Replaced my G19 with a NON-GLOCK carry gun! -- Kahr Arms CW9 Review

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  • mettle

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Nov 15, 2008
    4,224
    36
    central southern IN
    Replaced my G19 with a NON-GLOCK carry gun! -- Kahr Arms CW9 Review PICS ADDED

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    I love this gun. I went to the range early, early this morning. I arrived at 5:30 AM to run some drills by myself.

    But, my main goal was to put a brand new Kahr Arms CW 9mm through the ringer.

    I put 150 rounds of Brown Bear 9mm, and 50 rounds of Blazer Brass through it without one hitch.

    It was brand new. I did not clean it, baby it and to be honest I was trying to hurt it. Not one failure. I smoked the thing hot with purpose!

    I like it.

    It's got the 'I' type sights. (stick on ball) They are bright and the muzzle remained very clean during the entire process and I was able to see the white dot (after the sun rose :):) very well. My G19, after a few hundred rounds, begins to turn the 'powder grey' and the front sight begins to dull.


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    The frame is slim! It's like holding a Kel Tec PF...whatever. Except I didn't have to 'fluff and buff' to get HP's to run through it. I ran the HP's through the pistol after the 200 initial rounds, without cleaning it I might add.

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    The grip obviously was a small 'stick' in comparison to the G19. In fact, when I went to running some speed stuff with my Glock I kind of had the thought 'it feels like I just picked up a Cricket Bat'.

    The lines on the pistol are nice, smooth, polished and there are no places to snag as I always CC with an IWB centerline front.

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    The weight is like a dream. If the holster was not leather, I would not have sweated today while taking the family to Great Times in INDY. I rode rides, picked up and played with the little ones and was not hindered in bending over or carrying or dealing with the multiple issues of family life at a theme park.

    The trigger is a longer pull (DAO). BUT, it is smooth the entire way. NO catches, no weight stacking AND it wasn't even 'grindy' being a brand new pistol. I like the G19; XDs, because the trigger pulls are consistent and the same every time. This was not a disappointment. And I'm not a DA guy, just search my thread about me whining about my S&W 642's trigger pull.

    The finish is perfect, well, it was until after today. 8 rounds total with one round chambered. The grip was not 'sweaty' or grungy, even after I had loaded and fired the thing with 'Brown Bear' fingers (from the laquer).

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    The fit is very nice. It is a very tight fit and there is not any slack or wobble when the trigger is depressed or when the striker 'lets go'.

    The recoil wasn't any different than my Glock, really! Perhaps a little more manageable due to the 'hands on' of it. You'll learn a smaller grip with it though. Your 'admin' hand will have to find a place to land consistently if you want to hit anything with it.

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    The cons, (for me) were the sights. I want Night Sights. The pistol was VERY dirty inside. I mean dirty!!! It was covered completely inside with powder residue, even more so than after several hundred rounds through my Glock. Heck, it was dirtier than my Ruger 22/45. All I do to it is put CLP through it and rack the bolt. I don't even clean it...;)


    I highly recommend picking one up. It's not a competition gun. It's a carry piece, that for me, has performed perfectly.

    :twocents:
     
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    esrice

    Certified Regular Guy
    Rating - 100%
    20   0   0
    Jan 16, 2008
    24,095
    48
    Indy
    Thanks for the review!

    With Glock not getting on the ball and producing a single-stack 9mm compact pistol, this looks like a nice alternative.
     

    Agent 007

    Shooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 7, 2009
    790
    16
    Great review! I have had 2 CW9 pistols, and they were both excellent shooters and reliable. The only reason that I traded them was that I moved away from 9mm. I now have a PM45 with Trijicon night sights that is simply an awesome little blaster! I had a CW45 a couple of years ago and put several hundred rounds through it without a problem. Great little carry guns, and the smoothest DAO trigger I've ever used!
     

    cosermann

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Aug 15, 2008
    8,389
    113
    Now that you've had a few rounds through it, could you post a pic of your recoil spring guide rod (or maybe just look and let us know)? I'm kind of interested to see if it's all scratched/gouged up. Thanks.
     

    mdroz3

    Marksman
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 3, 2009
    270
    16
    Walkerton
    I have a PM9 that is my everyday carry..I Love it. I have shot about 500 rounds through it. The only drawback for me is that with a hollowpoint bullet i have to let the slide slam home. If i use the slide release the bullet hangs up on the feed ramp. No Problem with Fmj's though. I am looking for some Power Ball ammo. I think that will correct my problem.
     
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