My First Kahr -- PM9 Range Report (long)

[OldBoldPilot]

A little background: Two tours Vietnam in USMC, age 72, some experience with handguns. I'd always been a 1911 guy but decided to try striker-fired pistols a few months ago. First try was a Glock 26, which is a great pistol but a little too chubby for me to comfortably carry. It's now my nightstand gun, with two mags loaded with Underwood 9mm Xtreme Defender.

Next up was going to be a Kahr PM9 with night sights, which I ordered from my LGS. When it came in, to my surprise and dismay it was the MA model (I'm in CA) with the LCI and external safety (no mag disconnect, however). I told the LGS to send it back. However, after sleeping on it, I called the LGS the next day and told them to get it back (they're very patient folks). The reason I decided to take it: the Enhanced Trigger, only available on Kahrs with the external safety.

It came with two 6-round mags and one 7-round mag, the latter of which has black rubber all around the base and looks nicer than the older ones.

After the mandated 10-day waiting period, I picked it up, took it home, field-stripped it and gave it a thorough cleaning. Impressions: Beautifully crafted; a pain to take down; a recoil spring only a gorilla could love. I also installed the rubberized version of Talon grips.

A couple of days later (today) I took it to the range to run it through its mandated 200-round break-in. I ran about 50 rounds of Winchester white box; 100 rounds of American Eagle 115 grain; and one box of my preferred defensive round, the Underwood Xtreme Defender.

I followed the manual recommendation to load the first round by releasing the slide release (which I prefer anyway) rather than slingshotting the slide, and had zero issues with the first round loading. Except once, where the top round did nosedive, early on. But it never happened again. I had one instance, also early on, of a failure to completely eject. And curiously, an occasional issue where the last round in the mag (and only the last round) ejected toward my head. But that stopped, too, eventually.

I was most interested to see how the PM9 would handle the Underwood Xtreme Defender rounds, but it ran three magazines faultlessly.

All in all I couldn't be happier. I love the feel of the thing, especially with the Talon ribber grips; the night sights seem more than adequate; the pistol exudes quality; and, while I have to run a few hundred more rounds through before I completely trust it, it appears that it will be as reliable as my Glock, and perhaps less touchy than my 1911's.

Oh yes, the enhanced trigger. While it has a bit longer pull than a 1911 trigger, it's FAR shorter than the regular Kahr trigger and equally smooth, i.e., like the proverbial hot knife through butter. I'd compare the recoil, more or less, to that of a J-frame firing straight .38 caliber ammunition. That is to say, easily manageable. As far as the external safety, I don't plan to use it. This is, after all, a DAO pistol, albeit with a somewhat more sensitive than usual trigger. And I never carry without a good holster. It absolutely disappears IWB.

Two cons: One is the price. I paid $850 plus tax and fees for the model with night sights. But this is California, where you're lucky to get a quality gun at any price. The second is that take down and reassembly are comparatively difficult due to that King Kong recoil spring and the pistol's overall tightness.

Verdict: I love it. A definite keeper

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/papearl/IMG_0207_zpszd8zvbhy.jpg

[Bobshouse]

Nice to hear a good report. Is that ported, or just a reflection?

You got lucky, Id rather have the safety than the magazine disconnect. Welcome from another California resident!

[getsome]

Welcome to Kahrtalk OldBoldPilot and thank you sir for your service to our country! The takedown will get far easier with more rounds down range but I understand what you mean about the recoil spring, it's a tough one at first....I have the all black PM9 and have had excellent luck with it so far....Check out Alfonse's web site who is a member here at Kahrtalk Lakeline LLC.com....He has started making aluminum magazine followers for these pistols and they are a big improvement over the factory plastic ones that sometimes get busted when the feed tramp slams into them after the last round is fired....He gets $19.95 for them and they really do work well and make feeding more reliable...Nice report there and glad your pistol is making you smile...If you have any questions or problems be sure to post them and somebody here will always be glad to help you out....Good luck and again welcome aboard!!!

[Bills1873]

Yes Sir, thank you also for you service to our freedom! I, too got a out of the box perfect PM9 some time ago. 6 or 700 rounds down the tube by now. Spring is a bit easier to get in now, and the take-down is old hat by now. Practice shooting, practice cleaning. You'll enjoy both!

