CCW? Sell Your .380 and Get a Kahr MK9

H

Hann

New member
Looking for CCW carry? Sell your .380 Sig P230, Colt, etc. and get a Kahr MK9 Elite 98'. I have shot all of them extensively. The 9mm rounds are cheaper, more available and out perform the .380 by a large margin (40%), (Shooting Times, June 2000 issue.), with the same barrel length. And recoil is the same as the direct blowback of the Sig P230.

The accuracy and reliability of the MK9 will surprise you. The DAO is the smoothest around and a Bonus.... you will be giving your money to an American manufacturer.

I wrote the marketing director of SIG and urged him to make the P230 the size of the PPK, all I receive was a SIG Hat and a formal marketing letter saying "no changes are planned for the P230" It's a no-brainer, for the .380, make it smaller or people will buy Glock's and Kahr's etcin 9mm.

Good luck Sig - way behind the times. Slow to change means lost market-share. Small CCW handguns make up the largest percentage of handguns guns purchased, and they won't re-design a proven design to accommodate the changing US market.

"All my money is now spent on American gun makers" - And they need the money these days.


Regards,
Hann
 
Some good thoughts, but the reason I like and carry my P232SL is the ergonimics (Hogue grip from the factory) and the aesthetics in general. It's extremely reliable, lightweight, and Very concealable for me. Mine even has factory nightsights (something they should have done a long time ago). I think the .380 is underrated, and the Sig will have the same intimidation factor as the MK9. I think there is a much greater chance that I would only need to present my CCW gun than actually fire it, and if I did, I know I'm good enough with it that I could put the rounds where I need them to go. And it really is a classic, it was introduced in what... 1979 or so? If you look at it that way, I'd say it was way AHEAD of it's time back then, and only recently made obsolete. I did own an MK9 for a while, and liked it very much, but did not find it to be nearly as reliable as the Sig. I would certainly own one again, and perhaps will someday. I don't imagine that I will change the way you feel, but just want you to know that there is an opposing viewpoint and I hope they never change the 230/232.
 
When I was looking for a small CCW I looked at the KelTec P11 but I just didn't like the way it felt and that looooooooong trigger pull. I then spied a Bersa Serie95 sitting in the case. Man was this pistol comfortable to hold, so I bought it. It is a great shooter. So this is what I carry for the warmer months in a fanny pack. I to think the .380 is underrated.
 
Pilate:

The SIG P230SL was my carry gun for two years before I recently sold it to buy my Kahr MK9 Elite 98. The SIG P230 was introduced in the mid-70's as a smaller compact companion to the SIGP220.

The SigP232 was re-designed in 1996 as part of a competitive-bid procurement process at the request of the Japanese National Police in .32 ACP so the "32" became part of the model code. (The .380 ACP was considered too powerful for the Japanese Police needs.) And to my knowledge, SIG doesn’t offer the .32 ACP versions to the US market.

The main contributing factor for my decision to purchase Kahr was it was perfect for CCW and it was an American manufacturer. They need all the help they can get these days. Take a look at Shooting Times June 2000, issue. Dick Metcalf does a side-by-side comparison of pocket 9mm vs. the .380. Overall the 9mm provides 40% greater wounding effectiveness than the .380 with the same barrel length (3.25") The P230 has a 3.6" barrel, and if you do the math, it still is not in the same class as a 9mm.

I'm surprised you had reliability problems with the Kahr MK9. They did have some issues on the early production guns, but have long since fixed them. I have put about 600 rounds through mine so far with only a few bobbles in the first 200 round break-in period. Not one jam since then, with all types of ammo, +P, ball etc.

As far as the intimidation factor of the P230, yes, any gun will intimidate should it be presented for self-defense. But using the gun for self-defense is a different story.

I feel far more comfortable with 340 ft-lbs of energy of the 9mm than the 200 ft-lbs of the .380 ACP. The Kahr MK9 is just as accurate as the P230. The Kahr is a hell of a lot easier to clean with hardly any powder residue even after 250 rounds. .380 ACP rounds in blow-backs make the gun dirty real fast, as you know.

With the sell-out of Smith & Wesson and the Million-Mom March coming next month, the anti-gunners poised to pass even more regulations, (tucked in the Education Bill). American manufacturers need all the help they can get! That's where my money goes these days. I'm thinking of getting a big-bore these days and it won't be a SIG. It will be a Kahr40 Elite 98.

Anyway, thanks for responding, it's still great to have free speech. Can't put a "smart" safety lock on that yet.

Regards,
Hann
 
I'm with Hann on this one. I've only got about 500 rounds through my Mk9 stainless elite, but I've had not malfunctions at all. Nice gun. Quite accurate for its size. And recoil is not bad at all. Really disappears in an IWB holster, and very comfortable to wear too.

Jared
 
Absolutely no way!!! :mad: the first rule is to have a gun. My Colt Mustang .380 is a lot easier to carry than the boat anchor Kahr with the funny trigger. :eek:

[This message has been edited by thequickad (edited May 07, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by thequickad (edited May 08, 2000).]
 
Quickad:

Keep carrying it!

The Colt is a nice firearm, it's just outdated, underpowered and not produced any more. Do you carry yours in Condition 2 or 3? I'm assuming Condition 2. Hammer down on a loaded chamber.... no thanks, or maybe you carry it cocked and locked. I certainly feel wouldn’t feel safe with condition 2 and cocked and locked, out of the question for a pocket pistol. The entire thread was comparing outdated pocket pistols to newer designs that are safer and more powerful for pocket carry. The Kahr's weight is there to ensure it's long-term reliability and compensate for the chambering of a full service cartridge. As Jan Libourel would say "there's no free lunch" Carring any weapon is a series of compromises for any gun. So we agree to disagree, that's ok with me, like you said, have a gun!

Regards,
Hann
 
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