Need opinions to seal the deal!

[Wisewolfhowling]

I bought a cw45 off a friend a couple months ago to try it out. I am typically a 9mm guy but decided to check the 45 out anyway. To make a long story short I do like the gun but just can not find the sweet spot when carrying the gun so I am not printing. I am not a big guy "5/11 170 pounds" so not a lot to work with. I always seem to have the end of the grip printing in my shirt. I am thinking about trading the 45 for either the cm9 or pm9. I know the pm comes with night sights and a little more machine work and I think a different barrel. My question is does that really make the pm that much of a better gun? For the guys that carry cm/pm what gun is really the better deal.

[nikon]

I carry the cm9. The pm9 does not necessarily come with night sights..it is an option though. Night sights are also an option on the cm too. I love my cm but if I had to do it again I'd get the pm just because it is prettier.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[kerby9mm]

I have a mk9 & mk40 and the 40 is slightly larger than the 9 but not so much that there is a noticeable difference when I carry as far as printing. Other people don't know you are carrying only you do so they most likely don't notice your gun. As far as the cheaper gun compared to the more expensive one a lot of guns are kept forever so IMO get the pm for the extra features. I don't have any poly guns because I like steel and the extra ounces don't bother me and aren't even noticeable to me when carrying. If just trying out a gun which I don't do you might be better off going cheaper. Again just my opinion.

[OldLincoln]

A lot of folks here carry the CW45 well concealed, so the answer is out there. You didn't say, so I'll guess you are carrying IWB. I'm 6' & 190 so a tad larger but am comfortably carrying a 1911 Commander currently without printing. It's in the holster and the shirt. You cannot wear a clingy overshirt without printing.

Limatunes has a Facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/Limalife) discussing these things and several YouTubes (http://www.youtube.com/user/limalife) demonstrating carry. She a slim woman carrying a 1911 which is a tough combo to conceal. You may or not be a woman but her info generally applies to both. By the way she is very qualified to discuss guns, knives, or hand to hand. I wouldn't want to go up against her.

PS: If you decide on another 9mm, I suggest the CM9 over the PM.

[yqtszhj]

I would say keep the CW45 for the house/car and buy a CM9. I have the CM9 (100% reliable) and just bought a CW45. For what you would get on a trade for the CW45 and the additional money for a PM9 you could probably come close to having 2 gums if you get the CM9.

Also if your CW45 is running good I wouldn't let it go for the reason it has lots of power and we all may need something like it some day. That's all I'll say about that.

[PYROhafe]

I have the cm9 and love it! The ONLY downside to the cm9 is the pinned front sight. Not a whole lot of options out there just yet. I know several companies are still working on it, and have made promises of some to come without having to machine a dovetail into the front. Other than that ONE downside, I have absolutly no regrets about my cm9! Ide say save the money and get the cm9! That extra you would spend on the pm can easily be put down range (ammo) or into some nice add ons like a magnaport job, or some other fancy gunsmithing like a slide melt or somethin! just my .02 YMMV I dont claim :D as our unofficial cm9 owners symbol for no reason! This thing (even after 1k+ rounds) ROCKS!

Just saw it, so +1 to what yqtszhj said

[JFootin]

IMO, the CW45 is not a large gun and should hide well in the right holster. I love my CM9 and recommend that you get one. But don't get rid of that CW45, which is the best value in a 45 carry gun period. I am considering getting one myself, so I have been looking at holster ideas. My favorite carry method for my CM9 is the PJ IWB Holster (http://pjholster.com/?page_id=37) with over the belt clip. This holster is so thin, so light and so comfortable that you literally cannot feel the gun and holster sitting there in the sweet spot just behind your hip! Get it with FBI cant, which helps with the comfort, the concealability and makes it easier to draw. Retention is very good and adjustable. And Paul is a great guy to do business with! With a good 1 1/2" belt, it should conceal well.

But this thread talks about a unique solution for a larger gun like the CW45, using a uniquely shaped OWB holster and a separate nylon belt to carry it IWB: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10107. If you look at his additional pictures on the second page, you'll see no printing at all.

