Take a look at the Kahr P-9s. The smaller MK’s and PM’s while popular seem to be pushing the envelope to much for my tastes. I’ve carred a P-9 since I bought it in 99 at West Point. I’ve had several thousand rounds through it with zero issues. It has the no longer availble Heinies on it and the slide stop was dehorned by C&S. Correction, the early P’s had some issues with the trigger pin walking. I shot mine for about two years with that issue, before I called Kahr. They shipped out a new grooved trigger pin and solved the problem. It never induced a malfunction, but did chew up my kydex.
I picked up a used PM-9 a little over a year ago. It has XO sights on it, otherwise its factory. I’ve had no issues with it, but find the grip is to small for IWB carry. I have to “fish” for the grip, so it ended up in a Bullman holster on my belt. Other then in a winter coat pocket carry with the PM doesn’t realy work for me either.
I’m working on a T-9 now. C&S dehorned it, releived the grip behind the mag release and opened up the mag well for me. I also installed Novacks. I realy like this pistol for a IWB CCW in a Rosen ARG holster. With this one though I did have the dreaded break in period malfuntions. Be advised though the T-9’s and T-40’s are about as rare as hens teeth it seems like. If you shop around you can find them for around $540 in places like Gunbroker, I think mine was $529 for old stock.
Of course the fact I live in a ban state and can’t get into carring a fat pistol with a 10 round mag always colors my judgement:mad:
I like the Kahr CW9 series for a single stack. The pistols have vary tight tolerences and definitely need the break-in time, but after that they are good to go. the grip is longer on this pistol versus the PM9, so you get better control and it really doesn’t take up that much room in concealment.
There are a few minor differences in the CW versus the P.
There is not as much machining on the slide
The front site is staked versus adjustable
The slide release is cast versus mahined
The barrel has traditional rifling versus polygonal.
There is about a $200 difference in price. The CW is a no frils, but I really like it as my light weight conceal carry. I am actually thinking about this being my around the house gun just to have a light weight all the time pistol.
I work for a dealer at gun shows and I usually sell the CW’s at every show.
I agree with the others about the Sig P239 as being a good pistol, but I just wanted to put in my 2 cents about the Kahrs.
I’ve got plenty of carry pistols, but the Kahr P-40 is the one that goes with me every day, and has for the past seven years. The same gun in 9mm is even a fraction thinner. I also had a MK9 that foolishly traded off.
Nothing I’ve got that is close to being as potent as the Kahr, can I carry as easily as it. My next one will be the all stainless K-9 Elite, since I’m getting rid of .40’s in exchange for 9’s. The one exception will be the P-40, it stays.
BTW, if this is for your wife, the VERY short trigger reach might be a big plus with the Kahr.
Buy a HK P7 PSP and when your wife hates, viola, you have a P7.
Owning a P7 is kind of like being a zombie. Before you have one they seem totally foreign and for brain dead people. After you own one, you can’t believe that you waited this long to convert and you go on the search aimlessly for brains, er I mean spare PSP mags.
I’m partial to the Springfield EMP & the S&W 3913/3914/908 models in the 9mm single stack category, but they’re two different animals. I’ve worked a lot with steel & polymer Kahrs in all sizes & they carry well. But, for me at least, the trigger leaves a bit to be desired & with large hands I tend to have considerable problems with the slide failing to lock back due to my digits getting in the way - not enough gun. This is not the fault of the weapon, but rather a combination of my hands & this weapon. Vicki Farnam once commented that my hands were too big for the Colt Officers Model I was carrying at the time. There is one Kahr K9 I have that is ‘melted’ severely & heavily customized. The trigger is as smooth as an old S&W K-frame PPC revolver. This one rises to the top of the Kahr heap in spite of my issues with the slide lock, but it is a custom proposition only. It has to be handled, carried & shot to really appreciate it. Inspiration for it came from the old ASP & Devel projects.
I got it from Dawson Precision and had them do their fluff and buff. I have never had a non mag related hiccup. The mags are the weak link in the 9mms. I have not shot the new 10 rnd Wilsons (but I bet there pretty good) so I can not comment, and therefore would say that the hands down best 9mm mag is the Metalform that they make for Springfield http://www.midwayusa.com/Eproductpage.Exe/showproduct?saleitemid=567771
I think before you launch into one you ought to find someone who has a hi cut (which STI is) single stack (in any caliber) with slim grips and a short reach trigger to confirm that your wife likes it (I can not imagine that it would not fit her very well).
If it does the next step is what to get? The STI is pretty common in ESP (IDPA) and I think most prefer it over the Springer for 5" guns. While I own Baers in .45 ACP, based on a dogshit 10mm I had him build there is no way I’d have a 9mm from him. I think Wilson makes a 9mm too. If I were going to carry that STI I’d send it to John Harrison for one of his ‘fixed’ mods to Bo Mars, replacement of the FO front, and some light massaging including replacement of any critical MIM parts. If you want smaller, I know a guy that has a Colt CCO in 9mm - runs like a top with those Springer mags.
I have a Springfield loaded
An ED Brown “A” grade with both 38 super and 9mm barrels
and a SDM Fabricating custom stainless which is a Caspian slide on a Kimber frame with both a 9mm slide and a 9/23 slide
