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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Jamisjockey on October 15, 2017, 07:40:47 PM

Title: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 15, 2017, 07:40:47 PM
Opinions on Kahr?  I shot the CT9 today and was surprised
Thoughts?
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: mtnbkr on October 15, 2017, 07:47:52 PM
To quote a phrase: Get a Glock.  I bought a used Kahr K9 (all steel gun) that I had thoroughly vetted before buying (including shooting in multiple occasions).  It developed a nasty jam that Kahr couldn't even resolve after multiple trips to the factory (at my expense) and multiple replaced parts.  They eventually replaced the gun, which I sold unfired.  The used Glock 19 I now own has never jammed even after 1k rounds through it since I purchased it.

The CT9 is very similar to the Glock 43.  You might give that a look if you're shopping for a singlestack 9mm.

I resisted Glocks for years because they're ugly and ubiquitous, but the damn things do shoot and are reliable. 

Chris
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: HankB on October 15, 2017, 08:06:59 PM
I had a Kahr P9 for a while, which went back to the factory several times. It had problems with premature slide lock, failure to chamber, failure to lock the slide back, trigger pin walkout, and failure of the trigger to actuate the striker.

In my case, Kahr DID pay shipping both ways every time it went back and ultimately replaced the gun, but I traded the replacement - unfired - for a Glock 26. The G26 isn't as nice a package, but it has the virtue of actually WORKING no matter how I shoot it - upright, sideways, upside down, limp wrist with loose grip - it just plain WORKS.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: T.O.M. on October 15, 2017, 09:02:23 PM
I had an all steel Kahr E9 a few years back.  I loved the size of the pistol, and the grip fit my hand well.  Could have been a keeper...except it had a nasty habit of not going into battery.  Tried new springs, tried several different types of ammo, even tried polishing the chamber.  Nope, about once a range session.  Traded it away.  Wish my SIG P225A1 was closer in size to the Kahr, but my SIG works every time...
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: bedlamite on October 15, 2017, 09:31:21 PM
I've got a CW40 that's been great. I've had it maybe 7-8 years and use a Crossbreed holster.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 15, 2017, 10:02:27 PM
Reliability is an issue of concern...
This would be the wife's gun.  Looking for something around that size.4" bbl single stacked 9 would be ideal.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jim147 on October 15, 2017, 10:09:07 PM
Check out the XD-S 4 with 8 round mag. The blocks are good just don't feel good to me.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: lee n. field on October 15, 2017, 10:20:41 PM
Ditto on the XDS.  Available in 4", but you see the 3.3" much more.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Perd Hapley on October 15, 2017, 10:35:32 PM
Also an XDs fan, but I'm sure the Glock 43 is a good choice, too. The Shield seems to be everyone's favorite gun of that size/caliber/capacity. My only problem with the Springfield (aside from their political misstep) is that I never see holsters for them locally.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on October 15, 2017, 10:36:37 PM
Based on side by side of the XDS .45 and the Shield .45, both are good but (and this pains me so much to admit) the Shield has the softer recoil.

Mind you, I never abused the Shield like I did the XDS, but everything I've heard about the S&W polymer striker fires leads me to think they are just as reliable.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Hawkmoon on October 15, 2017, 10:56:18 PM
Reliability is an issue of concern...
This would be the wife's gun.  Looking for something around that size.4" bbl single stacked 9 would be ideal.


CZ-75 Compact for the win.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: MillCreek on October 15, 2017, 11:23:50 PM
I am waiting to actually lay eyes upon the new Shield 2.0, which I understand will be out in a few weeks.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: French G. on October 15, 2017, 11:49:23 PM
Reliability is an issue of concern...
This would be the wife's gun.  Looking for something around that size.4" bbl single stacked 9 would be ideal.


Find something she likes and will shoot. Smaller Sig's, Glock single stacks, STI or better in 9mm, or maybe a wheel? Skip the kahr. I daily carried a MK40 for several years that I made reliable, and it took work.

