Tug Brown
12-07-2009, 09:10 PM
Hello Forum,
This is my first post. I am a US Army veteran with renewed interest in weapons. For years I had a 9mm short (.380 ACP) sitting in the closet with only 50 rounds fired through it. I learned about Kahrs earlier in the year and purchased a PM9. I have put as much as 600 rounds though that weapon finding it very reliable. I have yet to learn to shoot it with excellent marksmanship, but it is coming along. I have been using the PM9 as my carry weapon.
Recently I bought a 1911 .45acp, but it's too large to carry the way I want to carry, yet I like the .45 caliber for its projectile size/force.
Enter the PM45. I purchased my PM45 from a gentleman who is a "Colt guy". For some reason he didn't like the PM45 having only put 20 rounds through it. Each to his own, I guess. Anyway this is a "Black Diamond" model with standard sights. Actually I find it "dirty" looking and like the appearance of the SS PM9 that I have better. However, "looks" don't put projectiles down range.
I fired approximately 235 rounds through the PM45 today. 80 rounds were WWB 230gr, (3) were WWB 230gr holow points and the rest were Remington UMC 230gr.
Early on, I was disappointed to find malfunction after malfunction in the operation of this new weapon. The first problem occurred at or near the end of the first magazine when the casing locked into the slide with the primer end jammed against the magazine. I couldn't drop the magazine or work the slide. I had to use the handle of my knife to loosen the casing and put it into a "stove pipe" to get motion to remove the magazine and eject the casing. This occurred no less than eight or nine times with two or three actual "stove pipes". In all a total of 11 FTE. WWB = 7, UMC = 4
I also experienced seven FTF. WWB = 5 UMC = 2.
Interestingly, I found that the magazine would drop at times causing a failure to chamber a round. I tried over and over to note my hand/thumb positions and their effect on the release mechanism. I could not correlate those and the magazine release during fire. The magazine just seemed to "drop" about 5mm or so and that was that. This problem occurred about 6(six) times.
I must say, this is the 5th new weapon I have broken in, so I am not overly concerned for the moment. I suspect things will get better with more "exercise".
Notably, I am in excellent condition and have great hand/arm strength due to my profession that generates a lot of isometric exercise. This is aside the weight lifting that I do. I say this because I don't think I "limp wrist". However, there is a significant "kick" behind the PM45 that I don't note with the PM9. So maybe I need to train up with the PM45.
I found the accuracy of this weapon to be dead on. The major problem hitting my sight point was ME anticipating the hammer drop. I can say that when I took my time after learning the proper sight picture for this weapon, that I will be able to hit what I need to hit from any reasonable pistol distance. And I do mean accurate.
My bias at the moment is toward the SS version over the Black Diamond. I already see wear marks on the barrel that are not visible on the PM9 (Some of this was there when I received it.) They are just the tight manufacturing tolerance marks, but would not be visible if it didn't have the "covert" finish.
One last comment, I suspect this WILL replace the PM9 as my carry weapon on most days. However, I do believe that Kahr should modify the base of the magazine and remove the flange. Ergonomically the magazine in the PM9 short magazine is more acceptable than the large black base on the PM45. I may have to do something about mine.
In case you are wondering, I plan to carry in a Desantis pocket holster in the right front pocket just as I have the PM9. While shopping I looked at the Colt New Agent and the Para PDA and found both too large for Desantis pocket carry.
At this point I would rate the PM45 as a 7/10 and the PM9 as a 8.5/10 with 10 being best.
Sorry no photos. I made a few, but it appears this forum doesn't host photos. I hope this helps anyone looking at this very nice weapon.
This is my first post. I am a US Army veteran with renewed interest in weapons. For years I had a 9mm short (.380 ACP) sitting in the closet with only 50 rounds fired through it. I learned about Kahrs earlier in the year and purchased a PM9. I have put as much as 600 rounds though that weapon finding it very reliable. I have yet to learn to shoot it with excellent marksmanship, but it is coming along. I have been using the PM9 as my carry weapon.
Recently I bought a 1911 .45acp, but it's too large to carry the way I want to carry, yet I like the .45 caliber for its projectile size/force.
Enter the PM45. I purchased my PM45 from a gentleman who is a "Colt guy". For some reason he didn't like the PM45 having only put 20 rounds through it. Each to his own, I guess. Anyway this is a "Black Diamond" model with standard sights. Actually I find it "dirty" looking and like the appearance of the SS PM9 that I have better. However, "looks" don't put projectiles down range.
I fired approximately 235 rounds through the PM45 today. 80 rounds were WWB 230gr, (3) were WWB 230gr holow points and the rest were Remington UMC 230gr.
Early on, I was disappointed to find malfunction after malfunction in the operation of this new weapon. The first problem occurred at or near the end of the first magazine when the casing locked into the slide with the primer end jammed against the magazine. I couldn't drop the magazine or work the slide. I had to use the handle of my knife to loosen the casing and put it into a "stove pipe" to get motion to remove the magazine and eject the casing. This occurred no less than eight or nine times with two or three actual "stove pipes". In all a total of 11 FTE. WWB = 7, UMC = 4
I also experienced seven FTF. WWB = 5 UMC = 2.
Interestingly, I found that the magazine would drop at times causing a failure to chamber a round. I tried over and over to note my hand/thumb positions and their effect on the release mechanism. I could not correlate those and the magazine release during fire. The magazine just seemed to "drop" about 5mm or so and that was that. This problem occurred about 6(six) times.
I must say, this is the 5th new weapon I have broken in, so I am not overly concerned for the moment. I suspect things will get better with more "exercise".
Notably, I am in excellent condition and have great hand/arm strength due to my profession that generates a lot of isometric exercise. This is aside the weight lifting that I do. I say this because I don't think I "limp wrist". However, there is a significant "kick" behind the PM45 that I don't note with the PM9. So maybe I need to train up with the PM45.
I found the accuracy of this weapon to be dead on. The major problem hitting my sight point was ME anticipating the hammer drop. I can say that when I took my time after learning the proper sight picture for this weapon, that I will be able to hit what I need to hit from any reasonable pistol distance. And I do mean accurate.
My bias at the moment is toward the SS version over the Black Diamond. I already see wear marks on the barrel that are not visible on the PM9 (Some of this was there when I received it.) They are just the tight manufacturing tolerance marks, but would not be visible if it didn't have the "covert" finish.
One last comment, I suspect this WILL replace the PM9 as my carry weapon on most days. However, I do believe that Kahr should modify the base of the magazine and remove the flange. Ergonomically the magazine in the PM9 short magazine is more acceptable than the large black base on the PM45. I may have to do something about mine.
In case you are wondering, I plan to carry in a Desantis pocket holster in the right front pocket just as I have the PM9. While shopping I looked at the Colt New Agent and the Para PDA and found both too large for Desantis pocket carry.
At this point I would rate the PM45 as a 7/10 and the PM9 as a 8.5/10 with 10 being best.
Sorry no photos. I made a few, but it appears this forum doesn't host photos. I hope this helps anyone looking at this very nice weapon.