MK9, first range session

[JohnR]

It wasn't perfect like I expected. :p The gun was bought used with supposedly 1,000 rounds through it. It looked fairly clean so I just lubed it and went shooting. Ammo was Atlanta Arms and some Hornady Critical Duty. The AA had one failure to eject, and the CD had three failures to feed. I expected the hollow points to be finicky, but not the FMJ.

So I shall clean and prep it as if it were new, and try again with some Critical Defense this time.

Other than that, it's as smooth and classy to shoot as my K9, with a lot of muzzle flash. Yup, it's heavy but it fits nicely in my back pocket; but I'll be keeping it in a Remora holster. The Pearce pinky extension is a great addition.

I shot it along side my Sig P238 and the MK9 got me tighter groups. Both have about the same recoil, but the 9mm is louder of course; and the Sig is a feather weight compared to this beautiful hunk o' steel.

The sights will take some getting used to, for some reason they didn't lead my bullet where I intended. Partly from jerking the trigger (7-8:00 point of impact) I guess.

[DKD]

Those fliers are due to your trigger press. You are anticipating the let off of the trigger thus pulling your shots low left if your a right handed person.
Don't try and shoot these guns like a single action pull. Think of them as very smooth tuned revolvers. Stroke the trigger smoothly and focus on your front sights and you will be rewarded with centered groups. Start close 3 yds, and once your groups are nice tight and consistent, move out to 6 yds, then 9 yds which is combat distance. 90% of gun fights are under 7 yards and the bulk of them are at spitting distances.

[JohnR]

One difference with the K9, my MK9 (made in April, 2010) has a lot less takeup on the trigger than my K9 (from 2002 I think). 3/16" vs. 5/16". The rest of the travel is the same, it breaks as it hits the rear stop, and reset is back to the end of the takeup. Like butter.

The nylon grip is flatter than the K9's rubber grip, and I have a K9 grip on order that I plan to chop down to size.

[JohnR]

Those fliers are due to your trigger press. You are anticipating the let off of the trigger thus pulling your shots low left if your a right handed person.
Don't try and shoot these guns like a single action pull. Think of them as very smooth tuned revolvers. Stroke the trigger smoothly and focus on your front sights and you will be rewarded with centered groups. Start close 3 yds, and once your groups are nice tight and consistent, move out to 6 yds, then 9 yds which is combat distance. 90% of gun fights are under 7 yards and the bulk of them are at spitting distances.

Yeah, I've always had trouble with the K9 that way too. It's hard to accept that it's not a precision bullseye competition gun, it's a self defense "combat accurate" gun.

[jocko]

u realize the new k9 GRIP WILL NOT BE RUBBER EITHER.That was a grip kahr used to hav eon their k9, NOW ALL ARE OF THIS PLASTIC STUFF. Not that u can't cut it down but the rubber grip just gives a feel that is hard to explain. IMO it is the best grip on the market. Wet hands, still grips great, the rubber is eve a good recoil absorber. Have no clue why kahr dropped that frip. hOUGUE MADETHEM FOR KAHR BUT THEY DON'T EVEN SHOW THAT AS A ACCESSORY GRIP ON THE hOGUYE SITE.

Thgat MK will shoot itself in, u know enough about kahrs to be ableto trouble shoot little picky sh!t. How about a super feed ramp polish. Sure can make that feeding issue go away. I know the look great but your not gonna hurt a darn thing.

Donj't let that rubber grip get away from you. I don't shoot my K9 great either. Better than my PMJ9 but not beer can sh!t at 25 yards, for me not even 15 yards. Never had a kahr yet that shoots where I aim. Can't be me, just can't!!!!

[JohnR]

Kahr lists the MK9 stock grip as "nylon" and the K9 as "soft polymer" so I ass-u-me'd that it would be "soft" compared to the nylon. The nylon feels like Kahr's polymer framed guns, minus the cheese grater. Not a bad feel, but not squishy like the rubber we know and love.

