How to buy a PM9...wisely

[tibbits]

First off, thanks to all of you guys for the great info on this site. I don't have a PM9 yet, but I feel like I already know it as well as my other guns.

Next weekend, I plan to buy. I'd appreaciate any feedback on my 'plan' below. I don't buy often, buy new and tend to keep them forever (unless I have no option!). I have a P220, SW 6906 9mm and a BuckMark (cheap date). Fortunately, I can shoot on my property and do so frequently. Also have a CCW permit.

There's a gun show next weekend and I plan to scour the vendors for the best deal. I'm thinking night sights as the only addition. I think I'm looking at about $600 - $650 for a decent deal, but not sure. My other option is to work with a local dealer who has good reviews for being fair with prices. He also has PMC bronze 115 grs FMJ for $11/bx everyday. Good round for most of the break in work? I have a lot of UMC stuff as well.

I'm not new to autos, but new to concealing one. From research, the PM9 is the one that seems best to learn comfortable conceal with. And meets my expecatations on qaulity.

I'd appreciate any advice, thoughts, warnings, tips that could save me some $ or better match my choice with my expecations. I've scoured the existing threads, so there may not be many nuggets of wisdom left....I may just be dealing with that 'check everything out' feeling I get before dropping close to a grand.

[Phooey]

Welcome to the forum! The other knuckleheads are probably still nursing hangovers this morning so I'll do my best. According to Professor Jocko (well respected/revered and technically oriented member of this forum) the first thing is to check the "Kahr Tech" thread that talks about the proper prepping of your new Kahr and then check the Lube diagram thread. Most have found that by proper cleaning and prepping (racking slide 200-300 times, clean out striker channel, proper lubrication) takes a lot of the break in hassle to a minimum. I unfortunately found this forum after the fact and had a definite DOH! moment.
Most folks here are more than willing to help/offer suggestions from technical issues to holster suggestions and all the way to Dear Dietrich (kinda like Ms Manners and Advice to the Hopelessly in Love column all rolled into one - a real hoot to read!).
As to the best price and best way to buy - well, Bud's Guns is mentioned quite a few times, GunBroker too and some prefer to go to a local gun shop for the support and possible test drive before they buy.
I hope that helps and may give you a good start to your new love affair with your PM9. By no means is this all inclusive - once everybody stumbles to the keyboards this morning you will have many folks doing a much better job. That's the thing I like about this forum - respect from all and comedy in abundance! Enjoy.:D

[HeyGuysWatchThis]

Maybe you've already considered it and made your decision, but think about the CM9 instead. The trade-offs are minimal, and the savings will be ~$150-200. Here's a thread (http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_5_35/113720_CM9_vs_PM9.html)that does a pretty good job of addressing the differences. Again, feel free to ignore this post if you've already considered this, but the CM9 is going to be my next purchase.

[BEARDOG]

I would say buy a CM9... Unless saving about $200 doesn't seem wise to you:)
http://www.kahr.com/PDF/CM9093r2.pdf

$417 shipped from Bud's
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=76031

Add a front Trijicon N.S. for $30.
http://www.kahr.com/Sights/Kahr-CWCM-Front-Trijicon-Night-Sight.asp

[georgepittenger]

I would say buy a CM9... Unless saving about $200 doesn't seem wise to you:)
http://www.kahr.com/PDF/CM9093r2.pdf


Add a front Trijicon N.S. for $30.
http://www.kahr.com/Sights/Kahr-CWCM-Front-Trijicon-Night-Sight.asp


not sure if there was a response to this already , but is that frt sight from a 2009 production and thus 2 years old already as far as life expectancy ?

don't u wonder just a little bit about a national company that can't spell installation correctly ? :001_huh:

[hotpig]

I was just checking the whole sale price of the PM9. Getting a new one with ns in that price range will be hard. The base price without ns is not much under 600.00.

I normally beat Buds prices so I have not checked their prices.

[Barth]

+ whatever on the CM9 - LOL!
It looks like the real deal (without the price gouging)
Was considering a PM9 myself but changed my mind!
BTW I stopped drinking so I'm up in the am LOL!
http://www.gunblast.com/images/SHOT2011/Day2/DSC02782.JPG

[BEARDOG]

not sure if there was a response to this already , but is that frt sight from a 2009 production and thus 2 years old already as far as life expectancy ?

don't u wonder just a little bit about a national company that can't spell installation correctly ? :001_huh:

Yes they are stamped 09. If mine goes dim in 10 yrs instead of 12yrs I will just replace it and be happy I only spent a whopping $3 per year to have a N.S. YMMV.

Why would a spelling error be relevant to buying a night sight???.... NO I don't wonder about Kahr. YMMV

[tibbits]

Hmmm. CM9. Any concearns with it being a relatively new model?

[hoghunter]

I've been all over the place deciding on the PM9 or P380. The CM9 adds a new dimension to the discussion. If the PM9 is a higher quality then I would go with that, but I don't know much about the CM9 yet, so I have a lot of reading to do. This is going to be my SD weapon, so no shortcuts for me.

[Tinman507]

No concerns whatsoever. Buy it, and follow all the pre-first time stickys on this forum re: cleaning, lubing, racking. Follow the recommended 200 rnds through and sit back and enjoy a fantastic little masterpiece.
No reservations...Period.

[BEARDOG]

Hmmm. CM9. Any concearns with it being a relatively new model?

Nope.... keep reading, they have been very,very well reviewed by many on this forum and others.
http://www.gunblast.com/Kahr-CM9.htm
It is not really a new design... 95% it's the exact same as a PM9. The slight differences have been proven reliable over time by the CW vs. P lines.

[JFootin]

The CM9 has been the most successful release, ever! It IS a PM9 with a few inconsequential changes to reduce the price. The only piece that is too cheap and needs replacing is the plastic front sight. But Kahr has the Trijicon front sight for it for $30, easy to install.

Plus, they shine up real nice! :D

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/My%20Custom%20CM9/KahrCM9PolishedLSwMagandBullets.jpg

See the slide show HERE (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/John_England/slideshow/My%20Custom%20CM9?sort=6).

[E the B]

Decide you want one on Tuesday. Go to gunbroker.com and gunsamerica.com to see who has the best price on the model you want, then buy it on Wednesday. Pick it up at your LGS on Friday. Head to the range on Saturday. 700 rounds later, you be smilin' like me!

[OldLincoln]

^^ What he said! Guns to be cautious about are brand new different design models not half step upgrades of proven designs. The CM9 is the proven design of the PM9 with a couple small improvements and less expensive parts where it doesn't matter.

[georgepittenger]

Yes they are stamped 09. If mine goes dim in 10 yrs instead of 12yrs I will just replace it and be happy I only spent a whopping $3 per year to have a N.S. YMMV.

Why would a spelling error be relevant to buying a night sight???.... NO I don't wonder about Kahr. YMMV


I made the spelling comment as just a bit tongue in cheek fun . But since you felt compelled to repy -

Well , in addtion to having web people who can't spell ....or use spellcheck

They hired someone w a known drug problem , who stole a gun ( in pieces ) that was ultimately used in a crime , and cost the company a bit of bad publicity and $600,000 .

So yeah , the quality of employees hired ( whether on the production line or in the E-commerce section ) does reflect on a company , its products , and my perception of them .

Do some people refuse to do business w Walmart because they run the little guys out of business ?

Do some people refuse , to this day , to buy Japanese cars/trucks ?

Do some CCW people refuse to do business w " No Guns Allowed " business owners ?

Are a lot of people not doing business anymore w BP based on its failure in the Gulf and its employees actions leading up to and after that failure ?

It's not always about just the quality of the end product .

I like Kahrs and expect to purchase a CM9 or PM9 in the future . :cool:

But a company is the sum of its parts .

[Rainman48314]

Hmmm. CM9. Any concearns with it being a relatively new model?
The internals are identical to the PM9. Range reports have been entirely favorable

[Rainman48314]

First off, thanks to all of you guys for the great info on this site. I don't have a PM9 yet, but I feel like I already know it as well as my other guns.

