Getting a K40 soon

[MrToad]

I couldn't help myself, too much gun porn here (darn you, eastenn :D). I've always had a soft spot for stainless steel pistols, starting with my P230SL. I came across a classifieds ad on another site for some K40s with nights sights, and broke down and offered a trade which was accepted.

So, within a week or two I should be joining the ranks of K series owners.:yo:

While I'm at it, does anyone have some recommendations on ammo types for this, especially if I may occasionally use this as a carry piece? I've used Gold Dots on my other pistols...

[Bawanna]

My K40 likes Gold Dots just fine. Try em in yours and if it likes em might as well stick with them.

[MrToad]

I guess I'll, uh, give the Gold Dots a shot (bah-dum-bah...boo, hiss).


I may wind up getting the K40 all gussied up with wood grips at some point. Night sights still glow but are said to be dimming. I have a feeling I may need to do some polishing on the used piece. I've been meaning to get a Dremel set for polishing so this might be the time to do it.

[jocko]

If ur k40 has the lahr rubber grips, they are awesone, they may not look the prettiest but they are awesome feeling grips. Seems lately kahr went to a plastic version of those grips..

On my K9 I had bought a set of kahr wood grips and I just did not like um. They looked great but the damn screws on the grips worked loose and if the rigt side screws work loose a tad, you can get light strikers due to the grips not keeping the trigger bar in correctly. That was my only gripe on them and many have solved that issue by "O" rings on the screws, some locktite on the threads also..

[eastenn]

I couldn't help myself, too much gun porn here (darn you, eastenn :D).

Hey MrToad glad I could be of assistance :p I'm sure Pain will let you know that you have to post pictures to join the "Men of Steel" club!

I have only tried one kind of self defense ammo with mine and that is Winchester PDX and they cycled fine so that's what I'm carrying in mine. They are a bonded core bullet just like the Speer Gold Dots. I don't recall seeing Gold Dots on the shelf anywhere, Wal-Mart carries the Win PDX.

[eastenn]

Well, me the wife and our 2 dogs went to the Smokey Mtns. for the weekend and I didn't get on the computer while we were gone. I just kept thinking, maybe when I get back MrToad will have some pics up of his new K40 for us all to look at..man, talk about disappointment..

[MrToad]

Sorry, eastenn. I promise I'll throw some up as soon as I get it. It probably won't arrive until late next week. I told the fellow I was trading with it was okay to hold off sending the K40 until he got my SIG.

[eastenn]

Good deal, the ball is rolling...now you just have to wait in anticipation.

[MrToad]

Waiting is the hard part. I've already made up a shopping list for parts to enhance the experience, things like new night sights (probably Meprolights), wood grips, etc. Got the Flitz on hand to clean up as need be.

One thing I'd like to do is maybe substitute the steel floorplates like you see on some of the MK40s. I've seen a few K40s equipped with these and they look very nice. More a nice to have, not a need to have, though.

[eastenn]

I have the stainless plate on my mag. The guy I bought my K40 from said he used to have a pm40 that it came with but he no longer needed it. SWEET! He sent the standard plate, finger ext., and the stainless plate and I like the stainless by far the best as far as feel, carry, and it looks best I think.

[MrToad]

So, would it be as simple (albeit pricey) as getting the 037M4S Magazine Base and 036M4S Magazine Base Lock (http://www.kahr.com/Parts/Kahr-MK40.asp) for the standard K40 mags?

[eastenn]

You just need the base, your base lock is (will be) the same. Order it, order it!! And a gun!

[MrToad]

Picked it up yesterday. It needed a decent hose-down, so to speak, so I broke it down and did some needed cleaning and lubed it. The night sights are quite dim, so I definitely will be replacing them. Love the feel and heft.

eastenn, how does your Slide Back appear in comparison to the rest of the frame? Mine looks noticeably darker than the rest of the slide, whereas my CW45's Slide Back is the same color. I'm guess it's because the K40 is older and has seen more use.

I'll get some pics up soon. I didn't get a chance to finish cleaning and polishing until around 11pm.

[eastenn]

my slide stop and mag release button appear to be a shade darker than the frame but i have noticed many of the stainless k40's i have seen on places like gunbroker are like that as well.

based on the pics i looked at when buying my gun i already had in my mind i would polish those 2 parts when i got the gun. now that i have it, it either isn't as bad in person or i got used to it and it doesn't bother me now.

[eastenn]

my gun's serial is a DF58xx.. i'm not sure how old it is, and haven't bothered contacting kahr to see. it works great so i'm not sure i really need to know

[MrToad]

Okay, as promised, here are some pics. Mine is the DF09xx series.

It's still needing a bit of minor cleaning here and there, but looks much better now.

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad2/breley/Kahr/k40_1.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad2/breley/Kahr/k40_3.jpg

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad2/breley/Kahr/k40_2.jpg

[eastenn]

looks strangely familiar..nice pics too

[Bawanna]

Looks fine and dandy to me. Someone has already polished the chamber hood. Looks real clean to me in the picture.
Looks like the real rubber grips as opposed to the new soft polymer. I always liked the rubber better myself. Have them on my K40 when I isn't wearing wood.

I'd say your ready to go shoot and report back.

No hurry, we'll wait.

[MrToad]

Bawanna, I think they are rubber. They definitely felt fairly stiff.

I have to say this pistol feels great in my hands. Once I get the meprolights and my crossbreed holster I'll be all set.

FWIW, I picked up a full-size range bag at Midway USA at nearly 50% off , their olive drab version (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=939259680).

[eastenn]

That bag looks like a good deal with good reviews. Which crossbreed are you going to get?

AND, when's the first range session??

[jlottmc]

Before I drop the dreaded F bomb, let me say for the record one more time: You guys are not helping.

[Bawanna]

I got the next size down from that, I figured the full size would be just too big. I can carry mine on my lap with he shoulder strap around my neck so if the bag falls I fall too. Sacrifice the body to save your guns so to speak. If I could get my kids to organize their own stuff and keep mine for my stuff and the guns it would be perfect. Start adding eyes and ears for 2 or 3 other people and the roominess disappears quickly. Might have to get them their own bags.

They are for the record a great bag. I love the way the top double zipper set up works so you can get stuff in and out of the bag without holding it open. Lots of pockets, slots for spare mags etc.

And on sale they are a great bargain.

[eastenn]

Before I drop the dreaded F bomb, let me say for the record one more time: You guys are not helping.

You..need..a..K40..ahh smooth stainless, slim profile, great compromise of weight, competent caliber, perfect grip length, looks professional but says I MEAN BUSINESS!

[MrToad]

I've got a Crossbreed supertuck deluxe on the way, and right now have a Sideguard IWB black leather holster. Both my CW45 and K40 fit the Sideguard well, but the K40 fits slightly better...I think it's the fact it doesn't have a sharp angle on the slide.

I had considered the smaller range bag, but given the full size was only a couple dollars more, it seemed like the better deal. Had there been no sale, I'd have started with the smaller version. FYI, there is an inner bag on the larger version that can be removed and used alone for greater portability for one or two pistols.

jlottmc, eastenn is correct. It's a nicely weighted pistol, excellent ergonomics, and a decent caliber. I'd like to spring for a stainless K9 in the future...I'm guessing the K9 with its 9mm would have slightly better handling characteristics as opposed to the more potent .40 (ammo would be cheaper too).