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 etc.

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
 
Have a MK9 and it is my CCW a majority of the time. However, I would really like to see Kahr add a manual safety on it similar to what is found on Taurus DAO pistols.
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
fud-nra.gif
 
Been there, done that. MK9 replaced my Walther PPK as my ankle gun over a year ago. I was after SIG to make a P225 in .45 ACP 15 years ago. Now we have a P245, not exactly what I had in mind. SIG is not very responsive to changes due to customer input.
 
I've kinda taken to the MK40 myself, and boy is she happy in her new Blade-tech home on my waist right now.

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Know Yourself, Know Your Weapon, Know Your Enemy; then Know Victory! ---DaHaMac
 
DaHaMac, I found that the MK40 had a little bit too much kick for such a small pistol when loaded with defensive ammo and therefore I could not shoot it very accurately -- didn't have that problem with the MK9 (or larger size 40's).
 
Hey FUD

I agree. I like my MK9 a lot. The only thing I would change is to have a safety of some kind.
 
Hey Phil, send an e-mail to Frank Harris over at Kahr -- I've been bugging him about external safeties on the Kahr's for close to a year now and he keeps writing back that it is "under consideration". The more people that make the request, the better chance of it happening.
 
Two comments on this thread:
Every time I read about how someone likes their MK models, I look at my homely black first-year-of-production K9, and tell myself that she's kinda plain and dumpy, but she sure can cook! When I feel stirrings of desire for a stainless bright finish, I think: tactical black. Oh, yeah. "Don't hurt me, here's my wallet, BANG." Shiny guns don't cut it for some uses.
Re: safeties on the Kahrs...c'mon, guys. Revolvers don't have safeties; Glocks don't have safeties...why do you think the Kahr needs one? Carry in a correct holster that covers the trigger, and observe correct handling procedures, and the Kahr's 'lack' becomes a 'feature'. The Kahr is the ultimate in a tough subcompact carry auto just as it is...let's NOT bug Harris, or Moon, or anyone at Kahr, to afterthought it into an OSHA-compliant committee design!!! (No rant...just an earnest observation. I understand that some people just can't be comfortable without a dust ruffle around their bed...
:D
slabsides

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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
 
No safety, small gun, decent caliber is one of the reason I bought an MK9. Having a safety and a DAO trigger pull is kinda stupid in my HUMBLE opinion.
 
An external safety? No thanks. I like mine as is, with little to snag when drawn from a pocket.

Jared
 
i.e. external safety:

To each his own. The trigger on my Kahr is sweet and thats one reason I like it. Its a fine gun, however, the trigger is (or at least seems like it is) much shorter and easier to pull than the double action trigger on my P97 or Slick$Willie 686. I wouldn't want a DAO only pistol with a trigger like either of those. With a safety, you don't have to use it if you don't want to. It just adds options.

BTW the safety on a 1911 is easy and natural to thumb off in one motion so it can be done without screwing up the gun.
 
Phil: I agree with you on the M1911 safety. I've got three of 'em in the safe. But none of them are pocket guns.

Jared
 
Recoil ain't too bad with my little MK40, my other gun is a .454 :eek: :)

The recoil is kinda snappy, once I had sweaty hands and the dang thing nearly shot straight up outta my hand, cool hunh? Yet, having spent some time on the range, at combat distances, I can shoot pretty good and accurately. One day, some skateboard tape or checkering will fix the slippery grip alltogether.

But I agree with your decision FUD, if you aren't comfortable with the gun or recoil find one that you are comfortable with, your life may depend on you being comfortable and consistent with your gun.

Yeah, I would have preferred a black high grade finish, but I can always have it black-T'ed if I want to spend the money. Besides, when I get this one, I couldn't afford the $1,000 dollar Wislon/Kahr beside it that was blacked out.
 
NO WAY!!! My Colt Mustang Pocket-lite only weighs 12oz. The Kahr is a boat anchor and will poke a hole right through your pocket. :( :( :(
 
Quickad:

Carrying any weapon for self-defense is a series of trade-off's for any gun. 12oz.... Then carry it, the rule is, have a gun! Personally I have carried both and you get use to the heaver weight of the Kahr. My pockets don't have a hole in them, well, only when my wife gets into them.... nothing left. I use a Don Hume pocket holster, and yes, it is a tad on the heavy side, but the ballistics of the 9mm far outweigh even the best .380 loads by a large margin (40% - Shooting Times June 2000 issue), enough to justify for the peace of mind that, if I ever have to use it, it will take care of business far more expeditiously than the 9x17. 9mm ammo is cheaper with many, many more choices available. The future of the .380 is not promising.

Regards,
Hann
 
RE: Safeties on DAO Kahrs ... Just as an FYI, some departments & agencies require "on duty" back-up guns to have a manual safety -- DAO or not. I see nothing wrong with having a 1911-style thumb safety on it that blocks the firing pin and disengages the trigger (Taurus has them on their DAO pistols and the people that don't like it, merely leave the safety in the off position all of the time). For a company that is growing and looking to expand, they can offer two versions -- with safeties and without.
 
FUD,

Sorry to hear that some agencies require safety's on a back-up guns. Seems that could get you killed real quick in high-stress situation where your back-up gun is needed most. Kahr's have been extensively drop tested from all angles and heights without one single discharge (see their website).

Sounds just like more bureaucratic regulations to justify CYA agendas from senior officials. Kahr's have engineered proven safety devices into all there firearms. Don't pull the trigger and it won't fire, period.

I'm not disputing your dilemma, but I don't think Kahr should re-design an already proven design to accommodate yet another LEA regulation. We already have way too many. It took hundreds of years to get firearms as safe and reliable as they are today. And with Kahr's, SIG's , GLock's - they just don't get any safer.

Again, sorry for the red-tape bureaucratic BS that makes you job harder and your choices fewer.

Regards,
Hann
 
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