P9

[JCW355]

I would like for those of you who own one please give me your opinions, good or bad, on this gun.

[roymail]

I have one coming in a few days. It's the same lower as the CW9 with the Kahr Elite trigger. It has metal sights, a machined slide stop, scupted slide and nicer engraving. It's the bigger brother (although not by a lot) to the PM9. The barrel is 1/2" longer (3.5") and it holds one more round. That's about it. It's been in production quite awhile and Kahr has supposedly worked through all the earlier problems.

I have handled and fired the PM9. Due to its small size I thought it would be a handful, but it wasn't bad at all. Very manageable. Either the PM9, CW9 or P9 would have worked for me. I just got a very good deal on the P9 at the time. I bought it to use as a carry gun since it's slim and feels good to me. I also like the trigger on these guns.

I'll post a followup after I get it out to the range.

-- Roy

[cynical]

Took my new P9 to the range for the first time just this past weekend. I had read all of the horror stories and wanted to be sure it was fully broken-in and reliable before I would consider carrying it.

I warmed up with a few mags from my G19 and then tried the P9 at 15 feet. I was stunned to see that I was shooting better with the first mag out of the P9 than I was with my Glock.

Good: smooth trigger, not heavy at all
Pretty comfortable fit. I went with the P9 over the shorter PM9 so I could keep all four fingers on the grip and I don't regret it for a second.
Fed Winchester white box FMJ and Federal Personal Defense (124-gr Hydrashok) without a hitch. No malfunctions of any kind with about 110 rounds total.
Slim. Carries MUCH better and MUCH less conspicuously than my G19.

Not so good: not an extended session gun, the web of my right hand was bruised before I was done, and that was only about 100 rounds. The slim grip that makes it so easy to carry and conceal probably doesn't help. Of course it's lighter than the G19 and shooting the same ammo you should expect more felt recoil.
Trigger pull is LONG and VERY hard to get precise target-type trigger control out of. (at personal defense distances just fine though).
The mags lips are sharp, which made reloading a painful experience. And with only 7 or 8 rds per mag (depending on which you use, the P9 comes with both) you're reloading quite a bit for a range session. I ordered an UPLULA as soon as I got home.

[roymail]

cynical, good post. You said:

"not an extended session gun, the web of my right hand was bruised before I was done, and that was only about 100 rounds. The slim grip that makes it so easy to carry and conceal probably doesn't help. Of course it's lighter than the G19 and shooting the same ammo you should expect more felt recoil."

Shooting the PM9 proved that to me after two or three mags. So I plan to try the innertube grip idea posted in the following thread.

http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=715398

The Hogue Handall Jr grip looks good but I'll give the innertube a try first since it seems to work well for a number of users. I hope to have good luck with my P9 as you did.

-- Roy

[AZ Traveler]

A-Grip. Try an A-Grip. They can be had for about $25 on the web. They won't "catch" your clothes like a rubber "grip" might.

YMMV

[Kyglock22]

Originally posted by AZ Traveler
A-Grip. Try an A-Grip. They can be had for about $25 on the web. They won't "catch" your clothes like a rubber "grip" might.

YMMV

AMEN AZ Traveler!!!

That's the WHOLE problem I had with the inner tube grip thing, as well as the Hogue slip on. No matter what I did my shirt would "snag" on the rubber, and this I was not happy with.
I switched all my grips over to the AGrip, and I'm 100% pleased... the grip itself is excellent witout adding any bulk, it never snags on any of my shirts, and my sweaty hands stay put on the pistol while at the range.

:thumbsup: Big thumbs up for the Agrip!

BTW I just bought a P9 that is on it's way to me as we speak. :banana: As soon as I get my hands on it and take it the range, I'll be sure and add a post on here to let you know how I like it... I can already tell you my PM9 is a wonderful pistol, and I think the P9 will end up being just as loved.

[PortlandZinMan]

Originally posted by AZ Traveler
A-Grip. Try an A-Grip. They can be had for about $25 on the web. They won't "catch" your clothes like a rubber "grip" might.

YMMV

Great grip...until you get any, and I mean any cleaning solution on it and then it is ruined. If you clean your handgun with any kind of solvent then this is NOT the grip to use.

