When Kahr Arms introduced their state-of-the-art .40 caliber K40 pistol last year, they billed it as the "Ultra-Compact." Made like the proverbial Swiss watch, the all-steel double action only(DAO) K40 can indeed be described as "ultra," and measuring just 6 inches long by 4.5 inches high, it truly qualifies as a compact.
Exhibiting both outstanding design and execution, the K40 boasts one of the lightest, smoothest double-action trigger pulls we've experienced right out of the box. The appeal more universal when one considers the many senior citizens and other shooters who don't have the strength in their fingers to operate some of the horrendous triggers on the market today
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| Typical 5-shot groups ran about 4 inches at 25 yards hand-held. |
Next consider the reliability inherent in the K40. Using a 6-shot single column magazine, the K40 will feed and fire a total of 7 rounds of virtually any kind of high quality .40 caliber ammunition.
Safe? You bet, for the K40 cannot be fired unless the trigger is pulled all the way to the rear. In this sense, it operates just like double-action revolvers so familiar to hundreds of thousands of Americans, and this pistol is equipped with internal safety devices just as reliable. One of these is the striker block that prevents it from striking a cartridge primer if dropped on the muzzle on a hard surface.
Comfortable and ergonomic, the K40 is also combat accurate. While not sacrificing reliability for accuracy, the pistol will still put 5-shots into about 4 inches at 25 yards. For a pistol will a sight radius less than 5 inches, this performance is on par with many full-size guns.
Next from Kahr came the Micro-Compact 9mm (MK9). Measuring one half inch less up and down, the MK9 is 5.5 inches long and 4 inches high with a 3-inch barrel and weighs just 22 ounces empty. The standard MK9 magazine holds 6 rounds, and a 7-round magazine with a special plastic base that serves as a finger extension rest is also available.
Except for its reduced size, the MK9 is identical to the standard Kahr with a few exceptions. The telescoping recoil spring group features two captive coil springs along with the polymer and steel guide rods similar to those now found in other mini-pistols. Also different are the MK9's black plastic grips. Then there's the barrel and slide. The MK9 has a special ramp along the right side of the chamber, which serves to allow the short barrel to pass under the slide when it drops out of battery. For loaded rounds to be removed from the chamber, the slider has a bullet clearance cutout at the front of the ejection port.
A .40 Caliber version
Just when we might have thought Kahr was taking a breather, the company announced a more compact version of the K40 based on the MK9, called the "K40 Covert."
Continuing the natural evolution, the coming of the K40 Covert was inevitable. This newest Kahr is essentially the standard K40 with the grip cut to the same length as the MK9. Thus, the K40 Covert measures the standard 6.1 inches over all by 4 inches in height.
Here K40 Covert (top) is compared with almost as new 9mm Micro Kahr. |
K40 Covert comes with two magazines, 5-shot version that fits flush with frames, and 6-shot with extension. |
Without grip K40 Covert's
panet reveals simplicity of pistol. |
Pearce Grips' magazine extension gives new look and
enhanced feel as well. |
With 6-shot magazine, height of Covert is increased
about 5/8 of an inch. |
As opposed to the MK9, the K40 Covert retains the standard length slide. While the slide of the 9mm mini-pistol could be reduced, the thrust of the .40 caliber round is too powerful to be accommodated by such a lightweight slide.
With a magazine the same length as the MK9, the K40 Covert holds 5+1 round of .40 caliber ammunition. However, a standard length 6-shot .40 caliber magazine also comes with the gun and it includes a plastic boot for enhanced gripping.
I have recently received a prototype sample of the K40 Covert and I just finished putting it through its paces. After enumerating the above attributes of the Kahr family, I can only add that this new pistol came with nearly all exterior sharp edges "melted", giving it a carry-bevel exterior along with a rather coarse matte finish which I find appealing. Continuing the Kahr tradition, the trigger pull was super-smooth and the abbreviated grip more than accommodation.
Shots Fired
The recoil of this new mini-40 is definitely more pronounced than the MK9. Even with standard 180-grain hollow points, the K40 Covert lets you know you're shooting a shout load. Still, the pistol remained fairly easy to control allowing fast follow-up shots out to 10 yards or so.
