based on price. It has been reliable for her, though twice it has experienced the first round nosedive into the feed ramp when loading.