[cbecker33]

Originally posted by cynical
Took my new P9 to the range for the first time just this past weekend....
[/list]

Cynical,

I hope you don't mind but I posted your reply over on the 1911 forum. A gentleman is trying to decide between a G19 and a K9 so I thought he could use the info.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=179074

[cynical]

Originally posted by cbecker33
Cynical,

I hope you don't mind but I posted your reply over on the 1911 forum. A gentleman is trying to decide between a G19 and a K9 so I thought he could use the info.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=179074

No problem. It was interesting to see the same debate in a different forum, with different biases.

Kahr vs. G19 is a strange debate as I see it. It's more of an apples vs. oranges thing. The Glock is bigger and much bulkier, but it doesn't get any more reliable and durable than that. The Kahr is much slimmer and concealable, but lower capacity and more complex/fragile (seeming to me, anyway) design. The Glock is a service pistol, the Kahr is a personal self-defense pistol.

My recommendation would depend on someone's preferences. If size is an issue, go with the Kahr. If you need a durable duty/field pistol, and don't mind the size, go with the G19. What I will carry will depend on the circumstances.

[Mr. S]

I love my P9.
The thing that sold me on it was how light and thin it was.
It has surprised everyone who has ever shot it.
It has meprolight night sights and has the decal grip installed.
Very light very accurate and has been 100% reliable since the first round.

[TommyTomTom]

I've owned P9s since CY 2002 and I am enamored with these little pistols. No failures of any kind in 5-years of shooting.

I really can't think of any negatives with these little babies. If I had to pick one, it would be the wish for a slightly lighter trigger. Sometimes I have difficulty going from my G19/G30/XD9 combo to the P9. The P9 trigger is a bit different, although I think Kahr has the right idea for a slightly heavier trigger for a weapon that is clearly designed as a carry piece.

They are not a weapons-grade military sidearm like a Sig/H&K/Beretta/Glock, etc. They are small and precisely made carry sidearms.

The P9 has my vote for one of the great 9mm conceal carry sidearms of all time.

[roymail]

Thanks, Tommy, for your encouraging report. I just hope I have as good an experience with my P9 when it comes in. I'm suppose to get it tomorrow and hope to shoot it this weekend.

[cbecker33]

Originally posted by roymail
Thanks, Tommy, for your encouraging report. I just hope I have as good an experience with my P9 when it comes in. I'm suppose to get it tomorrow and hope to shoot it this weekend.

I recommend that you take it apart and clean it before the range. Also....oil it up pretty darn good and tear through your first 250 keeping a close eye that it stays wet. I have had the most luck with various Kahrs like this.

Also, use the slide stop to chamber the first round...

Chris

[roymail]

I recommend that you take it apart and clean it before the range. Also...oil it up pretty darn good and tear through your first 250 keeping a close eye that it stays wet. I have had the most luck with various Kahrs like this.
Chris,

Thanks for your advice. I got my P9 this afternoon and immediately field stripped it. It was pretty greasy and messy inside so I cleaned everything real good and then relubed it with fresh gun oil but no grease. IS THAT OK?

After taking a close look at it, I see that most of the rails are polymer with some metal at the back end. I can see why this gun won't run well if it's dry. Good point! I'll keep it lubed... is grease like reel grease or even vasoline best along the slide rails? I'm using gun oil inside the slide grooves.

This trigger is really sweet. I like it!

I noticed something when I was cycling rounds through the action. It hesitates to push the last round completely into battery. It doesn't get hung up or nose dive. It just wants a little nudge to finish going all the way into battery. I'm hoping that "break in" will enable it to run more smoothly and eliminate some friction that may be causing this anomoly. Ya think...???

Well, more after a trip to the range tomorrow or Sunday.

-- Roy

[cbecker33]

Originally posted by roymail
Chris,

Thanks for your advice. I got my P9 this afternoon and immediately field stripped it. It was pretty greasy and messy inside so I cleaned everything real good and then relubed it with fresh gun oil but no grease. IS THAT OK?

After taking a close look at it, I see that most of the rails are polymer with some metal at the back end. I can see why this gun won't run well if it's dry. Good point! I'll keep it lubed... is grease like reel grease or even vasoline best along the slide rails? I'm using gun oil inside the slide grooves.

This trigger is really sweet. I like it!

I noticed something when I was cycling rounds through the action. It hesitates to push the last round completely into battery. It doesn't get hung up or nose dive. It just wants a little nudge to finish going all the way into battery. I'm hoping that "break in" will enable it to run more smoothly and eliminate some friction that may be causing this anomoly. Ya think...???

