Kahr MK9 ammo recommendations

R

Redlg155

New member
I recently purchased an Mk9 from one of the TFL members and it was all I expected it to be. I got what I considered a virtually new gun for a great price. I'm amazed at the smooth trigger and lack of any serious recoil.

Looking at the magazine it looks like Kahr manufactured it to seriously close tolerances. I put 115gr Winchester white box type FMJ's in her and it seemed as though the bullets fit almost exactly into the magazine with very little front and rear clearance. A bullet with a slightly longer than normal OAL would probably have troubles fitting in the magazine.

That leads to to wondering what ammo types are you guys using in your MK9's? I want to use the Golden Saber 125gr +P JHP's but I'm concerned that the brass jacketed hollow point bullet will be slightly too long to fit in the magazine.

Right now I have her filled with Winchester White box 115gr JHP's. I would hate to buy a box of Golden Sabers and have to try to return them.

Good SHooting
RED
 
I've been using Cor-bon 115 gr +P's in mine and they work just fine. I intend to check out Triton's Quick-shok 115 gr's when I next change ammo batches. I've read some good things about Quick-shoks. My Glock 27 is currently fed Cor-bon 135 gr's, but I intend to swap out too w/Quick-shoks next batch.
 
I've been using Cor-bon 115 gr +P's in mine and they work just fine.
Click to expand...

Yikes...do you get a lot of primer smear with those? I imagine the muzzle blast would be pretty impressive as well. I've used the CorBons 115gr JHPs in a G26 I used to own and they were pretty snappy.

I might try them, but I'm tending to gravitate towards something a bit tamer.

Good SHooting
RED
 
I've shot plenty of 115 gr FMJ out of mine. Mostly my reloads these days. I tried Federal 124 gr Hydrashok, but gave up on it, due to excessive flash. Changed to Remington green box 115gr +p+. Works for me.

M1911
 
I've put about 100 rds of Wolf through my MK9, and 100 of Win. white box.
Also shot some Federal Hydra-Shok jhp, and some Speer Gold Dot +P.

All fed fine.
 
I'll try some of my Ranger SXT (Black Talon) rounds later today. Picking up my MK9 sometime this afternoon...
 
I would suggest you invest in a reloader and make your own. Since all of the bullets in question are available as components. i.e. Hydra, Golden, Black, etc... That way you can make them as hot or as tame as you like.
 
Reloading for plinking in fine, but stay away for self-defense loads. If I was to forced to chose a load excluding the Cor-bon and Triton loads I mentioned above, I'd take a look at Gold Dot loads. They are a bit spendy though.
 
While I find your statement on plinking rather amusing, could you enlighten me as to why major competitors reload their own ammunition?
 
I can't say why "major competitors" reload their own, since I don't know any. I reload my own practice rounds to save money. I use factory ammo for carry rounds. I've shot plenty of hot ammo (+p+) through my MK9 without any problems (either to the gun or my hand). The MK9 is a heavy bugger, so recoil is really not an issue, even with hot rounds.

M1911
 
I would suggest you go to your local IDPA or IPSC sanctioned match and ask why they reload.

For example my carry gun is a 1911 in 38 super comp. Colt frame, Caspian Slide, Schuemann Barrel... the way that gun is configured factory ammunition would never cycle the gun since factory loads wont generate the necessary pressures. I use 124-grain Golden Sabers bullets, Starline Brass and Remington Small Rifle Primers never a problem in all these years.

Here’s another example of a problem with factory ammunition, factory 40 cal is set to a OAL of 1.126 if you are using a Para you would probably experience feeding problems with that length of bullet so most IPSC shooters load their rounds to at least 1.160 OAL to eliminate that problem. To date I know of no factory ammunition that’s loaded to that length.
 
I have over 600 rounds of all shapes sizes and power ranges without a single FTF or any other problem......The gun has no more wear than it did after the first hundred.

A first rate firearm.
 
The reason I suggested you stay away from handloads for self-defense was not because handloads are inferior, but for liability reasons. If you use handloads for self-defense you open the door for a scumbag lawyer to sue you saying that you shot the poor subject with your home brewed super death ray load. Regular high performance ammunition which is good enough for the local police just wasn't deadly enough for you, you had to make sure you're ammo would blow someone in half. Handloads for self-defense is just asking for trouble in a otherwise good shoot. I'm speaking of civil trial trouble, not criminal trial trouble.
 
While your point is well taken, in this litigious society the family of the bad guy will still try to get some sort of settlement from the person who shot in self defense.

I would at least feel comfort in knowing the capabilities of the tools that I’m using and that’s not necessarily the case with factory ammunition since they can even change the powder for the load as long as it gives the same muzzle velocity.

