PM 9 Should I buy???

[dlflyer]

I have been looking at the PM 9 for sometime now and I am finally ready to make my move. But know I am reading about the gun hanging up. It seems to be with the bigger mag but I'm not sure. These are high price guns like you all know. I like it (9094) and I want one but if they have problems I'm not so sure. Also how is the factory service? Mixed reveiws again. Maybe I should go to plan B, G26. I sure like the size of the PM9 and it fits my hand like it was made for it. This is my first post to this site. :confused:

[tdperry23]

i bought a used pm9 because i do not trust 380 as a pocket gun and so far it has been flawless but i have only shot about 800 rounds. i was so impressed with the preformance of the pm9 that i bought a cw45 and so far it has also had no problems other than my dislike of the factory sights.

[wyntrout]

I went looking for a PM45 at a local gun show and didn't see one of those, but I did see a like-NIB PM9 DLC with NS for $600. I managed to get it for $550 plus tax and the NIC for an out-the-door total of $588. I felt like I had found the Holy Grail. The PM9 is the most popular Kahr model, I believe.

The only problem I had was with the included 7-round extended grip magazine. I would get failures to feed after a couple of rounds with it. I got Wolff +5% magazine springs for all of my 9mm magazines... PM9 and K9. That and smoothing the follower, especially on the magazine catch side, seemed to take care of that problem.

I recently got 3 of the K920G 8-round extended grip magazines for reloads and range use. They work fine with the intended K9 and the PM9. Before use, I took them apart and smoothed the followers and lightly sanded any edges, including the mag catch slot... inside and out, trying to find any burrs. After cleaning the inside of the tubes, I used a bit of Remington Dri-Lube on the inside and the front of the followers. I lightly sprayed the springs with Remington Oil spray before re-assembly.

Wynn:)

Wolff: http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=1&mID=29#191

[jreXD9]

i bought a used pm9 because i do not trust 380 as a pocket gun .......... i was so impressed with the preformance of the pm9 that i bought a cw45 and so far it has also had no problems other than my dislike of the factory sights.


+1 on all that above.

I ended up with a used PM9 after trading a Sig P238 for it straight up. Soon after that I bought a CW9 for the wife. Soon after that I sold my S'field XD9sc and bought a CW45 that carries MUCH easier than did the xd9sc. I've had zero issues with Kahrs and S'fields. My Kahrs run like a top with every mag I have. EVERY other gun I have had issues with....Kel Tec, Taurus, Para Ordnance.
The PM9 is an awesome little gun. It's recoil, IMO, is a little less than the Sig P238 and definitely less than the LCP and KTec P3AT. You wanna pack a bigger wallop in a .380 size? Get the PM9.

[MichSteve]

I love my PM9, I shoot it better than my G19, I have 530 rounds without any failures. It is accurate and easy to carry. I think you will find the G26 much harder to conceal, and the trigger take some extra precautions to handle without discharge.

I am considering a PM45 or P45 to add to my collection, I might even get rid of my two Glocks G19 and G22.

I used to have a Ruger LCP, I decided to carry the PM9 more, in the pocket and AIWB, yes the 9mm round and the accuracy of the the PM9 is a winner.

[AFDoc]

I too looked and debated. Even bought the XD9SC instead out of concerns about the Kahr after reading all the posts. I love the XD9SC but there are times when I just don't feel comfortable wearing it. That's what drove me back to the PM9. I got the DLC with night sights and it has been great. Customer service for me was great too. The 6 round mag would not fall out all the way when released. Called Kahr CS and they sent a replacement 6 round mag that performs to my specs. No problems at all.

[jreXD9]

I also had an XD9sc. Great gun, just not great for carry. So, I sold it and bought a CW45 that carries very well all day long.

[OldLincoln]

An analogy: When I take my car to Gary's Auto Center for oil change, I have asked him about the various cars I see there. Other than some scheduled maintenance, every one of those cars have something wrong with them. If I go down to the new car dealer, he tells me they never have one of their cars in because it's broken.

Gary's is a repair shop, the dealer is a sales shop. This forum is Gary's. Many here have Kahrs that are not broken and we're really fond of them, but we also know a percentage of guns will break with use or leave the factory before they should. So we hang out and tell stories like this one.

I suggest that you buy your Kahr with the confidence that it is an excellent gun. It requires break-in as do many fine brands on the market. And you will discover the help found here is knowledgeable including some "gunsmiths" who may not acknowledge that title but do the work.

[jlottmc]

One other thing to consider, does the gun feel good in your hand? Can you shoot the thing before you buy it? Do you like the other attributes that the gun has? Does this gun that you wish to buy serve a roll (not that it is a pre-requisite)? If you answer those with a yes, then buy the thing and don't look back. As has been said, we hear more about the ones that should have had a bit more TLC, but overall you still find that 99.995 percent of us love these little guns.

[bikerbill]

Have carried a PM9 for about six years; it has NEVER failed to function properly with more than 600 rounds through it ... I pocket carry it during the long hot summers here in Texas, it's about the best gun money I've ever spent ... looking at a PM45 next ...

[Popeye]

YES you should it's a great pistol. I trust my life to it just like many others on here.

[copterdrvr]

Get it-mine's gone bang every time I've pulled the trigger.

I've shot it one-handed, weakhand, (at the same time) sideways, you name it and I can't get it to hang up. Same with my CW9.

Unfortunately, my P380 has an occasional "issue" while shooting. Have over 300 rounds through her and she got the usual "fluff and buff" that all of my semi-autos receive. Maybe a few more rounds are needed through her.

[Lobo_79]

I have been looking at the PM 9 for sometime now and I am finally ready to make my move. But know I am reading about the gun hanging up...

I've been regularly shooting and carrying a PM9 for about 4 years. It is a reliable and accurate handgun that's easy to shoot. It's well made and my experience with Kahr's customer service has been good; great actually.

While developing confidence in my PM9 I learned a few practical lessons:
Pay attention to the owner's manual especially with regards to chambering the first round, keep your magazines clean and dry, replace your recoil spring after every 1200 - 1500 rounds at the latest, and test all of your magazines often.
Others would probably add to this list.

Common sense for any semi-auto but more important in the short action models. You pay for the compact size in terms of potential reliability issues caused by more critical action timing. Short action semi-autos are more sensitive to spring condition and lubrication, and of coarse, operator shooting habits.

Nevertheless I think with proper cleaning and periodic maintenance I think the PM9 is the very best, small form-factor pistol on the market.

[BroncoAZ]

I have about 350 rounds through my PM9 (purchased in May 2010), no issues since one failure to feed on the first magazine. I paid way too much for it, but they are in demand. I haven't found anything smaller in a 9mm that is readily available. I carried a Glock 26 for a few years back in the early 2000's. The Glock is great, but thick to carry. I've had a CW9 and P9 as well, both were great, and I recently got the P380.