Well, more after a trip to the range tomorrow or Sunday.

-- Roy

I do not like grease, but that is just my personal opinion. I find it to attract too much gunk and then it's too big a pain in the ass to clean. I prefer CLP (although I think miltec and remoil work just as well as a lubricant). And I prefer to break in guns very wet (must have something to do with the Army and their love of filling up an M16 with enough CLP until it runs out the magwell).

My brother's P40 was having the same failure to return to battery as you described...but he was shooting his pistol dry. After we cleaned and lubed it, it ran fine (til the mag split - but that is a different story).

My P45 doesn't hand cycle worth a crap, it likes to hang up and jam, but it cycles perfectly when I'm at the range. So I would wait to see how it performs at the range before passing judgment. Be careful you don't hand cycle the rounds too many times...it is possible to create some nasty grooves and burrs on the case, it did in my case after the same ammo went through the gun 6 or 7 times.

Just go out and shoot it. If you have problems, strip the slide off and make sure you don't have and plastic shavings gumming up the works (this will occur in the break in stage, then stop - at least it did with the two poly Kahrs I've had experience with). If there are...clean them out with a brush and put a little more oil on the rails and keep shooting.

-Chris

Be safe and have fun!

[The Cigarman]

I don't use any type of grease but I do use Slide-Glide religiously on my pistols with Militec-1 applied to all metal parts that have been warmed with a hairdryer.

I also have used Ezox (sp?) that has great reviews but I couldn't stand the smell (hate CLP also).

[pistolaro]

I have the P9. Its been 100% reliable. Great carry pistol, slim profile,and lightweight. Fired 600 rds of various types of ammo with
no problems. +p ammo is a bit hinkey, really feel the recoil,but
its to be expected in a pistol of that size. I used "GUN JUICE"
to lube the P9, this is a "DRY" lube. Works well when you follow
directions on package.
pistolaro

[roymail]

Well, the short version is that it went bang every time, no FTF and locked back when empty without fail. So far, so good. Looks like the advice about thoroughly cleaning and proper lubing is great advice. Even the last round went into full battery without any problem this time. So I'll give it a good clean and lube before the next time out and hope good fortune continues with the P9.

I really like the feel of this gun, and what a perfect little carry pistol it is. Not much more to add except that I was shooting Winchester WWB practice ammo. Next time out I'll shoot more of the same for break in purposes. Then, I'll switch to some Federal Hydra-Shoks which I like to carry and see how she does. Right now I'm betting on similar results.

Thanks for everyone's advice. After I get past break in, 200-250 rds, I'll check back with a report.

-- Roy

[Wyoming]

I'm a gun guy. I order my P9 the first year they came out with night sights. If I don't like a gun, I will get rid of it. I still have mine and never plan to sell it. When they came out with the compact I decided that it wasn't worth getting another for what I would gain. My as been prefect in reliability. I'm an old revolver guy so the double action only trigger was easy for me. Our options today on conceal carry guns are many compared to years ago. Sometime I think we gun people get to much into inches and ounces. The P9 is a full grip for control. It is way lighter than a Walther PPK in a smaller .380 cal. At one time than was one of the cool guns to carry if you didn't use a 38 Smith or Colt. Now you can carry a 45 Auto compact without more effort. The Karh P9 is light, easy to shoot and carry plus it can handle 9mm +p+ ammo.

Wyoming:thumbsup:

[dkochan]

I bought a used Kahr P9 over seven years ago for $400. It is an early production model that I had to send back to the factory because the trigger pin was walking out after shooting several rounds. It has been reliable and very accurate ever since it has been back from the factory. It is one of my favorite carry guns. I carry it IWB in a Comp-Tac Undercover holster with two extra mags in a Comp-Tac mag carrier.

[j2773]

I've always loved the feel and accuracy of my P9. I've been at the range a few times where I've fired 100+ rounds each session and never felt the pain some people have experienced (fat hands?)

The only complaint I have is not being able to reliably rack the slide to chamber the first round. I've never had an FTF with this gun, but about 70% of the time I've tried to fully rack the slide to chamber the first round, instead of using the slide release, the first round "nose-dives" (I believe that's the term I've heard for it.) As I've read on, it seems like this is standard behavior on the Kahrs.

All in all, it's been a very good gun for me.