This is pretty much the range report I posted on KahrTalk with some comments added.
Lets start with first impressions. I took the gun apart and cleaned it. I took note of the fine fit and finish, a quality well made machine. It was tight as hell. I cleaned it with Microlon Gun Juice. Ergonomics - excellent fits my hands well and points naturally for me. Nice wide faced trigger, I really liked this feature. Trigger seemed kind of mushy dry firing, but I expect that will straighten out after break in.
Now to the range.
Ammunition used:
100 rounds of Winchester White Box 230gr FMJ.
5 rounds of Winchester Ranger SXT JHP 230gr +P
5 rounds unknown light load FMJ handed to me at the range
5 rounds unknown different light semiwadcutter loads handed to me
Before I start I have to ask, What the heck is with this fire 200 rounds before you consider the gun reliable babble I picked up from the net and talking to others? The PM45 performed F-L-A-W-L-E-S-S-L-Y. Not one hick up from the gun out of 115 shots fired. None of the infamous Mag dropping while firing nonsense I had heard about. If that was a problem at some point and time, it has been fixed. Also the Mags dropped clean each and every time I hit the Mag release. (I was informed on the KahrTalk forum that most Kahr's nowadays really don't need the 200 round break in)
Accuracy was amazing at 7 yards. After a short time shooting I had to pick another spot on the target because I had made a hole the size of a child's hand by hitting in the same spot over and over. Now maybe some of you reading this do the same thing routinely. But at my age with my eyes etc I don't. I was impressed with how well this pistol shot. At 25 yards nothing to brag about. But I'm betting that had more to do with me than the gun.
Perceived recoil was light, (much less than expected for a sub-compact shooting 45 ACP) another aspect of this model that was a pleasant surprise. The gun functions so well that recoil with standard rounds is not a problem. Don't get me wrong your not shooting a .22 target pistol but recoil is totally manageable. I was able to shoot exactly where I aimed time and time again. Follow up was quick for a sub-compact. I also have a Kel-Tec PF9 and follow up with it is not as quick as this Kahr was.
The action is smooth. Not as great as some high end 1911's, but much smoother than some other handguns I own and have shot. I wont go into one on one comparisons, lets just leave it at I enjoyed shooting this gun.
The trigger. Wow after a slight take up, there is a long travel before it breaks, much longer than expected. Understandable on a pistol this size. Pretty much a revolver double action trigger. But it was longer than I would like or feel is necessary. During dry fire I thought the trigger was kind of mushy as stated previously. Well it did break in and I think after a few hundred more rounds it will be fine. My trigger gauge says she is set at 6.5 lbs. a bit heavy, I think 5.5 lbs would be plenty. It doesn't bother me enough to seek out a polish job on the trigger but it could be better. I have been told a simple RR with a different striker spring would make this more to my liking.
A quick word about the magazines. The two five round Mags performed flawless as well. But I did notice something. Most of my other pistols don't need the Mags snapped in the gun. Twice I inserted the Mag and didn't push it hard enough to seat properly. That is because when the Mag going in hits the Mag catch it then meets enough resistance you could think its all the way in, its not. This happens within a quarter inch of actually being properly seated in the gun. NOT a big deal, but something to be aware of. I consider this operator error.
Conclusions - This gun fits me well and will be my new daily carry weapon. I'm calling her good Betty. For me its astonishingly accurate and reliable, if it had a better trigger it would be perfect. I have never said this much about a gun online before, I'm just impressed with the Kahr PM45 I had to write something.
Thanks for reading - Be Safe
Lets start with first impressions. I took the gun apart and cleaned it. I took note of the fine fit and finish, a quality well made machine. It was tight as hell. I cleaned it with Microlon Gun Juice. Ergonomics - excellent fits my hands well and points naturally for me. Nice wide faced trigger, I really liked this feature. Trigger seemed kind of mushy dry firing, but I expect that will straighten out after break in.
Now to the range.
Ammunition used:
100 rounds of Winchester White Box 230gr FMJ.
5 rounds of Winchester Ranger SXT JHP 230gr +P
5 rounds unknown light load FMJ handed to me at the range
5 rounds unknown different light semiwadcutter loads handed to me
Before I start I have to ask, What the heck is with this fire 200 rounds before you consider the gun reliable babble I picked up from the net and talking to others? The PM45 performed F-L-A-W-L-E-S-S-L-Y. Not one hick up from the gun out of 115 shots fired. None of the infamous Mag dropping while firing nonsense I had heard about. If that was a problem at some point and time, it has been fixed. Also the Mags dropped clean each and every time I hit the Mag release. (I was informed on the KahrTalk forum that most Kahr's nowadays really don't need the 200 round break in)
Accuracy was amazing at 7 yards. After a short time shooting I had to pick another spot on the target because I had made a hole the size of a child's hand by hitting in the same spot over and over. Now maybe some of you reading this do the same thing routinely. But at my age with my eyes etc I don't. I was impressed with how well this pistol shot. At 25 yards nothing to brag about. But I'm betting that had more to do with me than the gun.
Perceived recoil was light, (much less than expected for a sub-compact shooting 45 ACP) another aspect of this model that was a pleasant surprise. The gun functions so well that recoil with standard rounds is not a problem. Don't get me wrong your not shooting a .22 target pistol but recoil is totally manageable. I was able to shoot exactly where I aimed time and time again. Follow up was quick for a sub-compact. I also have a Kel-Tec PF9 and follow up with it is not as quick as this Kahr was.
The action is smooth. Not as great as some high end 1911's, but much smoother than some other handguns I own and have shot. I wont go into one on one comparisons, lets just leave it at I enjoyed shooting this gun.
The trigger. Wow after a slight take up, there is a long travel before it breaks, much longer than expected. Understandable on a pistol this size. Pretty much a revolver double action trigger. But it was longer than I would like or feel is necessary. During dry fire I thought the trigger was kind of mushy as stated previously. Well it did break in and I think after a few hundred more rounds it will be fine. My trigger gauge says she is set at 6.5 lbs. a bit heavy, I think 5.5 lbs would be plenty. It doesn't bother me enough to seek out a polish job on the trigger but it could be better. I have been told a simple RR with a different striker spring would make this more to my liking.
A quick word about the magazines. The two five round Mags performed flawless as well. But I did notice something. Most of my other pistols don't need the Mags snapped in the gun. Twice I inserted the Mag and didn't push it hard enough to seat properly. That is because when the Mag going in hits the Mag catch it then meets enough resistance you could think its all the way in, its not. This happens within a quarter inch of actually being properly seated in the gun. NOT a big deal, but something to be aware of. I consider this operator error.
Conclusions - This gun fits me well and will be my new daily carry weapon. I'm calling her good Betty. For me its astonishingly accurate and reliable, if it had a better trigger it would be perfect. I have never said this much about a gun online before, I'm just impressed with the Kahr PM45 I had to write something.
Thanks for reading - Be Safe
