Kahr PM40 ? The good and bad please

[Cynful1958]

I will be taking my CHL on the 23rd and need to get a semi auto for the range test. I have had a 38sp for about 30 years. I need something that will be small enough to conceal, I am not crazy for the 380, I was looking at a Kahr PM40, and would love your feedback thanks Cynthia

[bjthompson]

I have the pm9. Great little gun after break in. I've heard the 40 was a little snappy. If you have to have a 40 you could do like me and wait till the xds comes out in 40 hopefully by fall. I absolutely love my xd40sc.

I will be taking my CHL on the 23rd and need to get a semi auto for the range test. I have had a 38sp for about 30 years. I need something that will be small enough to conceal, I am not crazy for the 380, I was looking at a Kahr PM40, and would love your feedback thanks Cynthia

[puma guy]

I've had one for quite a while. Although I have never had any problems from the get go, Kahr recommends a 200 round break-in to be reliable. Short grip, but I use the extended magazine with a Pierce extension. I also modified it with a leather wrap (see picture). Very accurate for a small pistol. Easily concealed. I pocket carry most times even in dress pants. It is snappy to shoot. I have an Apex wrap around grip cover. Lastly, it's a .40 S&W.

[A-R]

PM40 was the worst, most unreliable handgun I ever owned. There are some old threads about it around here somewhere. Multiple fail to feed issues, trips back to Kahr for repairs etc.

Have owned both steel- and polymer-framed Kahrs in 9mm since then with better reliability. I personally don't think Kahr's polymer is a good choice for anything with more energy than a 9mm.

Will your CHL instructor and/or the range not rent/loan you a semi-auto for qualification? Would be better than rushing into your first SA purchase.

Edited to add: my PM40 problems began well after the 200-round breakin .. ~ 700-800 rounds in it started having problems

[magicglock]

I had a PM9 and it was the only gun I was ever happy to sell. Several trips back to kahr before it functioned properly and at that point I just lost trust in the weapon. Great trigger but the rest was horrible. Over priced and too many better choices on the market.

[clarionite]

My hands are too big for the PM40. It's not safe, IMO, for me to fire it.

I have the P40, and really like it. It's got more recoil than a heavier weapon would have, but I expected that.
I haven't had any issues, other than a few times I limp wristed it early on and the slide didn't complete the operating cycle.
I adjusted my grip, and it's been flawless.

[03Lightningrocks]

I have a PM9 that has worked without a problem for at least four years. That being said, I am considering the PM40 for myself but have been told it has a very "snappy" recoil.

I would probably recommend something different as a first concealed carry. Especially if you are taking the shooting test with it. As mentioned by a few posts above, the PM series can be hit and miss. I have heard as many folks complain about them as I have compliment them. I think it might be luck of the draw... I got a lucky one. I would not call "luck of the draw" a testimony of high quality...LOL.


By the way... If part of your desire is a caliber starting with a .4, the .45 is easier to control... IMHO. The recoil from it feels more like a push while the .40 will literally snap up. Maybe look at the PM45 if you like the pm series and want a larger caliber than 9mm

[03Lightningrocks]

My hands are too big for the PM40. It's not safe, IMO, for me to fire it.

I have the P40, and really like it. It's got more recoil than a heavier weapon would have, but I expected that.
I haven't had any issues, other than a few times I limp wristed it early on and the slide didn't complete the operating cycle.
I adjusted my grip, and it's been flawless.

I was considering the P40 as an option instead of the PM40. I have not purchased either yet but looking at the P40, it seemed to be not much larger than the PM series and was about the same thickness. Thickness is a huge consideration for me. Thanks for mentioning that P40. I had not yet talked about this option with anyone.

[RoyGBiv]

PM40 was the worst, most unreliable handgun I ever owned. There are some old threads about it around here somewhere. Multiple fail to feed issues, trips back to Kahr for repairs etc.

Edited to add: my PM40 problems began well after the 200-round breakin .. ~ 700-800 rounds in it started having problems

I agree 1,000%. I hated my PM40.

Too snappy, multiple broken mag releases. A headache.
I would NOT recommend the PM40.

[clarionite]

I was considering the P40 as an option instead of the PM40. I have not purchased either yet but looking at the P40, it seemed to be not much larger than the PM series and was about the same thickness. Thickness is a huge consideration for me. Thanks for mentioning that P40. I had not yet talked about this option with anyone.

I really like mine. The difference in the p and pm is the height of the grip. They're both single stack, and very thin. Put it in a king tuk holster and its easy to conceal. If you lived closer, I'd meet you at he range to shoot mine to see if you liked it before you bought one of your own. Maybe one of the ranges around there has a rental?

[clarionite]

PM40 was the worst, most unreliable handgun I ever owned. There are some old threads about it around here somewhere. Multiple fail to feed issues, trips back to Kahr for repairs etc.

Edited to add: my PM40 problems began well after the 200-round breakin .. ~ 700-800 rounds in it started having problems

I agree 1,000%. I hated my PM40.

Too snappy, multiple broken mag releases. A headache.
I would NOT recommend the PM40.

I forgot. I have had one problem. A broken follower in one mag. They shipped me one for free when I called to order one.

[03Lightningrocks]

I was considering the P40 as an option instead of the PM40. I have not purchased either yet but looking at the P40, it seemed to be not much larger than the PM series and was about the same thickness. Thickness is a huge consideration for me. Thanks for mentioning that P40. I had not yet talked about this option with anyone.

I really like mine. The difference in the p and pm is the height of the grip. They're both single stack, and very thin. Put it in a king tuk holster and its easy to conceal. If you lived closer, I'd meet you at he range to shoot mine to see if you liked it before you bought one of your own. Maybe one of the ranges around there has a rental?

I appreciate the offer. Wish I were closer. Thanks again for the info.

[RPBrown]

PM40 was the worst, most unreliable handgun I ever owned. There are some old threads about it around here somewhere. Multiple fail to feed issues, trips back to Kahr for repairs etc.

Edited to add: my PM40 problems began well after the 200-round breakin .. ~ 700-800 rounds in it started having problems

I agree 1,000%. I hated my PM40.

Too snappy, multiple broken mag releases. A headache.
I would NOT recommend the PM40.

I had one that I put 500 rounds through trying to get it "broke in". Every 3rd round would FTF or FTE. 4 trips back to the factory and I traded it for a 1911 officers.

[SecedeTX]

I have the Kahr MK9 Elite with checkered wood grips. I have had it for 13 years, thousands of rounds through it, and have had zero problems.

Likes:

Slim and trim
All metal frame and slide make a small gun "comfortable" to shoot
Wood grips make the pistol fit in your hand better
Easy to conceal
Fit and finish are great

Dislikes:

Pistol was REALLY tight from the factory
Racking the slide even after it is broken in is tight

That being said, to get the pistol THAT small, you have to have a really stiff spring. I can get over that.

I have three Kahrs and have never had an issue with any of them. All of them are non polymer as I don't think you should make guns out of "tupperwear" in the first place!

[clarionite]

I have three Kahrs and have never had an issue with any of them. All of them are non polymer as I don't think you should make guns out of "tupperwear" in the first place!

I used to think that way too. Then I moved to Texas. I'm a big guy... And in the Texas heat, I don't glow or glisten like a dainty woman. I sweat. And I sweat a lot. I seem to get less issues with rust on the polymer guns.

Weight isn't an issue for me with the gun. Like I said, I'm a big guy. I really wouldn't mind carrying the weight of a Baretta 92. But my sweat eats every wrist watch I wear. I don't mind replacing the watches, I do not want to destroy a fine pistol.