P40 or PM40

[boscobarbell]

I'm hellbent on grabbing a Kahr 40 pistol. My first choice was the PM40 for concealment, but I was wondering of the P40 was significantly more manageable and worth moving up a size.

[Bawanna]

To me the 40 in the Kahrs is a handful. I have a K40. Magna Ported. Still a handful.

The P would be an improvement over the PM but will still be a handful. Some love them. Too much barrel flip for me. I can shoot them, not like it hurts or punishes but lots of muzzle flip. Not great for a second shot.

[Phish]

I love the 40 and can handle it quite well. Its a capable gun in the proper hands also but I go with P over the PM cause I can conceal just as well.

[berettabone]

I would go with the P........................a bit more to hang on to.....

[Maht_g]

I have both, definitely manageable. The pm with the ext mags has the same grip, weight difference is minimal. I EDC the p40 on my belt, but have the pm on permit too for times when I want to pocket carry. I like the P more but the pm has its place.Get both!!

[Rubb]

My thought has always been PM/CM.
An extended mag will easily turn it into a P/CW giving you IWB and pocket options...

[boscobarbell]

Great feedback. Thanks, all!

[sharpetop]

K40 and PM40 here! The K40 isn't too bad. In fact, I shoot it as well if not better than my Glock 23. The PM40 can definitely be a handful if you aren't ready for it. [think .357 magnum from a lightweight J-frame]

[Phish]

I been hunting down a P40 for awhile myself until I got MK9 for cheap. I go with P40 since you will have a bit more control with 40 being a bit more power easily over a 9.

[Old No7]

To me the 40 in the Kahrs is a handful. I have a K40. Magna Ported. Still a handful.

The P would be an improvement over the PM but will still be a handful. Some love them. Too much barrel flip for me. I can shoot them, not like it hurts or punishes but lots of muzzle flip. Not great for a second shot.
I had the P40 Covert and had the same experience -- lots of muzzle whip, slow to recover 2nd shot -- indeed it was a handful overall.

I'd highly suggest you rent one to try before you buy if you have any concerns at all...

I changed to a P9 Covert (P Barrel/Slide on a PM grip) and I'm loving it -- and shooting it way better than I ever shot the P40 Covert.

Somewhere online, there's still images of the "barrel whip" from recoil of a Kahr 9mm, vs 40, vs the 45 -- and the 40 round recoiled more dramatically than either of the others.

Try before you buy. :Amflag2:

Old No7

[texasm77]

I looked for a P40 for almost a year and found one for $290 at a LGS. Built in 2008. Never been fired. After 150 rounds I am really liking the trigger, gets better with each mag. No regrets about the .40. The P40 is about as small as I want to go because I have large hands.


I been hunting down a P40 for awhile myself until I got MK9 for cheap. I go with P40 since you will have a bit more control with 40 being a bit more power easily over a 9.

[wyntrout]

I would advise the P40. I had a PM9 as my first polymer pistol. I settled on the P-sized polymer Kahrs because they are just as easy for me to conceal IWB using the same CrossBreed Minituck IWB holster that I bought for my PM9. I sold my PM9 and K9 and just have the P9, P40, and P45 plus the super-concealable P380 for max concealment and everyday around the house carry. I got the Kahr ported barrels for the P9 and the P40. The P40 is my main EDC. I did add a steel base plate to my 6-round CCW magazine(I had to add a 3/32" by 3/4" ID neoprene O-ring to stop pinching!) and carry a 7-round extended mag in a Kydex OWB mag holder opposite side. My carry ammo for the .40 S&W is the 180-grain Remington Golden Sabers... the top performer in the Lucky Gunners Ammo testing for short-barreled pistols.
Wynn :)

[berettabone]

That's a lot of P.................................:p

[wyntrout]

Some phone pix in my hotel room. :)

[finpro]

My first Kahr was an MK40 Elite. I found it difficult to shoot both fast and accurately and traded it for a P9. I also converted a .40 S&W SIG P239 to a 9mm and found this preferable for faster shooting. I once shot a P40 and found it easier to shoot than my MK40 had been. My opinion is that for fast, accurate shooting with a powerful round, pistol grips should provide full vertical hand contact for more leverage and better recoil management. FWIW, I prefer my P9 to my PM9, for all but pocket carry. If you go with the .40 round, I recommend the p40.

Something to consider it that the .40 is losing popularity among law enforcement. The FBI recently decided to change its new agent issue caliber from .40 to 9mm. Ironically, the .40's popularity originated with its FBI adoption after it found the then-issued 10mm round was too much for many agents and unnecessarily heavy for their purposes. There seems to be a growing consensus that modern 9mm defensive rounds are nearly as effective as .40s in ballistics. Additionally, similar pistols hold more 9mms and get many shooters back on target quicker, resulting in higher qualification scores, and are cheaper, etc. Some of this changeover may be explained by the 9mm being preferred by female officers, a growing slice of LEOs, but US Special Operators now will generally carry Glock 19 pistols, which amazes me. LEOs and military units generally carry compact pistols, like Glock 19s, or larger service pistols. In smaller, lighter pistols, like Kahrs, it seems even more clear that a 9mm makes more sense for multiple round encounters. Of course, good luck with whatever you choose.