pm9 still best pocket gun

[skar]

On the big buck side yet still the best pocket gun for me.
anything new out there. A friend of mine would like a small ccw gun
and I told him I think Khar is still the best. ?

[BikerRN]

The PM9 is a great pocket rocket. I carry mine 24/7.

[warmrain]

Originally posted by BikerRN
The PM9 is a great pocket rocket. I carry mine 24/7.
Ditto that BikerRN! I've got a beautiful custom MK9 Elite 98, but the PM9 is the one that's always with me.

skar,

The PM9 for me is the right mix of attributes for a pocket pistol. Things like, size (thickness esp.), weight, caliber, action (DAO), and reasonable affordability (you can still spend more or less).

Other options are: Kel-Tec (very light and inexpensive, same size and weight if you go to 9mm), Rohrbaugh R9S (small, 9mm, expensive), NAA Guardian (all SS, affordable, less caliber, very small), S&W 340 (very light, .357!, similar is size to the PM9), Colt Pocketlite 380 (same size as PM9, light, out of production but avaiable).

I have the PM9, NAA and S&W. I have not seen or handled a R9, I like the pocketlites (available DAO and SA "Pony" and Mustang"), but they are the same size and near the same weight (12.7 oz.) as the PM9 (14 oz.) and of lesser caliber.

So I keep coming back to the PM9.

[Dandapani]

Best? Depends on your criteria.

[classified00]

It's the best pocket gun ........... for me :cool:

[warmrain]

Originally posted by classified00
It's the best pocket gun ........... for me :cool:
Yup, it's like I wrote to skar, it's all about the attributes that are important to you, your priorities and what you are willing to trade for those priorities.

Weapons are like boats, planes, cars; like a lot of technologies:
They are all compromises...

Set you priorities wisely.

Be polite, stay safe!

(Edited for clarity and grammer.)

[Suburban]

Originally posted by warmrain, snipped by Suburban
Other options are: Kel-Tec (very light and inexpensive, same size and weight if you go to 9mm), Rohrbaugh R9S (small, 9mm, expensive), NAA Guardian (all SS, affordable, less caliber, very small), S&W 340 (very light, .357!, similar is size to the PM9), Colt Pocketlite 380 (same size as PM9, light, out of production but avaiable).


Skip the little Kel-Tecs. Hammer springs of the P-32 and P-3AT are made from wire that's about the same diameter as a very small paperclip. Even if the spring doesn't break, the P-3AT at least, will about beat itself to death even with standard pressure ammo.

And why would you mess with a Pocketlite 380, when the PM9 is about the same size, and a much more powerful pistol? My Dad's Pocketlite has eaten two recoil springs. Not worn out, just mangled. It's some kind of weird design flaw that has everyone baffled.

S&W 340 in .357Mag will beat you up a bit with the recoil, and ballistics are very close to the PM9 loaded up with +Ps. The little revolvers lose velocity between the cylinder and barrel, and the short barrels don't help either.

I'm very happy with the PM9, though I may try one of the little .22Mag mini-revolvers and a Guardian, just because.

YMMV though I guess.

[duncan]

It still probably is.

I love mine - not enough information on the Rohrbaugh and it's what $900.

[warmrain]

Originally posted by duncan
...It I love mine - not enough information on the Rohrbaugh and it's what $900.
Yes, about that and it has a couple features I don't like: the "Euro" style heal release for the magazine is mostly my dislike and then there is no slide lock. Trying to clear a double feed is nearly imposible without one (or 3 hands). Of course the NAA doesn't have one either, but that is one of the "give-ups" for small. The R9 is not that much smaller than the PM9.

Suburban,

I agree, esp. the pocketlite comments. Also I think you'll like the NAA Guardians alot. I'm not fond of their little revolvers though. Except the ones that fold into the handle and clip inside your pants w/o a holster make an interesting BUG. A local police force here issues them, a special run with their badge numbers as the serial number, pretty cool.

[concrete]

P9 Covert in Grandfather Oaks holster fits my pocket just fine.

[Big Bird]

Originally posted by Suburban
Skip the little Kel-Tecs. Hammer springs of the P-32 and P-3AT are made from wire that's about the same diameter as a very small paperclip. Even if the spring doesn't break, the P-3AT at least, will about beat itself to death even with standard pressure ammo.


Is this your actual experience...because I personally think my Kahr PM9 is more battered internally than any of my Kel-Tecs I own and have shot some pretty stout ammo through (both P32 and P3AT).
Have you ever looked at the size of the spring that powers the striker on a Kahr? Personally, I don't have a problem either way.

[Suburban]

Originally posted by Big Bird
Is this your actual experience...because I personally think my Kahr PM9 is more battered internally than any of my Kel-Tecs I own and have shot some pretty stout ammo through (both P32 and P3AT).
Have you ever looked at the size of the spring that powers the striker on a Kahr? Personally, I don't have a problem either way.

Yep. I had P-3AT. In less than 250 rounds of only standard pressure ammo, it disassembled itself twice while I was shooting it. First time it was the little bracket at the front of the slide that the guide rod goes through. Second time it was the hammer spring. I sold it after the 2nd time. It was pretty heavily peened where the rear of the guide rod seats, in the hole where the assembly pin goes through the barrel, and around the assembly pin hole inside the frame.

I've shot over 500 rounds through the PM9, some of which was +P, and I see no unusual wear, and I've detail stripped it. The barrel shows some wear from friction, but nothing serious. I'm not concerned with the PM9 compression springs; the KT hammer spring was constantly under tension. The hammer spring on the KT is what holds that little plastic cap onto the bottom of the grip.