Favorite Ammunition for CM9 !

[michaeljbird]

To try and stay positive I was hoping to get a consensus of the forums favorite ammunition for range as well as their favorite for self defense when carrying your CM9 ! Thanks so much. Im new to the forum and have learned a lot so far.

[stumprat]

Hornady TAP FDP 124 grain has been reliable. And extremely accurate for me.

[OldLincoln]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum. You will get a lot of consensus on ammunition here, at least 47 different consensi. Ammo is mostly all good and it's more important that it feeds and shoots reliably in your gun then if it's talons, gold dot, hydra-shok or HST. Of course my Federal +P 147gb 9mm carry ammo is the absolute best! The heavy penetrates better that light and HST expands more consistently even through clothing than most others. Well, that's what we call a straw dog as many will say there's is the best. But I said it first.

As for range ammo, just stay away from Russian and stell case and you should be okay. Cheap is good and a lot of folks buy Walmart white box or other on-line inexpensive ammo. Others like me reload target ammo but never defense stuff.

[Michael W.]

To try and stay positive I was hoping to get a consensus of the forums favorite ammunition for range as well as their favorite for self defense when carrying your CM9 ! Thanks so much. Im new to the forum and have learned a lot so far.

Michael,

Lots of opinions out there in Kahr-land, but having said that
there's a list of loads that always seems to be favorable
providing they feed in your gun, in no particular ranking:

Speer Gold Dot 124gr
Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P
Speer Gold Dot 147gr
Federal HST 124gr
Federal HST 124gr +p
Federal HST 147 (my personal carry load in my PM9)
Federal HST 147gr +P
Federal 115gr +P+ (9BPLE)
Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P
Winchester Ranger-T 124gr +P
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr +P+
Winchester PDX-1 Bonded 124gr +P
Winchester PDX-1 Bonded 147gr
Corbon 115gr +P
Corbon 115gr +P DPX
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr (in my wife's CM9)

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of
these rounds provided you do your part on delivering
it COM (preferably multiple times

For the range, the best values are to buy online
in bulk (500 or 1000 rds) at a time, and the best
prices always seem to be Sellior and Bellot 115gr FMJ.
I like this load a lot. Full power, accurate and high quality.
115gr Fiocchi is the same way but it's no longer the bargain
it used to be. I've also recently been finding the Swiss made RWS 115gr
FMJ at decent prices here and there. This is also excellent range fodder.

Don't shoot reloads, I don't care where they're from.
Simply not worth the risk.
Don't shoot the cheap Russian stuff in your Kahr's.
(But if you own Glocks or H&K's, Wolf, Brown Bear, et al is fine)

If you buy local, Walmart has Winchester White Box (WWB)
and also Federal Champion, both fine for the range.

Hope this helps.

Michael-

[TheTman]

Welcome to the Forum Micheal, hope your proves to be a great one just as most of the CM9's are. I don't have a CM9, but my CW40 likes all manner of FMJ ammo, WWB, Federal, American Eagle, it's not fussy. Seems like the CM9's have run about anything put thru them too for. Seems like maybe someone was having trouble with the Federal FMJ, I think it's one of the longer cartridges. I forget who it was. For SD rounds, Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST, and Hydra Shok and Hi Shok, Remington Golden Sabre and even their UMC hollow points, Hornady XTP, Cor-Bon DPX, all goood loads. And there are a lot others. See what you can find locally for a decent price that works well in your gun. I use Hydra-Shoks in my 9mm's (an LC9 and a Diamondback DB9) because that's what I could find locally at a decent price that feeds well. Some of the ammo is taylored for short barrels too, so you can check those out if you want. If you have a Gander Mtn close they stock a lot of different brands, but the price is kind of high. I like to find something I like then order several boxes from one of the online suppliers for SD ammo. If you don't buy several boxes at once, the shipping eats up any savings.
Walmart has that Winchester Supreme Elite PDX1 now for their premium ammo here abouts, I use it in the .45's, but haven't tried it in 9 or .40 yet. They have some other 9mm, UMC hollow points, and I think Winchester white box hollowpoints, they had that in several calibers lately.
147 or 115-124 grains is up to you, do like light and fast or slow and heavy. I think the 9mm is better suited for light and fast. The 147 does penetrate barriers better due to it's heavier mass. +P definately adds a little oomph to it. As Old Lincoln says: Most of all it has to be reliable in your gun. Shot placement is a lot more important that what you're shooting, So buy a couple boxes of some brands you would carry and shoot one up to test and if it tests good load up on that brand. Be real picky though, if it hangs up after your pistol was broken in, or doesnt shoot to point of aim, i'd definately try a different brand cartridge. Depends how tired you are and if you're holding the gun correctly and things too. Good luck with it, if you're like most the CM9 owners I think you're going to be real happy with it.

[Allen]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum. You will get a lot of consensus on ammunition here, at least 47 different consensi. Ammo is mostly all good and it's more important that it feeds and shoots reliably in your gun then if it's talons, gold dot, hydra-shok or HST. Of course my Federal +P 147gb 9mm carry ammo is the absolute best! The heavy penetrates better that light and HST expands more consistently even through clothing than most others. Well, that's what we call a straw dog as many will say there's is the best. But I said it first.

As for range ammo, just stay away from Russian and stell case and you should be okay. Cheap is good and a lot of folks buy Walmart white box or other on-line inexpensive ammo. Others like me reload target ammo but never defense stuff.

