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Better to buy a lightly used Kahr rather than new?
- Thread starter FLChinook
- Start date
Cheapshooter
New member
Don't even remember reading about a 200 round break in in owner's manual. It's come up here a few times recently, so I'll take a look at the book just out curiosity.
Any handgun I intend to carry gets at least a 100 round "shake down". After that a box or so of numerious candidates for my carry round. That probably took care of any suggested break in.
I will say that my 100+ round shake down resulted in 100% reliability from the very first round. So I'm not sure why they mention it.
As for buying used over New to save the cost of ammo, which I am thinking is your reason, that amount of shooting also helps you get used to shooting that gun. Trigger squeeze, and hold are things you need to get used to with any newly acquired firearm, new, or old. Also, I wouldn't have any more confidence, probably less, with a used gun until I ran it through my procedure.
Any handgun I intend to carry gets at least a 100 round "shake down". After that a box or so of numerious candidates for my carry round. That probably took care of any suggested break in.
I will say that my 100+ round shake down resulted in 100% reliability from the very first round. So I'm not sure why they mention it.
As for buying used over New to save the cost of ammo, which I am thinking is your reason, that amount of shooting also helps you get used to shooting that gun. Trigger squeeze, and hold are things you need to get used to with any newly acquired firearm, new, or old. Also, I wouldn't have any more confidence, probably less, with a used gun until I ran it through my procedure.
Kahr does recommend a 200 round break-in. In my experience, the gun will either work from round one or it won't, regardless of round count. Buying used may save some money, but it certainly won't guarantee a trouble free gun. Buy used when the deal is there, or buy new when you want a new one... that's my philosophy.
I have no problem buying used and have a number of firearms purchased in this category.
I do not know what the warranty is for this pistol. If given a choice between new and used at the same price or very close to the same price, I would choose new. This is especially true if the warranty is only for the original owner.
I do not know what the warranty is for this pistol. If given a choice between new and used at the same price or very close to the same price, I would choose new. This is especially true if the warranty is only for the original owner.
Crankgrinder
New member
I think it's better to buy slightly used. My problem is I can never find what I want used as it seems not that many people get rid of it.
A Kahr 98% ish and fired ~200 times should run you about 95-98% of the new price. They are good trusted guns.
On the other hand, I suspect your odds of buying somebody else's lemon are higher.
How does this affect warranty?
I bought my P40 that way and the price was closer to 90-92% of new and it was guaranteed trouble free for 30 days I think. I think I did good.
On the other hand, where do you buy lightly used guns at 75% of retail? We need to hang out!
On the other hand, I suspect your odds of buying somebody else's lemon are higher.
How does this affect warranty?
I bought my P40 that way and the price was closer to 90-92% of new and it was guaranteed trouble free for 30 days I think. I think I did good.
On the other hand, where do you buy lightly used guns at 75% of retail? We need to hang out!
Jim Watson
New member
Let's see, now a used Kahr...
Are you buying a gun "broken in" at somebody else's expense or are you buying somebody's problems?
How many times have I read on the Internet, "It didn't work, so I got rid of it."
Sure, you described the defects and sold for a dime on the dollar, but not everybody does.
Are you buying a gun "broken in" at somebody else's expense or are you buying somebody's problems?
How many times have I read on the Internet, "It didn't work, so I got rid of it."
Sure, you described the defects and sold for a dime on the dollar, but not everybody does.
My PM9 has never malfunctioned. My P380 required break-in -- it did not reliably cycle at first. It now seems to work well, with lots of lubrication, though I don't fully trust it yet. I'm not to 200 yet -- scarcity and price of .380 ammo derailed my break-in plan, and I haven't got back to it yet.
I bought a new Kahr CW9 for CCW.
It cycled/functioned flawlessly from round One. I've since put about 1000-1200 or so rounds through it - of all different bullet profiles (I load my own - including semi-wadcutters), and still have yet to have a mis-feed-eject of any kind.
Pretty amazing little gun.
