I cannot decide between the kahr K9 or the P9. I primarily want it as a house gun and as a sidekick to protect me on my trips to the local stop and rob. They both seem to have some advantages/disadvantages. My main concerns are with lifespan of the gun, rust resistance (I live in a very humid area), and reliability/dependability. I have read the various reviews (yes all of them!) of the kahrs that they have posted at their web site. They both seem to get very favorable reviews. My issues w/ the K9 is that I have read in some recent publications that stainless steel is very prone to rust or corrode in storage. And since holsters and gun safes attract moistiure, this could be a problem especially where I live. 2nd, I know that the K9 weighs more and that most people like the P9 who carry concealed more often. I know that the K9 probably kicks less due to the heavier weight, and since i'm not going to be carry concealed all the time, this may not be an issue. My main concern w/ the P9 is the polymer frame lifelong durability. I know that the polymer will resist rust and sweaty palms , but how will it hold up under a lifetime of firing round after round of ammo? I know that the polymer frame is reinforced by steel inserts, but it still doesn't seem like it would be as strong as a steel frame. I guess I could have just summed all of this typing up by simply asking which one of these 2 guns (the K9 and the P9) is better suited to be more reliable/dependable, resistant to rust and corrosion, and have a longer lifespan or service life? Thanks in advance.
Kahr K9 or P9
- Thread starter meat
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
I've got a K9, and I love it.
Accurate, reliable, and heavy enough to help tame 9mm +P.
It does, however, really like to rust. That's its biggest drawback. I have to keep after it constantly, or the rust will start to bleed up through the parkerizing.
I've thought about sending it off to have it coated in one of the new wonder finishes, but just haven't gotten around to that.
Accurate, reliable, and heavy enough to help tame 9mm +P.
It does, however, really like to rust. That's its biggest drawback. I have to keep after it constantly, or the rust will start to bleed up through the parkerizing.
I've thought about sending it off to have it coated in one of the new wonder finishes, but just haven't gotten around to that.
Hey, Mike, sounds like Deja Vu!
Not too long ago, I'd mentioned the fact that my K9 rusts easily, too, and wouldn't you know, but the Kahr folks read my post here and emailed me about the gun's warranty, to include refinishing. So my K9 is getting boxed up to go back for another bluing job... That was totally unexpected!
Not too long ago, I'd mentioned the fact that my K9 rusts easily, too, and wouldn't you know, but the Kahr folks read my post here and emailed me about the gun's warranty, to include refinishing. So my K9 is getting boxed up to go back for another bluing job... That was totally unexpected!
Hello again.
It's Michelle from Kahr Customer Service. The finish IS covered under the pistols warranty. If you bought it used then it's only covered for 1 year from date of purchase. If you bought it brand new then it is covered for it's lifetime.
Send it on back to us and we will refinish the gun for you. So, realistically, you don't have to worry about your finish..it's guranteed.
Kahr Customer Service
It's Michelle from Kahr Customer Service. The finish IS covered under the pistols warranty. If you bought it used then it's only covered for 1 year from date of purchase. If you bought it brand new then it is covered for it's lifetime.
Send it on back to us and we will refinish the gun for you. So, realistically, you don't have to worry about your finish..it's guranteed.
Kahr Customer Service
Mike Irwin
Staff
DAMN I LOVE KAHR!
This is the kind of customer service response that you love to see!
Hey Michelle,
When the heck is Kahr going to come out with a K45? I've heard rumors about it ever since Kahr started production. I've been chomping at the bit for a K45 for years.
Ideally it wouldn't be much bigger than the K9/K40...
Please tell me Kahr is going to bring a K45 out...
This is the kind of customer service response that you love to see!
Hey Michelle,
When the heck is Kahr going to come out with a K45? I've heard rumors about it ever since Kahr started production. I've been chomping at the bit for a K45 for years.
Ideally it wouldn't be much bigger than the K9/K40...
Please tell me Kahr is going to bring a K45 out...
K9 vs. P9
Mr. Meat, even though the K and P are the same "size," they are different in so many respects that you could justify owning both (don't tell the wife!). The K is considerably heavier. I haven't shot the P, just handled it, but I bet the extra weight of the K would be welcome when you light off a +P. The P is really shaped differently in the grip. It feels so much thinner that I don't like it as well. Some people really like the thinner gun, but I like the grip shape of the K much better. Weight and thickness don't bother me, maybe because I don't use ISP holsters, and use solid gun belts.
The P is still having some "teething" problems, if my reading of this board is correct. Some bit of factory replacement of a slide stop lever magic may or may not have this 100% fixed. The K series is well proven.
Don't worry about the plastic frame durability. You will wear out before it will. Finish? Kahr says they warranty it....but my factory E-nickled version won't be needing any such.
I really like these little guns. I think of it as sort of a "poor man's P7."
Mr. Meat, even though the K and P are the same "size," they are different in so many respects that you could justify owning both (don't tell the wife!). The K is considerably heavier. I haven't shot the P, just handled it, but I bet the extra weight of the K would be welcome when you light off a +P. The P is really shaped differently in the grip. It feels so much thinner that I don't like it as well. Some people really like the thinner gun, but I like the grip shape of the K much better. Weight and thickness don't bother me, maybe because I don't use ISP holsters, and use solid gun belts.
