Just can't decide...please help! CM/PM9, PM458

[itsthelaw]

I have my cash and ready to buy, but just can't make the decision. I have held and fired both 9mm and have handled the 45. I like the feel of the PM, but wondering if the quality is just perception or those particular rental guns. Worse yet, I am not sure that the size between 9 and 45 is enough to keep.me from the 45. I like the thought of hot weather conceal. Is the size between 9 and 45 a big difference? It didn't seem so. You all have explained the CM/PM difference, but can you notice the quality? Do any of these have more reliability issues? I have a CM9 for $420 OTD or a PM9 for $640 OTD. Is it worth $200+ or should I just get the 45 or CM? I have a KT PF-9 and compact M&Ps in 9 and 45 to carry already.

Thank you!

[PYROhafe]

The cm/pm9 is an awesome size for warm weather carry. Never delt with the 45, but ill say I'm not at all dissapointed in getting the cm over the pm. The extra money just went toward ammo! :D I will say tho that if u plan on carrying the gun don't forget that whatever money u spend on it could be gone if u ever have to use it in a shtf situation cause u might not get it back. So my .02 is go with the cm9 n don't look back....u won't be dissapointed! (Unless ur one of those caliber war guys that's only happy with the .45)

[Tinman507]

Buy the CM and take the $200+ and stick night sights on it, buy a nice PJHolster and 5 boxes of WWB range ammo. Might even have enough left over to get some carry ammo.

Functionally they are the same firearm. The differences as you know are mostly cosmetic. Blindfolded I bet you cannot tell them apart.

ps: Take off the blindfold to shoot them. Just sayin :tongue:

[Dirt doc]

I have both a PM9 and a PM45. There is a size difference such that the 9 conceals better with lighter clothes. I carry the 45 as my first option. But there are frequent occasions when I feel more comfortable with the 9. In the summer with cargo shorts the 9 is in my pocket. The 45 fits but is to bulky for me to pocket carry. I don't own a CM so can't comment except to say I like the 3 dot night sites I have on my PMs.

[JimC]

I own only one Kahr pistol, the PM9.
I bought it for one specifice purpose, to carry during the warmer months here in Central FL when other pistols such as my G27 were just too big.
If your reason is any where near what mine is, I recommend the PM9. ;)

[itsthelaw]

Excellent comments from all! Keep them coming. I would carry a 45 over a 9 if they were the same size, but I am certainly willing to carry a 9mm. One of the differences between CM and PM is a "pinned" front sight. How does that impact replacing the sights?

[Bill K]

My thinking is CM or PM 9 ifin pocket carry is in your future, .45 ACP otherwise. I'm assuming cost of ammo is not an issue to you else you would have mentioned the fact.

[CharlesD]

Between the 9 or .45 is something you probably just need to decide for yourself, whether it is worth it to have to carry a larger gun to have bigger bullets. :) As far as between the cm9 and pm9, my wife just got the cm9. Our logic was this, If we were sure she was going to want the night sights (only an factory option on the pm9) and want extra mag as well. (since the cm9 only comes with one) then the pm9 with NS made more sense. If you do not care about night sights, then the cm9 is obviously the better value. Like others have said you can buy a lot of spare mags and holster and whatever else for the money saved. Also I would say if you have plenty of money and that is not an issue then just get the pm9 and the .45 and be happy. :)

I will ad as far as the quality on the cm9, the only thing that concerns me a little is the plastic front sight. Not a huge fan of that idea, May see about replacing it with a metal fiber optic one or something.

[PYROhafe]

As far as pinned front sight options, several company's already offer them for the cm,(trijicon) and several more (xs) are working on them.

[Tinman507]

Pinned in front sight meant I could do it myself. It honestly took all of 10 minutes to do and a lil bit of loc-tite.

[wyntrout]

For weight... the PM45 with 5+1 230-gr rounds is just under 24 ounces and the PM9 is right at 20 ounces with 6+1 124-gr rounds. The .45 is only slightly larger but I can tell the weight difference when carrying it, AND I can carry any of my Kahrs except the P380 in the same Crossbreed Minituck... K9, PM9,P40, and PM45.

