Another new guy, another new gun...

[Gunthr]

Hi all, I'm new here. Thank you accepting me into the group. I'll throw my Kahr purchasing experience into the mix, as I have benefited from other's experience here in making my own decision to buy a Kahr.

I don't know THAT much about guns, I'm not even considered to be a "gun-guy". I do have a fair amount of exposure to firearms though.

I was looking for an absolutely reliable, but very concealable semi-auto carry gun for defense. Over decades I carried various steel revolvers, but they all eventually got left home due to being a pain to hump all the time.

I have carried a Kel tec .380 w/a laser for the last 2 years, but every once in a great while, I get a jam. Also, I feel kind of unarmed with it, even tho it carrys great.

So I decided to migrate to 9mm +P caliber, or .40 cal. I eventually decided on 9mm because its cheap, available everywhere, and potent enough in my humble opinion, and allows a slimmer frame. The Kahr polymer 9 mm soon came to my attention in researching this, and from there I discovered the MK9. When I got one in my hand at a gun shop, it was game over. A bit heavy, but after the little Kel tec, which feels like a single-use disposable, I really wanted that gravitas. I'm not knocking the Keltec, I will still carry it at certain times after I get some work done on it, but enter the Kahr K9 2003 Elite... a potent carry gun that I can shoot as much as I want.

I ordered the K9 at my local gunshop in south Florida. I paid 685. It arrived in two days, and I went straight to the range. I had read the prep article here, but I didn't really have the patience - I was too geeked at the time.

I first shot a hundred Win 115 grain FMJ, then 50 Win 145 grain JHP, and then 40 Win 124 grain +P JHP. Oh my gosh, it is so smooth and nice and really accurate. I shot at 7' then 14, then 21 and 28 ft. The only issue I had was my fault, when I got stupid and changed my grip to allow the mag to rest on the bench for the 28 ft shots and held my support hand too high. It opened up my thumb and failed to put the next round in battery. It ran perfectly after that.

It carries in the right back pocket of my shorts. I'm almost always wearing shorts, t-shirt and flip flops in my free time. I have a Disantis nemesis hoslter, I think it is. I really, really like this gun a lot. It is fun to shoot. There is something to be said for having a quality piece that serves you well. If it keeps shooting this reliably, this will be my all time favorite piece. Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten the .40 ... although 9mm +P seems adequate.

Cheers, Gunthr :D

[Bawanna]

Welcome gunthr, I'd have no regrets not getting a 40. Many here have them and love them. I like the caliber but not in these small platforms. I have a K40 that I had magna ported, while I can still shoot it all day it just has too much flip for me.

I think you did well with the 9. If history repeats itself around here it will be the first of many and people will start referring to you as a gun guy.

I go with a PM45 and it works just fine and dandy for me.

I have access to a MK9 that I like alot too. Its a fine little gun too.

[Barth]

Welcome gunthr, I'd have no regrets not getting a 40. Many here have them and love them. I like the caliber but not in these small platforms. I have a K40 that I had magna ported, while I can still shoot it all day it just has too much flip for me.

I have access to a MK9 that I like alot too. Its a fine little gun too.

+1 with Bawanna.
Although I choose an MK40 for myself and shoot it well.
It’s right at the edge of the envelope of caliber, size and weight for me.
The nine has significantly less recoil and the ammo is generally cheaper.
Also with modern high quality HP defensive ammo, I’m not at all sure a 40 is any more effective than a 9.

Truth be known I think I my continue to fall prey to the Super Mas Macho syndrome - LOL!

[Gunthr]

Thanks fellas. By the way, forgot to mention - after a while at the range, I noticed that I was loading 7 rounds in my 6 round clip, and 8 rounds in the 7 round clip, giving me 8 and 9 rounds total respectively, for each full load with one in the pipe. I wasn't forcing them, I just loaded them full and repeatedly shot them that way with no problems... however, the 6 round mag has only 6 witness holes and the 7 rounder has 7. I like the extra round, but I'm thinking Kahr doesn't intend it even though my mags will accept it... thats odd, isn't it?

[gb6491]

Thanks fellas. By the way, forgot to mention - after a while at the range, I noticed that I was loading 7 rounds in my 6 round clip, and 8 rounds in the 7 round clip, giving me 8 and 9 rounds total respectively, for each full load with one in the pipe. I wasn't forcing them, I just loaded them full and repeatedly shot them that way with no problems... however, the 6 round mag has only 6 witness holes and the 7 rounder has 7. I like the extra round, but I'm thinking Kahr doesn't intend it even though my mags will accept it... thats odd, isn't it?
Welcome to the forums Gunthr and congrats on your new K9.
The smallest capacity factory magazine that will fit into the K9 is a seven round magazine (it only has six witness holes). If you have a magazine with seven witness holes, then my guess is that it's a factory eight round magazine (don't no for sure as I don't have one).
Regards,
Greg

[Gunthr]

Welcome to the forums Gunthr and congrats on your new K9.
The smallest capacity factory magazine that will fit into the K9 is a seven round magazine (it only has six witness holes). If you have a magazine with seven witness holes, then my guess is that it's a factory eight round magazine (don't no for sure as I don't have one).
Regards,
Greg

Thanks Greg. I got myself confused between the mk9 and k9 capacities...

[Ubaldo99]

Welcome aboard, Gunthr. Went back and forth myself for months between the Kahr CM9 and the Ruger LC9. Finally decided on the CM9 and have never regretted it. Love the CM9 and the 9mm round.