Anyone try the Kahr CM9 head to head vs the G42?

[shinbone]

I'm in the market for my first pistol for EDC, and somehow the G42 is luring me like an apple product. But I want to throw others into the mix as well. Main criteria is size, not caliber. So as a disclaimer, let this discussion not be about 9mm vs 380acp. The kahr cm9 looks to be nearly identical on size and I hear good things about them too. For anyone who's shot both, what can you tell me? Accuracy, ease upon follow up shots, overall feel of shooting both.. I'm traditionally a wood and steel kind of guy so compact , light and polymer are new things to me.

Thanks.

[ParanoidCivilian]

Since both are about the same size. It comes down to caliber.

[tnlrat37]

Find a range with both If possible and try them.

[mafbloggerdanny]

how are you going to find a range that will let you shoot two off-roster pistols? Gotta find somebody who owns one/both and will let you shoot'em...or get opinions from someone who has shot them. Maybe go to a range while out of state?

not a lot of good options there :$ stupid california

[shinbone]

So no one in CA has had access to SSE'd versions of either of these?

[Malaprop14]

There are a number of members here who have CM9s. The trick will be finding someone with a G42 also. Not to say that .380 ammo isn't sufficient, but I'd still opt for the 9mm. I like my CW9 and carry it most often.

[tnlrat37]

Where r u located? I pick up my G42 tomorrow from jail and if your close ill let you try it out sometime. I'm in IE and OC somedays.

[SoGetThis]

Since both are about the same size. It comes down to caliber.

More or less this. You can't say disregard caliber then ask about "Accuracy, ease upon follow up shots, overall feel of shooting both" when caliber has a direct bearing on those aspects.

I personally let caliber be my primary concern especially since SD ammo in 9mm seems to be more consistent than .380 rounds.

I've shot the pm9 and g42 and neither are fun to shoot but that's not their purpose. I prefer the pm9 because of it's caliber. In a SD situation things like ergo or how the trigger breaks or what not isn't likely going to make any significant difference.

[Whatisthis?]

Glock 42 is a .380. Even with +P loads, recoil is manageable... and with standard pressure loads, forget about it. It also has an actual reset. Downside: It's a .380.

CM9 has a long trigger pull (not bad by any means though) BUT you have let that sucker all the way back out. For me, someone who shoots lots of Glocks, a nice short trigger reset is something I am used to. So, I don't want to carry a gun without a reset and short stroke the trigger in time of stress.

Just my thoughts. Both are plenty good, though.

[mrblah]

I'm in the market for my first pistol for EDC, and somehow the G42 is luring me like an apple product. But I want to throw others into the mix as well. Main criteria is size, not caliber. So as a disclaimer, let this discussion not be about 9mm vs 380acp. The kahr cm9 looks to be nearly identical on size and I hear good things about them too. For anyone who's shot both, what can you tell me? Accuracy, ease upon follow up shots, overall feel of shooting both.. I'm traditionally a wood and steel kind of guy so compact , light and polymer are new things to me.

Thanks.

the glock g42 is a gun that is big enough to shoot comfortable, yet small enough to pocket. Its bigger than its rivals though, which is a turn off to many. It shoots, points, and feels like a glock which is a very good reason to own one. So if you want a shootable pocket gun in 380, that is pocketable then I'd buy this. If concealability is your main factor in looking at pocket guns, then I'd consider other choices (LCP). Also, the g42 is a hot item right now, and are marked up accordingly.

Kahr pm9/cm9. Same size as a glock g42, but it is heavier due to the kahr being in 9mm, so you will feel the weight in your pocket. It can take 6,7,8 rd magazines. Shooting it is snappy to say the least b/c of how small it is for a 9mm. It also has a revolver like trigger that takes some getting use to (which I never did). It does require a breakin period (although mine didn't). I will never sell my kahr. To me, it has the perfect form factor for a pocket 9mm (although not the easiest to shoot). I carry this 99 percent of the time. Availability is hard to come by. Its popular enough to where its hard to come by, but not so popular you will get priced gouged.

sig p938/p238. You should consider these since you a steel/wood kind of guy. I own the p938, and it would be my number one choice except that I don't like hammers and safeties to get snagged on nor do I like carry cocked in locked in my pocket. It has a very good trigger pull, its well balanced, very accurate, and its no bigger than the kahr pm9. Huge con is the price, but I see them available in most gun shops.

Ruger LCP gen 2: You should also consider this, if you want the ultimate form factor, and willing to sacrifice shootability to get it. Its small, lightweight, reliable, and inexpensive. However, its a devil to shoot mainly because its so small (I can only get 1 and 1/2 fingers on it), lightweight with crappy sights. My gen 2 has a updated trigger and sights. The trigger is a lot better than gen 1 but the sights are still craptastic. I will never sell this gun either because this is the only gun I can hide in my gym shorts (i'm not kidding).
Btw, the ruger is also by far the most inexpensive gun of the guns mentioned above.

So bottomline for me is:
If you want a shootable pocket gun in 380: glock g42

If you want one of the most concealable guns available in 9mm: kahr pm9/cm9

If you want to hide a gun that you can hide in your underwear/gym shorts: LCP

If you want steel and wood: sig p238/p938.


good luck, and YMMV

[IVC]

CM9 has a long trigger pull (not bad by any means though) BUT you have let that sucker all the way back out.

That's a design/philosophy issue.

Glocks require holsters that cover the trigger and do best in service rigs down to IWB holsters. I'm not aware of people pocket-carrying Glocks.

Kahrs are suitable for pocket carry, partially because of the safety of the long trigger. Given how pocket holsters operate, I would say that pocket-drawing a Glock is a much more delicate exercise than pocket-drawing a Kahr.

[KrisDSA]

Man up and get a XDS.. JK

Not a fan of the Kahr 9mm stuff but I do like my P380. If I had to do it over again I would get a Glock 42

[RollingCode3]

I have shot both. Both are reliable. I can shoot glock at longer distance and much faster than the kahr cm9. Glock 42 has less recoil and better trigger.

[Masterdebater]

Owned a CM9 and carried it for about 2 months, gun is beautiful and Carries well but it or, mine should I say, was a pos. Didn't care for the stiff slide movement, very heavy to rack. PAIN IN THE FREAKING ARSE to disassemble but like I said could have been just mine. Didn't care for the slide rails being 95% plastic and have read and seen pics of severe damage from slide gouging the plastic rails destroying function. Better choices out there such as the sig

[shinbone]

Some really awesome responses!

@mrblah - that was a very awesome and appreciated response. Thank you, it's what I needed.

@tnlrat- I'm in Antioch, so it's a ways. But I appreciate the offer greatly.

I understand in the heat of the moment that how a gun shoots is secondary to protecting yourself, but carrying a gun you're not completely comfortable with isn't a good idea in my eyes. After all, if one were to draw his or her weapon, all the training one goes through is what saves his/her hide. And training round after round with a gun I'm not comfy with and reliably connect to the target with isn't a good idea. I'd rather shoot a smaller caliber that I feel comfy with and don't mind carrying due to lighter weight than a larger snappier caliber that is dead weight to carry every day without fail.

Sounds like I have to try kahr's special trigger. I know how a glock trigger feels so if the g42 is the same, maybe I can just get by with trying out a cm9 to draw a conclusion.


Anyways thanks everyone. Calguns community is awesome