Kahr PM9 issues

[jmancini]

I know the PM9 had 'issues' when it first came out, those are well documented. Left a bad taste in peoples mouths, but most guns have issues when they're first released. I also know there's a lot of fans of the PM9 out there who say they've never had an issue.

My question is this:

Are the current PM9s sorted out and reliable now, or are people still having issues?

If you've purchased a PM9 in the last 6 months or so, have you had any issues with it at all?

TIA

 

[brownie0486]

http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/showthread.php?t=693

Brownie

 

[grimjaw]

I've had mine less than six months. The larger of the two magazines occasionally doesn't want to feed with some (AE flat-nosed TMJ) ammo, and it hasn't tolerated really bad limp-wristing, but I just now did get through 200 rounds. So far, I have no complaints.

jm

 

[Control]

If you are looking for 99.9% reliability then skip the PM9. Some folks get lucky but many do not. I was one of the unlucky ones...

 

[DAdams]

Pm 9

All the reported issues of the early models were worked out well over a year ago. That said, there are still quality control issues that seem to be ongoing. If you don't get one that is right on at first, Kahr is very good about making it right in an expeditious fashion. I purchased mine in 2.07, it had issues and I sent it back and it has been 100% since then with 250 rounds through it with 3 different brands of JHP including +P.

There isn't a handgun on the planet, even the expensive ones that don't have issues sooner or later. The important thing is how it is handled by the manufacturer.

I really like the PM form factor and am glad I had the patience to get through the issues although I would have preferred a 100%er. I think you have a better than 75/25 chance to get a good one from the get go.


There really isn't a whole lot out there at this size, weight and 9mm.
Rohrbaugh, but it is $1000 and even they can be a bit fussy at first.
When you pack 6 lbs in a 5lb can things can get iffy, but it beats carrying around 20+ ounces unless you IWB or OWB then it doesn't make felt weight difference and I would get a stainless elite 03 .40.


Mine


Photo Courtesy of Playboy Penguin

 

[redneckrepairs]

Kahr pms with serial no prefixes ab and later seem to be good little guns ( mine is an ab, and the observation bears out with online research . ) . Not to say they dont have some idiosyncrasies such as you need to use the slide stop rather than slingshot the slide to load it, they like to run " wet " with lots of oil , and they like a real firm grip . A large part of the bad rep the pm series got was due to faulty barrels that kahr bought from a 3rd party early in the series .

 

[copaup]

I really wanted to like mine. I didn't. It tended to eat its own rails and was less reliable than I was comfortable with. I seriously regretted trading away a MK9 for it. Mine was one of the first with the DLC finish (which was AWESOME) so hopefully they have the bugs worked out by now.

 

[Obiwan]

"Kahr recongizes that the polymer framed guns might only be good to go for something like 2500 rds [ some have gone longer ] before the gun needs real attention or it's useful life is over."

That answers the question for me

 

[NCHornet]

The same reason I won't buy a Keltec P3at is the same reason I won't buy a Kahr PM9 not to mention the cult they are related too, but that is a different story. Those who say "just send it back and they wll fix it and make it right" Just what I want to do is spend my hard earned money on a firearm that after one range session have to send it back to the factory, only to have to wait weeks and hope it comes back working as it should. These ain't hair brushes folks, these are tools that we may have to use to defend our lives or the lives of our loved ones. I often wonder and say "How do these CEO's sleep at night?" I believe if the company cared about their customers they would put in place a very high QC program that every gun must go through. I believe this should include shooting 50-100 rounds to insure reliability. I know I am dreaming, but how about they pay for all shipping cost when a gun does nned to be returned. Again you think you got a good deal on a gun only to spend another $50 to have to send it back to the factory. No thanks I would rather buy a quality firearm to start with . Sure all manufacturers have their failure rates I just try and stay away from those that are higher on the list. Flame suit on.

 

[Wrascal]

I bought a new one (PM9 DLC) several weeks ago.
First and second firing this past weekend.

