In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Glock or Kahr for concealed carry?

Wild BillWild Bill Member Posts: 155 ✭✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
Thanks to some of your suggestions, I've narrowed down the choices for my next concealed handgun to either a Glock 27 or a Kahr PM9 (or P9). The problem is I can't decide between the two (for the reasons listed below), and I'm hoping you guys can help me decide.

GLOCK 27
Pros: High quality gun with proven reliability and accuracy.
Con: Shaped like a block and larger/heavier than a Kahr.

KAHR PM9 (or P9)
Pros: Smaller/lighter than the Glock and therefore would be easier and more comfortable to carry.
Cons: Unknown (at least to me since no one I know owns one) reliability and accuracy.

Any thoughts/suggestions?


"Gun control is not about guns; it's about control." "If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson."
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shootlowshootlow Member Posts: 5,425
    edited November -1
    my carry guns are Glocks 23& 24 i trust the guns they run ever time
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know you've narrowed things down but have you checked out the Kel Tec P-11? I swear by that gun. It's light, compact and reliable. I plan to buy my dad's from him as soon as he finds a new gun that mom likes (heavy double-action trigger pull DAO).

    Have you held the Kahr in your hand yet? I never have but a guy on the "Gun Talk" radio show mentioned that it doesn't feel right in his hand. He said he couldn't get a comfortable grip on it so he went with the Glock.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • flatdogflatdog Member Posts: 201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wild Bill,

    I have shot both well, i.e. firing the same scores over the same course of fire, like the El Presidente. Both look like steel bricks both handle well for me. Just quit worryin'and buy the one you feel will serve you best.
    If it were me and i could only have one i'd wait till i could handle both and buy the one that feels right. I own a Kahr but I have nothing against Glocks there's one in my future. You will be well served by either one if you do your part.
    Good Luck.

    flatdog.



    " Love is what goes on between a man and a .45 pistol that won't jam."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • concealedG36concealedG36 Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wild Bill, have you considered a Glock 36? They are thinner than the other Glocks, thereby eliminating your only listed "con" for the Glock.

    Just a thought!





    Gun Control Disarms Victims, NOT Criminals
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Wild BillWild Bill Member Posts: 155 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    idsman75,

    I haven't held the Kahr yet. Part of the reason for my uncertainty.

    And about the Kel Tec, the P11 was actually the third gun I had narrowed my choices down to. Until I heard some not-so-favorable things about them from several people. I'm sure they make good guns, but I've already heard of too many defective ones to trust my life to them.


    "Gun control is not about guns; it's about control." "If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do not dismiss the Kel Tec. Their early models were problematic. This is documented. They fixed their "issues" several years ago. Mid to late 90's production Kel Tec's are superbly reliable right out of the box. My source for this information is not handy (gave it to dad after he bought his Kel Tec) but I am certain that JUDGECOLT will be more than happy to weigh in on this.

    Edited by - idsman75 on 06/06/2002 10:22:07
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    I have used both and I love the KAHR. It is as relaiable as the Glock and the trigger pull is smooth. Perfect for concelled carry. My 2 cents
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Kahrs are more expensive, usually. They are good guns. If the 9 is a 9mm, I would prefer a .40 in the G27. I currently carry a G27 and love it, and have no hankering for a Kahr. On the other hand, I know people love Kahrs and swear by them. But again, they generally cost more. I am surprised to hear the Kahr would be lighter. You really need a side by side comparison before your final decision, in my opinion. In the hand, you'll probably know.

    By the way, the G27 has a very short grip like the old AMT backups, so I use Scherer +1 mag extensions with a finger groove for a 4-fingered solid grip. (The Pearce +1 floorplate is a bit too thin for me; I exchanged mine for Scherers.)

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Wild BillWild Bill Member Posts: 155 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the suggestions. I've decided to go with the Glock since I already know I can shoot it accurately (after renting it for a trial run last week).

    offeror - I did feel like the Glock needed the grip extension. What is the difference between the Pearce and Scherers extensions? Only the Pearce extension is sold in the catalogs I have at home.

    "Gun control is not about guns; it's about control." "If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good choice. I bought a Glock after firing several rentals from the range. They were all very pleasing to shoot. Now I'm trying to decide which aftermarket .357 SIG barrel to drop into my Glock 23. Mine came with factory night sights. What are the best aftermarket accessories that one can purchase for a Glock 23 (but not specifically a 23) if its intended purpose is self defense?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you look at a Pearce and a Scherer side by side, you will find that the Pearce is narrower and more form-fitting at the backstrap. The Scherer acheives a little wider finger groove in the front by making the overall part thicker front to back. That means the Scherer makes the grip slightly longer, which some people don't prefer, but you get a little more generous finger groove in exchange. The Pearces look better on the gun and if they fit your hand well they're just fine.

    I bought both varieties, and decided I preferred the tiny extra bit of room for my little finger that the Scherer grants me. Dealers were very happy to trade my Pearces for their Scherers, suggesting to me that most people like the more streamlined Pearce better. Unless you have large to extra large hands, the Pearce is the way to go.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    idsman --
    There are very few accessories needed to improve a G23 with night sights. My Trijicons are still working fine after 5 years and I've moved them to my new G27 and the armorer still comments on how bright they are.

    There are lots of holsters made for the Glock, one of the best being a simple forward-cant DeSantis belt model, fairly thin but is lined, holds its shape and easy to draw from; mine is a model B6, left hand. If you have a post-ban you might get a couple of pre-ban mags and add plus-2 extenders for them for high cap reloads up to 15 rounds.

    It doesn't really need a different spring or guide rod, but you can play with those if you want. There's a guide rod with a ball inside it that supposedly reduces recoil, and another guide rod with a laser in it which sounds like it might be nice to have if one has the money.

    A good Glock armorer can change the trigger assembly for not only different trigger pull weights but different take-up characteristics too, but the out of box 5.5 lb. trigger is very good. I went to an 8 lb. New York trigger personally to reduce the chances of being accused of an AD in a stress situation. Pachmayr now makes slide-on tacky grip sleeves if you need more positive grip. They changed the design to accomodate the new finger grooves, apparently.

    There's nothing wrong with Glock barrels, but if you want to change calibers you could probably get a Glock .357 Sig drop in. As for the other brands, the stainless and rifled grooves and compensators, and all that, I have not read testing results to tell me which is advisable. I did meet a guy at the last gun show who manufactures a brand called Dragon something-or-other and while he advertises the barrels at about $400 in Shotgun News he was selling them for $140 at the show. Of course, the Bar-Sto name is golden. Good luck, I know you'll enjoy the pistol. Stick to factory ammo, no plain lead bullets. It will shoot anything from Cor-Bon to Hydra-Shoks to Silvertips. See which is most accurate in yours and enjoy.

    By the way, the mag springs do take a bit of break-in time, and if you have to load them one round short at first don't worry about it. They'll loosen up a tad.



    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.