Kahr questions...alot of them!

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DPSproles

New member
Well, I have been reading all I can get my hands on about the Kahrs and their various weapons that they have to offer. I don't think that I have read ANY bad reviews of the company or the pistols themselves (spare the beginnings of the 9mm which they have corrected.) HOWEVER, I am completely confused on WHICH Kahr I want to be my primary CCW and home defense weapon. I will only have one handgun...this one (whichever it ends up being.)

HISTORY:
I have very small hands (no comments), typically wear Khakis and tucked in shirts and live in TN (forget the jacket covering the weapon concept.) I will feel very comfortable wearing the pistol in an ankle holster. Magazine capacity is obvious a factor, but not really high onmy list. The different Kahrs that I have handled (yet shot NONE) feel as if MR. Moon usedm y hand to design the pistol. It is a perfect fit and feel when I hold it. I personally kind of like the heavier weight of the Kahr and the thin grip is perfect for my tiny hands.

I have read alot on the company and their weapons and have searched all the posts/threads here on TFL and am deabting on a few of their 9mm line. I personally like the concept of a gunmaker making a weapon that can not onlyhandle +p and maybe even +P+ ammo, but Mr. Moon actually prefers the +p stuff running through his guns. With that being the csae, the 9x19 is great fro me, plus you get one more round thrown into the equation.

**One thing that I am confuse on (slightly) is the differnece between the MK and the Coverts. They seem to be VERY similar in size.
**What are the advantages to the steel v. poly guns? I am not an expereinced shooter (I have some, but not alot.) I plan on taking a few training courses after the purchase.
**Will a heavier gun help or hinder my accuracy?
**In an ankle holster which would be the better choice - St/St or blue? St/St or Poly?
**Tell me about the duo-tone. (looks GREAT!)
**What adv/dis do you get by going smaller gun (ie MK or Covert) and adding the clip extension (besides the obvious extra round?)
**Is there a better source than others for finding these things new/used?
**Opinions on new v. used Kahrs?
**Things I should try to avoid in buying a Kahr? (ie production dates, etc.)

I know that I have asked alot, but where else can I ask all these questions in one place and feel confident that you guys will know the answers.

Thank you for your help.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!
 
Well I can address some of your questions and some I believe are best left to you. The Kahrs that I have experience with are great pistols. I currently own a Kahr K40, MK9 and P9. All three are great shooters and I have had very problems with any of the 3 after the initial break-in period. I belive that the full size 9mm is the best they offer, either stainless or polymer. I find that I carry my P9 the most, you can actually forget it is there. I find that the MK9 is good in a pocket holster with the right kind of clothers, allthough a little heavy. The K40 is very accurate and is another good choice. I can only wait for the MP9 to be released, the best of both worlds I think. I would find a range with rentals or someone who has the pistols you are considering and shoot them, figure out which one is best for you, purchase it, shoot about 200 rounds through it to break it in and then get some training and always practice... Stay Safe
 
In your situation, I would consider the the P9. It weighs less than the other Kahr pistols, and as you pointed has one additional round in magazine capacity over the K40 and two over the MK40.

IMO the steel guns have less recoil because of the greater mass, but they are also not as comfortable to carry as the polymer guns.

The difference between the MK and Covert series is that the Covert has the same slide/barrel length as the K series and the same frame height as the MK series pistols.

For ankle carry, the MK9 would probably be easier to access than the P9 because of its smaller size, but its added weight may be a noticable disadvantage.

I carry a P40 with an extra magazine in a Thunderwear holster and wear shorts and a T-shirt most of the time, as I live in Florida. Thunderwear like any other mode of carry is something that either works for you or it doesn't.

During the winter (if you can call it that), I sometimes wear a Milt Sparks IWB holster and carry a Custom Hard Chrome K40.
 
The Coverts have the standard slide/barrel (3.5") and the compact frame - the MK models have the compact frame and a shortened slide/barrel (3.0").

The steel guns will weigh more which will absorb more recoil. Also the poly guns are very thin which means recoil is transferred into a smaller area of the hand. However thinness and light weight are pro's for carry.

The weight of the pistol should not affect mechanical accuracy at all.