[OldBoldPilot]

Check out Alfonse's web site who is a member here at Kahrtalk Lakeline LLC.com....He has started making aluminum magazine followers for these pistols and they are a big improvement over the factory plastic ones that sometimes get busted when the feed tramp slams into them after the last round is fired....He gets $19.95 for them and they really do work well and make feeding more reliable...

About the followers: I actually did order three from Alfonse and have them, but they look very different from the stock followers, which have a sort of bump or nipple on the side which must serve some purpose and which Alfonse's followers don't have. Is that a recent change in the Kahr followers, or have they always had that little bump? Right now I'm proceeding on the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" principle. So far the stock followers have been fine. If one breaks, I'll replace it with one of Alfonse's followers.

[berettabone]

Welcome................Thank you for your service. That Commiefornia is an expensive place!!!!!!!!!!!:p

[Bills1873]

The metal pin on the stock followers activate the slide to lock open after the last round is fired. The LakeLine followers have the slide stop activator formed/machined into the metal follower. They may look different, but the function is there.

[Nytcrawler93]

I have the Lakeline followers and the MA variety as well. Around 2000 rounds of S&B, black talons, NATO, and assorted hollow points with no failures of any sort. I would not own a non-enhanced Kahr. The triggers are night and day. Shoot that and then an M&P back to back and you may throw the M&P in the trash. Glad to hear another happy camper.


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[OldBoldPilot]

The metal pin on the stock followers activate the slide to lock open after the last round is fired. The LakeLine followers have the slide stop activator formed/machined into the metal follower. They may look different, but the function is there.

Thanks for that info! And thanks to the forum for being so helpful and informative.

[OldBoldPilot]

I have the Lakeline followers and the MA variety as well. Around 2000 rounds of S&B, black talons, NATO, and assorted hollow points with no failures of any sort. I would not own a non-enhanced Kahr. The triggers are night and day. Shoot that and then an M&P back to back and you may throw the M&P in the trash. Glad to hear another happy camper.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yesterday while breaking the gun in I let the range officer, who owns a CM9, fire a magazine. He couldn't get over the trigger, said he'd have a hard time going back to his CM9 after feeling the enhanced trigger.

[berettabone]

I have the Lakeline followers and the MA variety as well. Around 2000 rounds of S&B, black talons, NATO, and assorted hollow points with no failures of any sort. I would not own a non-enhanced Kahr. The triggers are night and day. Shoot that and then an M&P back to back and you may throw the M&P in the trash. Glad to hear another happy camper. .................................................. .................................................
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk If your going to throw any M&P's in the trash, I'll be happy to take them off of your hands. I have many different triggers at my disposal and have only had to tweek one. M&P triggers are no better/worse than Kahr triggers, just different. Some people can only handle one thing at a time.............:o

[berettabone]

Sometimes I really don't understand all of this trigger talk. I own a MK9 that was made in 2000-2001, and I don't know how you could make the trigger any better, or any lighter. Any lighter, and it would be outright dangerous. I haven't fired any new versions of Kahr firearms, so, are the triggers better now, or worse out of the box? How much better can enhanced be? A 2 year old could squeeze my trigger.

[OldBoldPilot]

The enhanced trigger pull isn't lighter, it's shorter, with a shorter reset. The pull weight (according to Kahr) is exactly the same. But the shorter pull makes it much more responsive.

[jocko]

The enhanced trigger pull isn't lighter, it's shorter, with a shorter reset. The pull weight (according to Kahr) is exactly the same. But the shorter pull makes it much more responsive.

u are so correct.. now one can also still put in the 5# striker spring that wollfs gunsrings sells.

[Nytcrawler93]

If your going to throw any M&P's in the trash, I'll be happy to take them off of your hands. I have many different triggers at my disposal and have only had to tweek one. M&P triggers are no better/worse than Kahr triggers, just different. Some people can only handle one thing at a time.............:o

The two M&P's that I shot after 2 1911s, an XDM, and the Kahr felt great but the trigger was way too long, had an ugly break, and were generally horrible in every way. I will never have one to throw away because I won't own one without a trigger kit installed. I have shot probably a 100 different types of pistols and they are up there with the worst feel overall on a trigger. It is what it is.


