Kahr PM9 or MK9 ?

jgau53 · January 6th, 2009, 08:41 PM

Anyone have experience with these two pistols? I'm looking at one of these to take role of EDC currently filled by s&w 642. Recoil would not likely be an issue with either one though suspect that the mk9 would have the advantage. Have held pm9 at dealer and also owned a p9 in past that was traded in for higher capacity m&p9 so I'm familiar with function of the 9mm "p" Kahr. I haven't been able to find an mk9 at dealer or range(for rent) to compare yet. Reason I have not picked up pm9 already is that I am concerned about being able to use it in extensive practice sessions and would think the mk9 the more durable of the two. I practice with my carry rig frequently and prefered carry will be strongside iwb holster with pocket carry being a rare need.
Any advice or information on the comparison?

jwhite75 · January 6th, 2009, 09:36 PM

The MK9 is obviously heavier. The PM9 has a very strong following on here. I have considered it myself. I really like the p9. It is the most naturally feeling handgun I have ever handled. The Kahr trigger are pretty smooth too. Rminds me of an old DA revolver. The MK9 is a very nice handgun. If you can afford the extra $$$ I would buy what you think you'll like better. I wouldnt worry about the durability of the polymer model. though. Polymer models are more commonplace now than steel or alloy in the marketplace. I am sure it will hold up.

redbird · January 6th, 2009, 09:37 PM

I own both they are great carry pieces. The MK 9 shoots softer because of the weight. The PM 9 carries better because of the weight. Some times I IWB the MK and pocket carry the PM. The great part of carrying both is you only have to carry one type of back up magaxine and don't have to worry if you have picked up the correct mag in a stressful situation.

Danimal · January 6th, 2009, 10:03 PM

I have both. I almost EDC the PM9. I bought my K9 and MK9 in the same transaction. Wanted to get them in the safe before the prices went up again. The nice thing about the MK9 is that you can spruce it up by putting wooden grips on it. It boils down to whether or not you want to pocket carry it. If you are going to primarily IWB, I would go with the MK9. If you are going to pocket carry, I would go with the polymer model.

I would agree with others that the PM9 will take as much abuse as you can handle in a given range session.

banana · January 7th, 2009, 04:09 AM

The PM9 is a sweet firearm. I bought one for my girlfriend for christmas, and now I wish I had one instead of my Glock 27. Recoil isn't nearly as bad as you'd think it should be for such a small gun.

ellerblr · January 7th, 2009, 05:11 AM

After carrying an MK9 for about a year, I will say that it is difficult to pocket or ankle carry due to the weight. I carry it in an MTAC, and it conceals well under all but the tightest of T-shirts. My roommate has a CW9 which is slightly larger than a PM9, and I've carried his on my ankle and pocket before (like when we were going to the range before he had his CCW. Complete sidenote: it felt good to carry a second gun, even if the only thing I do with it is hand it to the guy next to me so we can both be armed.).

I will say, just because it is difficult to pocket or ankle carry doesn't mean that I don't do it. I have a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster and a Fobus ankle holster that get taken out occasionally.

Recoil is much more mild on both the MK9 and CW9 than I originally expected they would be.

cvhoss · January 7th, 2009, 11:02 AM

I have a PM that I bought with the intention that it would be primarily pocket carried. I chose the PM (14 oz.) as a friend has an MK (22 oz.) but rarely carries it. His primary carry method is pocket carry and while he loves the way the MK shoots, it's just to heavy for constant pocket carry.

If pocket carry would be a rare choice for you, I'd go with the MK. Heck, I've even occasionally pocket carried my Sig 239 (29.5 oz.) but only if I'm making a quick trip to mail a letter or such. It's doable, but I wouldn't want to walk around the mall with it. If there's any chance that pocket carry may become a significant carry method for you, go with the PM. You won't regret it.

Hoss

Van55 · January 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM

In a poll on this board almost 30% of PM9 owners expressed that they had reliaibility issues with theirs. I am one of them. I hope Kahr can resolve the issue, but at the price point for these there shouldn't be problems of jamming and failure to feed.

matiki · January 7th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van55

In a poll on this board almost 30% of PM9 owners expressed that they had reliaibility issues with theirs. I am one of them. I hope Kahr can resolve the issue, but at the price point for these there shouldn't be problems of jamming and failure to feed.

26% said they had been "given trouble".

I owned two Glocks, both of them had misfeeds at least once. Therefore, 100% of my Glocks have "given me trouble".

PM9/PM40 did they give YOU trouble?

ReaperVelle · January 7th, 2009, 04:25 PM

MK9 owner/carrier here (well normally between the MK9, Glock 30 & S&W 340PD - the MK9 is probally carried 60% of the time)... IMO too heavy for a pocket gun, but a great IWB carry that just disappears on you (since I live in mass I didnt have the option of getting the PM9 or any polymer type gun unless it was produced prior to '98).

Its a nice shooting micro...but has had a few misfeeds when I first purchased, went back to Kahr twice... since then no issues.

