Kahr PM series

Van55 · June 12, 2009, 02:28 PM

Having read quite a few posts on various boards, I am wondering what percentage of Kahr PM owners have experienced reliability issues. Please answer the poll ONLY if you have actual experience as an owner of a Kahr PM semiauto.

hdawson228 · June 12, 2009, 02:35 PM

I can't speak to the PM series, but my CW9 has been perfect and is so concealable and comfortable.

Niner4Tango · June 12, 2009, 02:52 PM

I traded for a used PM 9. It had failure to feed problems and failure to return to battery. Sent it back to the factory, they put a new recoil spring in, and it is just fine now.

Edit to add: Did it require factory help? No, it just needed a new spring. If the problems show up again, I'll ask them to send me a spring and put it in myself before shipping it back.

Ben · June 12, 2009, 02:53 PM

I'm sure you'll come across mine if you do a search, but I'm glad I sent it back. It's an EXCELLENT gun now.

Ben

TimNelson · June 12, 2009, 03:59 PM

Never any problems at all even through the break in period

hoytinak · June 12, 2009, 04:03 PM

You for got the "had to send it back to the factory 3 times for FTF's and it still didn't feed right so you cut it up into 100 little pieces and tossed it in the trash" option.......Granted it was an early one and I've heard they've gotten better but after that experience I won't try another one.

tblt44 · June 12, 2009, 04:28 PM

My Cw9 has been perfect
This is my most accurate handgun and 100 % reliable

midiwall · June 12, 2009, 05:30 PM

I have a PM9 that has just been awesome after break-in. Highly Recommend.

2cooltoolz · June 12, 2009, 05:30 PM

I bought a PM9 about a year ago. Had 5 FTFs in the first 500 rounds and has been perfect ever since. I don't count rounds in it anymore, but I think I'm probably in the 16-17 hundred range now.
Everyday pocket carry.

Edit: I just went back and read my initial range report on my Kahr. I had forgotten about the FTE in the first mag! That's 4 FTFs and 1 FTE total. I posted this review on 6/14/09. I was pretty close above when I said about a year ago!

My range report a year ago

comn-cents · June 12, 2009, 05:43 PM

PM9, CW9 & K9 all almost perfect. The slide stop on the k broke and I got a new one and it was perfect after that. It was one of the first runs of them.

Lou22 · June 12, 2009, 08:30 PM

I'm 50-50 - my PM9 was fine after break-in. The PM45 required one trip back to Kahr to fix feeding problems.

Lou

RonC · June 12, 2009, 11:01 PM

I have an MK9, all metal and the PM9 for a year. Neither have had a single problem. Recoil is a little snappy on the PM9, but not bad for such a light gun.

Ron

randyc74 · June 12, 2009, 11:16 PM

I have a PM45 and it's been a great little gun. I'm considering a PM9 next.

Randy

WVleo · June 13, 2009, 05:38 AM

Hi, Have had a Kahr PM9 since January 09 and I have not had any issues with it . Over 1,000 rounds down the pipe . Carried daily.......WVleo

CDW4ME · June 13, 2009, 06:47 AM

I voted choice 3, but I could have voted in each choice

-PM9: no trouble
-PM40: sent back to factory after break-in; factory corrected problem and it's worked fine since. Magazine catch spring was getting weak lately, but they just sent me another one, no charge.
-PM45: this one had 4 failures to feed with one particular ammo during the first box, but after further break-in shooting zero problems with the same ammo. Since Kahr advises a 200 round break in and the pistol had less than that when the problem happened I count it as reliable.

Yes, you could purchase a PM series and have an issue, but IME the factory will fix the issue and you will have a great pistol that fills a concealment nitch; I can pocket carry the PM Kahr 9 or 40, not so with Glock 26/27 (not basking Glock, I luv em, but they are thicker).

sholling · June 13, 2009, 10:00 AM

My PM40 needed a trip to the factory over a feeding issue but has been perfect ever since. Since the little thing is at the bleeding edge of how small it's possible to make an accurate and reliable 40S&W it seems reasonable that some percentage would need tweaking.

fairview mick · June 13, 2009, 02:45 PM

I had a PM9. Worst trigger I've ever had on a "Quality" gun. Sold it immediately.
Mickey

verdun59 · June 13, 2009, 03:51 PM

I've had a PM9 since they first came out. Zero problems, a nice gun, nice size, and I think well made.