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[CPTKILLER]

I like my MK9.

[CharlieR]

I bought a Kimber Solo, which has a trigger which is like the PM9, but much shorter pull. Love it, and wish my PM9 could have the "enhanced trigger", but I'd never give it up....I still shoot it the best, and it runs EVERYTHING I've tried to feed it. The Solo is ammo-picky. I tried out the trigger on the PM9193 at a store, and it feels perfect.....maybe I need an extra​ PM9 instead...ha ha

[berettabone]

The two M&P's that I shot after 2 1911s, an XDM, and the Kahr felt great but the trigger was way too long, had an ugly break, and were generally horrible in every way. I will never have one to throw away because I won't own one without a trigger kit installed. I have shot probably a 100 different types of pistols and they are up there with the worst feel overall on a trigger. It is what it is.


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My M&P has about a half inch pull, smooth, with about a quarter inch reset. No grittiness. Actually, better than a Kahr. I guess the perfect trigger has about a sixteenth of an inch movement, with a sixteenth of an inch reset, set at about 2 lbs., and you can cock and lock, so you need not do anything on your own. Some people need lots of help. I got rid of my 1911's and Springfields with that fugly grip safety. I"ve been shooting for over 40 years, and the only lousy triggers, are on antique firearms, or cheap firearms. The rest are fine.

[Nytcrawler93]

I shot a 1927 Colt 25 best pocket with a better trigger and a 1945 Sistema Colt with a better trigger. Hell, my 1969 Wingmaster has a better trigger. I was astounded at how bad an M&P trigger is without an aftermarket kit. Maybe they were just two samples that were worse than normal. Who knows.


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[adman]

Please work to change your state's gun laws. Nuff said.

[RolandD]

Bob, I see what you're talking about. That's the dovetail for the front sight.

[Bobshouse]

Bob, I see what you're talking about. That's the dovetail for the front sight.

LOL, I noticed that yesterday when looking at a bunch of photos. I was thinking to myself, wow, lots of ported models...then I felt something slap me across the face, it was my left hand. Knocked some sense into myself. First thing I did was try to find this thread to delete or edit my post (before I got to looking like an idiot)...but I couldn't find it.

Thanks Roland!

[adman]

I'd like to offer some tips to assist with takedown. Orient the pistol where it has the takedown lever facing you and is aimed left. With the left hand, pretend you are press-checking by looping your left thumb in the trigger guard and palming the front of the slide. Start squeezing your hand, press-checking using the left thumb as leverage. Gently rocker the slide while pressing on the backside of the takedown lever (button) with your right index finger to work it out. You will feel the sweet spot and the lever pushes out easily. While continuing to rocker the slide, reach around and pull the takedown lever out. If you grease the takedown lever and peanut hole on the barrel, that helps too. This method also doesn't require you to look for tiny marks on the gun.

When you put the takedown lever back in, use the same press-check method. Insert it with the lever straight down after you've aligned it with the peanut hole, then once you get it started, carefully align half-moons and it will slide right in. Don't miss the peanut hole, being careful with this step. :) I use an even heavier recoil spring than the factory spring and this method works well... with my occasional arthritis.

[OldBoldPilot]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it. It sounds better than knocking the slide release lever button through with the plastic top of a screwdriver and pulling it the rest of the way out with a pair of pliers. :)

[adman]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try it. It sounds better than knocking the slide release lever button through with the plastic top of a screwdriver and pulling it the rest of the way out with a pair of pliers. :)

Yikes! No wonder you're irritated with all that. It really is a no-tools takedown. Before I figured this out, I used to press the nub of the lever against a table to get it started. :w00t: Now, it's just squeeze-wiggle and it pushes right out.

[kenemoore]

Start off same as previous post. Release side up, pointing left. Take right thumb and place under beaver tail, right index finger at ejection port, perpendicular to slide, hand is kind of on top of slide. Squeeze until marks line up, push out slide release with left index finger. Works for all my Kahrs. Assemble using same method.

[Bawanna]

I usually have to start the push with a handle or dowel or something but once it moves just a tad it comes out easily.
Never had to resort to pliers to pull it out.

I do exactly as adman describes as far as holding and orienting the pistol. Like anything else you do it a few times and it becomes routine.

