P45 or cw45?

[oldjarhead]

Looking to buy either the P45 or the CW45. I know the differences, but is their any real differences in accuracy, feel, or reliability? Like to hear from owners of each one before I make a decision. Thanks.

[b4uqzme]

I’ve had a Cm45 and now a Cw45. Both have been fine for accuracy, reliability, etc. I doubt that the conventionally rifled CW barrel is any disadvantage in a SD gun like a Kahr. I personally like the looks of a CW too: very simple and clean.

There might be other things to consider though: sight options, etc. But I’m very happy with my choice.

[kwh]

My CW45 handles and functions great.
If you are going to change the front sight, consider the P45.

[Armybrat]

There's just a very slight difference in dimensions & weight between the two. The dovetail front sight on the P45 is an advantage, plus it comes with 3 magazines.
Don't know about the P45's function & accuracy, but my CW45 runs just fine. Here's a pretty good price on the CW45 (plus $7.99 shipping):

https://grabagun.com/kahr-cw45-45acp...oly-1-mag.html

[joemsj51]

I handled the CW and CT 45s prior to purchase. Then chose the slightly longer CT45 and don't regret it at-all. Works great Clinger Stingray IWB.

[wyntrout]

I prefer the Black P-models... P9, P40, & P45.

The nibs on the grip need softening. I used a 1.75" bike tube for all of my pistols... cheap and great feel without adding bulk.

I kind of gave up on the 1911 Officer magazines to reach reliable function with this, my latest Kahr... replacing the PM45.

[lantern]

I prefer the P series due to the ease of changing sites as well as having an all black handgun along with the fit and finish.


HOWEVER..... if, like me, you enjoy the Vedder light tuck as your holster of choice you are out of luck as they only carry the CW45 version. This is something I've been a little peeved about for a while.

[kahrbrian]

So what is hard about twisting off the front sight with a pliers, then screwing in a front sight? Don’t need a sight pusher.

[Bawanna]

Nothing hard at all, just some prefer a dovetail and there are more sight options.

Myself I think I'd lean towards the CW. It's been on my want list for a spell and I prefer the stainless anyhow.

I'm ok with the front sight. We actually hear far more about CW45's around here than we do P's.

[kahrbrian]

I can tell you that the sights on the ST are VERY good OTB. Same front as the CW I think. Would be nice to replace with a single Trit front.

[O'Dell]

My CM45 [replacement for a stolen PM45] Is my favorite carry pistol. The CW 45 functions mostly as a range gun and HDW. Both have been perfect as far as reliability is concerned.

[BabyMaker_45]

I have only owned the cheaper series, but i have a p45 on the way.
there is no longer a 300 dollar price difference.
just bought the p45 on buds for 425.
since its only a 100 buck price difference id go with the p series now, simply for the nicer slide.
I hate the laser engraving.
also the recoil spring looks captive and steel.
on my cm9, often the recoil spring would actually stick outta the gun if it wasnt put together perfectly.

my point is, when the p series was 600 bucks or more , the cw series was value.
at this new price range.....

[wyntrout]

The P's have a single recoil spring and guide rod, not a captured spring. I prefer this and it's cheaper to replace the single spring.

I got in a couple of the Kimber 1911 officer's mags today from Midway. I didn't spend much time with the mags, but did notice that they didn't seat well with the slide forward. The retention slot needs some metal removed from the top side, otherwise the slide won't fully go into battery because the mag sits too high. After doing that and loading 7 rounds, I cycled them through the pistol and the slide wouldn't lock back on an empty mag, even after tweaking a bit with needle-nosed pliers. I put a Kahr follower in the mag and that worked, but cut capacity to 6 rounds, which will be okay, if the mags work reliably. I just want flush-fitting mags and Kahr steel bases aren't available for the .45, as there are for the 9mm and .40 S&W. I'm looking for maximum concealment and even an eighth of an inch is a help.
I'll have to test these at the range. I have several other brands that I've worked with and wasn't happy with any of them and kind of gave up on the 1911 mags... AGAIN. I had tried to get something to work in my PM45, even though they would protrude from the bottom.
I also want to get some of the extended mag bases to cut down and use with the 6-round mags. I kind of botched one of the "flush-fitting" six-round Kahr bases. I got carried away sanding and it's a bit rough, but smaller.

[gb6491]

The P's have a single recoil spring and guide rod, not a captured spring. I prefer this and it's cheaper to replace the single spring.

I got in a couple of the Kimber 1911 officer's mags today from Midway. I didn't spend much time with the mags, but did notice that they didn't seat well with the slide forward. The retention slot needs some metal removed from the top side, otherwise the slide won't fully go into battery because the mag sits too high. After doing that and loading 7 rounds, I cycled them through the pistol and the slide wouldn't lock back on an empty mag, even after tweaking a bit with needle-nosed pliers. I put a Kahr follower in the mag and that worked, but cut capacity to 6 rounds, which will be okay, if the mags work reliably. I just want flush-fitting mags and Kahr steel bases aren't available for the .45, as there are for the 9mm and .40 S&W. I'm looking for maximum concealment and even an eighth of an inch is a help.
I'll have to test these at the range. I have several other brands that I've worked with and wasn't happy with any of them and kind of gave up on the 1911 mags... AGAIN. I had tried to get something to work in my PM45, even though they would protrude from the bottom.
I also want to get some of the extended mag bases to cut down and use with the 6-round mags. I kind of botched one of the "flush-fitting" six-round Kahr bases. I got carried away sanding and it's a bit rough, but smaller.

Wyn,
With my CW45, I found that the upper profile of the 1911 magazines I use was a bit too tall. To prevent them from hitting the slide, I trimmed some material from the top of the magazines, forward of the feed lips. I can still use these magazines in my Colt CCO. I've yet to find an OEM 1911 magazine follower that will lock the slide back reliably (folks say that the 1911 ACT-MAG will do this), so I do use the Kahr follower and spring in my dedicated CW45 1911 mags.
Here's a shot of an unmodified Officer's magazine, a modified Metalform magazine, and a Kahr magazine:

Unmodified 1991 magazine > Modified 1911 magazine

Regards,
Greg

[wyntrout]

Thanks, Greg. I've done all kinds of mods like that, but wasn't satisfied with reliability. The retention slot wasn't as tall on these SS Kimber mags and caused them to sit higher. The filing away some of the upper part made the mag fit a bit lower and no need to slam the mag in. I still have to do a bunch of testing. I just swapped followers and left the Kimber spring, since it seemed to work.

I need to get to the range this week after a bit of work preparing these two mags.

I have several others that other people have used, but every time I think that I have the solution, testing with carry ammo muddled the results and trying to get other things working smoothly was just driving me nuts... too many things at one time, so I just stuck with the Kahr mags and tried making one base smaller.

I need to order some more mag parts followers and extended bases to cut down. I've tried using 9/40 mag springs, too. I find it strange that I'm the only one to ever complain about the extended .45 mag springs being the same ones used for 5, 6, and 7-round mags now... the 14-coil springs. I had all of those replaced several times, but in sending my mags back for splitting Kahr replaced them with the 14-coil ones instead of the 18-coil ones. When ordering more extended mag springs, I could only get the 14-coil ones now.

I had some Wolff springs for the 9/40 and put those in several extended mags... seem to work okay, sure strong enough. The 14-coil ones are pretty wimpy for the larger .45's.

Dang! It's 80 degrees here already at a quarter to 11am! Gonna be hot today!

Wynn