Amurr · June 13, 2009, 04:20 PM

This poll jus made it a fact that I will never own a Kahr.....

like 35% needed a gunsmith

HKFan9 · June 13, 2009, 07:50 PM

This pole didn't really prove anything, and I'd bet my money on that most people who had issues with their's had them in earlier runs of the gun. I've owned/own a firearm from almost every major manufacture, H&K, Sig, Glock, Kahr, S&W, Walther ect. My PM-9 has replaced them ALL, for year round carry. If you do a little search most problems I read about on the forum were with the ealier runs of the PM series, especially the .40. I think people are just jealous their beloved HK, Glock S&W, whatever, hasn't come out with small single stack auto's that are as nice as Kahrs. My PM-9 is built as nice if not nicer than my HK, and runs just as reliable as my Glock. If you want to group off them into the bad I really feel sorry for you or anyone doing the same because I feel they are great guns who may or may not had to work some kinks out in the beginning.

My PM-9 has never experienced any issue no matter what I feed through it, I even mixed magazines with WWB round nose, PMC flatnose, and Speed Gold Dot hollow points and still couldn't get it to jam or misfeed or FTE.

brewster · June 13, 2009, 08:24 PM

My PM9 has been perfect! I am very happy with it.

2cooltoolz · June 14, 2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

This poll jus made it a fact that I will never own a Kahr.....

like 35% needed a gunsmith

You know, that's fine with me and as it should be. The thing with polls is, a lot of people drop in to vote their internet informed opinions. I've done it, too. And you shouldn't carry what you don't trust, for whatever reason.
I'm not trying to sell Kahrs here. I don't care, really. But you might notice that most of the people who actually wrote something were generally positive. Usually, the people who feel like they got taken are the first to step up and tell you about it.
I consider myself to be a SIG guy. But I've owned three Kahrs; two MK9s and a PM9 and I carry the PM9 everyday.
If SIG made a 9X19mm the size of the PM9, I would carry a SIG. But it comes down to having a gun that you trust to do the job, that you will actually carry with you EVERY time you walk out the door.
Right now, for me, that's the PM9. In my pocket tonight through dinner with the family, rental movie with the wife ("Gran Torino" 2 thumbs up!) and now with you guys, then out for my dogs' midnite last chance walk.

Playboypenguin · June 14, 2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

The thing with polls is, a lot of people drop in to vote their internet informed opinions

Yes, you can rest assured that at least 3/4 of the people that voted their Kahr needed a gunsmith have never even owned a Kahr...or ever even met a gunsmith. It is just fun for them to say negative things about guns they do not own. You see that a lot with every gun brand.

I personally am very picky about what guns I own and have a very high standard for quality and performance. I am no expert when it comes to guns, but I am fairly knowledgeable and have a fair amount of experience.

I did a lot of research awhile back before buying my first polymer Kahr. I had heard some negative things and wanted to see what I could find. What I found was a bunch of people repeating a small number of stories over and over and even more people saying stuff that just wasn't true. I also found that the vast majority of people who actually owned them were thrilled with them so I bought my first one...which was a CW9. I like it so much I bought a PM9 shortly afterwards and it has become my primary carry. It is so light, thin, and easy to carry that it disappears under the lightest summer shirts. It has even pushed my Rohrbaugh out of my carry line up.

One word of caution I would give about polymer kahrs is that there does seem to be credible evidence that the .45acp pistols have some issues...but it also seems that Kahr stands behind the ones that have issues and repairs them quickly and properly. Still, I have avoided the .45acp PM series guns just to be safe. I find the PM40 to be more than powerful enough anyway and the PM9 is quite acceptable with +p ammo.