[Deano]

I have the CM9 and the CW45. They both conceal very well. If you get a pj kydex IWB holster with FBI cant for the CW45 and wear it around 4 o'clock with a loose shirt over top, no one will notice it. I'm not a big guy, 6' 180, but it works very well for me. In the winter time with thicker clothing it will be even easier to conceal. I wouldn't give up on it. A small amount of printing may bug you, but people don't notice. No one really will be staring at your hip trying to decide if you're carrying a gun. Just put it on and head down to wal mart for a walk around. You'll see. No one really pays any attention. Just be careful how you bend over to get things off of the bottom shelf.

[TheTman]

There is a thread here about using 1911 officers mags, to make the base fit flush against the bottom of the pistol. Perhaps that will help. I wear mine at 4-5:00 with the handle canted up about 45 degrees so it rides against my back, and I can draw it quickly. Doesn't seem to print under a loose fitting T shirt or Polo, unless I bend over at the waist, then the handle prints pretty bad. I've carried that way quite a bit, and no one has ever commented on it or asked what I was carrying.

[Wisewolfhowling]

Thanks for the info guys. Would it be possible to see some pictures of you guys holsters and maybe you wearing gun? also is the pj holsters solid? As far as stable on the belt with just the one clip over the belt? Once again thanks for info.

[JFootin]

Thanks for the info guys. Would it be possible to see some pictures of you guys holsters and maybe you wearing gun? also is the pj holsters solid? As far as stable on the belt with just the one clip over the belt? Once again thanks for info.

I'll try to get a picture or two done. The PJ holster weighs about an ounce, yet it is very sturdy. And I know from when I worked to cut the J-hook off my first holster to convert it to Velcro connection, that Kydex is some incredibly tough sh!t. Dressed, I weigh close to 200 lbs, and I'm sure I could stand on a PJ holster without breaking or harming it at all. The single over the belt clip is very stable. That's part of what makes the holster and gun seem to vanish when you are wearing them because the gun doesn't shift around when you move, so you never feel the mass of the gun there.

I think FBI cant is usually about 15°, which works OK, but for behind the hip carry, 20° might work even better. Consult with Paul about it.

[TheTman]

Here is are some pics of my CW45 and Remora Holster.

CW45 with CT Laser in Remora holster at about the cant I wear it. Top of the holster usually flush with top of my pants.
http://kartalk.pccomps.com/CW45nRemora.JPG

CW45 in holster where it's worn mostly:










http://kartalk.pccomps.com/CW45IWB.JPG

With T-Shirt down covering pistol:

http://kartalk.pccomps.com/CW45IWB2.JPG

[chrish]

I agree w/ JFootin on the cant, that's going to help you even more than the holster, but I'd definitely go along w/ the most thin/light IWB you can find, which is likely the PJ. I've got a CompTac Infidel that works really well for me, but I would guess the PJ is better. It's on my list as my next holster purchase.


Anyhoo...from Kahr's site, the CW45 is right in between the sizes of my P9 and TP9. The P9 absolutely disappears IWB, the TP9 a bit of a challenge b/c of the extra 1/2" on the grip, with a higher cant, it would work. My Infidel is probably a 15deg cant and it could use a bit more to be angled enough for the pistol to disappear into my side and the grip not poke my shirt out at certain angles. But being in between, I have to think the CW45 will be just right between 15 and 20deg and w/ the PJ, thin and super comfortable.

[TheTman]

I usually wear the pistol lower than that. I didn't get it put all the way in. Just wanted to take a few pics real quick and get them posted. I carry a cell phone on that side too, so there are bulges under my shirt that help camoflauge any printing.
Plus I wear even bigger t-shirts quite a bit and that really hides it well.

[JFootin]

Yeah, the cell phone on the same side is a great plus for hiding any printing. :third: I carry my J-frame at 10:30 (lefty) in a reverse canted tuckable clip IWB holster, and I have a cell phone case with two belt loops that I mount in front of it to hide the clip and eliminate any printing from the gun.

[Wisewolfhowling]

Was checking out the pj holsters on the web and it looks like they are made so the clip on the holster goes between the pants and the belt. This may be a silly new guy question but it still makes me wonder how stable the gun and holster would be unless you have your belt so tight that it would not be comfortable. Maybe I will just order one and see for myself. Seems like a lot of guys on here have nothing but good things to say about the pj holsters.