Next weekend, I plan to buy. I'd appreaciate any feedback on my 'plan' below. I don't buy often, buy new and tend to keep them forever (unless I have no option!). I have a P220, SW 6906 9mm and a BuckMark (cheap date). Fortunately, I can shoot on my property and do so frequently. Also have a CCW permit.

There's a gun show next weekend and I plan to scour the vendors for the best deal. I'm thinking night sights as the only addition. I think I'm looking at about $600 - $650 for a decent deal, but not sure. My other option is to work with a local dealer who has good reviews for being fair with prices. He also has PMC bronze 115 grs FMJ for $11/bx everyday. Good round for most of the break in work? I have a lot of UMC stuff as well.

I'm not new to autos, but new to concealing one. From research, the PM9 is the one that seems best to learn comfortable conceal with. And meets my expecatations on qaulity.

I'd appreciate any advice, thoughts, warnings, tips that could save me some $ or better match my choice with my expecations. I've scoured the existing threads, so there may not be many nuggets of wisdom left....I may just be dealing with that 'check everything out' feeling I get before dropping close to a grand.I paid $620 but had to add $30 shipping and my local FFL's fee. Mine is a PM9 with Night Sights. Two tone

[tibbits]

Great input for my decision this weekend. Thanks to all of you. But the decision now includes PM9 vs CM9 as well as getting a fair price. Logically, the CM9 is the way to go… no loss of reliability and the accuracy drop is below my ability to notice much if at all.
*
Sooo, as of Monday morning, the plan is to shop the show this Saturday and make the decision on the floor, hopefully with some competitive pricing. I’m not expecting a lot of haggle room with demand for both of these models high. I’ve already set aside the $ for the PM9, so I may come home with one. I have not even held a CM9, so if I perceive a quality difference (whether real or not), I may just trade the $200 for the thrill.
*
Either way, there will be a new horse in the barn. And that fact is worrying me more…. I need a gun safe. I read the thread about a member getting robbed and had a sinking feeling. And it’s not just the $ lost, you get attached to the old weapons from years of shooting and cleaning. I still have my first shotgun and .22 rifle from my pre-teen years that the old man bought me, and know every ding on them. The owner card forms have my young scribble on them. I’ll soon be searching these threads for gun safe info.

[Thunder71]

I have a PM9, bought it right before the CM9 came out - not sure what I would have done if both were available at the time but based on my typical mentality I would have bought the CM9 and wondered what I was missing out on not getting the PM9.

The difference is mostly cosmetic, but the front sights on the PM9 are more durable. I've already heard reports of the front sight breaking off on the CM9.

Tough call, I have no regrets getting the PM9 thought - around 600 rounds through it with 0 problems whatsoever.

What people often forget to mention is that part of the cost difference is that the PM9 comes with two magazines (6 and 7 round), while the CM9 comes with one magazine.

[Rainman48314]

Great input for my decision this weekend. Thanks to all of you. But the decision now includes PM9 vs CM9 as well as getting a fair price. Logically, the CM9 is the way to go… no loss of reliability and the accuracy drop is below my ability to notice much if at all.
*
Sooo, as of Monday morning, the plan is to shop the show this Saturday and make the decision on the floor, hopefully with some competitive pricing. I’m not expecting a lot of haggle room with demand for both of these models high. I’ve already set aside the $ for the PM9, so I may come home with one. I have not even held a CM9, so if I perceive a quality difference (whether real or not), I may just trade the $200 for the thrill.
*
Either way, there will be a new horse in the barn. And that fact is worrying me more…. I need a gun safe. I read the thread about a member getting robbed and had a sinking feeling. And it’s not just the $ lost, you get attached to the old weapons from years of shooting and cleaning. I still have my first shotgun and .22 rifle from my pre-teen years that the old man bought me, and know every ding on them. The owner card forms have my young scribble on them. I’ll soon be searching these threads for gun safe info.
Don't forget to price in the second mag you must buy with a CM9...and the difference in sights. Enjoy the show.