You'll need more magazines and the front sight is plastic, so it's up to you whether all the extras with the PM is worth more to you. I like the dovetailed sights and night sights on all of my defensive carry pistols. I did elect the DLC finish on my PM9 and the PM45, but the P40 and P380's look great with stainless slides.

The 9mm is a little easier to CCW... especially for the pocket, but the PM45 is a power house and more authoritative.:D

Wynn:)

[Gliderguy]

Just curious why the PM/CM 40 is totally off your radar. .04 inches thicker and 2 oz heavier than PM9, the 40 S&W cartridge does very well out of a 3 inch barrel, the very best 45 +p loads need an extra half inch or so of barrel to match the energy of top shelf 40 loads. 40 ammo is pricey, but if you are straddling the fence Kahr does make something the size of the PM9 that hits (energywise) like a CM45.

[jocko]

oh the 40 cal kahrs are awesome. Just for me anyhow, I want a gun a that I carry 24/7 and can spend as uch range time as I want with it and feel no discomforat after. Not sure I could say that abut the kahr cm/pm 40's. they are a handfull as most posters will attest to. Some say heh no problems whooting a kahr 40, some do complain. \It is what it is a hot ass round and u notice no +P 40 ammo, as it doesn't need it. ur point is taken Gliderguy. I think in the pm/cm frames that 9mm rules. Just sayin.

Kahr must have alot of faith in the cm40 or they would not have intorduced it and maybe went right to the cm45 version, which we know is going to come out sooner than later.:19:

[Gliderguy]

sign me up for the PM10 when it comes out. Should be able to singe the eyeballs out of your opponent at 20 feet even if the lead thingamabob misses him completely:59::laser::59:

[TucsonMTB]

Just curious why the PM/CM 40 is totally off your radar. .04 inches thicker and 2 oz heavier than PM9, the 40 S&W cartridge does very well out of a 3 inch barrel, the very best 45 +p loads need an extra half inch or so of barrel to match the energy of top shelf 40 loads. 40 ammo is pricey, but if you are straddling the fence Kahr does make something the size of the PM9 that hits (energywise) like a CM45.
Shhhhhh! Hold it down! We are trying to keep that a secret. .40 S&W may be the next "pocket round", once all the manufacturers start building them . . . just as 9mm has become more popular than .380 ACP, which replaced .32 caliber some time ago. ;)

It's fun being ahead of the curve, presuming you can handle the greater recoil . . . so, try not to let everyone know about it. Besides, the gun manufacturers still need to amortize their 9mm tooling before moving on to "fotay". So, try not to upset their marketing plan too badly. http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ejustsomeguy/icon_lol.gif

[TucsonMTB]

sign me up for the PM10 when it comes out. Should be able to singe the eyeballs out of your opponent at 20 feet even if the lead thingamabob misses him completely:59::laser::59:
Yeah! Just like .357 magnums replacing .38 special. I will need two. http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ejustsomeguy/icon_lol.gif

[Barth]

I rented a P40, K40 and P9.
The P40 was no fun to shoot and I wouldn't want one.
My friend has a Walther PPS 40 that felt the same way (ouch).
K40 and P9 were both just fine.
I think in a super light pocket gun 9mm is perfect.

But I really don't like pocket carry.
My MK40 on a belt is one sweet gun.
Plus it's surprisingly easy to shoot with full power 40 cal ammo.
And Speer GDHP Duty 155 gr run 1150 fps and 450 E out of a MK40.
That will definitely leave a mark.

[Gliderguy]

Barth, I settled on the 155 gr Gold Dots for the same reasons you did. It seems medium-weight bullets hit the sweet spot in .40 as far as energy goes in this size pistol.

[Gliderguy]

Tucson, If everyone was doing the 40 maybe we could get ammo production volume up enough to get prices in line with 9 and 45.

