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! 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

[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.

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::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.