P9 vs. PM9?

[carnesee]

Very little is said on this forum about the Kahr P9, whereas there is an abundance of comment about the PM9. The PM9 is obviously preferred for concealed carry, and yet the P9 is only 1/2" longer with just 1/2" greater height than the PM9, and there is just one ounce difference in weight.. (In fact, the two guns are so similar in size that some holster makers--DeSantis, for example--recommends their same Nemesis pocket and their same belt slide holsters for both guins.) Plus, the P9's longer barrel gives it better accuracy, the longer grip provides room for all five fingers and better control, the mag has an additional round, and the P9's initial cost is less. So, why is the PM9 so popular vs. the P9?

[wyntrout]

The P40 is the same size and the size IS the key. The half inch longer barrel is not such a big deal... even less if it's the Kahr ported barrel, but the half inch of extra grip can poke out further... just a little bit. I did put metal bases on my in-the-gun carry 6-round mags, though, to lessen that aspect. I don't like the polymer anything-but-flush base-plated mags. The ones for the 9mm Kahrs are interchangeable with the .40's. I carry the 7-round extended grip mags for reloads and range use.

I got the Mag-na-ported P40 and stuck it in my Minituck the other day and just wasn't comfortable with the tad more "printing" with the un-tucked polo that I chose... a bit tighter than my really loose or voluminous ones. Anyhow, after checking from the side in the mirror, I decided to go with my PM9... remembering to swap magazines as well. I use the same holders, too.

I've since worn the PM9 again and changed the setting on the holster to increase the forward cant, but I haven't checked with the P40 to see if that looks any better. The polo that I pick has a lot of bearing on printing, because I have some really large ones. I think that I could carry my S.A. Champion easily with some of them... the Cabela's Large pocket-polos... huge! They're alll-cotton and cheap, too. I got 10 or 12 for $11.99 each!

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Okay... just went and checked... very close but P40 is a bit bigger...

Slide Width Length OAL Height OAL Weight, empty.

PM9 ... .90"..... 5.3"..... 4.0"........ 14.0 oz.

P9 ..... .90"..... 5.8"...... 4.5"....... 15.8 oz. P9 comes with the plastic bases, so is longer a bit with the magazine inserted, as well.

P40..... .94" .... 6.1"...... 4.55"..... 16.8 oz. Ditto P40 with plastic base.

Pretty close, though.

http://www.kahr.com/specsheets/KahrSpecChart.pdf

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

Aside from pocket carry the P9 should be very easy to conceal. I saw one at the gunshow this weekend and had to look close to tell which one it was.

Guy asked me if I'd heard of Kahrs before, kind of chuckled and told him I'd heard of them some.

[BEARDOG]

I have both the blue collar equals to the two guns you are asking about.
I agree with ALL that has been said by Wyn, and Bawanna.

For me I mostly like to pocket carry and the CM9 is obviously better for that.
But I will say that the CW9 is a great gun. And I think it feels just about perfect in the hand to me. It is a real gem to shoot as well.


http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae70/BeardogV1/P1040768.jpg

[Thunder71]

.5" is a huge difference for concealed carry in my opinion. If you are even thinking about pocket carry the PM9 is about as large as I'd want to go, or would be able to go. Another .5" in both directions and it's a deal breaker.

[Bill K]

Pocket carry IS THE REASON I bought the PM9 without even the slightest consideration to the P9 or CW9. I don't remember CM9 being available at the time else it could very well have been my choice over the PM9 - but I'll never know for sure.

[Thunder71]

Pocket carry IS THE REASON I bought the PM9 without even the slightest consideration to the P9 or CW9. I don't remember CM9 being available at the time else it could very well have been my choice over the PM9 - but I'll never know for sure.

Same here, CM9 came out shortly after I picked up my PM9 - I have no regrets, but do wonder if I would have chosen the CM9 had it been available. The PM9 replaced my LCP, and I never looked back.

