I know some folks cannot afford top-of-the-line hardware like Ruger, S&W, and Colt. Over the last year or so, maybe longer, I have read very mixed reviews on the likes of Kahr Arms, Charter Arms, and Taurus. I wanted to find out for myself what happens when someone (me) buys theses guns. The hardware in question here is the Kahr Arms CM9, the Charter Arms Off Duty, and the Taurus 856 Defender.
The TLDR version. I am happy with all three of these guns. Happy enough to carry the CM9 and the Off Duty. The 856 Defender 3" is too big for me to carry, but I trust it. For me, all three of these guns were worth the money I spent to purchase them. Oh, I bought all new.
Longer versions:
The Kahr would not shoot straight out of the box. Misfeeds, misfires, failure to extract, failure to eject; you name it, I had it. Kahr customer service paid for return shipping, said the gun was too far out of spec to be repaired, and sent me a new one. I have over 1,000 rounds through it with no issues. I carry this gun.
The Charter Arms was bad out of the box and got worse as I shot it. After 2 complaints to CS, and 1 request to fix my gun, CA CS sent me a call tag. They had my gun 11 days. I have not had a problem with it since Customer Service cleaned and adjusted (huh?) whatever they clean and adjust. I know I am over 500 rounds through my repaired Off Duty, with no issues. I carry this gun.
The Taurus 856 Defender worked fine when new, but it had THE ABSOLUTE WORST TRIGGER I'VE EVER PULLED. Period. Full-stop. Ugly. Very heavy, gritty, jerky. I dry-fired it 500 times (IIRC) before my first range trip. After that trip, I dry-fired DA maybe 1500 more times, and several hundred SA. The trigger was then way smoother, but still very heavy. I now have a Galloway trigger return spring, and a stock Taurus hammer spring in it now. It works just fine. It shoots to point of aim with 148gr WC and 158gr SWC ammo. I trust this gun it is now in my home defense rotation.
I suppose one could draw the conclusion from all this that these guns were worth the cost, and saved me 50% over buying S&W, Glock, Sig or some other brand. To me, that would be a huge leap of faith. At roughly $25/hr for range time, and $30/box for ammo, I have way more in these guns than I otherwise would have buying upscale. For instance, my S&W 442 cost me about $100 more than the Charter arms. Factor in the 3-5 hours of range time, and 500+/- rounds of ammo and the cost of the Off Duty skyrockets. Ditto the CM9. 2 hours of range time and maybe 200 rounds before I sent it in, then 3-5 more hours and ~300 more rounds after I got it back, makes the CM9 a bit expensive. Comparison: my P365. In one hour I put 100 rounds 9mm FMJ, 50 rounds of 147 HST and 50 rounds of Critical Defense through it. Done. I'll carry it. Ditto the 442. 1 hour, box of Fiocchi 148gr WC, box of Double Tap 148gr WC, box of PPU 158gr SWC. Done. I'll carry it.
If you want a cheap gun, go ahead and buy Kahr, CA, Taurus. If you have the faith to carry it untested, I worry about you. In the long run, I believe you'll save money, and be better prepared, to buy name brand off the shelf working hardware. A month or so ago I picked up a 686+ 4" for $879. Lately, I've been eyeing a Taurus 82 (same size/weight) which is on sale for $389. I did try the 82 in the store today. The Taurus 82 in the store has a way better trigger than my recently purchased 856 Defender. Sale ends Thursday. Still debating.
The TLDR version. I am happy with all three of these guns. Happy enough to carry the CM9 and the Off Duty. The 856 Defender 3" is too big for me to carry, but I trust it. For me, all three of these guns were worth the money I spent to purchase them. Oh, I bought all new.
Longer versions:
The Kahr would not shoot straight out of the box. Misfeeds, misfires, failure to extract, failure to eject; you name it, I had it. Kahr customer service paid for return shipping, said the gun was too far out of spec to be repaired, and sent me a new one. I have over 1,000 rounds through it with no issues. I carry this gun.
The Charter Arms was bad out of the box and got worse as I shot it. After 2 complaints to CS, and 1 request to fix my gun, CA CS sent me a call tag. They had my gun 11 days. I have not had a problem with it since Customer Service cleaned and adjusted (huh?) whatever they clean and adjust. I know I am over 500 rounds through my repaired Off Duty, with no issues. I carry this gun.
The Taurus 856 Defender worked fine when new, but it had THE ABSOLUTE WORST TRIGGER I'VE EVER PULLED. Period. Full-stop. Ugly. Very heavy, gritty, jerky. I dry-fired it 500 times (IIRC) before my first range trip. After that trip, I dry-fired DA maybe 1500 more times, and several hundred SA. The trigger was then way smoother, but still very heavy. I now have a Galloway trigger return spring, and a stock Taurus hammer spring in it now. It works just fine. It shoots to point of aim with 148gr WC and 158gr SWC ammo. I trust this gun it is now in my home defense rotation.
I suppose one could draw the conclusion from all this that these guns were worth the cost, and saved me 50% over buying S&W, Glock, Sig or some other brand. To me, that would be a huge leap of faith. At roughly $25/hr for range time, and $30/box for ammo, I have way more in these guns than I otherwise would have buying upscale. For instance, my S&W 442 cost me about $100 more than the Charter arms. Factor in the 3-5 hours of range time, and 500+/- rounds of ammo and the cost of the Off Duty skyrockets. Ditto the CM9. 2 hours of range time and maybe 200 rounds before I sent it in, then 3-5 more hours and ~300 more rounds after I got it back, makes the CM9 a bit expensive. Comparison: my P365. In one hour I put 100 rounds 9mm FMJ, 50 rounds of 147 HST and 50 rounds of Critical Defense through it. Done. I'll carry it. Ditto the 442. 1 hour, box of Fiocchi 148gr WC, box of Double Tap 148gr WC, box of PPU 158gr SWC. Done. I'll carry it.
If you want a cheap gun, go ahead and buy Kahr, CA, Taurus. If you have the faith to carry it untested, I worry about you. In the long run, I believe you'll save money, and be better prepared, to buy name brand off the shelf working hardware. A month or so ago I picked up a 686+ 4" for $879. Lately, I've been eyeing a Taurus 82 (same size/weight) which is on sale for $389. I did try the 82 in the store today. The Taurus 82 in the store has a way better trigger than my recently purchased 856 Defender. Sale ends Thursday. Still debating.
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