 |
| Despite its 17.7 ounce weight, the Kahr P9 proved pleasant to shoot and controllable - even with Plus P 9mm loads. |
 |
| The P9 represents Kahr's first foray into the polymer-framed pistol market. The black polymer contrasts pleasingly with the matte stainless slide. |
In the area of compact-carry autos, Kahr Arms is a relative newcomer. Yet in the past couple of years, the Blauvelt, New York-based company has shot to the top of the heap. The biggest factor in Kahr's success, as far as we can see, is that their pistols are exceptionally well made, ergonomically sound, and extremely simple and reliable. The simplicity of the pistols is attributable to the fact that they're striker-fired, double-action-only, and have no external safety levers. The fact that the ones we've shot are far more accurate than necessary for a short-range defensive piece is icing on the cake. The Kahr 9 Micro-Compact (9mm) and the K40 covert (.40 S&W) offer "little gun" carryability with a "big gun" sighting plane and feel. Both are of all-steel manufacture, a very pleasing "retro" touch which, we feel, does wonders for their shootability. The Micro and the Covert weigh 23.9 and 26 ounces respectively.
While those two models are quite comfortable to carry, the company evidently felt that something more feathery was in order. So Kahr now has a polymer framed pistol - the 9mm P9 (the polymer frame does, however, have steel inserts to reinforce the rails). The P9 weighs 17.7 ounces - amazingly low tonnage for a 9mm auto. the polymer construction also allows for a width reduction in the grip. Like all Kahr pistols, it's a single stack with a 7+1 capacity.
 |
| The low-profile sights and broad sighting plane of the kahr P9 are an excellent combination for rapid target acquisition. |
During our shooting session with the P9, we used Black Hills 115-grain Plus P JHPs, Federal HydraShok 135-grain JHPs, Remington 115-grain and 124-grain JHPs, Cor-Bon 115-grain JHPs, Winchester 147-grain Silvertip HPs and Triton 124-grain JHP Plus Ps. Accuracy was good, but to be honest, not as jaw-dropping as it was with earlier all-steel Kahr pistols. The best performer at 25 yards was the Winchester stuff, which averaged 2 inches, excluding an aggravatingly consistent single flyer in each five-shot group. Nothing grouped over 3 1/2 inches, and functioning with everything was flawless throughout. The smooth DAO trigger broke at just a shade under 7 pounds and was remarkably even, with little or no evidence of stacking. That factor, combined with the excellent sights and broad sighting plane of the P9, makes for a gun that is very easy to hit with. Despite the light weight of the P9, recovery characteristics were excellent in rapid-fire strings at a 7-yard silhouette target.
Out of curiosity, we chronographed three loads from the P9 just to get an idea of what type of velocity could be expected from the pistol's 3 1/2 inch barrel. Federal's 135-grain JHPs averaged 979 feet per second, Remington 124-grain JHPs averaged 1035 fps and Triton 124-grain JHP Plus Ps averaged 1,202 fps.
As enamored as we are of Kahr's menu of all-steel pistols, this polymer entry is a terrific idea. The P9 weighs 3 1/2 ounces less than a Walther PPK, yet is chambered for a load that is a significantly better defensive choice than the .380 ACP. In short, the Kahr P9 is a first-rate little pistol.
 |
| The P9 proved quite controllable in shooting rapid-fire groups at 7 yards (left). At 25 yards (right) Winchester 147-grain Silvertip HPs proved to be the best load for our particular pistol. |
THE VERDICT
KAHR P9 |
| CHARGES |
JUROR #1 |
JUROR #2 |
JUROR #3 |
| Fit |
 |
|
|
| Finish |
|
|
|
| Reliability |
|
|
 |
| Ergonomics |
|
|
|
| Sights |
|
|
|
| Trigger |
|
|
|
| ACCURACY |
| 25 YDS. |
| Best: |
1 3/4 in. |
1 7/8 in. |
1 3/4 in. |
| Average: |
2 1/4 in. |
2 1/2 in. |
2 1/2 in. |
| OVERALL RATING |
  |
|
|
| COMMENTS: |
Liked it, although I prefer Kahr's all-steel models. |
Far more controllable than I expected. Good pistol. |
Manageable, concealable, reliable. |
|
| AMMO USED: |
Black Hills 115-gr. JHP +P, Federal Hydra-Shok 135-gr. JHP, Cor-Bon 115-gr. JHP, Win. 147-gr. Silvertip HP, Remington 115- and 124-gr. JHP, Triton 124-gr. JHP +P. |
|
| KEY: ø Poor; Fair; Good; Very Good; Excellent |
|
|
