Kahr Pistols: The Good, the Bad, and the Better.

[nimdae]

I'm a new Kahr owner (as of this week). I test fired different Kahr models (and other brands) before settling on a K40. So far it's been great other than some break in issues, which should work themselves out.

I have to say that Kahr's polymer moulding is terrible. The grip feels terrible and actually hurts my hand (the checking bites into my hand when firing). I own a XD40 that is quite comfortable to shoot so I'm not new to polymer guns. They, definitely, could have done better there.

[tiffmc80]

Just wondering why you swore off Kahr polymer guns?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@tiffmc80 I am not the biggest fan of polymer gun to begin with and I felt Kahr did not put enough effort into the design and production of their polymer frames.

[g1sfo]

@TheYankeeMarshal Agree Horrible QC. Mag does not drop, I have to pull mine out. One mag has constant FTF. Recoil spring is very difficult for reassembly. Not as reliable as other polymers for half the price.

[Narkcop]

Kahrs are a GREAT design but quality control is an issue that wasn't an issue in the late 90's when introduced. I carry a K-40 made in 98 and it is REALABLE. I have a CW9 of recent manufacture and so far so good. I had a CW9 that was a total POS.

[TheXJthatCould]

wood grips look nice. i dont care for the crappy black tactical look

[TheDUBBITCH]

i have a p 45 black and left it under my pillow for a weekend and it started to rust quick and the white mark on my rear sight fell off anybody else had rust problems but a great gun never fail rapid fire bump fire smooth

[alenworn]

what kind of mags are those, i know they;re Kahrs mags, but they appear to have a black spacer at the gap at the base, my PM9 mags are all steel at the base, yours appear to be black in the gap at the base on your PM40. (or maybe its just the light in the video)

[danfive555]

Great looking pistols, especially the MK and K40.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@danfive555 Thanks, those are the two I kept. I swore off Kahr polymer guns. Of course I do not like polymer guns period.

[RainmanE350]

Besides outsourcing the barell, Kahr outsources their mags and recoil spring assemblies. Kahr owners are reporting having to modify followers, squeeze mags in a vice to get them to fall freely fromn the mag well, and take a dremel to slide stops. I'm sure that somewhere between 60-90% are good out of the box. No fun when you get nosediving rounds and resultant jams.

[RainmanE350]

Based on the posting on KahrTalk.com, Quality Control is no longer a priority at Kahr.

[shrumpkin]

@RainmanE350 What a crock! Kahr is impeccably tested. I've seen the factory.

[RainmanE350]

@shrumpkin Sure you have, and I've been to Los Alamos Labs to watch them design nukes. There are dozens and dozens of posts about Kahr QC..or lack of it. Afraid to take a look?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@RainmanE350 To be fair, the same can be found about pretty much all gun manufacturers.

[JPBill2]

I don't find the mags to be any more unsightly than the mags found on a Colt 1911 A-1. The form and function is just fine.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@JPBill2 I am not sure how you make that comparison. 1911 mags fit flush and even with the magwell.

[mechanisto1832]

Hey do you still own a PM 40?? Or have you sold it yet??

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@mechanisto1832 Sold it. i have the Mk40 and the K40 now. I really prefer their all steel guns.

[brighttech16]

Other gun makers dont do that, probably because their guns would also have a lot of jams when trying to slingshot load.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@brighttech16 Why would that be?

[JPBill2]

Kahr magazines extend beyond grip to insure positive seating during a mag change. It's a positive design feature rather than a negative design flaw.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@JPBill2 There is no reason for the unsightly mags to achieve that goal. Other manufacturers manage to make mags that seat perfectly and look like they fit the gun. It is the cheap way of doing things.

[O7ROADKING]

good video.but as far as the rail system the pm9 has an upper and lower rail.the front lower rail is below the polymer frame just above the guide rod.if you look close at the lower front of the slide you will see 2 slots were the front of the slide runs on the front rail.the polymer rail in the center is there only to line up the front rail.it does not carry the slide.although it may touch it and some guns chaff off some polymer here and there.you also have a steel upper rear rail on the PM9

[carmas54]

are the slides on the MK40 and PM40 interchangeable or the lowers between the two for that matter? I have a MK40 and the lower and slide is tarnishing and pitting with rust marks. You should have that problem with the Elite

[coreyrav4]

Great video. I just subscribed to your videos. I have been torn between the pm40 and the pm9. I have heard that there has been a few issues with the pm9 and a lot more with the pm40 and that the pm45 is absolutely horrible. I am leaning toward the pm9 because I heard they are much more reliable otherwise I would prefer the bigger caliber .40 What do you think?

