Finding a T9

[DMR]

I lurked on Gunbroker for a looooonnnngg time before I found mine. Bought it for $529 or so, plus transfer

[at_liberty]

I lurked on Gunbroker for a looooonnnngg time before I found mine. Bought it for $529 or so, plus transfer

Was that used or new at that price? That's a rather important context to include.

[jeep45238]

I paid $600 after tax new locally for mine. This was last year.

I have a feeling that distributors are finding that the model isn't moving, and is offering an at-price discount to big shops if they buy a large quantity to move the inventory.

My wholesale cost at the shop I was working for at the time was $681, before tax and shipping.

[at_liberty]

In looking for new guns that are actually in stock, it seems like $800-825 is more the going rate. See item # 15606 at gunforall.com. I think you will find it challenging to find any at all, as the OP indicated. One also has to be alert to getting the desired sight option, Novak night sights or target sights.

[DMR]

Was that used or new at that price? That's a rather important context to include.

New I have yet to pay more then $550 for a Kahr. You just have to wait around on GB and other sites and they will come to you.

[at_liberty]

New I have yet to pay more then $550 for a Kahr. You just have to wait around on GB and other sites and they will come to you.

When was the last time you bought one with the industry backordered 6 months? The T9/T40 is just not the same commodity as other more common Kahrs.

[hoss]

The best price I have been quoted is $699 and $799 for the Novaks. Now remember I am new to hand guns, but the sights are another surprise to me. I rented a couple of Sig's at a local range P226 and 229 (I had also considering buying a 226 elite) and even though I shot very well, I feel the sights on hand guns are very vague...I wish they were more like riffles or even shot guns where you have a very small slit on the back and a very fine up front. With respect to the Kahr, I almost prefer the factory sights to the Novaks, because at least they are adjustable and I don't need night sights. Again with the Sig, the first 3-4 shots were all low and to the left, but I was able to adjust my aim to correct. I appreciate all the advise...reminds me to the Pioneer boat site or BMW E9 site where everyone gets to know each other.

[jeep45238]

Hoss, you may want to talk to at_liberty about his T9 - my buddy doesn't want to buy it, and his price is fair.

[at_liberty]

The best price I have been quoted is $699 and $799 for the Novaks.

Isn't the context that the gun would be special ordered and you would wait 6 months or more to get it? I think 6 months means "indefinitely".

These prices mentioned need to be in context. It isn't realistic to read anecdotes from someone who gets a discount by working at a gun store or someone who waited over a year to catch a deal on some auction site, a story that probably cannot be duplicated at this point. It seems pretty clear that no ordinary dealer will stock this model, and that older stock is pretty much gone as far as NIB specimens go. It's not a buyer's market. It looks like one will have to step up and seriously pay for this premium gun.

[at_liberty]

Now remember I am new to hand guns, but the sights are another surprise to me. I rented a couple of Sig's at a local range P226 and 229 (I had also considering buying a 226 elite) and even though I shot very well, I feel the sights on hand guns are very vague...I wish they were more like riffles or even shot guns where you have a very small slit on the back and a very fine up front. With respect to the Kahr, I almost prefer the factory sights to the Novaks, because at least they are adjustable and I don't need night sights. Again with the Sig, the first 3-4 shots were all low and to the left, but I was able to adjust my aim to correct. I appreciate all the advise...reminds me to the Pioneer boat site or BMW E9 site where everyone gets to know each other.

Re the sights, if you intend to carry this gun, you should have some concern for needing to see your sights in darkness. At other times, the Novaks serve like white dot sights. That light color helps acquire your target and better enables shooting with both eyes open. I just put a Dawson red dot fiber optic front sight on my 1911 target gun, changing from plain black. The Novaks are adjustable for windage but not elevation. The rear sight can be nudged left or right after loosening a small set screw in the rear sight.

Shooting "low and left" is just trigger pull problems, trust me. The only leftward issue would be if like me shooting right handed and left eye dominant. I adjusted my rear sights to the right to get the resulting pattern to move to the right. That accounts for parallax rather than a faulty trigger pull.

As soon as I got my firing technique to ensuring the muzzle doesn't dip, often homing the trigger unnecessarily, yanking actually, there was no more shooting low. There is a lot to consider and get control of to get that perfect shot. It is usually not the gun.

You don't have to sight in a pistol particularly, until shooting at considerable range or going for very small bullseyes. It's not a rifle, and defensively you don't get to choose exact ranges. Some of the sight adjustment is you on the fly.

Try shooting a .22 LR pistol. You can rent one. It can be very enlightening. Suddenly you shoot like a genius by comparison. You eliminate the KABOOM and can focus on fundamentals. You can get very small patterns in tiny little bullseyes once you get your mind around it. The rest with larger caliber guns is how you anticipate and control the force of the blast. The feel of the gun is not that different. I should note that the typical .22 target pistol has a longer barrel (5"), inherently more accurate, but the 4 inch Kahr would not be a big step down.

Aside from saving ammo cost, the .22 idea is one reason why people buy .22 conversion kits, principally for 1911 .45 ACP pistols. After making the investment, you drill on fundamentals without hearing a cash register on every shot. You make more shots than you might have otherwise. Unfortunately, it's a popular idea and economy ammo is hard to find. Indoor range ammo has to be jacketed for lead control, and some is not hot enough to run the action on the autos, my Browning Buck Mark, for example. Think in terms of higher grade ammo and the associated price.

It would otherwise be a case of waiting and waiting for the cheap stuff to be back in stock, undepleted by filled backorders. That is comparable to waiting for the perfect deal on some gun you wanted. They say in real estate that it is always a good time to buy, so I would suggest not overthinking this and just buying what's available. Having paid the lowest price is not some badge of honor or testimony to your manhood. It is just an indication of good fortune. If it is your first handgun, you should not be waiting. Just do it. Others with one or more other guns to shoot can wait indefinitely for that steal of a deal to come along.

Some of this may not apply. I couldn't know. I write as a devil's advocate and to relate some of my own experiences that might prove useful.