[dzldust]

I own a PM45 and a CM9,I bounce between the two and carry the CM9 more often with the summer and shorts carry.I feel confident with both.Whats crazy is the difference between ammo,$199-$219 for a case of 9mm target ammo vs the $329 I just paid for a case of .45acp target ammo.My CM9 holds an extra round of Sweet Carbon +p so I would choose my CM9 over my PM45 if I could only have one.Plus I can almost buy 2 CM9's for the price of one PM45 around here....HMMM makes the CM9 even sweeter

:D(CM9-$369 at my LGS):D

[jocko]

indeed the cm9 is even sweeter. ur not under powered with the 9mm, more of them on the market than the 40 and 45's. combined. I thyink ammo price pays a big part and certainly shooting comfort to. I will reserve my comments on the 45's as bawanna always chews my ass out when I post negatives about his favorite hole maker.

[ParabellumJ]

For the $200 difference in price between the CM9 and PM9 I was able to get a CM9, add Trijicon night sights, buy an extra mag and buy 350 rounds of target ammo for the same price as a PM9 with factory sights. For me the CM9 is a clear choice. As far as a 9 or 45, that is like asking if you like blondes or brunettes. Some like one better than the other, but really, you cant go wrong either way.

[jocko]

u did real well to. Hell most blondes are brunettes anyway. Just sayin.

[Tinman507]

Daddy, what does that man mean when he says the curtains don't match the slipcovers?

[jocko]

I was gonna say, there is really only one way to tell if ur a 100% blonde, but your comparison does real well. Ur such a wise man Tinman!!! Someday I hope to be just like u. Just sayin.

actually Bawana toldme to say that..

[rjt123]

Tucson, If everyone was doing the 40 maybe we could get ammo production volume up enough to get prices in line with 9 and 45.


Didn't happen with .380 ammo. It's still way more expensive than it should be. I often see it priced about the same as .45, sometimes even higher. :(

[O'Dell]

Unless you have to have a pants pocket carry, get the 45.

[Tinman507]

I was gonna say, there is really only one way to tell if ur a 100% blonde, but your comparison does real well. Ur such a wise man Tinman!!! Someday I hope to be just like u. Just sayin.

actually Bawana toldme to say that..

If I'm so wise why can't I explain this?
http://lamega.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/metro_dennis_rodman.jpg

[jocko]

I can't answer that : ON THIS FORUM

[les strat]

I say go for the CM9, which is my EDC. ANything beyond that is just to cumbersome for pocket carry. If I need something bigger, I'm going on up to my G30 OWB with an untucked shirt for 10 (or 13) rounds of .45.

[TucsonMTB]

From an economic perspective . . . get a 9mm and quickly buy an inventory of ammunition before prices go up further.


Tucson, If everyone was doing the 40 maybe we could get ammo production volume up enough to get prices in line with 9 and 45.I am guessing, "probably not" given the already high volume for military and law enforcement. The cost of "fotay" has gone up significantly since I bought my PM40. I'm talking about shopping for online bargains. Mr. hotpig, an ammo dealer who sometimes visits here, told me to forget about future surplus bargains with the military & police demand added to the manufacturers trying to keep control. Fortunately, it was possible for me to buy a reasonable stash before prices went up dramatically.


Didn't happen with .380 ammo. It's still way more expensive than it should be. I often see it priced about the same as .45, sometimes even higher. :(I hear that! .380 ACP went down for a little while a few years ago when 9mm first picked up. But, then the market for little pistols exploded and it has been climbing ever since. A couple of months ago, I sold a bit more than 1000 rounds of old, personal inventory, Federal American Eagle FMJ for more than I paid for it originally . . . and it was a real bargain to the buyers, based on the best online prices I could find. Sold pretty quickly, too.

[aKahrt_and_p2KT]

go with the pm9 so you don't have to screw around with getting night sights afterward. I bought a cm9 but really wish I had night sights.

Or get the cm9 and wait for a cm45 (is one coming?) Best of both.

[TucsonMTB]

go with the pm9 so you don't have to screw around with getting night sights afterward. I bought a cm9 but really wish I had night sights.

