Kahr PM9 Buying Review

[71MUSTY]

Lum, once you get it cleaned up and ready for prime time, you're going to love that gun! BUT, it is very compact and tight so don't expect it to shoot like a Glock or 1911. Think of it more like a hot rod 29 Ford roadster with a big bore hemi in it. It can take +P ammo if you like and will shoot better than you do, hands down. But it is a hand full to manage - at first.

The new model was beveled by request of one or more large purchasing organizations for improved re-holstering. To maintain the balance of mass they lengthened the slide .1" and have a longer recoil spring assembly which may help in chambering also.

Here's what you need to do before you shoot it. Go through this Proper prep of a new kahr, the first post is the one to follow. I don't recall if Jocko goes into working the feed ramp but you need to make extra sure that is clean and shinny is good. Then watch Slide stop reload? Sling shot? Who cares? which gives critical info regarding chambering the first round (one of the most frequent issues for new Kahr owners). Then watch YouTube - 2 handed recoil management.m4v that shows a proper grip. Note: the instruction picks up after 3 min. Another of the most common complaints by new Kahr shooters is the stove-pipe and they swear the are gripping it right. It is right for other guns but you have to strangle the Kahr because it is so short and you don't have the leverage of other guns. This video shows the 2 hand grip with proper tension to return to target quickly.

For the breakin period you should use FMJ ammo and I suggest something like Federal American Eagle before trying others. Like I said the gun is tight and there are a lot of parts that move against each other inside that have to get smoothed out. Once you shoot a box of good stuff then you can try other stuff. Don't be surprised if your preferred defense ammo gets stuck on the feed ramp at first. I discovered that after it's broken in and the feed ramp is polished a bit it will take about anything.

There's a lot more you will pick up but I'm trying to help you have a positive first experience. It's painful for someone to pay good money for a gun and they come back from the range and complain that it stinks. No matter they didn't follow instructions and clean it or they grip it like a gangsta, a bad experience is hard to overcome. So I hope you get a good start and your Kahr makes you proud.

+1

We own 2 KAHR's PM9 PM40 and P45. The above info is consistent with our experience. I had to adjust my grip but otherwise no complaints. Wife got the grip right from the git go (dang it) and she can shoot a 3 in pattern with any one of them at 15 yds. Blows the center out of the target at 5 yrds. I'm not quite as accurate with them (I blame my big hands) but still respectable out to 15yrds