  The K40 never was reliable, had to go back to the factory because incorrect barrel lockup was threatening to make it a blowback compact .40. I got it back, screwed with the slide stop until it got reliable enough for me to sell with a clean concious and that was it for me and kahr. My experience is that some issue with the slide stop in mid recoil cycle is an achilles heel, having seen several generations with several different slide stop spring designs makes me think they were trying to fix it. The barrel thing was egregious. I would like it to old para ordnance where you could get a really cool gun that fit a niche like no other, but if you got the gun that Bill built on Tuesday when he was mad at his wife, you were hosed. I used to shoot with a para factory shooter, they wouldn't disagree. So, skip the kahr.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Andiron on October 15, 2017, 11:58:20 PM
Briefly owned a CW9.  Traded it after a couple of range sessions,  didn't like how it shot and the random jam got old.  Put less than 300 rnds through it,  so I wouldn't call that a thorough test.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Fly320s on October 16, 2017, 06:18:30 AM
I had a Kahr E9 years ago.  I liked it.  Mine shot well and ran well, but I didn't like the trigger.  The trigger is long and spongy which made quick shots more difficult.  I wouldn't take it off the list just yet, but I think there are better options available.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 16, 2017, 08:16:15 AM
She already has a shield.  It's a fine gun but she doesn't like shooting it.  We might stray into compact double stack territory as well. 
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 08:29:36 AM
Don't you know that the wimminz are always supposed to have revolvers because they're not strong enough to rack the slide?
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: wmenorr67 on October 16, 2017, 09:08:43 AM
Buy her more shoes and she will forget about a gun.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 16, 2017, 09:21:05 AM
Don't you know that the wimminz are always supposed to have revolvers because they're not strong enough to rack the slide?

I *expletive deleted*it you not the Kahr guy was all like "this one is very popular with the ladies" as he shows me their smallest 380 with laser.
This was after I'd spent about 5 minutes playing with the 4" 9mm's they had.  I may have said "My wife's used to handling bigger things then that"....  :angel:
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Fly320s on October 16, 2017, 09:27:08 AM
We might stray into compact double stack territory as well. 

I prefer the M&P over the Xd, but either would probably work for her.  The Sig 320 is pretty good, too, but I've never tried their compact size. 
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: dogmush on October 16, 2017, 09:27:54 AM
My wife really likes her PPS, FWIW.

The EMP 4" is one of the slickest singlestack 9s I've sen in a while.

I have an XDS, but have been unable to fall in love with it. It works, but I'm just meh on it.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 09:28:52 AM
"My wife's used to handling bigger things then that"

You make a terrible liar.... :rofl:


I really liked the Kahr K9 I had. It was an early one with the tight chamber, which gave me problems with handloads, but for me it was reliable with factory ammo, accurate, easy to shoot, and fit my hand really well.

I decided to pare back on the number of 9mms I had after I bought my P7, and decided that the K9 would go. So I sold it to Mtnbkr, and that's when it went to *expletive deleted*it. Started jamming regularly for him with factory ammo.

I felt really bad about it, but as he pointed out, he had shot it quite a few times, and I had even loaned it to him several times to shoot when I wasn't there, so he wasn't upset it me. As he noted below, several trips back to Kahr didn't solve the issue. I'm still baffled over that one.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: MechAg94 on October 16, 2017, 09:35:25 AM
My wife really likes her PPS, FWIW.

The EMP 4" is one of the slickest singlestack 9s I've sen in a while.

I have an XDS, but have been unable to fall in love with it. It works, but I'm just meh on it.
I know someone with an EMP 4".  I have shot it and can say I agree.  It is a slick little gun that is fun and easy to shoot.  If the cost didn't stop me, I would have one.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: MechAg94 on October 16, 2017, 09:48:47 AM
I used to have a Kahr P9.  It worked okay, but I was never fully satisfied with the reliability.  It would work fine if it was clean.  If I shot it one weekend then left it uncleaned, the next weekend it would have issues if I shot it dirty.  Other guns will take abuse better IMO.  I use better oils and probably clean them better now also.

Other foibles:  Sometimes when loading it off a full mag, it would hang up on feeding.  That never happened during firing but it still bugged me.  Also, sometimes if you pulled the slide back a little too hard, it would jam open.  I think this was due to plastic slide rails on the frame.  I think the newer models don't have that issue, but I am not sure. 

On the plus side, it was very light and slim and accurate despite being a small pistol. 
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: cordex on October 16, 2017, 09:53:35 AM
"My wife's used to handling bigger things then that"

You make a terrible liar.... :rofl:
He's not lying.  He was referring to his 4" 9mm.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Sawdust on October 16, 2017, 10:14:34 AM
I've carried a PM9 daily for the last 11 years.

It took a few tries to settle on ammo that would reliably feed, but that is the only problem that I had with it.