Or get the cm9 and wait for a cm45 (is one coming?) Best of both.
Great advice, but . . . the PM and night sights together will add about $300 to the price. :eek:

That said, I have a PM40 with night sights that were installed after the purchase and it was a hassle, so if you really want night sights follow Mr. aKahrt_and_p2KT's advice.

[1984]

It was a no brainer for me.

The PM9 seems like the gun Kahr wants to make while the CM9 seems like the gun the market demanded.

My impression was Kahr's very origin lies in the development of a superior carry gun (ie self defense) in the 9mm caliber.

I would go with the gun the craftsman want to make if its something you are going to carry for self defense and with the one the market demanded if you want it for something else.

[itsthelaw]

Thanks to everyone! I traded a gun that was a duplicate in my safe for a CM9, so I am now ready to run it!

Now I need a good holster and extra mags with an extension.

Jocko and Tinman... Waxing keeps us guessing these days!

[Tinman507]

Tried this on the truck yesterday. Didn't shine much but the finish sure is smoooooth ;)

http://themellowjihadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Brazilian-Wax-not-for-your-Mustang.jpg

[jeepster09]

I tried it too.....it didn't help me either.....no shine! :confused:
[P.S. I have the PM45, PM40 and MK40 The MK is the best shooter and the PM40 is becoming favorite carry due to size and WEIGHT. I do not like "micky mouse pin on sights.]

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/1953WillysM38A1Jeep-1.jpg

[Popeye]

If you have the money to spend, and your looking for a good quality pistol that is not a handful to shoot the PM9 is the answer IMO. I'm not a big fan of the 40Caliber round though. If I was going to go bigger than a 9mm I'd go 45 caliber, as I feel the 40 cal is to snappy for my liking where the 45 is more of a hard push and IMO is easier to control. Bottom line is though you have to go with what works best for you and your wallet.

[RxDoc]

If I had both calibers (9 and 45) already, I would either get a snubby .357 (Ruger KLCR) or a 40cal. (PM40). Why duplicate? But, if it's amongst those mentioned, then hands down the CMP9. It has everything, concealability, reliability, power, economical to operate, quality, and priced right. There you go!

[jeepster09]

MAGNAPORT cures snappy!
My 357 is ported, my MK40 is ported and my PM40 is ported. The 357 can STILL can hurt your hand with the wood grips, with rubber no problemo. The 40's are fantastic to shoot, porting cured them.


http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG-20120418-00203.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG_1253.jpg


http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG-20120413-00190.jpg


http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG-20120202-00112.jpg

[jeepster09]

I prefer the PM40 to my PM45 SIZE and WEIGHT do matter! You feel the difference in all day carry! The PM45 is great shooter but........


http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/IMG_1363.jpg

[Raulf]

I'm a .45 acp man, own 3 kimber's 3",4" and 5", but for the summer I'm in love with my CM9, my first Kahr handgun, sometimes I carry my Kimber Tactical Ultra, IWB Remora holster for both.:D

[wyntrout]

I love my PM45 and it's fun to shoot. I got a P40 with Mag-na-porting and it's okay, but if it weren't ported, I wouldn't want to shoot it. I can't imagine what an UN-ported PM40 would be like!:eek:

I let a smaller-statured guy next to me shoot the ported P40 and he had a poor grip for a 9mm, let alone a .40, and it looked like he would have brained himself with an unported P40! He wasn't "gripping" the pistol or his strong hand with the weak hand at all... and the pistol would climb or jump up and back... scaring me since I was videoing him shooting! The stills from that video are here starting at post# 35:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8426&highlight=Mag-na-ported+P40&page=4

Wynn:)

[jokester]

Just bought, cleaned and fired 200 rounds thru my new cm9.You cant go wrong.The larger calibure is up to you.I have a kimber so when i bought this cm9 that was not a option.Good luck. With the new Federal HST ammo the 9mm is a good choice.BUT i love my 45 also.Each gun has its place in my safe and i carry them given the differnt circumstance(IE weather dress ect..) Again good luck !!