[Cornhusker]

Not sure what you're saying, but the over the belt clip fits on the outside of the belt and rolls under the bottom of the belt somewhat. There is also a "C" clip that goes between the belt and the pants. I prefer the over the belt clip.

[Wisewolfhowling]

Ok I see now,guess the ones I looked at had the "c" clip.

[PYROhafe]

Yeah the one you mentioned is the "C" clip, Ive heard a couple people say they werent too fond of those, but I (and MANY others) love my pj with over the belt clip! a huge +1 for paul and his holsters! great product! Also if you order a pj, and decide for some reason its just not quite right, paul will absolutly fix it for you!

[TheTman]

Here is the thread that Greg started about flush fitting magazines, if you're worried the mag is printing: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3317&highlight=flush+fit+magazine

[JMack89427]

I own both the cw45 and the cm9 as well and carry them both in the same Crossbreed Supertuck. I'm 5'10" 170 pounds and have no real problems concealing either one. I did do the flush mount 1911 mag mod and that did help a bit but never had anyone notice either gun.

[Wisewolfhowling]

OK guys I have one more question about my cw45. Before Sunday the last time I took my gun to the range I was having all kinds of failures with the gun which up until then the gun had been running perfect. After I got back home I field stripped gun and cleaned. I then was talking to a friend of mine who said he had the same problem because he had the recoil spring in backwards. I took the gun back apart and the spring was in right but maybe it was wrong before I cleaned it when I got home from range. So I took gun back out Sunday and out of fifty rounds "Winchester white box" seven or eight times after a shot the slide didn't come all the way back and chamber the next round. This was still a lot better then what the gun had previously done so I am thinking I did have spring in backwards. If I did have spring in backwards is it possible I have messed the recoil spring up and need a new one. Like I said at one time the gun was running 100%. Also as far as a holster I have contacted Paul at pj holster and I think I am going to try one. If nothing else just because I emailed Paul asking him what he thought and his response was try one out and if it was not for me send it back for refund. You just can't beat service like that!

[JMack89427]

I had the same sort of issue with my cw45. Was cleaning a couple guns after a range trip, put the recoil spring in backwards, and had 6-7 failures on my next trip to the range. I haven't had it back out since I realized the problem but you can get a new recoil spring for $10 so I would definitely give it a shot.

[yqtszhj]

I would call Kahr and tell them your issue. Then they may ship you a recoil spring for free :)

[Deano]

I never take the spring off the guide rod. That way you can never put it in backwards

[jocko]

OK guys I have one more question about my cw45. Before Sunday the last time I took my gun to the range I was having all kinds of failures with the gun which up until then the gun had been running perfect. After I got back home I field stripped gun and cleaned. I then was talking to a friend of mine who said he had the same problem because he had the recoil spring in backwards. I took the gun back apart and the spring was in right but maybe it was wrong before I cleaned it when I got home from range. So I took gun back out Sunday and out of fifty rounds "Winchester white box" seven or eight times after a shot the slide didn't come all the way back and chamber the next round. This was still a lot better then what the gun had previously done so I am thinking I did have spring in backwards. If I did have spring in backwards is it possible I have messed the recoil spring up and need a new one. Like I said at one time the gun was running 100%. Also as far as a holster I have contacted Paul at pj holster and I think I am going to try one. If nothing else just because I emailed Paul asking him what he thought and his response was try one out and if it was not for me send it back for refund. You just can't beat service like that!

I would call kahr and talk to jay in CS and presenrt him with your findings etc and ask if he thinks it could be recoil spring related. They might sen d u a new assembly to try out and then if it doesnt work as it should I would consider then sending it back on kahrs dime to.

[Wisewolfhowling]

I will try contacting kahr and see what they say. Will post an update once I hear back from them. thanks for the info.

[Wisewolfhowling]

Update: I let a friend take the cw45 out shooting to see if he had the same problem with the slide staying back while shooting. He said that he put 50 rounds of Winchester white box through the gun with zero malfunctions. So now I have to think that the malfunctions are operator error:-) "must be hitting the slide stop" I will try again and see what happens in the next week or two.