So there are always several discussions going on about what size gun you are able to conceal, and the tradeoff between size and 'shootability.' My girlfriend recently ran into this issue, and I think we may have finally resolved it.
You see, she got her CWFL a few months ago, and wanted to get a gun that was concealable, yet fun to go shoot at the range as well. After going to the range and shooting several different guns, she decided on the Smith and Wesson M&P9c. I liked it as well, so we picked up a slightly used one with some Trijicon night sights on it.
Fast forward a couple months. It's now becoming apparent that the double-stack magazine is going to cause the M&P to be a little more than she can manage to conceal when the weather gets warm. So, we're stuck trying to find an alternative.
The issue we face is that the smaller and lighter you go with a firearm, the less fun it is to take to the range and put rounds in paper without getting sore. Choices like the Keltec PF-9 and the Kahr CW9 are notorious for being a little jumpy, and she didn't want to bump down to .380 as this is her home defense gun as well.
Finally, we stumbled across some of the slightly older stainless steel, single stack semi-autos (how's that alliteration for you?), such as the Smith and Wesson 3913 and ultimately the Kahr K9. After looking around for a while, the opportunity to purchase a used K9 presented itself and we jumped on it.
I am happy to report that we are extremely happy with the purchase. The store we bought it from reported that it had around 300 rounds through it from the previous owner, and from the action of the recoil spring, the gun still hadn't been fully broken in. Both my girlfriend and I shot it at the range later that week and found the recoil very manageable, though the trigger is a little long and heavy. There were no FTFs or FTEs with 150 rounds of Federal Champion and a couple rounds of Ranger SXT, but we're not taking any chances. She's holding onto the M&P for now until we finish breaking in the Kahr, but I think it is a great compromise that suits either one of us well.
When some extra funds become available, I think I'm going to send it into Kahr to get the Elite trigger system put in, but until then we'll adjust to the long pull.
-Z
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-Kahr K9-
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Kahr K9: Stainless steel, semi-automatic 9mm pistol with a 7+1 capacity.
You see, she got her CWFL a few months ago, and wanted to get a gun that was concealable, yet fun to go shoot at the range as well. After going to the range and shooting several different guns, she decided on the Smith and Wesson M&P9c. I liked it as well, so we picked up a slightly used one with some Trijicon night sights on it.
Fast forward a couple months. It's now becoming apparent that the double-stack magazine is going to cause the M&P to be a little more than she can manage to conceal when the weather gets warm. So, we're stuck trying to find an alternative.
The issue we face is that the smaller and lighter you go with a firearm, the less fun it is to take to the range and put rounds in paper without getting sore. Choices like the Keltec PF-9 and the Kahr CW9 are notorious for being a little jumpy, and she didn't want to bump down to .380 as this is her home defense gun as well.
Finally, we stumbled across some of the slightly older stainless steel, single stack semi-autos (how's that alliteration for you?), such as the Smith and Wesson 3913 and ultimately the Kahr K9. After looking around for a while, the opportunity to purchase a used K9 presented itself and we jumped on it.
I am happy to report that we are extremely happy with the purchase. The store we bought it from reported that it had around 300 rounds through it from the previous owner, and from the action of the recoil spring, the gun still hadn't been fully broken in. Both my girlfriend and I shot it at the range later that week and found the recoil very manageable, though the trigger is a little long and heavy. There were no FTFs or FTEs with 150 rounds of Federal Champion and a couple rounds of Ranger SXT, but we're not taking any chances. She's holding onto the M&P for now until we finish breaking in the Kahr, but I think it is a great compromise that suits either one of us well.
When some extra funds become available, I think I'm going to send it into Kahr to get the Elite trigger system put in, but until then we'll adjust to the long pull.
-Z
-Kahr K9-
Kahr K9: Stainless steel, semi-automatic 9mm pistol with a 7+1 capacity.
