Sheepdog689
02-25-2014, 06:06 PM
I'm a Glock fan and my regular off duty/plain clothes carry is a Glock 38 or Glock 39 (.45GAP) They're a bit too thick for IWB carry so I started looking for something else. I also have a Glock 19, but again, a little too thick. I already have an LCP that I had been carrying in a Bulldog "cell phone" holster during the summer, but we have a new firearms policy that won't let us carry a .380 for our primary off duty weapon (we have off duty use of our department vehicles).
I reload my own practice ammo so rather than go with a .45ACP like a Glock 36 and have another caliber to deal with, I wanted to stay with 9mm or 45GAP. Glock doesn't make anything as thin as I wanted to I began a quest to find a subcompact 9mm for summer IWB carry I narrowed my choices down to the Sig P290RS and the Kahr CM9.
My LGS had both the 290 and the CM9 in stock so I got my hands on both. I liked the sights on the 290 better, but it was heavier and blockier than the CM9. I also liked the smoother trigger on the CM9. I asked my guy at the store which he thought was the better gun and he told me to with the CM9, and he used to work for Sig. I bought the CM9 and a spare 6 round mag (I've been hearing too many stories about issues with the 7 round mag) and Pearce grip extensions. I only put a Pearce grip on one mag so if it prints I can carry the standard mag.
I got the CM9 on Friday and before shooting it I racked and dry fired it 100 times. Then cleaned it completely, lubed it properly and off to the range. 100 rounds of WWB, 100 rounds of American Eagle and a bunch of my 9mm reloads later with no malfunctions it looks like I found my new summer carry. I double checked the mag followers on both mags and there are no cracks or any indication that the barrel had hit them. I do have to say that Kahr really put a polish on the feed ramp of the barrel, it's so shiny it looks like they chromed it.
I was impressed with the trigger. Very smooth and not too heavy. I still need to get some more trigger time in just to get used to the extra length of pull versus a Glock. I was shooting dead center but about 2 inches low at 7 yards. (Part of it could be my glasses....my prescription doesn't work very well trying to focus on the front sight....I'm going to have to see what I can do about better glasses.)
I'm waiting for my N82 holster to come in for summer wear.
If I had any complaints it would be the sights, but again I don't know how much of that is my eyesight versus the sights on the gun. I may spring for the fiber optic sights that Kahr sells.
Would I buy it again? Yes. Would I recommend it to a friend to buy? Yes.
I know there's a ton of photos of the CM9 around, but I figured I'd do some comparisons with my G39, the CM9 and my LCP. (The 39 is a hair wider than the G26/27)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5540_zpsc2161469.jpg
CM9 on top of the G39
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5542_zpsb75527d3.jpg
LCP on top of the Kahr on top of the G39
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5543_zpsfca17f56.jpg
Comparing overall height
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5547_zps39bec49f.jpg
Comparing overall width
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5555_zps9bab11ae.jpg
I reload my own practice ammo so rather than go with a .45ACP like a Glock 36 and have another caliber to deal with, I wanted to stay with 9mm or 45GAP. Glock doesn't make anything as thin as I wanted to I began a quest to find a subcompact 9mm for summer IWB carry I narrowed my choices down to the Sig P290RS and the Kahr CM9.
My LGS had both the 290 and the CM9 in stock so I got my hands on both. I liked the sights on the 290 better, but it was heavier and blockier than the CM9. I also liked the smoother trigger on the CM9. I asked my guy at the store which he thought was the better gun and he told me to with the CM9, and he used to work for Sig. I bought the CM9 and a spare 6 round mag (I've been hearing too many stories about issues with the 7 round mag) and Pearce grip extensions. I only put a Pearce grip on one mag so if it prints I can carry the standard mag.
I got the CM9 on Friday and before shooting it I racked and dry fired it 100 times. Then cleaned it completely, lubed it properly and off to the range. 100 rounds of WWB, 100 rounds of American Eagle and a bunch of my 9mm reloads later with no malfunctions it looks like I found my new summer carry. I double checked the mag followers on both mags and there are no cracks or any indication that the barrel had hit them. I do have to say that Kahr really put a polish on the feed ramp of the barrel, it's so shiny it looks like they chromed it.
I was impressed with the trigger. Very smooth and not too heavy. I still need to get some more trigger time in just to get used to the extra length of pull versus a Glock. I was shooting dead center but about 2 inches low at 7 yards. (Part of it could be my glasses....my prescription doesn't work very well trying to focus on the front sight....I'm going to have to see what I can do about better glasses.)
I'm waiting for my N82 holster to come in for summer wear.
If I had any complaints it would be the sights, but again I don't know how much of that is my eyesight versus the sights on the gun. I may spring for the fiber optic sights that Kahr sells.
Would I buy it again? Yes. Would I recommend it to a friend to buy? Yes.
I know there's a ton of photos of the CM9 around, but I figured I'd do some comparisons with my G39, the CM9 and my LCP. (The 39 is a hair wider than the G26/27)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5540_zpsc2161469.jpg
CM9 on top of the G39
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5542_zpsb75527d3.jpg
LCP on top of the Kahr on top of the G39
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5543_zpsfca17f56.jpg
Comparing overall height
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5547_zps39bec49f.jpg
Comparing overall width
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/TeikasDad/IMG_5555_zps9bab11ae.jpg