P380 or PM9?

[jocko]

nice

So far I would say we have a 100% vote for the PM9. After handling the 9 again today,it's clear that there is not a huge size difference between the two and will be easily concealed,as my wife is planning to carry in her purse. I really appreciate all the input from y'all and want to let you know that we will be adding a new addition to the Kahr family.....a beautiful new 16 oz. (w/mag) PM9

to get such good feedback from the 380 owners other than just my opinion. Indeed ur right. the PM9 is the only way to go.. and for all the right reasons to.

I sold guns for over 40 years and so so many fellas came in with their better half and HE WANTED to buy her a semi auto. I just took one out of the case, made sure it was clear and then handed it to her and said Ok, now show him how it works. END OF SALE. I sold many many J frames back then to women, for no doubt the most fool proof of any gun for a woman is a wheel gun. they need a gun they can #1, see that it is loaded . #2. easy to open the cylinder and eject. #3. can't put the bullets in back wards. #4 if it james or misfires, all she has to do is pull the trigger again and go to another cylinder hole. #5 If kids are in the home, she can (herself) unload the revolver and leave the cylinder swung open and the bullets somewhere else. Most cannot do that properly with a semi. It is the gun for a women IMO, certainly harder to shoot IMO for accuracy but so much safer for a women, who thinks she wants a gun but isn't really dead nuts sure about it either. IF THEY SHOW ANY SIGNS OF BEING SCARED WITH THE OPERATION OF A SEMI, -THEY WILL NOT CARRY IT.

[copterdrvr]

I have to go along with Jocko on the "revolver and casual women shooters" thing. I've seen plenty of guys who said they were "regular shooters" and when their semi jammed, they stood there S.O.L..

Carrying a semi requires a few requirements: first and foremost, the gun has to be totally reliable. Second, the carrier has to be well versed in the mechanics of his pistol so that if it jams, he knows what to do to clear it. And last, he has to practice ALOT with it to be well aware of it's typical intricacies like proper grip to avoid limp-wristing, actuating slide stop/releases, safeties, etc. With a revolver, you point it at your target and pull the trigger. If it doesn't go bang the first time, keep pulling the trigger.

Went to a local GS once and overheard a creep trying to get a woman to buy a Walther 380. She told the guy she'd never owned a firearm in her life and needed one now for personal defense. She almost bought the pistol but decided to walk around a bit and think about it. My wife was with me and we walked up to her and I told her that the last pistol she needed to buy was that little semi-auto.

After talking to her I realised that she had never even HELD a firearm before, let alone shot one. She agreed to my offer of being a "guide" and I found her a nice little Taurus 38 spec. plus P. It was NOT from the original dealer she had spoken to!!

Told her about a local indoor range that provides a special class for new women shooters and told her to not even load the gun until she attended the class which she promised she would do that week.

Hope things all worked out well for her.

P.S. My wife carries a 357 snubbie with a comped barrel stoked with 125 grain 357's in her car-Lord knows I wouldn't want her shooting at me with it as she can unload it in about 7 seconds at 7 yards with all hits center of mass!

Copterdrvr

[oldjarhead]

Jacko's spot on

I agree with Jacko. Let her decide. If she is an accomplished, experience shooter, she will know about what works for her. A PM 9 is a great choice, but she needs to go hold it, rack it, and if possible rent one on a gun range, to see if she likes it. Rent several 9s of different brands and sizes. Small guns for a woman are not always a good choice. She needs to make the call.
If it does come down to a Kahr PM .380, or a pm 9, I would say a pm9. Just slightly bigger and an acceptable carry caliber in my opinion.

[BroncoAZ]

I was reading the first page of this topic thinking "neither Kahr is right, I'd suggest a revolver". My spouse carries a Ruger LCR in .38 spl. It is a great little gun that is lightweight and fits nicely in her Coronado Gunleather purse. She is comfortable shooting it and practices more than she did with her previous Glock 26. She is very comfortable shooting Glocks and most anything else she lays her hands on, but she seemed to gravitate towards the revolver for ease of use. She does like my PM9 and the other Kahrs I've had.

[moreland281]

I was thinking more along the line of the Bodyguard 380 or the PM9.
I read and reread and read again.
I talked to 2 diffrent armorers at work and descided to go with the PM9 due to the whole 9mm vs 380 thing.

I can't wait till my PM9 gets here !! LOL

[Goffman]

Not to be contrary, but I have to disagree with some of the senior Kahr forum members in this thread (which, I guess, is the very definition of "contrary"). I own a PM9, and my wife owns a P380. Racking the slide on the P380 is much easier than racking the slide on the PM9. Granted, the P380 has about 500 rounds through it, and the PM9 has only 225 rounds, but, from the beginning, it was not difficult to rack the P380 slide, neither for my wife nor for me.

