Newbie to the forum and to Kahr pistols

[ping]

My name is David. I have been shooting for about 17 years. I did IDPA for several years but I am pretty much a recreational shooter now. Been looking at Kahr pistols for little while now and decided to pull the trigger and purchase a PM9 to replace my current EDC. I took it home, cleaned it up, took it for its first trip to the range and I could not be happier. Put 400 rounds through it without a problem. I will put a couple hundred more down range before it takes the place of my trusty 2nd gen glock 19 I have carried for the last 14 years. I am very impressed with this gun. I also can't believe how tight the gun is as well. I have owned a lot of handguns over the years and never have I come across a pistol with such tight tolerances out of the box.

I found the grooves on the front of the grip to be very sharp as well as the slide stop lever. Is it only me or does anybody else find them sharp as well? A women was at the range and I noticed she was shooting a PM9. I struck up a conversation with her in regards to these issues and she turned me on the the Hogue Handall JR grips. Anybody else have any experience with these grips? Any info will help. Sorry for the long post. Thanks.

[Tilos]

ping:
Welcome;
I think most just put on a Glock sock, here known as a Kahr tire.
A piece of bicycle inner tube stretched tightly over the grip.
Most bike shops throw out dozens every day and will usually give them away.
I suggest you get several sizes and I found the thinner the better.
Sometimes they think you may be patching them to reuse so I usually hold one up and invite them to cut through it with scissors and some shops do this before putting it in the trash to discourage patching.
If you can go thin the front and rear grooves print through the tube and that breaks up the slickness of the tube.
Some alcohol makes the install easier too.
Personally, I don't like finger grooves/bump things on a carry gun.
just sayin'
Tilos

[jackblack73]

It's a common opinion that the grip is a little sharp. Personally, I fondled my PM9 so much that I got used to it. I think I built up callouses. Also, I like the grip because the last thing I would want in such a small gun is for it to be slick. I even sent out my 3 gen Glock 23 to get the grip stippled. You might want to also look at A-grip. It seems to be pretty popular.

Welcome to the board.

[MW surveyor]

Welcome Ping.

I use the houge handall jr but may try the khar tire soon. Not sure if I really like the finger groove all that well. I'll probably hit the bike shop tomorrow.

[ping]

Thanks for the replies.

[deuce]

I use the Hogue Handell Jr sleave on my CW45. It will make all the difference in the world. Cheap fix for around $8.

[TheTman]

Hi Ping, welcome to the forum. Sounds like your PM9 is a real keeper the way it performed for you during break-in. I wasn't quite as lucky and had a few FTF and FTE during break-in, I think a lot of it was the way I was gripping it. Made a little change to the way I gripped it and the pistol has performed flawlessly ever since. I too found the grip to be a little sharp in places, and I went with the Handall Jr, and really like the feel of it. I like that little finger groove they put on it. As stated above, many find sucess with an old bike innertube. Either one should fix your problem. I'll have to say that the Handall Jr. was kind of a bear to get on, but now that its on it doesn't move around.

[ltxi]

Two and a half years since I switched to the PM9 as primary concealed carry. Tried the Handall early on and discovered I didn't like it. Added some bulk plus stickiness detrimental to my method of carry. Quickly came to appreciate the PM9 grip as is.

[ping]

Again thanks for your replies. Seems like the Kahr tire is a popular method. I might have to give it a try.

[ripley16]

Pachmayr also makes several styles of grip sleeves similar to the Hogue. I like the Pachmayr because it has a bit less palm swell.
The qwik grip # 3 is one other alternative.

[tv_racin_fan]

Ping I found the grip on the wifes CW9 to be a bit sharp so I attacked it gently with one of those foam sanding blocks. I find the grip to be just a bit thin for me but the wife likes it else I would try a handall or inner tube. I may try an inner tube anyway and see if the wife likes it better with or without.

[MW surveyor]

ping,

Put the kahr tire on yesterday. Seem to like it a bit better as it does not add any real thickness to the grip. Bike shop gave me two old tubes, now I've got enough to do about 100 more grips!

[mad1ben2]

Welcome... you won't be let down by the PM9 and the size difference between it and the G19 will be greatly appreciated. Personally, I like the grips the way they are...

[noslolo]

I have never been a fan of after market grips due to my girlish small hands, but the tire tube might be nice. I will have to check my shed, I think we still have a junker bike that my son used to work on.

[getsome]

Welcome ping, Congrats on the your PM9...I have a CW40 and at first tried the light sanding to the grip but ended up with a Kahr tire and really like it...I have smallish hands and didn't want to add any thickness...I also did the inner tube trick on my S&W 4506 full size .45 auto....Now that was a stretch to get that thing on there but when done it made a world of difference...The 3rd gen S&W pistols use a one piece plastic grip that is a bit slick and the tube thing is perfect...On the Kahr pistols the slide release lever is a bit sharp so next time you have it apart try some 400 grip wet/dry sandpaper and smooth out the external sharp part to your liking...