[jocko]

well it is whatit is. nuttin one can do about itk. I have yet to ever seethe K9 rubber grips for sale. nEVER COULD FIGURE OUT WHY hOUGUE dropped them unless their agreement with Kahr was uch that they couldnot sell them ... I guess if one never had the rubber grips in their hand they wouldnever know ny difference either.

[SGT5711]

I believe I read that Critical Duty is not intended for compact size guns. It is specifically designed for full size duty weapons.

[JohnR]

I can see a short barrel affecting expansion, but the cartridge wouldn't know the barrel length as it's loading. But I've been wrong a time or three before.

[b4uqzme]

I can see a short barrel affecting expansion, but the cartridge wouldn't know the barrel length as it's loading. But I've been wrong a time or three before.

I think it's a matter of the steep feed ramp. I think.
If you can handle a little bit thicker grip, get the wood ones. But I also thought you could buy the "rubber" k9 grips from Kahr. Bummer if you can't.

Nice pistol.

[JohnR]

Ooh, I forgot about the wood grips, those are available.

[b4uqzme]

Ooh, I forgot about the wood grips, those are available.

The Colonel will be disappointed in you for forgetting.....

[JohnR]

Oh I didn't forget the Col. Not sure I can afford his magnificence!

[JohnR]

Ok, let's clear a couple things up right now. My new K-9 "soft polymer" grips have arrived. If you've felt an Otterbox phone case, that's what these feel like. It's very rigid material, but you can just barely dig your fingernail into it. My K-9's older grips are just the slightest bit softer, but barely.

And printed on the inside of these brand new, fresh from Kahr, it says, "MFG BY HOGUE GRIPS." So rumors of a disagreement between Kahr and Hogue would appear to be false.

As for putting K9 grips on an MK9, there's a big caveat - on the inside there's a molded contour that would have to be trimmed down, or it won't sit flat on the MK9 frame. Also, the K9 grip screws are longer.

[RevRay]

Oh I didn't forget the Col. Not sure I can afford his magnificence!

He charges? And here I've been thinking it was all a labor of love.

[jocko]

Ok, let's clear a couple things up right now. My new K-9 "soft polymer" grips have arrived. If you've felt an Otterbox phone case, that's what these feel like. It's very rigid material, but you can just barely dig your fingernail into it. My K-9's older grips are just the slightest bit softer, but barely.

And printed on the inside of these brand new, fresh from Kahr, it says, "MFG BY HOGUE GRIPS." So rumors of a disagreement between Kahr and Hogue would appear to be false.

As for putting K9 grips on an MK9, there's a big caveat - on the inside there's a molded contour that would have to be trimmed down, or it won't sit flat on the MK9 frame. Also, the K9 grip screws are longer.

u have a dremel u should be ableto do the contouring on that inside of the grip neatly. andhow about just screwing in the lower screw in the grip with the newgrips and then with adremel just grind that part of the threads that is sticin inside the grip and it shold then be able to be used for the top screw position which would be harder to dremelon the gun.. Why can't the MK9 screws be used???

[SGT5711]

I can see a short barrel affecting expansion, but the cartridge wouldn't know the barrel length as it's loading. But I've been wrong a time or three before.

I agree, it shouldn't have caused the failures to feed, but it is still designed for full size duty pistols.

[JohnR]

The short screws still work, but some loktite would make me feel better. Never owned a Dremel, might have to ask Santa for one.

Just went shooting again with much better results. Great groups and only one Hornady failed to leave the chamber in time out of 7 gired. 50 rounds of FMJ cycled perfectly.

[jocko]

buy the purple locktite at most gun shps. It will hold but it is theweakest of the threadlockers and it willdo just fine..

[berettabone]

Personally, I think that Dremel's are one of the best things you can buy.......so many uses...............I have the "rubbery" grips on my MK and have never had a problem with the grip screws loosening. No Locktite as of yet.........................They feel "rubbery", but if you tap on them, they sound like plastic to me...................

[RRP]

Personally, I think that Dremel's are one of the best things you can buy.......so many uses.

....not to mention the money you can save by doing your own dental work.

Just sayin'

[jocko]

handiest tool I have in my shop. Had mine now for over15 years