Kahr or Firestorm?

R

Rickmeister

New member
I'm looking for the best compact pistol in 40S&W. After much deliberation, I have narrowed my choices down to only two contenders: Kahr P40/K40 and Firestorm Mini 40.

Points considered:

Kahr pros:
1) Wafer thin and highly concealable.
2) Good quality and service (Most of the time, anyway.)
3) Praised and lauded by Combat Handguns magazine.
4) Popular with many TFL members ;)

Kahr cons:
1) Wayyyyyy overpriced.
2) Low capacity (6+1 ; Hoping it'll be enough when the grim reaper flirts just ain't good.)
3) Warped polymer rails (P series)
4) CEO's dad is the Antichrist! :eek::D

Firestorm pros:
1) Reasonably priced.
2) Ergonomic design (Someone called it "sexy". You be the judge: www.firestorm-sgs.com/mini.htm - More pics at gunbroker.com ... including a sharp-looking nickeled one.)
3) High capacity (10+1 ; 67% more than the Kahr. Awright!)
4) Respectable quality and service.
5) Strong presence in S.A. and Europe; especially Italy, home of Beretta.
6) Company has been 40 years in the business.

Firestorm cons:
1) Weak presence in the U.S.
2) Few reviews and endorsements.
3) Manufacturer (Bersa of Argentina) won't hire a decent translator :rolleyes:

I need to know if someone owns a Firestorm in 40S&W and what their impression of it is. I've heard enough about Kook Jin Moon's brainchild.
 
Last edited:
Firestorm has a mixed reputation: some of the smaller guns are considered quite good (basically, the old Bersas), while some of their other guns are considered Pieces of SXXX.

Kahrs are quality guns. My only problem with them is their capacity, which tends to be limited.

The .40 is a great gun, but a bit "snappy" when you shoot it. Well made, nicely finished, with surprisingly good triggers.

You could do worse, and if you want to do something different, you'll never have trouble selling it.
 
Firestorm Baby

Well, I to have been looking for something a bit easier to carry than my USP .40, so I went on a field trip to a gun range thay rents guns, and tried out one of their Kahr K9's...and well, no sence pulling punches...

I HATED IT.

Even worse, so did my wife. Didn't feel right in my hand, the sites weren't so good, and, I know this is kind of pidly, but, it was tough to load. The magazine had metal guide rails sticking out the top, and each time I tred to load it, it felt like it was cutting up my fingers. I'm just a big cry baby, I know.

I haven't fired the Firestorm Mini-40, but, I have held it in my hand. Is it a bit larger than the Kakr, yes. But, it is sexy, and I guess there is something to that ergonomics stuff, because it felt real good in my hand. And, one again, more important than that, the wife likes it. :D Finally though, even more important than that, the gun shop I go to, both the owner and his wife carry Firestorm Mini-40's. What other advertising do you need?
 
I hate to complicate matters,but i hope you also checked out the RAP-440 that Century International has.I have two of them and they shoot like a dream! They hold 8 rounds of 40S&W and are an all steel gun with the best barrel i've seen yet.
www.centuryarms.com
P.S.while your'e there,also check out the FEG 40rz right below the RAP's.I have the P9RZ and its a great shooter but noticeably thicker than the RAP's.
 
Dagnabbit, Tropical Z!!! Must you complicate things?!! Now there are three contenders on my list! ;)

To be honest, thanks for the introduction. I'll look into this more closely.
 
And don't believe C.I.'s description that the FEG's are double action only.They aren't-they are a traditional DA/SA semi-auto.Heavy first pull,and light and crisp after that.
 
For me, Kahr's customer service has been SO responsive (90% of the time) that I would have no worries purchasing another Polymer Kahr.

My P40 has had only one problem (walking trigger pin) and it's back at Kahr right now (free of charge, not even a shipping cost.. .let's see Kel-Tec do that :) )

It is the most comfortable CCW I've ever toted... Not the best feel in the hand, but it's not that bad. To me, the K40 felt better, but I like the 17oz P series.

But as with Priv8ter, be sure to check the feel for yourself... You may like it, you may not.
 