Your last sentence surprises me, I'd think personally hand loaded ammo would be the best to have for self defense. When we used to big game hunt in Colorado we trusted our hand loaded rifle ammo much more than any factory loaded. Maybe pistol ammo is a whole different ball game.

[michaeljbird]

Thanks so much for the response's !!! Keep em coming ! Going to a big gun show this weekend and hoping to score some ammo at a good price ! I love hearing what you guys prefer. For practice and for carry !

[Michael W.]

Thanks so much for the response's !!! Keep em coming ! Going to a big gun show this weekend and hoping to score some ammo at a good price ! I love hearing what you guys prefer. For practice and for carry !

Michael,

Here in Florida our gun shows are often the worst places to try to buy
ammo. Lots of gouging going on for the popular brands like Gold Dot, et al.
You'll likely find much better prices online. About the only reason to go to gun
shows anymore for me is to fondle guns I don't have. I rarely find any good
deals on anything.

Places I like to check regularly:

www.sgammo.com
www.ammunitiontogo.com
www.cheaperthandirt.com
www.mahsupplies.net
www.aimsurplus.com
www.kylesgunshop.com

M-

[JFootin]

Another thing to look for in carry rounds is the 50 round boxes, often labeled for PD use. You can get the same SD rounds a lot cheaper than in the 20 round boxes designed for personal use. I have some 50 round boxes of Speer Gold Dots and Federal HSTs that I paid well under $30 a box for.

[Bill K]

Welcome to KahrTalk!

I'd have no qualms carrying any of the rounds that Michael W listed. A 124 +P anything seems to be a popular choice for nines that can handle +P - your CM9 can. I've been carrying Black Hills (factory fresh not their reloads) 124 +Ps for years in my Glock and have Black Hills 115 EXP (extra pressure) in my PM9. As I'm typing I'm thinking, for the winter, about a hotter round than the 115 EXPs for winter carry in my PM9. These 147s that guys are talking about sound interesting and deserving of further investigation. You could just go Spear GD 124 +P and be done with it.

[hoghunter]

For me it is simple. I have always just stuck with Speer. If it ain't broke don't fix it is my approach to ammo. Can find good deals for a case of the Lawman stuff online.

Range: Speer Lawman 115gr TMJ
SD: Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P

[MO_Soldier]

Another thing to look for in carry rounds is the 50 round boxes, often labeled for PD use. You can get the same SD rounds a lot cheaper than in the 20 round boxes designed for personal use. I have some 50 round boxes of Speer Gold Dots and Federal HSTs that I paid well under $30 a box for.

Can you recall where you got your 50 round boxes from? I'm a LEO(military), so I am able to get access to LEO websites, etc but have yet to come across those.

Personally, I shoot Federal American Eagle FMJ on the range. I carry Hornady Critical Defense 115gr as my PD round.

[Indigo]

Can you recall where you got your 50 round boxes from? I'm a LEO(military), so I am able to get access to LEO websites, etc but have yet to come across those.

Personally, I shoot Federal American Eagle FMJ on the range. I carry Hornady Critical Defense 115gr as my PD round.

If you never looked cheaper than dirt sells 50 round boxes of bonded golden saber for under 27/box no LEO required if that would be up your alley

[JFootin]

Can you recall where you got your 50 round boxes from? I'm a LEO(military), so I am able to get access to LEO websites, etc but have yet to come across those.

Personally, I shoot Federal American Eagle FMJ on the range. I carry Hornady Critical Defense 115gr as my PD round.

Here are some:
http://www.sgammo.com/product/winche...ies-p-ra9124tp

http://www.policehq.com/Products/FC-9HST

And Kyle's Gun Shop has a nice selection:
http://www.kylesgunshop.com/store.ph..._defense__duty

[JimBianchi]

Michael,

Lots of opinions out there in Kahr-land, but having said that
there's a list of loads that always seems to be favorable
providing they feed in your gun, in no particular ranking:

Speer Gold Dot 124gr
Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P
Speer Gold Dot 147gr
Federal HST 124gr
Federal HST 124gr +p
Federal HST 147 (my personal carry load in my PM9)
Federal HST 147gr +P
Federal 115gr +P+ (9BPLE)
Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P
Winchester Ranger-T 124gr +P
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr +P+
Winchester PDX-1 Bonded 124gr +P
Winchester PDX-1 Bonded 147gr
Corbon 115gr +P
Corbon 115gr +P DPX
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr (in my wife's CM9)

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of
these rounds provided you do your part on delivering
it COM (preferably multiple times

For the range, the best values are to buy online
in bulk (500 or 1000 rds) at a time, and the best
prices always seem to be Sellior and Bellot 115gr FMJ.
I like this load a lot. Full power, accurate and high quality.
115gr Fiocchi is the same way but it's no longer the bargain
it used to be. I've also recently been finding the Swiss made RWS 115gr
FMJ at decent prices here and there. This is also excellent range fodder.

Don't shoot reloads, I don't care where they're from.
Simply not worth the risk.
Don't shoot the cheap Russian stuff in your Kahr's.
(But if you own Glocks or H&K's, Wolf, Brown Bear, et al is fine)

If you buy local, Walmart has Winchester White Box (WWB)
and also Federal Champion, both fine for the range.

Hope this helps.

Michael-

Mine too in my MK9.