Thinking of trading my PM9 for an MK9

[Dobbler]

My PM9 exhibits none of the problems I've seen reported here. It has been 100% reliable since the first 50 or so rounds of the break-in period and has about 700+ rounds through it. No peening, no unusual wear on the rails, nothing wrong with it. I polished the feed ramp and exterior of the barrel just for good measure at about 500 rounds, but it was as much for asthetics as it was for performance.

My wife now has an MK9 and it's a sweet little shooter. I can't tell the difference between 147g Ranger and 124 +P Ranger out of it. [127 +P+ Ranger is a little snappy out of it though.] I like it so much and shoot it better that I'm willing to give up the weight savings and move to an all-metal Kahr. I'd like to locate an MK9-BOX and save some $$$.

Am I crazy to part with a perfectly functional PM9? Anyone know where I can find an MK9-BOX? Can I install night sights on the BOX version?

[mecenas1991]

I think it would be a good move. You can install the night sights on the BOX model. They really are the same as MK9 except that they have a non-stainless slide finished in black oxide (thus the name BOX) and often come new with just one magazine - unlike the regular Mk9 that comes with two. I have seen, however BOX model sold with two magazines. Gunbroker or Gunsamerica are probably your best bet.
I have a regular older Mk9 with the factory installed X/S Big Dot night sights - and it is one of the most accurate little pistols I have ever fired.
I also have ASP, and S&W 469, and AMT 45, and Keltec and Seecamp - plus a couple of revolvers - and the MK9 is the most accurate and most pleasant shooting pistol of them all.

[seed]

If you have a good PM-9, you are lucky. I would recommend that you hold on to it and just purchase an MK-9. Unfortunately, I did not follow my own advice and instead traded away my PM-9 to my brother...but for two guns! A CZ P-01 and a Makarov. Unfortunately, since he is my brother, I took mercy on him and told him I would do it for just the P-01 and that I would like to buy the Mak off of him.

But the point I was originally trying to make is that perfectly working PM-9's are worth their weight in gold at the moment. If you can afford it, just buy the MK-9.

[AZ Traveler]

FYI. The Kahr website now shows the MK9 BOX as being discontinued. This was not the case a few months ago.

YMMV

[Kalmah]

Originally posted by seed
If you have a good PM-9, you are lucky. I would recommend that you hold on to it and just purchase an MK-9.+1. Hold on to the PM9 if you can.


But if money is an issue and you can only have one or the other, I'd go with the MK9 only because you're already familiar with it and can shoot it better. Shootablity should be the deciding factor.

[warmrain]

All good posts, and I have little to offer except to also say:

If money were the issue then I would sell the PM9, but if you get the BOX it is a trade down if you are going to carry it... Either go stainless or find one of those rare BOXs that were coated stainless...

If money is not the issue keep the good PM9 for pocket or other alternate forms of carry and be happy that many holsters (not all) can be shared as well as magazines.

[Dobbler]

Do the BOX models have DLC finish or is the Black Oxide something different?

[mecenas1991]

BOX is a black oxide - something completely different than DLC. It is akin to bluing, while DLC is more like a Tenifer finish on Glocks.
Oxidation process, be it black or blue changes only a very top crystalline surface by oxidizing it. It wears off with use, particularly holster use. Most importantly the majority of BOX pistols have slides made of regular steel and only a very, very
limited series of Kahrs Mk9 BOX were oxidized over stainless. These have a word "Stainless" stamped on the right front side of the slide.

According to AZ Traveller, Kahr no longer offers BOX so they only now exist on the used gun marker.

For the longets time I have been looking for a Mk9 Elite 2000 that was T-Birdsong finished from the factory. There is a small number of these but I guess they are now a collector item.

[warmrain]

If you find one at the right price you could have it Roguard or better NP3 coated be Robar (http://www.robarguns.com)