I will further complicate things...all 3 guns are excellent. I would rank them first without a doubt, the Kahr. I have a k 40 and LOVE it. First rate all of the way. The second choice would be a tie for the RAP and the FSMINI....Ive shot the mini and its a great gun. Ive held the RAP's and they are just a tiny bit bigger than the Kahr K series, but very very heavy for their smaller size.
Fourth would be the FEG, I like FEG guns alot...with a little trigger work they are very good....even if they cost more. The one mentioned is a traditional d/a gun with a bobbed hammer. The grip is very short and blocky...a 2 finger gun, which I dont like.
The best deal is probably the RAP...I can buy them locally for 200-225$ NIB, second would be the FSMINI...300$ locally and then the Kahr for 400+ even for a clean used one, but you always get what you pay for.......hope this helps.
Shoot well
 
I recommend the steel framed Kahrs. The weight, which isn't really all that much, helps relative to pracitcal defensive shooting.
 
Onslaught,
My P40 has had only one problem (walking trigger pin) and it's back at Kahr right now (free of charge, not even a shipping cost.. .let's see Kel-Tec do that )
Click to expand...
I HAVE been trying to get Kel-Tec to do that! The problem is that my P-11 doesn't have any problems -- with the trigger pin walking or anything else! ;-)

If something ever does go wrong, I'll be sure to do my best to get KT to pay the freight both ways.... ;-)


(BTW, no problems with the P-9 so far either, but I'm watching that trigger pin! I also need to get a PT-145 so I can watch for frame cracks!)
 
My 1997 model K40 in stainless is a FLAWLESS gun in every way.. Deadly accurate and 100% reliable.. NO problems in all those years..

Frank
 
As far as "Reported Problems" go..the steel framed Kahrs have had none...the only thing people do is the Elite trigger upgrade.
The P series Kahrs and Keltecs alike have all have there share
of teething problems.....Just for the record......
Shoot well
 
If you want top quality, accuracy and reliability get a Kahr MK40. Mine is very accurate and for the quality they are not overpriced. I paid $399 for mine in mid 2000. Normally they went for $499 but I caught a sale.

Firestorm has a mixed rep according to this board.
 
Thanks, Eric. For the reasons that you mentioned, I don't consider the FEG a candidate. At this point I'm leaning more toward the RAP 440 or the FS MINI 40.

I'd love to testfire a RAP---that is, if I can get a hold of one. But no one around here has one or knows anybody who does.

On a separate note, FireStorm (BERSA) looks to be like one of those racetrack hounds that lag behind the pack for a while; then, in a sudden burst of energy, charge to the front and win the race. The more I learn about it, the more I am convinced that it's gearing up to be the next Beretta (Okay, so maybe not the next Beretta; but maybe the next CZ.).

Beware those Llama infiltrations, however. Anything from Spain or in 1911 is junk from what I hear.

Ironically, Astra (the now defunct Spanish gunmaker) once produced a line of top-quality weapons. Ruger and at least one German outfit are tightly based on them. Why Llama survived and not Astra is anyone's guess.

At any rate, FireStorm (ehem, BERSA) shows some promise. The few distributors in this country who supply the Mini 40 are having a hard time keeping them on the shelf. No rave reviews yet; but no bad press either. And more importantly: No "For Sales" on any of the boards that I've seen. At least not for the moment.
 
rickmeister,my FEG p9rz has none of the grittiness in the trigger that FEG's are famous for (like my High Power clone).Whether thats a fluke or not i don't know.The .40 s&w and the 9mm are the same gun except for caliber though.It is short and fat however,but i like it.Go here to see a good review-check out the archives section i believe its called.
www.cruffler.com
 
If it were my money I would spend it on the Kahr and I did, I bought the Kahr K9. I would not even compare that jewel of a handgun to a glorified Bersa.

7th
 
Leaning toward the K40.

Just read a post on another board about two separate failures in a FS MINI 40.

Can't find a RAP 440.

Oh well...
 
Last edited:
I have shot a K40 on and off for years, its has never failed to function 100% and amaze me in the process. I got a VERY clean
used one for around $ 350.00.....I looked long and hard to find that kind of a deal. You wont be sorry with the K/MK series Kahr's.
Shoot well
 
The Kahr is a quility gun that is comparable to any other high dollar piece.

The Firestorm is a cheap low quality gun that sooner or later you will have problems with.
 
I have 2 K9s..nickel & stainless. They have replaced the Glock 27 as my carry. They have functioned perfectly and I prefer their feel in my small hands to that of the Glock. They are a bit heavy but this weight makes the recoil all but vanish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top