Stainless and polymer are more corrosion resistant than standard blueing for any application. However stainless can still rust so some preventative maintenance is still required.

In my opinion if you are going to use the clip extension all the time you might as well get the larger frame. I have the MK9 and only use the extensions for extended range practice. The reason I bought the MK9 was for the short, very concealable frame.

Prices and deals are very location dependent. In Texas a large gunshow tends to have the best prices new and used.

If you don't know a lot about guns then you probably should go new since used gun quality can be difficult to judge. Plus you get the warranty if something goes wrong.

I don't know of any specific Kahr pistols to avoid; however, always try out your pistol with 300+ rounds of ammo plus a good number of your chosen carry rounds before relying on it for carry.
 
There are actually too many choices.

As you can tell from the above posts, there are more plusses than minuses. I have a MK9 Elite and had a P9. As much as I liked the P9, I sold it. The P9 has the same action as the Elite so it`s a nice shooter. At first the molded checkering bothered the web of my hand but after maybe 100 rounds I never noticed it again.

I was a cop for 20 years and found my Detective Special to be a great gun. If I was working today, I`d opt for the MK. It`s just the way it feels. Now when the lightweight comes out, who knows?

You really need to shoot these guns before you buy. It`s a really hard choice.
 
**What adv/dis do you get by going smaller gun (ie MK or Covert) and adding the clip extension (besides the obvious extra round?)
Click to expand...

The magazine with the "clip extension" is actually a K-series magazine with a plastic doo-hicky wrapped around the base. As someone already mentioned -- if you're planning to use the larger mag, you are probably better served by the larger gun as well.

I carry an MK9, and absolutely love it. Some people complain about the weight, but you pretty quickly forget about it. Carried in the pocket (or on the ankle as you propose), the weight may be a factor only in that it could make your pants sag or holster slip down over time. I haven't noticed it being a problem, but then I wear a sturdy belt, cinched up, and fairly durable pants (jeans, heavier chinos, etc.).

You're right on the ergonomics issue: Justin Moon spent a lot of time perfecting the grip angle and shape. It points perfectly for me, and doesn't seem to have much recoil, even with +P ammo. You owe it to yourself to rent a couple of different models before you buy. I was impressed when I did.
 
I think the MK9 is the pinacle of this line due to it's small size, but the weight gives big gun controllability. It will shoot as well as any Kahr model despite the smaller size and was designed for 9mm +P, which is about the effectiveness of .40 without the recoil, and practice 9mm is cheap and great to shoot. The stainless finish is also the easiest to care for-the only one you can buff the scratches out of. Terrific gun of sig-like quality. The trigger is too light already, don't go with an optional trigger job.
 
I have owned every Kahr available (except the Coverts)... My wife still carries the MK9 I bought her a few years ago, and LOVES it. I bought the K40, but it was WAAY too heavy. Then, after handling the MK9, I wanted the MK40. Well, I bought one, and it was a GREAT gun, not too much recoil, but for my big hands, the short grip got old. I used the extended grip exclusively, which is the same length, but not as comfortable, as the full size (relatively speaking) Kahr. So far, all were 100% performers.

I jumped on the P9 bandwagon immediately, and came up with a lemon. 3 trips back to Kahr (cost free to me) finally got me a replacement P9, which I traded "unreceived" for a P40. So far, the P40 is 100% BAD A$$!! I jjust put Mepros on the front today, and I LOVE this gun.

It's so light and thin, I forget if I'm wearing it or not. Surprisingly, the recoil is not THAT bad. It does kick more than my USP45, but it's half the weight!

The one thing I don't like about it, you'll probably LOVE... the grip is even thinner than the K series. I had to put a Hogue HandAll Jr. on it, even though it makes the grip snag my shirt a bit.

One more thing... Meaning NO disrespect to ANYONE's pistol, but for me, if I'm gonna have a "pinkie swinger" for a grip, I'm going got get something in return.. (i.e. a shorter slide). So as far as I'm concerned, the Covert is the worst of both worlds. If I have to live with that grip, I want a gun so small I can slip it in my Blue Jeans pocket and never notice it. Again, that's just MY little Ole opinion.

Clear as Mud now?
 
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