[SlowBurn]

Start off same as previous post. Release side up, pointing left. Take right thumb and place under beaver tail, right index finger at ejection port, perpendicular to slide, hand is kind of on top of slide. Squeeze until marks line up, push out slide release with left index finger. Works for all my Kahrs. Assemble using same method.

That works for me too.
Don't need tools to take down but admit with new recoil springs I've used a bookshelf edge to get the rod and spring assembly into place.

[topgun1953]

Turn pistol over pointing to the right. Grip the slide near the muzzle with the fingers of the right hand. Push slide open until the proper rear slide serration lines up (you figure this out ahead of time)

with rear of pistol. Push the pin out. Works with my P380. Forget about it with my K9...with it stick a sharpie in the ejection port and bang on the pin until it starts to come out. Maybe it will loosen up someday....maybe not!

[jocko]

A little background: Two tours Vietnam in USMC, age 72, some experience with handguns. I'd always been a 1911 guy but decided to try striker-fired pistols a few months ago. First try was a Glock 26, which is a great pistol but a little too chubby for me to comfortably carry. It's now my nightstand gun, with two mags loaded with Underwood 9mm Xtreme Defender.

Next up was going to be a Kahr PM9 with night sights, which I ordered from my LGS. When it came in, to my surprise and dismay it was the MA model (I'm in CA) with the LCI and external safety (no mag disconnect, however). I told the LGS to send it back. However, after sleeping on it, I called the LGS the next day and told them to get it back (they're very patient folks). The reason I decided to take it: the Enhanced Trigger, only available on Kahrs with the external safety.

It came with two 6-round mags and one 7-round mag, the latter of which has black rubber all around the base and looks nicer than the older ones.

After the mandated 10-day waiting period, I picked it up, took it home, field-stripped it and gave it a thorough cleaning. Impressions: Beautifully crafted; a pain to take down; a recoil spring only a gorilla could love. I also installed the rubberized version of Talon grips.

A couple of days later (today) I took it to the range to run it through its mandated 200-round break-in. I ran about 50 rounds of Winchester white box; 100 rounds of American Eagle 115 grain; and one box of my preferred defensive round, the Underwood Xtreme Defender.

I followed the manual recommendation to load the first round by releasing the slide release (which I prefer anyway) rather than slingshotting the slide, and had zero issues with the first round loading. Except once, where the top round did nosedive, early on. But it never happened again. I had one instance, also early on, of a failure to completely eject. And curiously, an occasional issue where the last round in the mag (and only the last round) ejected toward my head. But that stopped, too, eventually.

I was most interested to see how the PM9 would handle the Underwood Xtreme Defender rounds, but it ran three magazines faultlessly.

All in all I couldn't be happier. I love the feel of the thing, especially with the Talon ribber grips; the night sights seem more than adequate; the pistol exudes quality; and, while I have to run a few hundred more rounds through before I completely trust it, it appears that it will be as reliable as my Glock, and perhaps less touchy than my 1911's.

Oh yes, the enhanced trigger. While it has a bit longer pull than a 1911 trigger, it's FAR shorter than the regular Kahr trigger and equally smooth, i.e., like the proverbial hot knife through butter. I'd compare the recoil, more or less, to that of a J-frame firing straight .38 caliber ammunition. That is to say, easily manageable. As far as the external safety, I don't plan to use it. This is, after all, a DAO pistol, albeit with a somewhat more sensitive than usual trigger. And I never carry without a good holster. It absolutely disappears IWB.

Two cons: One is the price. I paid $850 plus tax and fees for the model with night sights. But this is California, where you're lucky to get a quality gun at any price. The second is that take down and reassembly are comparatively difficult due to that King Kong recoil spring and the pistol's overall tightness.

Verdict: I love it. A definite keeper

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/papearl/IMG_0207_zpszd8zvbhy.jpg

it is 1/8" shorter than a standard PM9 trigger u got a really nice kahr there ol timer. I salute you for your service.. when u get 500-1000 rounds down range the gun loosens up and recoil springs take their designed set and it is much easier to hand rack. standard springs are 18#, much stouter than any glock by 4#

[OldBoldPilot]

Thanks for the tip...but watch it with the "ol' timer" stuff! :Amflag2: