Too heavy???

[joell33]

Due to all of the responses on my last post I am about to order a new Kahr 9mm. Looking very hard at the mk series. My question, to those who may have experience (or maybe not exp. just an opinion) is are the MK9's too heavy to carry all day in either a beltslide or pocket holster? I had a Glock 26 and hated it due to size not weight. I know the pm9 is about 10oz. lighter but I like the looks of the mk's better. I'm not a big poly gun fan. Currently I am carring a Taurus 85 Titanium in my pocket all day everyday w/o even noticing it's there. It weighs about 13 oz. unloaded. The mk's weigh about 22oz. unloaded and the pm's weigh 14oz. unloaded. What do the experts say? 22 oz. too heavy for pockets? Should I just suck it up and buy the poly? I know I'll probably end up buying both evetually, but I sure hope that's not my best solution. All advice taken and appreciated. Stay safe!!!!

 

[Blackhawk]

What do the experts say? 22 oz. too heavy for pockets?

Doesn't matter what the experts say. What matters is what YOU say.

Having pocket carried several pistols, IMO the best weight is less than 10-12 ounces fully loaded. There, but unobtrusive, and they don't make your clothes do funny things. As weight goes up, comfort goes down VERY quickly.

The holster makes a huge difference too. A good one makes a heavier gun seem lighter.

The other factor is how easy it is to draw the pistol. Getting it into your pocket is easy, but it's a waste of time if you can't smoothly and quickly get it out without drawing attention to yourself. Again size and weight are important, but the most important factor in drawing from the pocket is the holster.

 

[Fiveshooter]

Get The MK9

I have heard too many complaints about problems with the poly frame Kahrs. The MK9 is very reliable and that should be even more important than weight. I have the MK40 Elite 98 with night sights and love the gun. I am amazed at the accuracy these little guns are capable of. They are very easy to shoot despite the small size.

 

[shootingfarm]

I sure you have had other people tell you but the heavier the gun the more you need a good gun belt ( heavy, double thick ).

I carry a 1911 and at over 40oz with a good belt and holster I can carry it all day, 14 to 16 hour's with no problem.




Paul

 

[El Tejon]

Good holster and belt. You'll be fine.

 

[joell33]

Heavy

Fiveshooter, I have heard the same things about the poly's. By the way do you frequently carry your mk? If so is it iwb, owb, or pocket. I am still concerned about the weight pulling my pants down some on one side, if I carried in the pocket. Wouldn't look right. I am only concerned with the pocket carry because I hate iwb carry, and there are times I need to tuck in my shirt. Any more ideas would be appreciated...




Blackhawk, I agree that only I can tell. I'm gonna try to carry the wife's Bersa tomorrow. It weighs in about 20 oz. Real similar to the mk's. BTW I do like my Taurus at only 13 oz. for pocket carry but right now I think I've just got the bug for a new gun to carry.

 

[Onslaught]

The MK is absolutely in NO way too heavy for belt carry.... I have always thought Kahrs were a tad heavier than Kahr says they are, and my wife's MK9 sure feels heavier than 22 oz, but with a good quality pistol belt, and a decent holster, I don't feel a thing, even with a K40 on the hip.

MK9 pocket carry is a different story. Some folks do it all the time and say weight is no problem. Most who pocket carry the MK9 say it's "doable" with a good ($60+) pocket holster, but it would be nice if it were lighter. Then some say it's just too heavy.

I tried to carry my wife's MK9 in an el-cheapo Uncle Mike's pocket holster that I carry a S&W 642 in all the time with no problem. It flopped and printed and hung and tugged.... I can't do it, that's for sure. And I just can't seem to come off the $60 for a "good" pocket holster, since I don't need one for a lighter pocket pistol. Like Blackhawk, my pocket pistol weight limit is quite light. 15 or 16oz is my comfort limit.

As someone who has PERSONALLY had problems with 2 Kahr polymer pistols, I hesitate to say this, but I have heard of NO problems (except aesthetic) so far with the PM9. When I was dealing with my second Problematic Kahr (that's what the P in P40 stands for BTW ) I was told by Dave, the Production manager, that a lot of engineering changes went into the PM9, and that it was NOT just a shorter slide P9 Covert...

Once the prices around here come down, I MAY buy one, but I'm pretty happy with my 642 right now.

 

[mini14jac]

joell33,

I've been down the same road.
Used to have Glock 26.
Can't get used to belt carry.
Had a Guardian .32.
Bad trigger, not accurate, too heavy for a .32, in my opinion.

I also had a MK9.
Loved the trigger, accuracy, reliability, size, etc.
But, for me it was too heavy for pocket carry.

I had been carrying a KelTec P32 all the time.
(about 9oz. loaded), but I feel that a .32 caliber round is a little small.

I have a PM9 now that works great for pocket carry.
I use an Uncle Mike's #3 holster.
It weighs around 20 oz. loaded.
Most slacks and jeans have enough room in the pockets for the PM9, and I usually forget about the weight.
You do need pants that fit well around the waist.
(By the way, 250 rounds so far, no problems at all. Very accurate, good trigger.)