While 25 yards seems the maximum for which I would choose to use a pistol this size, I found that the K40 Covert would do its part on the target if I did mine, with most groups hovering around the 4-inch mark. From a pistol with a sight radius of just over 4 inches, I consider this pretty good accuracy. Shooting rapid fire drills from 10 to 15 yards, the K40 Covert was able to provide fast hits to point of aim.
Obviously subject to ammunition variables, the K40 Covert printed different bullet weights and hotter loads at slightly different elevations. What's more, some of these loads proved to be a real handful, and firing pin drag marks were evident on spent primers. For this reason, I would probably elect to stay with either standard 180-grain non +p or Federal's 135-grain Personal Defense loads.
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| Disassembling just like other Kahr pistols, K40 Covert requires no tools. |
One accessory I'd seriously consider adding is the Harrts Recoil Reducer. With a standard Kahr Harrts device in the test pistol, we noticed a reduction in the test pistol, we noticed a reduction in muzzle flip of an estimated 20 to 25 percent. Harrts does ont make a recoil reducer for the MK9.
Although I had no trouble shooting the K40 Covert with my little finger under the magazine, Pearce Grip sent me samples of their brand new finger extension for all standard Kahr magazines. I tried these on both my standard K40, the MK9 and the K40 Covert, and they provide a much more comfortable hold.
Milt Sparks Heritage
To carry the sample K40 Covert, I ordered one of Milt Sparks' new Heritage holsters. Hand made of the finest cowhide, this inside-trouser rig is unique to say the least. A one-piece leather laminate which is thin yet extremely strong, the Heritage keeps the K40 Covert close to the body yet readily accessible.
Designed just for the Kahr, a special version of Novak's famous sight is now available in either 3-dot or tritium. One of these will soon be an addition to at least one of my Kahrs, and Novak's has also developed a full concealment carry package for the Kahr.
| PERFORMANCE: KAHR COVERT |
| Cartridge |
Velocity |
Small Group |
Large Group |
Average |
| Black Hills 180 JHP |
867 |
3.89 |
4.02 |
3.94 |
| Cor-Bon 150 JHP |
1104 |
3.89 |
4.43 |
4.21 |
| Federal 135 Pers Def |
1096 |
3.68 |
4.13 |
3.92 |
| Winchest. 180 Ranger |
994 |
3.94 |
4.49 |
4.26 |
| Bullet weight measured in grains, accuracy in inches, velocity in feet per second with Oehler P35 chronograph for five 5-shot hand-held 25-yard groups. |
Specifications:
Kahr K40 Covert
CALIBER: .40 S&W
BARREL: 3.5 inches
OA LENGTH: 6.1 inches
HEIGHT: 4 inches
WIDTH: 0.94 of an inch
WEIGHT: 25 ounces
SIGHTS: Low profile bar-dot, with 3dot tritium optional
GRIPS: Wrap-around textured hard nylon
OPERATION: Modified Browning short recoil
TYPE OF FIRE: semiautomatic, double action only
FEED DEVICE: 5-shot and 6-shot magazine
SAFETY: Trigger cocking DA only and passive striker block
FINISH: Matte stainless steel
ACCESSORIES: Black polymer case, one 5-shot and one 6-shot magazine with grip extension
PRICE: $594 bar/dot sights, $677 night sights |
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For more information,
contact:
Harrts, Inc., POB 44054, Dept. CH, Cleveland, OH 44144; (330) 273-9450
Pearce Grip, Inc., POB 187, Dept. CH, Bothell, WA 98041; (425) 485-5488
Milt Sparks Holsters, 605 E. 44th, #2 Dept. CH, Boise, ID 83714; (208) 377-5577
Novak's Inc., POB 4045, Dept. CH, Parkersburg, WV 26104; (304) 485-9295 |
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Made like a fine Swiss watch, the K40 Covert should prove an ideal concealed carry .40 caliber sub-compact that will last a lifetime. To keep your Kahr pistol and the rest of your guns, JOIN THE NRA!
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