Smallest 9mm for CCW?

[Dandapani]

What is the smallest 9mm suitable for CCW? Is it the Kahr?

[Metric]

The brand new Rohrbaugh is the smallest in all dimensions and also the lightest, but it is also an extremely high-quality gun with top-notch materials/workmanship and unfortunately a very high price too.

I think the Kahr is the next smallest, and it is widely available.

[Dandapani]

Ok, thanks. I searched and found this thread.

http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=242576

$900!!!! Yikes!

[AggieMax]

The Kahr PM9 is the one you are looking for. :)

[Dandapani]

How about the Springfield XD9 sub-compact!

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-sub-compact.shtml

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/xd-pistol/XD9301.jpg

[cole]

Kahr PM9 or MK9. If you are talking smallest AND most reliable, IMHO you're talking Kahr. Had an MK9. Great, great shooter. Very reliable. Surprisingly accurate. But, the mini-guns are not range guns. Just didn't carry it enough so traded it for a G17.

[SELFDEFENSE]

G19 or Steyr M9 for my smallest.

[Tito]

I don't like that Rohrbaugh. The sites look really cheesey. I love my PM9. It's a keeper.

[Michigun]

Not personally interested in the Rohrbaugh myself & the price has nothing to do with it... I don’t like its lack of real sights, its lack of (zero) sight options, its lack of a fast/easy to use mag release, its lack of a slide stop lever or its lack of being able to lock back on the last round in the mag.

[Callcthulu]

Glock 26 is allways a good choice. Get a 17rd or 15rd back up mag and you can't go wrong.

[JinLA]

Have heard good things about the new CZ RAMI. About the same size as G26.

[FThorn]

I"m thinking of picking up a Kel-Tec P-11 (today?).

Kel-Tec P-11 (http://www.kel-tec.com/prod01.htm)

[oldgranpa]

FThorn,
you will hate the long trigger pull that also hurts when you shoot it.
FWIW,
og.......been there, done that.

[Gunmeister]

Over the last couple of years I've bought and sold/traded just about every pistol mentioned in this thread with the exception of the "way too expensive" Rourbaugh and CZ Rami. I have had two Kel-Tec P11's that just didn't cut it. The first one made two trips back to the factory before I sold it. Bought another because I liked the size, etc. It too wasn't what I would call reliable traded it at a considerable loss on a Glock 33 which is a great gun but just too bulky for Florida in the summer and it now lives in the nitestand. Finally came up with a Kahr PM9---what a sweet little gun, it fits in the front pocket of all my shorts and trousers except for jeans which I seldom wear. My PM9 has well over 2K flawless rounds through her mostly Wally World WWB. I keep her stoked with 7 Cor-Bon 100gr Pow R' Ball cartridges which at 1475 fps and 483 ft/lbs, IMO is very adequate. Not to flame up the old caliber wars but anyone who thinks 9mm is whimpy just has a very big ego to satisfy. If it's adequate enough for our military and 100's of LE agencies, it's adequate enough for me.
A Kahr PM9 is a great little gun, very accurate (for what it was intended)and reliable. I would most highly recommend it to anyone who wants a small, easily concealed firearm. Mine is with me 24/7/365 at home and away.

[Climb14er]

Get the Kahr PM9 Black Diamond Kote. Beautiful CCW pistol in 9mm.

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by Climb14er
Get the Kahr PM9 Black Diamond Kote. Beautiful CCW pistol in 9mm.

Thanks for the recommendation. Can anyone decipher the Kahr alphabet soup? I just spent 30 minutes trying to figure out PM vs MK vs K vs Elite models vs ...

Is the PM vs MK only a matter of polymer vs stainless frame?

[Michigun]

Originally posted by dmobrien2001
Is the PM vs MK only a matter of polymer vs stainless frame?

Frame wise yes.

*** T Series = Steel Frame (basically an TP Series)
*** TP Series = Polymer Frame (basically an T Series)
*** P Series = Polymer Frame (basically an K Series)
*** PM Series = Polymer Frame (basically an MK Series)
*** K Series = Steel Frame (basically an P Series)
*** MK Series = Steel Frame (basically an PM Series)

With Kahr you basically have 2 main options with sub groups to each. Main option #1 are the all steel Kahrs, main option #2 are the polymer framed Kahrs.

Any 9mm gun Kahr offers in an all steel version you can also get with a polymer frame too. All the rest of the sub groups have to do with the size of the gun & options available, such as finishes, trigger types, etc, etc…

Here are all the 9mm guns Kahr has to offer:

http://www.kahr.com/pistols_9mm.html

If you’re looking to buy a PM9 with the Black Diamond Kote (matte blackened stainless steel slide with Tungsten DLC) slide you want gun PM9094A… if you want that exact same gun, but want it with the 2-tone look (stainless steel/stainless steel colored slide) you want gun PM9093A.

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by Michigun
If you’re looking to buy a PM9 with the Black Diamond Kote (matte blackened stainless steel slide with Tungsten DLC) slide you want gun PM9094A… if you want that exact same gun, but want it with the 2-tone look (stainless steel/stainless steel colored slide) you want gun PM9093A.

Thanks. Nice summary!

Now all I have to do is sell my Sig P229 with 40/357 barrels...

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by dmobrien2001
How about the Springfield XD9 sub-compact!


I really try to like this one, but it's fugly...

[SeanK]

You need to give more details about yourself... How are you going to carry, are you in a warm or cold climate, are you big or skinny, cloths tight fitting or baggy, very importantly: are you looking for a pocket gun or a carry gun, to me theirs big differences. Picking a carry or pocket gun is very individual preference type deal, what works for someone else might be the worst choice in the world for you....