Playboypenguin · June 14, 2009, 01:43 AM

Kahr CW9 Range Report

Kahr PM9 Range Report

Kahr PM/Rohrbaugh Comparison

DoctorXring · June 14, 2009, 09:28 PM

My Kahr P40 Covert --

Very smooth, accurate, and controllable pistol. I've had MANY pistols.
This one is top dog for concealed carry. And this chihuahua has some
strong teeth, but doesn't bite the hand that feeds it. Wonderful pistol !

View Poll Results: I own a Kahr PM Series and....
I've never had a problem with it	46	62.16%
I have had reliability issues that worked out at break-in	10	13.51%
I have had issues that required gunsmith/factory help	18	24.32%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

June 12, 2009, 02:28 PM	#1
Van55 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2008 Posts: 392	Kahr PM series Having read quite a few posts on various boards, I am wondering what percentage of Kahr PM owners have experienced reliability issues. Please answer the poll ONLY if you have actual experience as an owner of a Kahr PM semiauto.

June 12, 2009, 05:30 PM	#8
midiwall Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2009 Location: Seattleish, WA Posts: 169	I have a PM9 that has just been awesome after break-in. Highly Recommend. __________________ :: Mark

June 12, 2009, 05:30 PM	#9
2cooltoolz Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2007 Location: Lake Conroe, Texas Posts: 1,059	I bought a PM9 about a year ago. Had 5 FTFs in the first 500 rounds and has been perfect ever since. I don't count rounds in it anymore, but I think I'm probably in the 16-17 hundred range now. Everyday pocket carry. Edit: I just went back and read my initial range report on my Kahr. I had forgotten about the FTE in the first mag! That's 4 FTFs and 1 FTE total. I posted this review on 6/14/09. I was pretty close above when I said about a year ago! My range report a year ago __________________ What me worry Last edited by 2cooltoolz; June 14, 2009 at 12:15 AM.

June 12, 2009, 05:43 PM	#10
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,804	PM9, CW9 & K9 all almost perfect. The slide stop on the k broke and I got a new one and it was perfect after that. It was one of the first runs of them. __________________ Be Smarter Than A Bore-Snake!

June 12, 2009, 02:35 PM	#2
hdawson228 Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2006 Posts: 1,301	I can't speak to the PM series, but my CW9 has been perfect and is so concealable and comfortable.

June 12, 2009, 02:52 PM	#3
Niner4Tango Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 287	I traded for a used PM 9. It had failure to feed problems and failure to return to battery. Sent it back to the factory, they put a new recoil spring in, and it is just fine now. Edit to add: Did it require factory help? No, it just needed a new spring. If the problems show up again, I'll ask them to send me a spring and put it in myself before shipping it back.

June 12, 2009, 02:53 PM	#4
Ben Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,633	I'm sure you'll come across mine if you do a search, but I'm glad I sent it back. It's an EXCELLENT gun now. Ben

June 12, 2009, 03:59 PM	#5
TimNelson Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2008 Posts: 304	Never any problems at all even through the break in period

June 12, 2009, 04:03 PM	#6
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	You for got the "had to send it back to the factory 3 times for FTF's and it still didn't feed right so you cut it up into 100 little pieces and tossed it in the trash" option.......Granted it was an early one and I've heard they've gotten better but after that experience I won't try another one.

June 12, 2009, 04:28 PM	#7
tblt44 Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2009 Posts: 164	My Cw9 has been perfect This is my most accurate handgun and 100 % reliable

June 12, 2009, 08:30 PM	#11
Lou22 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: Oakland County, Michigan Posts: 349	I'm 50-50 - my PM9 was fine after break-in. The PM45 required one trip back to Kahr to fix feeding problems. Lou __________________ The Oath of the "Right-wing Extremist": I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation under God, indivisible,with liberty and justice for all.

