View Full Version : Prospective Kahr buyer
Gatordave
10-14-2011, 12:29 PM
Hello all,
I have decided to purchase a new carry pistol, and keep wavering back and forth between a CM9 and a CW9. Both are in the budget price range and as I see it the only differences are slight length and height differences. The CM being the same dimensions as the PM9.
Am I missing anything else? (Besides price)
Thanks
Bawanna
10-14-2011, 12:33 PM
Nope, you pretty much got it nailed down. Whichever fits your hand best or works best for your intended carry method is the one to get.
Both are good guns, everything else is pretty much exactly the same.
jocko
10-14-2011, 12:39 PM
if ur gonna pocket carry the cm9 will do much better. both will go bang when needed. My preference would be cm9, ...
Bill K
10-14-2011, 12:47 PM
Welcome to the KahrTalk forum...
Similar to Jocko except that if I knew I would never want to pocket carry I might have to flip a coin as to which one to purchase.
OldLincoln
10-14-2011, 12:55 PM
Many say your carry weapon is a tool, not a show piece. If I were buying today I would get the CM9 which wasn't available when I got my PM9. It is absolutely functional and still good looking, just not the "fancy" rollmarks on the slide. You can apply the difference to a Silent Thunder IWB holster and extra mag or two and be better off.
wyntrout
10-14-2011, 01:35 PM
I think the big difference is whether you use real flush metal bases on the mags, or the polymer anything-but-flush bases or the other add-on magazine extenders.
I took my P40 which is about the size of the CW9/40 and put metal base plates (Kahr 9mm) cutting down on the protruding grip while CCW, but it's still harder to keep from printing with that than with the PM9 in the same holster and position... IWB, Minituck... ~4 O'clock. The extra barrel length is no problem, but the longer grip takes more care to keep from printing... which isn't against the law down here anymore... thankfully!
Wynn:)
MW surveyor
10-14-2011, 01:51 PM
The extra barrel length is no problem, but the longer grip takes more care to keep from printing... which isn't against the law down here anymore... thankfully!
Wynn:)
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.:D
Gatordave
10-14-2011, 02:08 PM
Thanks for the responses. I will probably go with the CM.
Thunder71
10-14-2011, 02:14 PM
I'll just add that from what I've read, it seems the front sight on the CM has been an issue for some (breaking). I've never heard of a front sight breaking on a PM9.
I guess I don't feel as though I fall in the same boat as others, given the choice today I'd probably still buy the PM9.
JFootin
10-14-2011, 02:34 PM
Only other possibility is the CW45. Just a hair larger than the CW9, but packing .45acp punch at the same price. I sure like my CM9, though. About as big as you would ever want to go for pocket carry, but it'll hide real good in an IWB holster.
jocko
10-14-2011, 02:40 PM
not sure the front sight is an issue, I would say we hav enot seen 6 on this forum that have broke. same sight set up that areon all kahr cw series guns and it has not be an issue there. If a sight is breakingon the cm series, it is just a bad installed sight. Its durable, easy for most owners to upgrade to a night sight also. Very similare to glocks pinned front sight and that has been on glocks for years. no doubt one will sneak through the cracks and give an issue but for 99% I wouldsay the front sight on the cm series is OK.
Gatordave
10-14-2011, 08:52 PM
Thanks Jocko i was just reading about the front sight breaking. Seems odd
BEARDOG
10-14-2011, 09:23 PM
Thanks Jocko i was just reading about the front sight breaking. Seems odd
I have both a CW9 and a CM9. The CM9 is better for pocket carry. The CW9 gives you a full 3 finger grip and is great for IWB.
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae70/BeardogV1/P1040768.jpg
Don't worry about the night sights. I have the Trijicon front on both mine and have not had any problem. Like Jocko said, I also think it is an bad installation issue.
yqtszhj
10-14-2011, 09:29 PM
The CW9 is excellent in my experience. The CM9 is a peach also. I love mine. If you like the size of the CM9 go for it. If you need or like the fuller grip then the CW9 is your gun. Also welcome to the forum.
I have had issues with the after market night sight breaking off on my CM9. I spoke with Kahr area rep today and he is down on changing out factory front sight on CM9. I will say I am beginning to think the PM9 dove tail front sight may be a better set up if you plan to go with after market sights.
Ressom
10-15-2011, 05:31 AM
Regarding the front sight of the CM vs PM... I have the CM9 trijicon front sight that I installed myself. It has over 900 rounds with it on. The only issue I had was that I used blue loc-tite. The screw ended up loosening. So I then reinstalled the sight with red loc-tite and it has been fine since.