Goes bang clean, or dirty.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 10:22:01 AM
He's not lying.  He was referring to his 4" 9mm.

I thought he had a 2" snub...
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 10:23:31 AM
"Goes bang clean, or dirty."

Wait, your gun, or Jason?

If the former, good!

If the latter, oh God I'm going to be sick thinking about that.  [barf]

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: cordex on October 16, 2017, 11:11:06 AM
I thought he had a 2" snub...
It is completely respectable ... proportionately speaking.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Jamisjockey on October 16, 2017, 11:23:09 AM
I prefer the M&P over the Xd, but either would probably work for her.  The Sig 320 is pretty good, too, but I've never tried their compact size. 

I've got the M&P 45c and it's a fantastic gun. 


It's a shame hearing the problems with the Kahr.  I thought it might be a really good option for her to consider.

Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 12:19:36 PM
Does she definitely want polymer?

If she's OK with steel, then I still recommend the S&W 3913, one of the best semi-autos the company has ever made.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: mtnbkr on October 16, 2017, 12:27:38 PM
then I still recommend the S&W 3913, one of the best semi-autos the company has ever made.

Is S&W still supporting those?  I thought I read the other day they had stopped. 

Chris
Title: Re:
Post by: K Frame on October 16, 2017, 02:44:57 PM
Don't know. Would hope not but wouldn't be surprised.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: MechAg94 on October 16, 2017, 02:45:58 PM
Looking at a price or two for the CT9 on the internet, that is pretty cheap.  The only guns I have heard of in that range lately are the Shield, Canik pistols, and maybe Rugers.  If you are willing to go up to $500, there are probably a dozen or more single stack 9mm pistols out there.  

Speaking for the one Canik I have, they are great pistols if they fit what you are looking for.  They have a compact version (15 round mag) also.  Or just get her a Glock 19 or CZ P10.  The CZ 75 Compact or P01 is also a good choice.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: BlueStarLizzard on October 16, 2017, 03:16:11 PM
I *expletive deleted*it you not the Kahr guy was all like "this one is very popular with the ladies" as he shows me their smallest 380 with laser.

Actually, I think part of my distaste for the brand is based on the fact that they do seem rather popular with the sisterhood of the traveling holster set.
That, Bersa and, nowadays, SCCY.
When that crowd is the majority of singing the praises of a particular brand or pistol, I generally assume it's crap unless someone I respect can convince me otherwise.

Admittedly, I've seen some reviews of the SCCYs that seem to put them in the same category as Hi Point (crap that actually works) but I still don't see the appeal of a plastic handgun that looks like some cheap *expletive deleted*it from Toys'R'Us.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Brad Johnson on October 16, 2017, 04:04:28 PM
Might also take a look at the Ruger LC9. I've heard a couple folks mention liking them. IIRC there's something about chamfering the firing pin hole to keep from shaving bits of brass off case rims. Other than that the only thing I can think of is some folks removing the mag safety interlock. Other than that it seems to be a decent gun though, admittedly, I've never personally fired one.

Brad
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: Perd Hapley on October 16, 2017, 06:57:36 PM
Might also take a look at the Ruger LC9. I've heard a couple folks mention liking them. IIRC there's something about chamfering the firing pin hole to keep from shaving bits of brass off case rims. Other than that the only thing I can think of is some folks removing the mag safety interlock. Other than that it seems to be a decent gun though, admittedly, I've never personally fired one.

Brad


I believe that one has two different generations.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: lee n. field on October 16, 2017, 09:00:58 PM

I believe that one has two different generations.

The original, a Kel Tec PF9 clone but with manual safety and magazine disconnect.  No longer listed on Ruger's website.

The LC9s, looks the same, but is a striker fired gun.

LC9s "Pro", the LC9s, without manual safety and magazine disconnect.
Title: Re: Kahr pistols
Post by: lee n. field on October 17, 2017, 02:20:09 PM
Might also take a look at the Ruger LC9. I've heard a couple folks mention liking them. IIRC there's something about chamfering the firing pin hole to keep from shaving bits of brass off case rims. Other than that the only thing I can think of is some folks removing the mag safety interlock. Other than that it seems to be a decent gun though, admittedly, I've never personally fired one.

Brad

I hadn't heard about that for the Rugers.  This is one of the changes Kel Tec started doing with their PF9.  (I had a PF9 for a few years, that I kind of got tired of eventually.)