In addition, if your wife is anything like mine, form-fitting clothes preclude on-body carry of anything other than very slim pistols. It would be prudent, I think, to plan ahead for the possibility that your spouse or significant other may want to be able to carry on-body at some point in the future. Even as small as it is, a PM9 is almost totally out of the question in a woman's form-fitting clothes, at least without some kind of coverup garment (e.g., coat, sweater, wrap).

In the end, though, your spouse or significant other should get what she (or he) wants. That was the deal that I struck with my wife. So long as she carried it whenever legal and reasonably possible to do so, I would support the purchase of any pistol that we reasonably could afford. She tried out several at the range, liked the PM9, but found it to be too large for typical attire and just as heavy as her too-bulky j-frame revolver. In the end, she settled on the P380: essentially the same as the PM9, but smaller, thinner, and lighter (and, yes, a lesser caliber). The deal seems to have worked because she does carry it, and without any nagging from me, which makes us both happy.

[ZeeGerman]

Hello, I just registered with the board and own a P380. I haven't racked the slide on a PM9 but the P380 isn't bad, especially if good technique is used. If you can, try to locate someone who has one and rack one that's been broken in, it makes a big difference. As for reliability, it seems like people have great results and others not so much, although Kahr seems good at correcting issues. Mine has been basically flawless. 150 rounds of Amer. Eagle FMJ from new were 100%. I'm a L.E.O. and issued Winchester Ranger T JHPs. Rounds 150 through 375 I've only had 1 FTE and that was my fault for going limpy. (Hey quals after a midnight shift) The only issue I have is trying to re-rack after a mag swap using a C-clamp grip. Esp. the last 50 or so rounds this has gotten worse. Using the slide catch works fine though. After reading a few threads I see that it seems like Kahr recommends that, whereas I thought they were ok with using that method. (Unlike Glock who advise not to release with the slide catch.) Being trained as a combat shooter I am used to and prefer C-clamp, as I use that on my other platforms. (Sig 226 9mm duty and Kimber TLE/RL SS off duty) I would like to offer some thoughts on reliability in general though. Even if a weapon system is "100% reliable" presume it isn't. Practice immediate action drills as much as possible. Mix in a dummy round and have your wife shoot and perform the immediate action drill. Finally, I agree with Goffman that the difference is size is appreciable enough to make concealing the P380 easier, especially with thin/light/fitted clothing. Good luck with your purchase.

[jocko]

GOOFMAN; IMO your wife is not the norm either. She can manage the P380 or the PM9, again most women cannot do the fundamentals. Kudos to here also.. Most women will carry in sme type of a purse also, .. No argument from this seniour forum member.

[linksrds]

I have a P380 and this pistol is totally reliable. In the initial breakin period, I had 2FTF in the first 25 rounds and after that no other problems.

I have shot Powerball, other SD rounds as well as the truncated cone WW white box. I have also fired Reming FMJ and MagTech FMJ at range sessions. My pistol is one of the first that hit the streets so to speak as it was mfg in July of 2009. i am completely safisfied with it.

I agree that I would have you wife shoot as many pistols as possible. i found that the Ruger LCP stings your shooting hand after 20 or so rounds.

I like the PM9 but I find that the muzzle flash is substantial, something that you should consider in a night fire senario.

I also have a CW9 which I like quite a bit. It is light and easy to carry and the muzzle flash is less that the PM 9.

Just sharing some thoughts.

[TheTman]

If she is going to practice with it A LOT, and be able to clear jams of all sorts, and be really familiar with it and can rack the slide, I'd try and steer her towards the PM9. I just don't care for a .380 as my main weapon, but it is better than throwing rocks.
If she is just going to buy it and throw it in her purse and practice once in awhile, I think I'd definately try and get her to consider a light weight snubbie revolver in 38 special or 38/357. There are just too many things that can go wrong with a semi auto. If she isn't going to take the time to get to know her weapon real well, then the revolver would be a much better choice. Plus it eliminates any problems with limp wristing.

[Goffman]

GOOFMAN; IMO your wife is not the norm either. She can manage the P380 or the PM9, again most women cannot do the fundamentals. Kudos to here also.. Most women will carry in sme type of a purse also, .. No argument from this seniour forum member.

Hi Jocko,

You raise a good point. My wife grew up around firearms and spent many a Saturday at the range. So, she is not normative with respect to firearms training and the like.

[deuce]

My wife much preferred the 9. She had more trouble with the .380 slide then with the PM9 and just loved the way the 9 felt in her hand. She has been shooting 9's for quite a while now and just really likes the caliber. No complaint here.