I imagine the PM sight might be more secure, but with that comes a more difficult install. And as Jocko said, the CW series has been using the same screw in front sight without issues.
All that being said, I would still like to see better sight options for the CM9.
Joe L
10-15-2011, 05:51 AM
You can put the CW9 plastic baseplates and keepers on your CM9 magazines and get a little more extension on the CM9 without going to the longer CW9 if you are not comfortable with the 2 finger grip. Helped me some. Very happy with the CM9 size gun.
Joe
Benaiah
10-15-2011, 08:20 AM
My vote is for the CM9. Its smaller size and lighter weight gives you more carry option. The CM9 is a great shooter once you get used to the trigger. The recoil isn't bad at all, so the two finger grip doesn't cause any problems for me.
Gatordave
10-17-2011, 12:08 PM
Joe,
Thanks for the tip on the 7 rd base for extra length. What is the deal with the feeding issues using the 7 rd mags? I see where people are actually trading in their 7 round mags for 6 round mags.
FLBri
10-17-2011, 03:27 PM
I personally use both the 6 and 7 round 9mm mags, and haven't had any problems with either (PM9).
Squib
10-18-2011, 09:27 PM
Actually, there may be something to the CM9 sights having problems. Let me start by saying I have a CW9, and it has been flawless from day one. I fact I feel a bit responsible for encouraging Mitch and Mike to buy their Kahrs.
The brothers were at the club last Saturday with their new CM9s. I'll cut to the chase on this; before they were done both pistols had lost the front sight. I'd call that a problem. I hope they can get them fixed easily, they really were disappointed.
jocko
10-19-2011, 05:32 AM
sure sounds like someting is not right, as they are the same sights as nthe cw series and we have not had any issues there. Did they just fall off or break off??
JFootin
10-19-2011, 07:33 AM
I wish Kahr would at least make those front sights in steel, even if they keep them pinned to save on machining costs.
Gatordave
10-19-2011, 09:27 AM
Thanks for all the input. I have not changed my mind and will probably purchase a CM9 next week. However, I have to wonder why does it appear that Kahr has to depend on the customer to do their QC after purchasing their products. mag catches either too short or too long, mag followers out of spec, mag springs installed backwards, sights breaking off. Do the readers of this forum see a trend of these problems going away as the products evolve? With that said I am going to get some sandpaper. :-)
Dave
340pd
10-19-2011, 10:00 AM
Dave: Don't be discouraged by reading about internet posted issues with any firearm. They ALL will have issues but they are few in relation to the number if firearms sold. My god, if I had listened to all the complaints about the S&W scandium guns, and there heavy recoil and frame issues, I would have missed one of the best carry revolvers in the world. Kimber is always being bashed by those few that have had issues, but again, my Ultra CDP II is as reliable as my Ed Brown or XDm .45's. As for KAHR, I went with the PM version. Probably because I could afford it and it was available when I wanted it. I am very happy with my purchase knowing IF I have issues down the line they will be corrected by the manufacturer. So far this thing is a hoot to shoot and at 10 yards I have no other pistol or revolver that I shoot much tighter groups with. I am on my way out right now to pick up 1000 bullets to handload. Hopefully someone on another post will give me some more powder recommendations so the search for the perfect handload is shortened. Enjoy your new gun.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/gnystrom_photos/PM9.jpg
Gatordave
10-19-2011, 03:20 PM
340PD, Thanks for the pep talk. Actually, on virtually every gun I have purchased I have gone to a forum site for research and the same has happened. I really should have listened to the folks who told me how heavy a Rock River LAR-8 was!
I use 5.0 grains of Winchester W231 on both 115 grain Berrys for the range and 115 grain Sierra Gold Dot JHP. I think the next time I buy defense components I may start move up to 124 grain Gold Dots.
Joe L
10-19-2011, 04:52 PM
Joe,
Thanks for the tip on the 7 rd base for extra length.
Gatordave, just to clarify, I was recommending the plastic base and retainer that comes on the CW9 magazines. If you file it down a little and round off the front ledge, it gives you just enough length to get three fingers on it.
Joe
Gatordave
10-19-2011, 07:04 PM
Thanks Joe
krmgator
10-19-2011, 08:38 PM
Just going to throw my 2 cents in, cause you know what they say about opinions.
I traded in a Taurus 709 Slim for the Kahr CW9 and never looked back. I followed the break in and lube sticky on this board and have had zero problems with it. Round count probably close to 600 since February. And while I'm not a great shooter, it goes where I point it.
Whatever you get will suit you if it's what you want. This won't be my last Kahr and I'm glad to have my CW9 as my EDC weapon.
Good luck
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.