It cycled/functioned flawlessly from round One. I've since put about 1000-1200 or so rounds through it - of all different bullet profiles (I load my own - including semi-wadcutters), and still have yet to have a mis-feed-eject of any kind.
Pretty amazing little gun.
Brotherbadger
New member
Personally I'd go new.
railroader
New member
Buy new. The prices for polymer Kahrs have come way down online. Wait about a month or so and there should be some great black friday deals. As for reliability my CM9 broke followers when new so Kahr paid for shipping and fixed the gun. Runs perfect now. With a used gun you have no warranty.
I would buy new
I had one, loved the small size, hated the long trigger and long reset
It was reliable
However
though the vast majority of Kahrs are reliable (IMHO)
There are enough people that have bought a "dud" from Kahr, and are looking to dump the dud.
I would be afraid of getting someones "dud' gun
I have bought many used guns, but IMHO, I wouldnt buy a kahr used
The new prices have dropped so why not
I had one, loved the small size, hated the long trigger and long reset
It was reliable
However
though the vast majority of Kahrs are reliable (IMHO)
There are enough people that have bought a "dud" from Kahr, and are looking to dump the dud.
I would be afraid of getting someones "dud' gun
I have bought many used guns, but IMHO, I wouldnt buy a kahr used
The new prices have dropped so why not
A couple years back, a friend asked me to help him break in his new Kahr .45. (I no longer recall the exact model designation, but it was a compact size gun).
He has nerve damage in his arms, and firing more than a couple magazines of anything 9mm or bigger at one time is not something he can manage. He supplied the gun, and the ammo, I just did the shooting, and took the pounding for the 200rnd break in that was recommended in the Kahr manual.
That manual also gave a round number for the service life of the gun, I remember that, clearly, although I do not now recall if it was 4000 or 5000 rounds.
The gun worked acceptably well, there were 3 malfunctions in the first 200 rnds, all the same thing. Two failures to completely lock up during the 150rnds of hardball, and one during the 50 rnds of JHP fired last.
The one really noticeable thing (besides the strain -and some pain- loading the two mags over and over) was the "checkering" on the pistol's backstrap acted like a good high quality cheese grater on our palms. We did stop before blood was drawn, but it was a near run thing. A piece of black electrical tape on the backstrap solved this problem.
The gun has been shot a few hundred rounds since, with no issues of any kind.
Remember that these guns are NOT service pistols, and are NOT intended to be such. I found the initial 200 rnd shooting session to be both tiring and painful. (and I shoot handguns up through the big magnum classes). Taken for what they are, I like them, just don't think that that ought to be something that they are not.
As to buying used, vs. new, new has a warranty, used does not. If you know what you are looking at (and you do need to look), you can tell if used is a good deal, or not. If you don't, stick to new.
He has nerve damage in his arms, and firing more than a couple magazines of anything 9mm or bigger at one time is not something he can manage. He supplied the gun, and the ammo, I just did the shooting, and took the pounding for the 200rnd break in that was recommended in the Kahr manual.
That manual also gave a round number for the service life of the gun, I remember that, clearly, although I do not now recall if it was 4000 or 5000 rounds.
The gun worked acceptably well, there were 3 malfunctions in the first 200 rnds, all the same thing. Two failures to completely lock up during the 150rnds of hardball, and one during the 50 rnds of JHP fired last.
The one really noticeable thing (besides the strain -and some pain- loading the two mags over and over) was the "checkering" on the pistol's backstrap acted like a good high quality cheese grater on our palms. We did stop before blood was drawn, but it was a near run thing. A piece of black electrical tape on the backstrap solved this problem.
The gun has been shot a few hundred rounds since, with no issues of any kind.
Remember that these guns are NOT service pistols, and are NOT intended to be such. I found the initial 200 rnd shooting session to be both tiring and painful. (and I shoot handguns up through the big magnum classes). Taken for what they are, I like them, just don't think that that ought to be something that they are not.
As to buying used, vs. new, new has a warranty, used does not. If you know what you are looking at (and you do need to look), you can tell if used is a good deal, or not. If you don't, stick to new.