Bought a CM9 today, kept the K9

[AC7880]

Went to the Ft Huachuca AZ military exchange today and checked out what Kahrs they had in stock.

They had one pink P380 on display (not sure how many in the back), one CM9 on display with 3 more in the back, and one CW9 in the back.

I handled one of the CM9s and the CW9 back to back. I like my K9 more than I liked the CW9, but liked the CM9 a great deal. I decided to buy a CM9 versus CW9 - and will likely keep my K9.

The display model CM9 was smooth on racking the slide, all CM9s new in box from the back still in the plastic shipping bag and still oiled felt a bit rough on the slide rack. The one in the display case has been played with a great deal - thus smoother.

One of the CM9s from the back had a oddly shaped front sight. I had previously read a review of a CM9 that mentioned a oddly shaped front site, so was inspecting all they had in stock instead of taking the first one they brought out (the one with the mis-shapen sight). I picked one of the new in box CM9s that looked best on the front sight, and a touch smoother on the slide.

If you buy a CM9 or a CW9 inspect that front sight or ask for a pic of it if buying on the net.

The CW9 would have been $389 out the door, the CM9 I bought was $403 out the door - no sales tax.

It was close to dark when I got back the the Nature Preserve we are hosting, so I took the CM9 straight out deep on the preserve and fired 6 rounds from the CM9 magazine plus one in the pipe, and 7 rounds from one of my K9 magazines inserted into the CM9.

I did 4 slingshots. The first attempt with the new 6 round mag failed- didn't catch the round at all. I re-angled the top round and it fed fine with a slingshot. I tried the 7 round K9 mag and it slingshot loaded fine.

I fired with one in the pipe and the 6 round mag, the slide didn't lock open after the last round. I fired the 7 rounds from the K9 mag and the slide did lock back after last round.

So, straight out of the box, no cleaning and no prep, 14 rounds, I think it is great results overall. May be a few days before I can shoot again. I'll clean and prep tomorrow.

Pics:

[Fredr500]

The prep instructions on the sticky are fantastic.

I always clay bar a new car as soon as I buy it. Using the 1000 grit sandpaper reminded me of claying a car. You just take the sandpaper and glide it over all of the metal. When you feel it catch just keep gliding over the rough spot. You aren't taking off metal, just taking off the rough spot. When done everything should feel silky smooth. Did it with my CM9 and M&P 9C and have never had a problem with either of them. Just did the AR15, it only had 3 rough spots on the whole thing, but still feel it wasn't a waste of time to just rub my hands over all of the metal.

[quivvy]

i have the same comforter. bravo.

[MW surveyor]

but still feel it wasn't a waste of time to just rub my hands over all of the metal.

This could be considered to be obscene in some circles. :D

[kb2wji]

it wasn't a waste of time to just rub my hands over all of the metal.

.....so hot. :behindsofa:

[AC7880]

Cleaned the CM9, light touch over a few spots with very fine file, lubed. Racked the slide 100 times. Much smoother - but not a smooth as my K9 yet.

Put another 21 rounds of PMC through it - perfect function. No problem with slide lockback with emty 6 round mag, nor with K9 7 round mags. No problem slingshoting PMC, corbon 115 grain, and hydrashock 124 grain. 35 rounds so far, looking good.

I prefer these stock sights over my K9s Kahr 3 dot night sites - quicker to aquire a good sight picture, and quicker follow up shot with sight picture.

I'm locking the slide back overnight for a few nights to loosen up the recoil spring a little. Side note: my two K9 7 round mags have been fully loaded with 7 rounds 24/7 since 1999 - and still function prefectly. That suprises me that there is no major spring fatigue on them.

[ndoren]

I'm locking the slide back overnight for a few nights to loosen up the recoil spring a little. Side note: my two K9 7 round mags have been fully loaded with 7 rounds 24/7 since 1999 - and still function prefectly. That suprises me that there is no major spring fatigue on them.

I've heard from a number of sources that it's the repeated compression and expansion of the mag spring that leads to eventual fatigue. Staying compressed apparently doesn't have that effect. Your demonstration seems to prove that. 13 years compressed with good function makes the point.

[AC7880]

1/4 through break in with 50 rounds fired, operating superbly.

I love this little pistol. If I had to choose only one of my two pistols, the CM9 would win over the K9.

I'll likely add a Crimson Trace laser within 2 months to the CM9.