My new PM9 closing chapter

[Rainman48314]

Just back from the range. I am very happy to report the PM9 I got the day before Easter, is functioning 100%.

For the readers who missed my "First Impressions" post and the "Brief Update To FI", I had some concerns about the ergonomics. I even shot half my break-in rounds wearing two golf gloves. I also thought the gun had a lot of recoil and there was so much going on I was only able to guess as to my gun's accuracy.

I can tell you now that I have adjusted to the gun. I give it high marks. No longer need gloves, my American Eagle fed perfectly today. Accuracy is great and, no real surprise, is tied to proper use of the long DA trigger. I found that if I stage the trigger to where there is clear resistance, I can then squeeze off rounds as if the gun was SA. There's a huge difference in the groups.

Before the first range trip, I had not cleaned the Kahr mags. I did before this trip. It may have helped. I also cleaned my Sig P238 mags and my S&B ammo actually shot w/o fault. It previously failed to extract every 3rd or 4th round.

All in all, a great trip to the range.

[E the B]

It's really cool when pistols hit the groove.

I shoot my Sig P239 SAS 9mm and my Kahr PM9 together often. El Sig is about a thousand rounds ahead of Sr. Kahr, but PM9 is over 500 bangs now and they're both running like champs.

I wish I was as accurate with Kahr as I am 239, but I'm workin' on it.

E the B

[bigmacque]

All of the above, and many other posts on this board, underscore the importance of something often overlooked: practice, practice, practice.

It's easy to shoot it a bit, put it away, then shoot some more until you're comfortable with it, and then decide you don't want to spend any more ammo on it .... after all, you're comfortable with it, right?

Wrong. Regular, routine trips to the range are required whether you feel like you or the gun need it.

[HadEmAll]

Double post.

[HadEmAll]

I found that if I stage the trigger to where there is clear resistance, I can then squeeze off rounds as if the gun was SA. There's a huge difference in the groups.


I found out years ago when I got my first Kahr, a K40, that if I tried to stage the trigger, like you might do with a double-action revolver, I always pulled the groups low. With the revolver, there is always feedback that the trigger is going to drop soon, like spring stacking, or the bolt clicking up into the cylinder. On all the Kahr's I've had experience with, there is no stacking or clear resistance as you put it.

Maybe I'm not perceptive enough to feel it. I can on all the DA revolvers I've shot, and some DA/SA semiautos. The Walther P99 for example has noticeable stacking right at the point of striker release. If yours has it, then your way will work, but I don't think the Kahrs do as a matter of course.

I found that if you just pull straight through on the trigger, and keep the front sight where you need it to be, the groups were tight and to elevation.

The PM9 is sweet.

[Bill K]

Hi,

It is great to read that you've adjusted to your pistol and that it is functioning 100%.

At the risk of sounding like a know it all - I assure you I don't... If your PM9 is for carry I would not spend a lot of range/practice time stagging the trigger in order to shoot tight groups. Yes, there might be some SD situations where one would benefit from that practice so I wouldn't exclude it but I'd spend a whole lot more live fire practice on getting off reasonable quick accurate double taps and the like.

Respectfully,
Bill K.

[jocko]

POA shooting with ur PM9 at 7 yards and under IMO is the best trainig u can have. In a defense situation, more than likely it will be very CLOSE. U ain't gonna use anything more than that front sight, POA utilizes the front sight. Like Bill K stated yopur not shooting the bg for a group, u just wannt put them in him where one bandage doesn't cover all. U will be very surp[rised is you shoot POA as to how fast u are and tohow good your groups are.

[melissa5]

A CT laser makes the PM9 even better. ;)

[Rainman48314]

A CT laser makes the PM9 even better. ;)In theory, I tend to agree, however, my recent experience with two lasers makes me leary. My Sig P238 came with a CT unit with a pressure on/off switch on the front strap. It had problems being adjusted for windage and elevation and was replaced by SIG with another vendor's with a simple on/off switch. It has a problem where the "dot" is a blury area of about 8 inches in circumference. I'm not ready to trust another one...yet.

[Rainman48314]

Hi,

It is great to read that you've adjusted to your pistol and that it is functioning 100%.

At the risk of sounding like a know it all - I assure you I don't... If your PM9 is for carry I would not spend a lot of range/practice time stagging the trigger in order to shoot tight groups. Yes, there might be some SD situations where one would benefit from that practice so I wouldn't exclude it but I'd spend a whole lot more live fire practice on getting off reasonable quick accurate double taps and the like.

Respectfully,
Bill K.
Sounds like good advice, thanks. I'm taking a course on just that over two days later this month, "Tactical Handgun I" at CQT-Close Quarters Tactical http://cqtusa.com/main/training.aspx