January 6th, 2009, 08:41 PM	#1
jgau53 New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 14	Kahr PM9 or MK9 ? Anyone have experience with these two pistols? I'm looking at one of these to take role of EDC currently filled by s&w 642. Recoil would not likely be an issue with either one though suspect that the mk9 would have the advantage. Have held pm9 at dealer and also owned a p9 in past that was traded in for higher capacity m&p9 so I'm familiar with function of the 9mm "p" Kahr. I haven't been able to find an mk9 at dealer or range(for rent) to compare yet. Reason I have not picked up pm9 already is that I am concerned about being able to use it in extensive practice sessions and would think the mk9 the more durable of the two. I practice with my carry rig frequently and prefered carry will be strongside iwb holster with pocket carry being a rare need. Any advice or information on the comparison?

January 6th, 2009, 09:36 PM	#2
jwhite75 Distinguished Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,695	The MK9 is obviously heavier. The PM9 has a very strong following on here. I have considered it myself. I really like the p9. It is the most naturally feeling handgun I have ever handled. The Kahr trigger are pretty smooth too. Rminds me of an old DA revolver. The MK9 is a very nice handgun. If you can afford the extra $$$ I would buy what you think you'll like better. I wouldnt worry about the durability of the polymer model. though. Polymer models are more commonplace now than steel or alloy in the marketplace. I am sure it will hold up. __________________ Remember to PILLAGE Before you burn.

January 7th, 2009, 04:09 AM	#5
banana Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: california Posts: 89	The PM9 is a sweet firearm. I bought one for my girlfriend for christmas, and now I wish I had one instead of my Glock 27. Recoil isn't nearly as bad as you'd think it should be for such a small gun. __________________ When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

January 7th, 2009, 11:02 AM	#7
cvhoss Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,464	I have a PM that I bought with the intention that it would be primarily pocket carried. I chose the PM (14 oz.) as a friend has an MK (22 oz.) but rarely carries it. His primary carry method is pocket carry and while he loves the way the MK shoots, it's just to heavy for constant pocket carry. If pocket carry would be a rare choice for you, I'd go with the MK. Heck, I've even occasionally pocket carried my Sig 239 (29.5 oz.) but only if I'm making a quick trip to mail a letter or such. It's doable, but I wouldn't want to walk around the mall with it. If there's any chance that pocket carry may become a significant carry method for you, go with the PM. You won't regret it. Hoss __________________ I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I always was Sig 239 SAS 40 S&W / Sig 239 9mm / Kahr PM-9 / Walther PPS .40 / Sig P-245 / Ruger LCP Beretta Tomcat / Walther PPK / BDA 380 / Taurus 85 / Kel-Tec PF-9 / Am. Derringer 357 NRA Life Member My Web Site

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January 6th, 2009, 09:37 PM	#3
redbird Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 262	I own both they are great carry pieces. The MK 9 shoots softer because of the weight. The PM 9 carries better because of the weight. Some times I IWB the MK and pocket carry the PM. The great part of carrying both is you only have to carry one type of back up magaxine and don't have to worry if you have picked up the correct mag in a stressful situation.

January 6th, 2009, 10:03 PM	#4
Danimal Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 395	I have both. I almost EDC the PM9. I bought my K9 and MK9 in the same transaction. Wanted to get them in the safe before the prices went up again. The nice thing about the MK9 is that you can spruce it up by putting wooden grips on it. It boils down to whether or not you want to pocket carry it. If you are going to primarily IWB, I would go with the MK9. If you are going to pocket carry, I would go with the polymer model. I would agree with others that the PM9 will take as much abuse as you can handle in a given range session.

January 7th, 2009, 05:11 AM	#6
ellerblr Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 120	After carrying an MK9 for about a year, I will say that it is difficult to pocket or ankle carry due to the weight. I carry it in an MTAC, and it conceals well under all but the tightest of T-shirts. My roommate has a CW9 which is slightly larger than a PM9, and I've carried his on my ankle and pocket before (like when we were going to the range before he had his CCW. Complete sidenote: it felt good to carry a second gun, even if the only thing I do with it is hand it to the guy next to me so we can both be armed.). I will say, just because it is difficult to pocket or ankle carry doesn't mean that I don't do it. I have a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster and a Fobus ankle holster that get taken out occasionally. Recoil is much more mild on both the MK9 and CW9 than I originally expected they would be.

January 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM	#8
Van55 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 86	In a poll on this board almost 30% of PM9 owners expressed that they had reliaibility issues with theirs. I am one of them. I hope Kahr can resolve the issue, but at the price point for these there shouldn't be problems of jamming and failure to feed.

January 7th, 2009, 04:25 PM	#10
ReaperVelle Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: US - Mass Posts: 46	MK9 owner/carrier here (well normally between the MK9, Glock 30 & S&W 340PD - the MK9 is probally carried 60% of the time)... IMO too heavy for a pocket gun, but a great IWB carry that just disappears on you (since I live in mass I didnt have the option of getting the PM9 or any polymer type gun unless it was produced prior to '98). Its a nice shooting micro...but has had a few misfeeds when I first purchased, went back to Kahr twice... since then no issues.