Now having said that for 9mm Luger loads I tend to use 147 grain Montana Gold Jacketed Bullet going at 850 fps that would not be considered a death ray load and its light enough for my wife to place all double taps in the same place.
 
I'd take a look at Gold Dot loads. They are a bit spendy though.
Click to expand...

TheeBadOne,

Actually, if you shop around, you will find Gold Dots to be one of the best values in selfe defense ammo.
Internet prices for 124gr, +P, 9mm Gold Dots can be as low as $12/50rds before shipping.
I have seen Lawman +P with the Gold Dot bullet for a similar price.

Most defense ammo runs $12-15/20rds.

Shop around.
:)
 
ryucasta, that was exactly my point. Don't give them one more thing to either sue you over or inflame the jury with in court. If there weren't factory loads available with good expanding bullets I would reload for defense, but there are. I reload for everything, except self-defense, and I feel very confident in the factory high performance ammo I carry. Every one is free to do as they wish, I am only eppressing things I have run across.

Secondly, I misspoke about Gold Dots, I believe it is Golden Sabres that are the more expensive load.
 
ryacusta:

And possible feeding problems with 1911 style guns has what, exactly, to do with ammunition for an MK9?

And why should I care why other IDPA competitors (yes, I'm an IDPA member too) reload? There's obviously some point that you're trying to make, but I'm not following you. Rather than telling me to go ask someone else, why don't you enlighten me as to the point you're trying to make.

As I said, I reload my target ammunition to save money. I use factory ammo for carry. I've used Fed. Hydrashok 124gr and Remington 115 gr +p+ without any problem. I've never had any feed failure in my MK9, whether with factory ammo or my own reloads.

M1911
 
M1911,

If you bothered to read my initial response to the thread I recommended to the individual to go out and reload. An immediate benefit would be they would be able to practice more for the same money and improve their skills. Since I was always taught and live by the concept that SHOT PLACEMENT is more important than any other factor such bullet design, velocity, PF, etc.

With regards to the 1911 comments that I made in the subsequent responses that I provided it was only provided for informational purposes if you didn’t find the information useful then Cie La Vie learn to deal with it.
 
On the legal ramification of using handloads for self defense:
those that testify in court as legal experts recommend against it.
One argument is, if you have more of the same lot of commercial ammo at home, police can use it for ballistic tests, to prove you didn't intend to maim, or "unusually punish".
If you load your own, there is no paper trail that the other lawyer is going to recognize.

I do agree with one thing;
This was covered at length in the Tennessee CCW course:
If you shoot someone, you will get sued.

Best to be in the most secure legal position possible, if/when you end up in that situation.
Still, I'd rather be judged by 12, than carried by 8.
 
Ok..I went to the indoor range today and fired some rounds to really break her in.

120 rounds of Winchester White Box 115gr FMJ's
50 rounds of Blazer 115gr FMJ's
25 rounds Corbon 124gr +P

The Winchester white box FMJ's were really comfortable to shoot. Relatively mild muzzle blast and mild recoil. One Note...ALWAYS CHECK YOUR AMMO! I found one round that was seriously deformed. It looked as though it had gone through some type of roller or press that smashed it lengthwise. The bullet looked normal from one angle, but from another you could see it was flat on two sides with the entire round swaged into a triangle shape. The case head was still perfectly round. Whether or not Winchester polishes the fully loaded rounds I have no idea, but no machine marks were evident and even the seriously pressed sides were polished nicely. Other than that, the ammo was fine and it gave very nice groups.

The Blazers felt a bit more snappy with a nice muzzle blast. These were fun to look at, but you definitely would not want to shoot in low light with this round. Grouping was acceptable, 2-3" at 25 feet.

Now the Corbon. I would say that with Corbons the recoil felt much like my Makarov with Russian loads and definitely less than 125gr +P Gold Dots out of my Taurus snubby. The recoil was brisk and I have no earthly idea where the brass landed, other than the one round that found a landing spot dead center of my forehead. The examined rounds did not show any pressure problems or excessive primer swipe. What amazed me was the super accuracy with this round. All rounds made a nice cluster approximately the size of a .50cent peice. Another thing that puzzles me is how Corbon can safely load a heavy bullet with such a short OAL. These 124s are shorter than the 115 FMJ's.

No malfunctions were experienced. I shot one handed, both weak and strong. Two handed, bot weak and strong side. I even limp wristed a bit to try to get a malfunction. Nope..none to be had. I'm a happy camper!!

Corbon advertised this load at 1250fps. I would imagine they are going about 1100 fps out of the 3 inch barrel of the MK9. That's still a very respectable showing for such a small carry weapon. What is really nice is that my particular gun has a preference for hotter ammo.

Good Shooting
RED
 
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