CW9 General Reliability & Compared to CM/PM9

[glacierhiker]

I am very close to purchasing my first Kahr and would like to hear from those of you who own a CW9. Even better, I would like to hear from those who own or have owned both the CW9 and the CM/PM9 models.

I have spent hours on the internet researching 9mm sub-compacts and initially reduced my choices to the Kahr PM9 and the M&P Shield. After handling both numerous times in local gun shops I then found a range (only one in my area) that offered both the PM9 and the Shield as rentals. I made two separate trips to the same range to shoot both guns in side by side comparisons. I also shot a CW9 on one of these trips.

I REALLY like the Kahrs over the M&P Shield. They just feels better to me and I shoot them better.

However, the PM9 I rented had the same malfunction on each rental experience. The slide locked back on the second or third round of a full 7 round mag. This happened once on each trip, out of about 50 rounds shot.

The PM/CM9 series has lots of posts and videos on the internet with a fair share of negative reviews. I had read and compared the negative reviews to the many positive ones. I have also noted PM/CM9 failures that occur during several YouTube reviews. It seems, at least, some owners have finicky PM/CM9's.

I was just about to pull the trigger on a PM9 purchase until my two recent range/rental experiences renewed my concerns about the PM9 series. I live in CA where we can only purchase handguns on the "approved" roster. The PM9 is on that list while the CM9 is not. The best price I can find in my area for a PM9 is $699. For me, this is a lot of cash to spend on a gun that has a reputation for being finicky.

Now to the point of this post...How does the CW9 compare to the CM/PM9 series in regards to reliability?

I have read many comments about how the CM/PM9 series is so "tightly" constructed do to it small size. The CW9 is a bit larger, closer i size to the M&P Shield and other competitors. I have also noted that while there are not that many Youtube reviews on the CW9, they are almost all positive while the CM/PM9 has a fair share of disgruntled former owners.

Is the CW9 more reliable and less finicky than the CM/PM9 models?

I would appreciate any personal insight you can offer me in comparison of these two Kahr handgun models.

Thank you,

[smokersteve]

I own both the cm9 and the Shield.
The cm9 is smaller and easier to conceal with a little more recoil.
The Shield has more capacity and the 8 round mag fits real well with the gun. The sights are better on the Shield.
I wouldn't spend $700 on a pm9 - for that price you can get a Shield and a cm9.
Both the Shield and cm9 are good guns. Go with whatever works for you.

[DavidR]

The width of the slide and the barrel are the same so as far as the CM9 being tighter than the CW9, I'm not sure that's true. The CW9 simply has a longer barrel/slide and a longer handle for 1 extra round of capacity.

I have owned both and currently own the CM9. Neither of them gave me any problems once I was past the break in period. If anything, my CM9 was a little better than my CW9 as occasionally my CW9 would fail to fire.

[pwilson]

i have a CW9 and have personally never had any issues shooting. my little brother in law and my friend both had issues with the slide locking back, and racking the first round (both tried to slowly pull and reset the slide). i have small hands and the cw9 fits mine very well. the CM9 might have better concealability, but i got my CW9 for $300 from a friend so i chose it

[CJB]

Two PM9's. Older one I got used, and it ran flawlessly. Newer one, so far - flawless, but its only had a few rounds through it.

Some tips for ya....

1. Clean your new pistol before taking out for firing. It needn't be super squeaky clean, but consider that a new gun was test fired, hit with some sort of VPI spray, stuck in a bag, and sat there for months in distribution. You need to degunkifiy it.

2. Feel free to manipulate and dry fire to your content, but know that keeping the slide held back, or hand racking has minimal effect with breaking in the pistol. The break in is mostly regarding the very strong recoil spring (assembly). It takes strong rapid flexing in order to break that spring in... stronger and more rapid than hand racking can accomplish.

3. In light of #2 above, shoot full house ammo for break in. The process will go more rapidly and you'll have fewer, if any, malfunctions due to bargain target ammo not being stout enough cycle the pistol reliably.

[O'Dell]

My first Kahr seven or so years ago was a CW9. Kahrs are generally quite reliable, at least my seven all were/are, but I think the slightly larger CW series tops the line in dependability.

[forestranger]

Both my CM9 and CW9s have been 100% but I followed the new gun & mag prep instructions here and clean them after every use. If you're going to carry IWB, my preference is the CW9. Pocket carry = CM9.

[kwh]

I have a CM9 which is my every day carry pocket pistol. I have a 40 S&W Shield which I sometimes carry at 12:00 in a pouch holster. I have a CW 45 which I belt carry. I also have a Kahr 380CW. None of the Kahrs have given me problems after the break in, as long as I feed them ammo they like. No problems with the Shield. I love the Kahr triggers and also shoot them better than the Shield. I like my Kahrs better than the shield. IMHO the extra $ for the PM models are not worth it ,but in your situation in Calif. it may be worth it to you. Another thing I like about the Kahrs is that their design allows for a shorter overall pistol length, with the same barrel length, as other manufacturers.. If you are not going to pocket carry, my choice would be the Kahr CW9. I 100% agree with forestranger's and everyone's else above posts. My Son likes his LC9 & SR9C Rugers better than my Kahrs or Shield.

