Kahr PM series

Infobox Weapon
name= Kahr PM Series


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origin= flagcountry|USA
type= Semi-automatic pistol
is_ranged= yes
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designer= Justin Moon
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manufacturer= Kahr Arms
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variants= See article
weight=
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part_length= See article
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9x19mm Parabellum

.40 S & W

.45 ACP
action= short recoil locked breech
rate=
velocity=
range=
max_range=
feed= 5, 6, and 7 round magazine
sights=

iron open fixed dot and bar combat

optional tritium night sights

The Kahr PM series is a product line of double action only (DAO) hammerless, striker-fired, short recoil operated, semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Kahr Arms in Worcester, Massachusetts. [ [http://www.kahr.com/dtlspec_pm4543.html "KAHR PM4543 / Specifications"] , Kahr Web site. Accessed June 24 2008.] The target market for the PM (Polymer Micro)Ayoob, Massad. [http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_gm1103.html "Kahr's PM9"] , "Guns" Magazine, November 2003, p.48-56, p.73-75. Accessed June 24 2008.] line is the civilian concealed carry firearms market, as well as being intended as backup weapons for Law Enforcement officers.Clapp, Wiley. [http://www.kahr.com/review_ch_0902.html "New Kahr PM9 9mm”] , "Combat Handguns", September 2002, p.10 - 15. Accessed June 24 2008.]

Development

When the first Kahr pistols appeared on the market in 1994 they were constructed entirely of carbon steel. Early Kahr models such as the K9 were praised as well-made and solidly constructed,Clapp, Wiley. [http://www.kahr.com/review_ga_0304.html “INSTANT CLASSICS”] , "Guns & Ammo", March 2004, p.66 – 71. Accessed June 24 2008.] but criticized for their excessive weight which is a disadvantage in a weapon intended for concealed carry. Kahr attempted to address these concerns by introducing pistols which were physically smaller, as well as a line of polymer framed models. The PM series combined both these approaches, introducing polymer framed pistols that were also the smallest Kahr models ever produced. [http://www.kahr.com/review_ar_1004.html"Kahr Arms PM9"] , "American Rifleman" magazine, P. 84-85, October 2004. Accessed June 24 2008.]

Design features

As noted above, PM series pistols are manufactured with stainless steel slides which ride on steel inserts within the polymer frames, preventing the wear which would otherwise be inherent with metal slide to plastic frame contact.Detty, Mike. [http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_ch0608.html "Kahr PM45 .45ACP"] , "Combat Handguns", June 2008, p. 38 - 42, 91. Accessed June 24 2008.] Available ammunition chamberings include 9x19mm Parabellum (PM9), .40 Smith & Wesson (PM40), and .45 ACP (PM45); magazine capacities vary between 5, 6, and 7 rounds depending on model and caliber. PM series pistols are noted for being very no-nonsense and utilitarian in appearance, with black plastic grips and a brushed stainless or blackened Tungsten TLC stainless slides. Produced by applying a thin but tough protective coating, the TLC patina was labeled "Black Diamond" in early production, and is valued for its lack of attention-catching light reflection in dim surroundings. TLC coatings also serve to protect the slide from oxidization, nicks and scrapes. PM pistols are known for having very smooth and consistent DAO trigger pulls of approximately six pounds, and large and easy to see sights in various configurations including night sights.Sagi, Guy. [http://www.kahr.com/review_si_0704.html "Kahr PM40"] , "Shooting Illustrated", July 2004, p. 62 – 63. Accessed June 24 2008.] Simplified controls exemplified by the lack of a manual safety lever are also positive attributes and contribute to a desirable package for concealment use. The PM series is noted for having a fully enclosed trigger transfer bar and the engineering design work necessary to fit it inside the cramped space of the receiver resulted in several beneficial lockwork changes. One such change was that the cartridge feed ramp had to be offset, which in turn allowed the overall receiver design to be thinner, it also permitted the slide to be more squat with a low bore axis, resulting is less muzzle rise and flip. The PM barrel configuration boasts polygonal rifling, which in theory will wear longer and gather less fouling. Overall, an important innate advantage of the Kahr pistol design is that it is identical in function and trigger action across virtually all Kahr models, meaning that once a user becomes familiar with the handling characteristics and ‘feel’ of one model, the learning curve for mastery of other Kahr firearms is much shorter.

Criticisms

While highly regarded overall, detractors have still proffered various condemnations of the PM series. The entire PM product line is known for having reliability difficulties until broken in, but they improve after several hundred rounds have been fired. Kahr Arms has addressed these concerns by indicating that its products are not to be considered reliable until at least 200 rounds have been fired, good advice to follow with any new firearm. In addition, though the 9x19mm Parabellum PM9 has the reputation of being controllable with some minor modification of firing techniques, the .40 and .45 caliber variants are known to produce gun-handling difficulties in rapid fire due to their heavier recoil and resulting muzzle rise. In response to this criticsm, pundits in the firearms field have observed that very small and light large bore pistols in general share this reputation, suggesting that they are best wielded by experienced and proficient shooters who practice with them religiously. Other known PM series deficiencies include excessive trigger travel, and a magazine catch which occasionally balks on the PM40 model, failing to allow magazines to fall freely. The magazine release and recoil springs on the PM40 pistol have also been known to occasionally break. [Ayoob, Massad . [http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_cbh2005.html "CARRYIN' KAHRS"] , "The Complete Book of Handguns 2005", p. 86 – 91. Accessed June 24 2008.]

Models

PM9

9x19 Parabellum caliber. Weight 15.9 ounces, length: 5.3 inches, width: 1.268 inches, height: 4.0 inches, 3.0 inch barrel with 1:10 right hand twist, drift adjustable white bar-dot combat sights/optional tritium night sights, two magazines - one 6 round flush fit, and one 7 round extension. [ [http://www.kahr.com/SS/SS_PM9094.pdf "PM 9094 – Kahr PM9, 9mm Micro Polymer Pistol"] , Kahr Web site – Spec sheets. Accessed June 24 2008.]

=Catalog numbers [http://www.kahr.com/PA-1A.html "Kahr Pistols"] , Kahr Web site – Model numbers. Accessed June 24 2008.] =

Model PM9093 - polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide.

Model PM9093N - polymer frame, matte stainless steel slide, tritium night sights.

Model PM9094 - polymer frame, matte blackened stainless steel slide.

Model PM9094N - polymer frame, matte blackened stainless steel slide, tritium night sights.

Accuracy results

The following accuracy results were documented for the Kahr PM9 pistol in "The American Rifleman" magazine:

*Accuracy results from 5-shot groups fired at 15 yards using a Millett Benchmaster.

References