Friday, I shot 100 rounds WWB FMJ both hands, no failure, followed by
20 rounds WWB HP 147 gr. Shot #120 failed to lock back the slide on empty.
It was shot using my tired off hand.
The backstrap was abrading my palm. NO other problems.

Two days later, the wife fired the same type and amount; 100/20.
She had trouble locking back the slide,
and 4-5 failures of the slide to lock back on empty.
Also abraded her palm. (Grip cover on order.)

I'm very pleased with it, much more manageable than I expected.
Date of birth about Aug 07 / SN # VDO6xx.

 

[jetman]

I bought a PM9 immediately after their introduction, and had a few minor issues with mine. I had a trigger reset spring break while putting is first 250 break-in rounds through it. I sent it back for repair and they did the early barrel recall replacement. While they had it, they did a trigger job polished the feed ramp, and it absolutely never missed a beat after 1000 rounds I put through it after I got it back. I've since sold it to a close friend who still carries it to this day and it has never missed a beat for him either. I ended up buying a PM40 in it's place and it also ran perfect for me over the next 800 rounds. I recently sold it to buy a Colt New Agent, but would still have no hesitation to buy another Kahr or recommend them as an awesome carry pistol. It is still the easiest pistol I ever had to conceal. If they would only make a small single action 1911 style cocked and locked version I'd be first in line to buy one of those. Their customer service dept was first rate to deal with too.

 

[SEMO Shooter]

I have had a PM9 for about 9 months. It failed to return fully to battery sometimes for the first 200 rounds. Kahr sent me a new barrel and return spring assembly. That helped but it still would occasionally fail to return to battery until it had 200 more rounds fired. After 400 rounds it has been flawless. I think that if I had just shot 400 rounds before I called Kahr it would have worked fine with the original parts. Their customer service was very good to me.

There isn't much to choose from that is as light and small as the PM9. I don't trust the PF-9 (my wife owns one). Please don't flame me Kel-tec lovers, it is just my opinion. Kel-tec customer service was great and updated the parts in hers as it was one of the very early PF-9s sold, but I just don't trust it well enough for a CCW.

You will read as many problem stories about Rohrbaugh as good reviews, but that is the same for most firearms. We are all much more vocal about our problem guns than our flawless function guns.

All this said I carry my subcompact 1911 most of the time. I only carry the PM9 when I need to have something smaller for CCW.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Mine (purchased 3/06, serial number prefix VC) was one of those that had to go back for repair, but they replaced the barrel and recoil spring and it has been fine ever since. It is actually my most often carried gun.

 

[ABBOBERG]

As I have said in earlier posts, the PM9 can get rimlock. It is something about the top round and the next round in a full mag jawing away from each other, causing the case flanges to hang up. This is also true for the replacement mag Kahr sent me. Based on what I have read on THR, most people will not get this problem since they are using the PM9 as range gun.
I have not yet read one post on someone using the gun for self defense, which would involve chambering a round from a magazine that had been jostled around awhile.

I own both a PM9 and a Kel-Tec PF9. I would not compared these two guns in sturdiness - the Kahr is much more solidly built (you get what you pay for).
The PF9 is already getting significant wear on the slide rails (the aluminum insert into the plastic grip) after 50 rounds. Raw aluminum is clearly exposed and a lot of it has been washed away (similar to a photo I saw of a Skyy gun on THR).

What these two guns do have in common is that for some reason I cannot hit the side of a barn with either. The Kahr is very "jumpy" when fired (and the sharp grips can cut your skin), and the Kel-tec is both jumpy and slaps the hand very hard. I have big, strong hands but my shots with both guns always go way high.

If I had to do it over, I would not have bought either gun and just gotten the G26, which I have now. It is very accurate for me and more powerful than the other two guns. It is also better built than the Kahr by a significant margin.

 

[sloman]

I have a "VC" model that I got in June, 07 and it has been nothing but nice! I have over 600 rounds through it including hollow points and FMJ and not a problem at all. It is very accurate as well.