[RagnarD]

Definitely a tough call. Just to point it out though, there ARE a few differences that might matter, IMHO. Some folks have said the internals are the same, but it's actually a different barrel, with conventional rifling. Also a different slide stop/barrel pin, injection molded rather than machined. I haven't heard of any problems with these, and your average shooter (and even the above average kind we have here at Kahrtalk) probably won't notice any difference or have any problems. Just wanted you to know that not all the savings are cosmetic. Best of luck and enjoy whichever you choose, they are great little guns.

[hotpig]

Velocity junkies are likely the only ones that will miss the slightly less velocity from the CM9 regular rifling.

[handlebar]

I bought the PM9 before the CM9 came out, as well. I have no regrets. I have two mags, metal sights, and a lifetime warranty. I got it at Bud's for $625 and it is worth it. I am not sure, if the CM has the lifetime. Does anyone know?

[jlottmc]

Nope, new Kahrs haven't had a lifetime warranty for quite some time. My P45 may but likely doesn't and it's pretty old.

[JFootin]

Velocity junkies are likely the only ones that will miss the slightly less velocity from the CM9 regular rifling.

A couple of months ago, I saw a range report here that actually recorded slightly MORE velocity from a CW9 over a P9. Same difference in barrels. Just saying. Plus, Jocko is the most experienced PM9 owner in the world, having put over 32,000 rounds through his. And he recommends getting the CM9 and saving some money. So you won't get the seven round extra mag that comes with the PM9. Jocko says they're ugly, and I agree with him. And a lot of people have been having FTF problems with them. Two extra 6 round mags plus shipping is $72.64 from CTD, and I saw 500 rounds of FMJ target ammo on sale at CDNN for about $130. There's your $200 right there, well spent! :D

Do you HAVE to have all black? And/or night sights? And the extra expense is not a burden to you? Go for it and God bless you!

[handlebar]

but when I bought mine, it had the lifetime warranty on it. Will they honor it?

[Thunder71]

$130 toward ammo and you still have a CM9 when all is said and done... Could have put the $130 toward the PM9 and had the tried and true version. ;)

Has Jocko put over 32,000 rounds through a CM9? To me that is a plus point for the PM9 in regards to build. Nobody has done this with a CM9, I'd venture to guess the 1000 round mark is still yet to be hit let alone 10,000.

I don't disagree with recommending the CM9, I'm sure it's just as rugged on the inside (it's not on the outside) but still... who knows really?

For a concealed firearm (potential pocket gun) my vote goes to the PM9 if for no other reason than the mount of the front sight.

[eklipto101]

but when I bought mine, it had the lifetime warranty on it. Will they honor it?


If it has a warranty through Davidson it does have a life time warranty, it won't be through Kahr,mine was bought through a dealer that apparently gets them from Davidson and it has a lifetime warranty.
Sweet deal if I may add for $520.00 + 10.00 shipping :target:

[jlottmc]

Also if your warranty from Kahr is lifetime they will honor it. They may need some poking and prodding to do so, but when they look up the S/N they should see that it was made in the times of lifetime warranties. Like I said, from Kahr that warranty would give you a really old pistol.

[handlebar]

Now I have egg on my face.
When I bought my PM9, the web site for Kahr stated "lifetime" warranty for the PM9. That is part of the reason I bought it. I looked at my manual and it says 5 years. i e-mailed Kahr and told them that their web site was misleading. Jay said sorry for the inconvenience. To me sorry does not cut it. They should review the time element of their web site and offer that warranty to anyone that purchased at that time. but, I piss in the wind. I still like the PM9 and actually hope never to use the warranty.

One time in the distant past, I had a problem with a K9 and they would do nothing for me. I am even surprized I bought the PM9.

[jlottmc]

It's all good, I might want to clarify for my P45, but then again, I bought it used so I doubt I have any warranty. I do need to order a guide rod and spring (put a few rounds through this set), as my guide rod is 3/8" on the end, but the gun runs great, and if it ain't broke, I ain't fixin' it.

[tibbits]

Well, to my surprise I ended up getting the CM9. And happy with it. I'm getting some personal assiatance on the break in in another thread (thanks again guys).

Price was 430 plus tax. Used the savings on an MTRC OWB from a rather cute sales doll. And a split case of 9mm/.45.

Browsing the show, I think I'm falling for an HK. Need to do some research, but I think that may next on the list.