As a general rule most people can hide away a glock 19-23 size gun in a small of back holster very nicely. Advantages over the MK9 would be nice range guns, shoot them all day, much easier to control, faster follow-up shoots, larger magazine capacity, better sights, more available aftermarket parts etc...

You should look at what the professionals, law enforcement, carry off duty. Most don't carry a gun openly off duty. Most police carry glock 26-29 in small of back or ankle holster is also very popular. I've never seen anything but glock auto loaders in the sheriff’s office, and to me that speaks volumes.

The Kahr MK9 is a very nice weapon but its designed as a pocket gun, its not a range piece, and I would not pound a lot of +P ammo though it either, if you looking for something to throw in your pocket while your running out the door, then the Kahrs are good choice.

[Gunmeister]

SEANK How many Kahr products do you own and how many have you shot often? I've owned Kahrs and Glocks for years, more than I care to think about. PLEASE don't tell people not to run +P ammo through a Kahr PM9, someone might believe you and it simply is not true. I have run mega thousand rounds of +P through the four Kahrs I own and have never had the first problem.
You say most people carry a G19 or 23, who are these people? The 19 and 23 are huge next to a Kahr PM or MK 9. Most gun enthusiasts are aware that the larger guns are more accurate and much more comfortable to shoot "all day". Remember the thread here is "The Smallest 9mm for CCW" You have gone off thread just a little.
I own a Glock 33 and love it, but it is like shoving a 2x4 in your waist band compared to the Kahr. So the G33 has become my night stand gun, don't get me wrong,I love Glock products and if they ever make a single stack 9mm the size of a Kahr I would be first in line to buy one.
This thread is not about massive firepower it's about The Smallest 9mm For CCW, not everyone cares to carry a huge piece especially in hot weather. I know scores of LEO's who carry firearms other from Glock while off duty. That's why NYPD bought hundreds of Kahr's to issue to their officers for off duty carry.
The PM and MK Kahr's were never intended to be range guns, my 24/7 carry gun is my PM9 and I regularly put all seven rounds in an 8" paper plate at 7 yards, that's plenty good enough for my needs. I also put a Houge Handall Jr on it which makes it much more comfortable to shoot.
Glocks and Kahrs are both great products, each has their nitch and anyone who owns and shoots both products will admit that a stock Kahr trigger action beats a stock Glock trigger action hands down. Granted my PM9 only holds 7 rounds of 9mm but if that don't do the job, I'll shove in the spare 7 round mag and if that don't do the job, I'm in deep kimshee.

[Clark]

KEL-TEC P-3AT PISTOL
Caliber:.380 AUTO
Weight unloaded:7.2 oz
Loaded magazine:2.8 oz
Length:5.2"
Height:3.5"
Width:.77"
Capacity:6+1 rounds
Trigger pull:5 lbs
http://www.kel-tec.com/images/P-3ATLeftsidesmaller.jpg

It's only a 380, you say?
But with my handloads, I can take it past 9mm +P+ loads with 115 gr JHP.
And I can carry it in my shirt pocket

[CougarRed]

I love my Kahr P9 Covert, which has the grip of the PM9, but the barrel/slide/recoil setup of the P9.

Basically, the barrel is a 0.5" longer than the PM9, which I prefer. The difference in concealment is negligible, but the longer sight plane gives me greater accuracy, and the longer barrel helps with velocity.

[ambassador]

The smallest and lightest 9mm is made by Rohrbaugh. As far as quality and reliability is concerned, I am not certain as i have had no experience with this company. see link below.
http://www.rohrbaughfirearms.com/

[incursion]

I've shot the Rohrbaugh and the PM9. The Rohrbaugh wins hands down.

[NMGlocker]

Originally posted by dmobrien2001
Thanks. Nice summary!

Now all I have to do is sell my Sig P229 with 40/357 barrels...
If you are interested in a Mk9 with black stainless slide, we can make a deal. I'm looking for a P229 .357sig.
PM or email me.

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by incursion
I've shot the Rohrbaugh and the PM9. The Rohrbaugh wins hands down.

After I started this thread and the answers came in, I ordered a Rohrbaugh (3-4 month delay) and purchased a PM9 at local gun store. So far the PM9 has been great and has proved in the "pocket carry" concept. When the Rohrbaugh comes, I'll evaluate it against the PM9 and sell one, or the other, or just keep both :)

[Tito]

Originally posted by Incursion:

I've shot the Rohrbaugh and the PM9. The Rohrbaugh wins hands down.

This summer I have relied heavily on my PM9 for front pocket carry with shorts, and also in a belt holster, on duty and off. I like it a lot. However being an open-minded-kind-of-guy, whose always trying improve my skills and equipment,I would LOVE to hear more about your Rohrbaugh!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guy Powell]

I know it's not the smallest, nor lightest of the CCW 9mm's, but if anyone's got a spare $129.00 AIM Surplus has the Stars right now for that price. I had one several years ago, and was it built to last!! VERY reliable too. Heck, if you can't hit what you're shooting at you can always just throw the empty pistol at them! That would work just about as well.
Good pistols for the asking price.

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by Tito
I would LOVE to hear more about your Rohrbaugh!!!!!!!!!!!

You can check out http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/

[Stealther]

Originally posted by dmobrien2001
You can check out http://www.rohrbaughforum.com/

Intersting forum, but hardly an unbiased group of people! :) Spend $900 on a pocket gun and you will justify it, even if you gotta look really hard! ;) I've held one of these and thought it looked decent, but not my taste and the price? ;P

I've got custom 1911s that cost quite a bit more than this that I can see the value and craftsmanship in, however I don't see it in this one. My Kahr PM9 will stay in my pocket!