[carnesee]

Thanx for all your unput on the P9 vs. PM9. I currently have a P9 that is a perfect fit and shows no print with a polo shirt or sweater when wearing a DeSantis belt slide holster that rides high and tight, but it does show with jeans in a pocket Nemesis. So, I'm considering adding a CM9 to my "arsenal" and your comments have been very helpful. I have been carrying a Taurus TCP 738--surprising trouble-free, BTW--on hot summer days, but it is so small and light that it feels more like brass knuckles than a firearm.

[Bawanna]

Thanx for all your unput on the P9 vs. PM9. I currently have a P9 that is a perfect fit and shows no print with a polo shirt or sweater when wearing a DeSantis belt slide holster that rides high and tight, but it does show with jeans in a pocket Nemesis. So, I'm considering adding a CM9 to my "arsenal" and your comments have been very helpful. I have been carrying a Taurus TCP 738--surprising trouble-free, BTW--on hot summer days, but it is so small and light that it feels more like brass knuckles than a firearm.

We have about 4 of the TCP 738's riding with officers for backup and off duty guns. I'm not real partial to them and I have no use at all for 380 but they are very small and easy to toss in your pocket or whatever.

These guys usually don't take testing to seriously for back up guns and other than shooting a few and getting qualed which is only about 16 shots they figure they are ready to go. I haven't heard of anything bad or not working other than two were brought to me when they couldn't figure out how to get em apart.
They don't read manuals too much either. Cop does not always equal gun guy I guess.

[jlottmc]

I have the 740 slim and it's not much bigger than the 738, nor terribly smaller than my P45, but it goes into the pocket so much easier and is very light and flat. Not one bit of trouble other than CS at Taurus, and even they came around eventually.

[wyntrout]

.5" is a huge difference for concealed carry in my opinion. If you are even thinking about pocket carry the PM9 is about as large as I'd want to go, or would be able to go. Another .5" in both directions and it's a deal breaker.

The magazine base adds another 1/4" or so, too, which is why I switched to metal base plates on my P40. I don't CCW with my K9 or I would put them on its mags. All told, the P9 with regular polymer based mags will be .7 to .75" longer in the grip and magazine... a lot harder to hide! But then some of you guys put those Pierce grip extensions on your magazines!

Yeah, controllability is an important factor, but I have fine control without needing three fingers on the grip by simply and inexpensively adding the bike tube grip covers.

I got sidetracked many times and never really finished my search for "better" magazine for my PM45... then the S.A. Champion magazines... the penalty for having too many guns and projects. If I only had ONE gun, I would spend all my effort on getting it suited to me perfectly. :rolleyes: I do have several that are fine now... the P380 and the PM9. A big help was that they came with metal flush-fitting based magazines.

Wynn:)

[carnesee]

I chuckled when reading your message above, Bawaanna. The Taurus TCP 738 is a snap to disassemble, but I find it a bear to get the blasted thing back together. Those guns were full of problems when first introduced, but the CS was unbelievably good. For example, upon receiving the firearm, I put three rounds in each mag, fired them, but the slide did not lock open after each third round. So I called Taurus immediately on a Thursday before a Labor Day holiday. Within minutes they emailed a label with instructions to put the TCP in its original cardboard box and take it to a FedEx office, or, call FedEx for a next morning pick-up at my home. Anyway, Taurus had the gun in their shop on Tuesday and called me the following Friday, said repairs had been made and they were returning the 738. FedEx delivered to me on Monday and the Taurus has worked perfectly since. In short, they had the pistol just Tuesday-Friday and made the repair. Everything was free. I had a similar experience with a Taurus 709 Slim, but traded--salesman is a cop--that for the Kahr P9 because the P9 is smaller and lighter in weight. One of my smarter moves.

[Bawanna]

Agreed it was simple to take apart once you see how. I don't like that I have to pry out the take down pin since it doesn't go all the way through but not a huge issue.

Like I said if these guys spent 30 seconds looking at the manual even just looking at the pictures they wouldn't have had an issue. Course if they did that I guess we wouldn't need an armorer and I'd be strictly a girly man records person surrounded my woman.

I think I'm gonna go play with some barb wire at lunch and try to man up.