At least one member of the board here says he carries a MK40 in a back pocket holster all the time.
Something else to think about.

If you can manage belt carry, I think you could easily forget about carrying 3 or 4 pounds with a good holster and belt.
I don't know of any modern auto or revolver that is too heavy for belt carry.

I have a slight frame, and I usually wear my shirt tucked in.
A "shirt tucker" holster makes me look like I have some kind of growth on my side.
So, pocket carry is about the only option for me.

If you are carrying a Titainium revolver now, anything other than a KelTec P32 is going to feel like a brick until you get used to it.

 

[22luvr]

Opinions from a 100% pocket carrier

I wear Docker-style pleated pants almost exclusively and both size and weight are critical for pocket carry.

I've test fitted an MK9 (man, gotta love the fit/finish/trigger!)but it was much too heavy.

I'm currently carrying a Smth 340 SC Scandium .357 mag revolver. The entire rig: gun, ammo, and holster weigh less than a pound. Perfect? Not exactly. This snubby, like every other snubby I've tried to carry full-time, regardless of weight, feels like a lump of coal in the pocket. A little too bulky in the cylinder and grip for true everywhere all-the-time concealed carry.

Where I go I absolutely MUST have deep concealment. That often means I have to leave the 340 behind.

I recently sold my P32 (Why? I guess I'm an idiot) because I was concerned about rimlock and the effectiveness of the .32 auto round. BTW, I found the P32 to be just about the most comfortable and concealable pocket carrier ever.

The P-3AT is the one in my future; a little more oomph than the P32 and no possibility of rimlock.

Just remember: If you THINK it feels too heavy and looks too big, it probably IS. Trust me; after toting a dozen different pocket guns around, the flatter and lighter the better!

 

[Kahr carrier]

Get the Mk-9 A good belt holster and you will forget you have it on.

 

[Kahr carrier]

You might also want to look at the NAA 380 Guardian ,there pretty nice.

 

[hogan]

I've got an MK40 and a drawer full of holsters to go with it. With a halfway decent belt IWB is no problem. I have a couple of el cheapo Target leather belts and have no "good" holster belts, but am happy carrying with either my older DeSantis IWB or with my new toy: a FIST Kydex IWB that I really like a lot! The size of the pistol in ideal and the weight is not a problem with IWB.

I also have a couple of pocket holsters: one leather one I bought from the Kahr website and one man-made one from DeSantis. I like the DeSantis one much better. One point to note is that if the pants or pocket is too roomy, the MK series will bruise you up when you walk vigorously. I have some reasonably slim cargo pants where the gun sits rather nicely, but my more baggy cargo pants let the pistol flap around too much. I do find that most regular pockets in pants are too small for this gun with a pocket holster.

I've also got a Kramer t-shirt with carry pouches under the arms that works well, but is definitely deep-concealment. When all else fails, I've got a fanny pack that I can carry with, though I really haven't gotten comfortable wearing it much.

Good luck with whatever you get! I don't think you are likely to be unhappy with either the MK or PM line of pistols!

 

[91101]

hogan:
Tell me a little more about your Kramer tshirt if you will. I've been thinking about one of those and have been wondering how well it carries bigger/ heavier guns. What do you carry in yours?

TIA
Michael

 

[joell33]

Thanks

Thanks Hogan for the advice. I just yesterday posted in the general section about the confidant. I was wondering if it would stay tucked in as I am 6'1" and weigh about 245. All of my shirts are 3XLT and I was not sure if the Confidant would stay in. Anyway I'm getting really clost to ordering the MK9. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[hogan]

Kramer confidant info: I'm 6'3" and about 240 lbs, and usually wear chest size 46". I ordered the extra large shirt (full length) online from the website: Link. This shirt is very snug and does not stretch like a knit t-shirt. That makes it harder for me to get on than most shirts, but results in a secure platform for the gun. It is sufficiently long for me, though another inch of length would have been nice. It is all polyester and is too hot for Texas warm weather, thought right now that's not a problem. I also find it a bit itchy until it has been worn and washed often. It conceals very well, though it's slow to draw from. Because it holds the gun very near your skin I'd recommend a really water-resistant gun finish like stainless steel or the glock tennifer finish. I have carried each my Kahr MK40 and a Taurus PT140 in it (both stainless), though not at the same time. I could have, but chose to stitch the right side holster bottom closed and carry a couple of magazines instead. I don't have a full sized auto or revolver, so I can't comment on how well it would conceal one. Because the bottom of the elastic "holster" is open, it could conceivably carry a couple of Desert Eagles with the 10" barrel if you wanted to. Hope this is helpful! (I gotta learn how to do paragraphs here, is it bracket P close-bracket?)

 

[91101]

Thanks Hogan,
That's the kind of info I was looking for. About the paragraph thing, I've got no idea.... sorry...

Michael