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@coreyrav4 all I can say is that my PM40 never failed me. Not once.

[darkhorse2reign]

@coreyrav4 - What sources are you talking about??? I've Never heard what you're claiming ... ever.

[coreyrav4]

Great video. I have just dybscr

[gozzy4u]

I have the Kahr P380. After the first three hundred rounds I began to notice that my slide was shaving off the right side of the polymer frame just above the forward rail. I've now cleared the one thousand round mark and its continued to shave the right side of the frame. Not sure if it's because I'm a right handed shooter or that I slingshot the slide forward with my left hand. But it is something to note on the Polymer frame versions. I purchased mine in early 2011.

[eric21881]

this is what i needed to see! the mk and k side by side. im trying to decide between the mk9 and the k9. i think the k9 might be worth it for extra weight(for recoil) and the extra length on the barrel and the one extra shot is always great.

the k series is really not that much bigger. how much does it melt IWB compared the mk?

[jrvalles]

Do you think the MK40 is more accurate on follow up shots than the PM40? I assume the extra half pound or so has to help with muzzle flip and recoil absorbsion but the proof is only there if you have shot them side by side, which I haven't been able to do yet. What about wear and tear on the shooting hand during practice? If it is better, is it enough of an improvment to warrant carrying an extra half pound? Aesthetically there is no contest, the MK40 with wood grips is just downright sexy.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@jrvalles The extra weight of course adds some stability but the difference is not huge. The PM40 is a harder on the hands because of the rough textured frame.

[MrMeatBullet]

Very nice review! It would have been great if you had covered the CW series it would have been complete.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@wachmisix I switched to .40s&w after getting much better hard barrier penetration in some tests I did. I usually use 180gr Hornady JHP/XTP

[ross512009]

Excellent video. You should have mentioned that the Kar CW does not have the polygonal barrel as the PM or K series have. I also would like to see a Kahr in .357 Sig option as I have quite a stock of this ammo and sadly many gun mfgs are not making .357 models any longer. How would the Kahr PM9 compare with New Kimber Solo in accuaracy? I do have a Kahr .P380 and the mag does not fall out freely had to send it back to Kahr to polish the feed ramp as it misfired after 200 shots .

[austinguy23]

As cheesy as the polymer Kahrs look, I've always liked the aesthetics of their MK line. I wish they'd offer full rails on that line (MK) though given how much they cost...

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@austinguy23 I was just saying the same thing today. I know it would add a couple ounces to the gun, but I would much prefer full rails.

[wootfortoot]

@austinguy23

well, as it is supposed to be a ccw weapon i dont see what good rails would do. many people dont like them on carry guns because it is something to get caught drawing/re-holstering and no-one would carry it with a light on it. only time i would see it being good is if somebody wanted it to be used as a home defense weapon as well...

[frodo70444]

dude the wood on steel ='s pure lust haha

[nathan00campbell]

my pm40 has a slightly shorter slide and the recoil sping assimbly is differnt. so do i have an older version or would u know

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@nathan00campbell I have no idea. I do know the made some minor changes to the PM40 shortly after it was introduced. Maybe those were the changes.

[rothschadel]

great video. Very helpful. I will definitely seriously look at a Kahr for my first ccw.  Wouldn't have considered it prior to your vid.

Great work as always!

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@rothschadel They are great guns that I think get overlooked way too often. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[MrColionNoir]

Damn, this was a good video!

[Voyeur12]

Also, the slide release lever is 2-piece, with the axis free to pivot.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@Voyeur12 Yes, I actually did a video segment about that but cut it because of length.

[esh325]

The Kahr T9 is a bit inefficent in my opinion, it's a big steel pistol that only holds 8+1. Who are they trying to appeal to with that? Kahrs are a bit pricey also. Not to say they are bad pistols though.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@esh325 The T9 stumps me a bit too. I am betting it does most people since I do not see them very often. They appear to be rare.

[TheGunfighter45acp]

Nice review. We're considering a polymer in 9mm for the wife. She wants to try AIWB carry for the summer months.

[TheYankeeMarshal]

@TheGunfighter45acp I would highly recommend a Kahr polymer for summer carry.

[argonnj]

The offset feedramp is also what allows the Kahr to be thinner. Why other makers don't do it, Kahr has a patent on it.