Had a chance to shoot my new Kahr PM9 briefly last week for the first time. I got it with factory-installed Meprolight Tru Dot night sights.
As usual, the Federal 9BP 115gr JHP (standard pressure) was the most accurate and precise of all loads tested.
In 300 rounds, there were no failures to feed, fire or extract.
The trigger is very good, IMNSHO, for a small CCW defense gun.
Like all Kahrs, it has a relatively long but smooth pull, and a correspondingly long reset, but these are not at all problematic to me in a defensive gun.
The standard magazine holds 6 rounds, and the extended floorplate mag (the gun comes with one of each) holds 7.
There were no functioning problems with the magazines.
This is also the first of four Kahrs I've owned that had the sights correctly regulated, that is, point of impact coinciing with point of aim. (Each of the others has required the rear sight to be drifted slightly left.)
Other rounds tried this first time out included only NATO surplus 124gr FMJ, Cor-Bon 124gr+P JHP, and Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJ, so it's not a very broad sampling, and I'll have to try the Federal 9BPLE 115gr +P+ JHP, Pro Load 124gr +P JHP, and Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P JHP next time.
The tested rounds were all acceptably accurate, tested at 7 yards, that is, all were in the 1 1/2" bullseye, though the Federal 9BP made "one hole groups", while the others did not.
I don't own a chronograph, so can't comment on velocities.
Fit and finish are on par with my P9, that is, just fine. The slide is the standard matte stainless steel, with an even finish and no visible tool marks.
I don't think Kahr's polymer technology is quite up to Glock's yet, and rumor has it that the same outfit that makes Ruger's polymer frames also makes Kahr's, and they do look to be similar. Nonetheless, the frame has no defects, and hasn't broken, warped or changed fit in my brief exposure to it, and it makes the little dingus VERY lightweight to carry.
Compared to my Kahr MK9, it seems MUCH lighter in a pocket holster (Null and Action-Direct tried) or ankle rig (Null and Renegade tried), and even holding 7 rounds of 115gr 9mm JHP, it's lighter in the hand and in the pocket than my S&W J-frame Centennial 642 loaded with five rounds of Federal 158gr LSWCHP.
I like it.
Kahr is obviously having some QC problems lately, judging by my own experience* and that of others as posted on several gun-related Internet BBs, so take a critical look at gun fit and finish before you accept delivery on one of these little Moonie guns, but this particular model certainly fills a CCW niche for a lightweight "full power" (i.e, non-mousegun caliber) pistol well.
Best.
* I've sent a NIB Kahr MK9 Elite98 back to Kahr TWICE so far, for problems including stripped grip screw holes, ill-fitting grips, and a poor trigger, and each time I've had difficulty contacting Kahr and receiving the gun back in a reasonable time frame. I'm still waiting, currently at one month after the more recent send-back, two months the first time.
Nobody at Kahr will answer emails, and I've sent them to the "higher-ups" in the company as well as to the proletariat.
Long distance phone calls at my expense (six so far) result in being put on "hold" interminably, and often speaking to someone who eventually proves that they can't help, and who obviously speaks English as a second language (mentioned because they had difficulty understanding and communicating), as well as being told that "no one else was available" to help, and even when a return call from someone who CAN help is requested, I've only actually gotten a single call-back, with resultant promises but (so far) no results.
Kahr owes me (and every customer) better service in dealing with a repair-replacement issue for a gun with a MSRP of nearly $700!
They need to get their quality control and personnel problems fixed PRONTO if they expect to remain viable in today's marketplace, instead of adopting the "ignore 'em and they'll go away" approach.
Why have email contact information available if you won't respond to customers?
Why advertise a "lifetime warranty" if it takes multiple efforts and prolonged wait times on the part of customers to receive proper and satisfactory service?
Guess I'll add this missive, FWIW, to the long list of emails I've already sent to Kahr, and will be posting it on several other BBs as well. Any followup I get will be posted, as well.
As usual, the Federal 9BP 115gr JHP (standard pressure) was the most accurate and precise of all loads tested.
In 300 rounds, there were no failures to feed, fire or extract.
The trigger is very good, IMNSHO, for a small CCW defense gun.
Like all Kahrs, it has a relatively long but smooth pull, and a correspondingly long reset, but these are not at all problematic to me in a defensive gun.
The standard magazine holds 6 rounds, and the extended floorplate mag (the gun comes with one of each) holds 7.
There were no functioning problems with the magazines.
This is also the first of four Kahrs I've owned that had the sights correctly regulated, that is, point of impact coinciing with point of aim. (Each of the others has required the rear sight to be drifted slightly left.)
Other rounds tried this first time out included only NATO surplus 124gr FMJ, Cor-Bon 124gr+P JHP, and Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJ, so it's not a very broad sampling, and I'll have to try the Federal 9BPLE 115gr +P+ JHP, Pro Load 124gr +P JHP, and Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P JHP next time.
The tested rounds were all acceptably accurate, tested at 7 yards, that is, all were in the 1 1/2" bullseye, though the Federal 9BP made "one hole groups", while the others did not.
I don't own a chronograph, so can't comment on velocities.
Fit and finish are on par with my P9, that is, just fine. The slide is the standard matte stainless steel, with an even finish and no visible tool marks.
I don't think Kahr's polymer technology is quite up to Glock's yet, and rumor has it that the same outfit that makes Ruger's polymer frames also makes Kahr's, and they do look to be similar. Nonetheless, the frame has no defects, and hasn't broken, warped or changed fit in my brief exposure to it, and it makes the little dingus VERY lightweight to carry.
Compared to my Kahr MK9, it seems MUCH lighter in a pocket holster (Null and Action-Direct tried) or ankle rig (Null and Renegade tried), and even holding 7 rounds of 115gr 9mm JHP, it's lighter in the hand and in the pocket than my S&W J-frame Centennial 642 loaded with five rounds of Federal 158gr LSWCHP.
I like it.
Kahr is obviously having some QC problems lately, judging by my own experience* and that of others as posted on several gun-related Internet BBs, so take a critical look at gun fit and finish before you accept delivery on one of these little Moonie guns, but this particular model certainly fills a CCW niche for a lightweight "full power" (i.e, non-mousegun caliber) pistol well.
Best.
* I've sent a NIB Kahr MK9 Elite98 back to Kahr TWICE so far, for problems including stripped grip screw holes, ill-fitting grips, and a poor trigger, and each time I've had difficulty contacting Kahr and receiving the gun back in a reasonable time frame. I'm still waiting, currently at one month after the more recent send-back, two months the first time.
Nobody at Kahr will answer emails, and I've sent them to the "higher-ups" in the company as well as to the proletariat.
Long distance phone calls at my expense (six so far) result in being put on "hold" interminably, and often speaking to someone who eventually proves that they can't help, and who obviously speaks English as a second language (mentioned because they had difficulty understanding and communicating), as well as being told that "no one else was available" to help, and even when a return call from someone who CAN help is requested, I've only actually gotten a single call-back, with resultant promises but (so far) no results.
Kahr owes me (and every customer) better service in dealing with a repair-replacement issue for a gun with a MSRP of nearly $700!
They need to get their quality control and personnel problems fixed PRONTO if they expect to remain viable in today's marketplace, instead of adopting the "ignore 'em and they'll go away" approach.
Why have email contact information available if you won't respond to customers?
Why advertise a "lifetime warranty" if it takes multiple efforts and prolonged wait times on the part of customers to receive proper and satisfactory service?
Guess I'll add this missive, FWIW, to the long list of emails I've already sent to Kahr, and will be posting it on several other BBs as well. Any followup I get will be posted, as well.