June 12, 2009, 11:01 PM	#12
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 226	I have an MK9, all metal and the PM9 for a year. Neither have had a single problem. Recoil is a little snappy on the PM9, but not bad for such a light gun. Ron

June 12, 2009, 11:16 PM	#13
randyc74 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2008 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 101	I have a PM45 and it's been a great little gun. I'm considering a PM9 next. Randy __________________ Bulldog Custom Gun Leather www.bulldogleathercompany.com Visit Me On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bulldo...2539637?ref=hl

June 13, 2009, 05:38 AM	#14
WVleo Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2007 Posts: 127	Kahr PM9 Hi, Have had a Kahr PM9 since January 09 and I have not had any issues with it . Over 1,000 rounds down the pipe . Carried daily.......WVleo

June 13, 2009, 06:47 AM	#15
CDW4ME Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 1,321	I voted choice 3, but I could have voted in each choice -PM9: no trouble -PM40: sent back to factory after break-in; factory corrected problem and it's worked fine since. Magazine catch spring was getting weak lately, but they just sent me another one, no charge. -PM45: this one had 4 failures to feed with one particular ammo during the first box, but after further break-in shooting zero problems with the same ammo. Since Kahr advises a 200 round break in and the pistol had less than that when the problem happened I count it as reliable. Yes, you could purchase a PM series and have an issue, but IME the factory will fix the issue and you will have a great pistol that fills a concealment nitch; I can pocket carry the PM Kahr 9 or 40, not so with Glock 26/27 (not basking Glock, I luv em, but they are thicker).

June 13, 2009, 10:00 AM	#16
sholling Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 1999 Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California Posts: 4,261	My PM40 needed a trip to the factory over a feeding issue but has been perfect ever since. Since the little thing is at the bleeding edge of how small it's possible to make an accurate and reliable 40S&W it seems reasonable that some percentage would need tweaking. __________________ Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation. Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.

June 13, 2009, 02:45 PM	#17
fairview mick Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2005 Location: North Olmsted Posts: 795	kahr I had a PM9. Worst trigger I've ever had on a "Quality" gun. Sold it immediately. Mickey __________________ 90% of my hard earned money went to Hot women, fast bikes and guns. THE REST I WASTED!!!!! Mickey-NRA life member

June 13, 2009, 03:51 PM	#18
verdun59 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2009 Posts: 138	I've had a PM9 since they first came out. Zero problems, a nice gun, nice size, and I think well made.

June 13, 2009, 04:20 PM	#19
Amurr Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Posts: 40	WOW!! This poll jus made it a fact that I will never own a Kahr..... like 35% needed a gunsmith

June 13, 2009, 07:50 PM	#20
HKFan9 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Posts: 3,057	This pole didn't really prove anything, and I'd bet my money on that most people who had issues with their's had them in earlier runs of the gun. I've owned/own a firearm from almost every major manufacture, H&K, Sig, Glock, Kahr, S&W, Walther ect. My PM-9 has replaced them ALL, for year round carry. If you do a little search most problems I read about on the forum were with the ealier runs of the PM series, especially the .40. I think people are just jealous their beloved HK, Glock S&W, whatever, hasn't come out with small single stack auto's that are as nice as Kahrs. My PM-9 is built as nice if not nicer than my HK, and runs just as reliable as my Glock. If you want to group off them into the bad I really feel sorry for you or anyone doing the same because I feel they are great guns who may or may not had to work some kinks out in the beginning. My PM-9 has never experienced any issue no matter what I feed through it, I even mixed magazines with WWB round nose, PMC flatnose, and Speed Gold Dot hollow points and still couldn't get it to jam or misfeed or FTE.

June 13, 2009, 08:24 PM	#21
brewster Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 15	My PM9 has been perfect! I am very happy with it.

June 14, 2009, 01:43 AM	#24
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	PS: Here are some Kahr threads I have started that may be of interest to you Kahr CW9 Range Report Kahr PM9 Range Report Kahr PM/Rohrbaugh Comparison

June 14, 2009, 09:28 PM	#25
DoctorXring Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2002 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 392	My Kahr P40 Covert -- Very smooth, accurate, and controllable pistol. I've had MANY pistols. This one is top dog for concealed carry. And this chihuahua has some strong teeth, but doesn't bite the hand that feeds it. Wonderful pistol !