The P is still having some "teething" problems, if my reading of this board is correct. Some bit of factory replacement of a slide stop lever magic may or may not have this 100% fixed. The K series is well proven.
Don't worry about the plastic frame durability. You will wear out before it will. Finish? Kahr says they warranty it....but my factory E-nickled version won't be needing any such.
I really like these little guns. I think of it as sort of a "poor man's P7."
K9!!! Without a doubt and HANDS DOWN based on your criteria...
I am/was quite the Kahr fan. I currently own the MK9 and P9, and have also owned the K40 and MK40.
The MK9 is my wife's, and while the front site (aftermarket Mepro) has rust on it from being carried in her purse, getting lotion and stuff on it (yeah I know, but what can I do?) the pistol itself shows NO sign of rust. (in fairness to Mepro, they're gonna replace the front site FOC with no questions asked). I've heard/read the same thing about the Kahr being rust prone, but NEVER seen it myself. My P9 is with me daily (when it's not at Kahr getting fixed) and it has NO rust on it either. One thing though, neither of us use leather holsters. I'm a cheapie, and prefer nylon, as does my wife. Next purchase will be Kydex.
The reason I say K instead of P is, a LOT of us have been having problems with our P-series pistols, and I've only heard of one person on here ever having K-series problems. My P9 is at Kahr for the third time now, and I have NEVER had the first problem from any of my K's or MK.
I would also suggest the "Elite" model, as the trigger is worth the extra cash. It's a little shorter, a little lighter, and a LOT smoother.
But, if it were ME doing the choosing, I would definitely go for the K40 instead, since the weight keeps the recoil down to SUPER controllable, and the extra punch of the .40 would make me feel better.
Whatever you do, make it a K and NOT a P!!! Do a search on here on the P9, and you'll see why!!!
I am/was quite the Kahr fan. I currently own the MK9 and P9, and have also owned the K40 and MK40.
The MK9 is my wife's, and while the front site (aftermarket Mepro) has rust on it from being carried in her purse, getting lotion and stuff on it (yeah I know, but what can I do?) the pistol itself shows NO sign of rust. (in fairness to Mepro, they're gonna replace the front site FOC with no questions asked). I've heard/read the same thing about the Kahr being rust prone, but NEVER seen it myself. My P9 is with me daily (when it's not at Kahr getting fixed) and it has NO rust on it either. One thing though, neither of us use leather holsters. I'm a cheapie, and prefer nylon, as does my wife. Next purchase will be Kydex.
The reason I say K instead of P is, a LOT of us have been having problems with our P-series pistols, and I've only heard of one person on here ever having K-series problems. My P9 is at Kahr for the third time now, and I have NEVER had the first problem from any of my K's or MK.
I would also suggest the "Elite" model, as the trigger is worth the extra cash. It's a little shorter, a little lighter, and a LOT smoother.
But, if it were ME doing the choosing, I would definitely go for the K40 instead, since the weight keeps the recoil down to SUPER controllable, and the extra punch of the .40 would make me feel better.
Whatever you do, make it a K and NOT a P!!! Do a search on here on the P9, and you'll see why!!!
Dfariswheel
New member
I've got a Kahr stainless. Where I live we have "square weather", temp in the 90's, humidity in the 90's. I've carried it for three years in an IWB holster, and sweated on it until it literaly was covered with droplets of sweat. Never any sign of rust. The P9 will still have a steel slide, so that could rust.
The like most polymer pistols, the P9 will take the same amount, or more shooting as steel. However, the plastic is NOT as wear proof as metal, so it will show more wear, sooner.
I'd handle both, and pick the one that feels best. Either one will out last you.
The like most polymer pistols, the P9 will take the same amount, or more shooting as steel. However, the plastic is NOT as wear proof as metal, so it will show more wear, sooner.
I'd handle both, and pick the one that feels best. Either one will out last you.
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. My K9 gave no problems. My P9 continually locked the slide back with +P ammo. I have no Kahr pistols at present, but would take the K9 in a heartbeat over the P9.
Best.
Best.
waltherpfive
New member
I have both the K9 and the P9. No problems with either one with any brand of ammo. If you are not going to carry it much, I think the K9 would be a better choice IMHO.
I have a K9 Stainless Elite, MK9 Stainless Elite, and K40 Black-T. I've never seen a speck of rust on either of the Elites and I've never heard anyone complain about their finish. I have heard complaints that the base matte black finish is prone to rust, but never heard that about the stainless models.
The P9 will be lighter and thus a bit easier to carry. But the K9 isn't exactly heavy when carried in a good belt holster. The P9 seems to have had some teething problems, but it sounds as though Kahr has mostly solved those (though there are apparently still some early P9s in the pipeline). The K9 is well debugged and the extra weight will reduce felt recoil.
Either gun will outlast you with just a bit of attention now and then.
M1911
The P9 will be lighter and thus a bit easier to carry. But the K9 isn't exactly heavy when carried in a good belt holster. The P9 seems to have had some teething problems, but it sounds as though Kahr has mostly solved those (though there are apparently still some early P9s in the pipeline). The K9 is well debugged and the extra weight will reduce felt recoil.
Either gun will outlast you with just a bit of attention now and then.
M1911