[Decado]

I have owned 3 CW 9's a P9 and 2 CM9's. Never had an issue with any of the CW9's or the P9, one of my CM9's broke a follower, the other did not, both fired perfectly without any issue, the only Kahr I ever had an issue with was a CW40, the recoil was excessive to me in comparison to my other .40 pistols, it also ran 100% put I didn't enjoy shooting it.

[CJB]

I replaced my stolen PM9 with another... basically.... just because.

The CM is great, will do everything the PM will do, isn't ugly for lack of fine cosmetic touches, and standard rifling does better with lead ammo.

One reason for the PM - its front sight is doevetailed, leaving more front sight choices (especially for larger, heavier sights). Thats it.

[Pkersey2]

I have a CM9. About 350 rounds through. It has never missed once. From the box I cleaned it, racked it 200 times. I was worried and researched lots before buying. Finally decided to "take a chance" because it is without a doubt the best size for 9mm concealed carry. It is my EDC now.


Estero, FL

[yqtszhj]

Ive owned both, still own the cm9 because i wanted a smaller 9mm and traded. Wish i still had both.

If you pocket carry or appendix carry, get the cm9. Otherwise get the cw9.
The cm9 leaves the pinky dangling. The cw9 is full grip.
Out of 1000+ rounds my cw9 never failed at all.
Out of 1000+ rounds my cm9 failed to feed only once in the first 100 rounds and that probably was my fault. Its been flawless since.

Do yourself a favor and buy both as you can afford them because youll like them both. I want another cw9 (and a whole lot of other guns too but i just bought a commander size 1911 last week for $299 so now im spent out :( )

[BucketBack]

I have the CM9 and CW9,plus a CT40

Anyway back to the OP.Both the CW and CM 9's are good to go for me.
I carry the CM9 more often since it slides right in my pocket. The CW 9 is much easier to shoot and control though.
A good way to carry is the CM9 in weakside front pocket,CW9 strongside at 3 or 9 o'clock.

[bamaman]

I have a CW-9 and it is a wonderful gun. When new, the ammo in the mag would hit the slide stop and lock it open which was quite aggravating. I filed down the nub on the slide stop and everything I feed it works perfectly now.
Really shouldn'
t have to do that with a new gun, but the info gotten from this web site showed me that was the solution. Love the CW-9.

[Boom]

Have both. Carry both. CM9 in pocket, CW9 IWB. With the right pants, the CW9 will also pocket. Can't go wrong with either. Or both

[tony k]

However, the PM9 I rented had the same malfunction on each rental experience. The slide locked back on the second or third round of a full 7 round mag. This happened once on each trip, out of about 50 rounds shot.


You could be bumping the slide stop with your hand or it could be that a round is activating the slide stop as it chambers. both are easy to fix.

As to your overall question, it sounds like you'd buy a CM9 if it was approved in california because it is more compact than the CW9, and less expensive than the PM9. If I were in your shoes, I'd sacrifice a little compactness and get the CW9. Use the money you save to get some extra mags, ammo, and a decent holster. There's no mechanical difference between a CM9 and a CW9 as you probably already know. The CM just has a shorter barrel and a shorter grip/magwell. My CM9 has never had any failure after more than 1000 rounds. I would expect to have similar results with a CW9. If not, the fixes are usually pretty easy to track down, and Kahrtalk has a pretty good library of solutions to the most common problems. The most significant problem I've heard of with CW9s is that some have feed ramps that are out of spec, which causes them to break magazine followers.

Good Luck,

[muggsy]

As they say in the rodeo you pay your entry fee and take your chances. This ain't my first rodeo and my CM9 has been flawless since the break-in with well over two thousand rounds through it. Jocko has over 32,000 rounds through his PMJ9 and you might say that he's been rode hard and put away wet. I say go for it.

[centerfinger]

It took me a bit more than 200 rounds to break my cw9 in, even during the break in my initial problems fail to chamber the first round cleanly. After about 250 rounds the thing is flawless. I'm just at about 330 rounds now, but it's running like a swiss clock.

[camojoe07]

I own a CW9 and have put 1400 rounds down range without a single malfunction. A friend of mine has also put 1400 rounds down range through his cw9 without a single hiccup as well. IMHO they are way more reliable than most people tend to give them credit for. Stick to the cleaning guide posted on here and make sure to keep it lubed. The Kahrs definitely like to be wet haha. Keep us posted and happy shootin!!


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