Ext Gripe on 7 & 8 rd mags

[Allen]

I finally got up the nerve to get a CM9 on order and now started thinking about extra magazines. Noticed on several web sites that the 7 & 8 rd mags are available with the ext grip for the same price as without. Are these useful and nice to have or are they just ugly and in the way? The 6 rd that comes with the gun will be used for CC but for an extra and at the range thought maybe the ones with the ext grip might be nice since the gun is small anyway.

It's generally a lot cheaper to learn from the expert's experience than to learn alone so will appreciate any thoughts or opinions.

[Allen]

CC is the main reason for purchasing this gun. I've been reading this forum and considering the CM9 since back last September but kept hoping I could get to handle one someplace but haven't so far. Decided to just bite the bullet and get one anyway. Trusting Jocko, Bawanna, JFootin, and the other experts I will love this little gun. I have a Beretta 85 but it is too heavy and thick for CC. The 7 & or 8 rd would be used only for a spare extra in a different location from my pocket or belt (haven't decided how I want to carry it yet. Maybe just an extra one or two 6 rd mags will be sufficient.

[JFootin]

After reading about nose dive troubles with the 7 round mags, I just got 2 extra 6 round mags for my CM9. I have read lately that the 8 round mags work OK and don't produce nose dives, so that is an option for range use. But in a carry situation, I'd stick with the 6 rounders. At the range, I use a Butler Creek Universal LULA mag loader to save my thumb and speed up reloads. Costs about as much as a magazine, but it will work for all SD calibers.

[wyntrout]

For CCW in the gun, you want the smallest easiest to hide, but for a reload, I carry the 8-round extended grip in a holder on the opposite side. I have at least 6 of the 8-rounders and have had no problems with them in my K9 or PM9. With the PM9 there is a gap between the grip and the base, but don't even consider the 7-round extended ones. ALMOST everyone has had problems with those.

If I were just buying one spare, I would get another 6-rounder for spare CCW in the gun, but if I were getting two spares I would get a 6 and an 8... skip the 7.

I don't like the "flush-fitting" polymer bases... like the ones on the K9 and the CW models. I like the steel ones the fit closer to FLUSH, but for the extra rounds, I carry the 7-round extended grip for the .40 and .45, and the 8-round extended grip for the 9mm.

My 9mm Mag PIX here: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2944&highlight=9mm+magazines

The lower left picture shows the PM9 with the 7-round extended grip magazine... the one that usually has feed problems. The upper right shows the PM9 with the 8-round extended grip mags that have never malfunctioned in my 9mm's.
Wynn:)