The Kahr PM series (Polymer Micro) is a series of
double action only (DAO) hammerless, striker-fired,
short recoil operated, semi-automatic pistols manufactured by
Kahr Arms.
[Ayoob, Massad]
"Kahr's PM9"
, ''Guns'' Magazine, November 2003, p.48-56, p.73-75. Accessed June 24, 2008. The target market for the PM line is the civilian
concealed carry market, as well as being intended as backup weapons for law enforcement officers.
[Clapp, Wiley]
"New Kahr PM9 9mm”
, ''Combat Handguns'', September 2002, pp. 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, 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 that were physically smaller, as well as a line of polymer framed models.
[Clapp, Wiley]
“INSTANT CLASSICS”
, ''Guns & Ammo'', March 2004, pp. 66–71. Accessed June 24, 2008. The PM series combined both these approaches, introducing polymer framed pistols that were also the smallest Kahr models ever produced.
, ''American Rifleman'' magazine, P. 84-85, October 2004. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Design features
PM series pistols are manufactured with stainless steel slides that 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]
, ''Combat Handguns'', June 2008, pp. 38–42, 91. Accessed June 24, 2008. The PM is available in
9×19mm (PM9),
.40 S&W (PM40), and
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...
(PM45). The series is noted for being very no-nonsense and utilitarian in appearance, with black plastic grips and a brushed stainless or blackened
Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) stainless slides.
Produced by applying a thin but tough protective coating, the DLC patina was labeled "Black Diamond" in early production and is valued for its lack of attention-catching light reflection in dim surroundings. DLC 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]
"Kahr PM40"
, ''Shooting Illustrated'', July 2004, pp. 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 also noted for having a fully enclosed trigger draw bar. 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 squatter with a low bore axis, resulting is less
muzzle rise
Muzzle rise, muzzle flip or muzzle climb refers to the tendency of a firearm's or airgun's muzzle (front end of the barrel) to rise up after firing. It more specifically refers to the seemingly unpredictable "jump" of the firearm's muzzle, cause ...
and flip. The PM barrel configuration boasts
polygonal rifling
Polygonal rifling ( ) is a type of gun barrel rifling where the traditional sharp-edged "lands and grooves" are replaced by less pronounced "hills and valleys", so the barrel bore has a polygonal (usually hexagonal or octagonal) cross-sectional p ...
, which in theory will wear longer and gather less fouling.
Almost all Kahr pistol designs share a common function and trigger action.
Criticisms
While highly regarded overall, reviewers have offered various criticisms of the PM series. The entire PM product line is known for requiring a 'breaking-in' period. Kahr Arms has indicated that its products are to be broken in with at least 200 rounds fired initially, as is the case with many semi-automatic firearms.
In addition, though the 9×19mm 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 criticism, some reviewers 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 regularly.
Other known PM series deficiencies include excessive trigger travel, and a magazine release which occasionally fails to allow magazines to fall freely on the PM40 model.
The magazine release and recoil springs on the PM40 pistol have also been known to occasionally break.
[Ayoob, Massad ]
"CARRYIN' KAHRS"
, ''The Complete Book of Handguns 2005'', pp. 86–91. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Variants
PM9
The Kahr PM9 is chambered in
9×19 Parabellum.
[ It comes standard with either a black frame and stainless slide, or fully matte black.][ Additional features available on some models are tritium night sights and ]Crimson Trace
Crimson Trace is an American manufacturer of laser sight equipment, chiefly but not exclusively for pistols. The firm specializes in in-line upper-grip-mounted red and green laser units, trigger-guard mounted sights, and training units. Crimson T ...
laser sights.manual safety
Close-up shot of a safety of an M16A2 rifle
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling.
Safeties can generally be divided into subtypes suc ...
and a loaded chamber indicator.[
]
PM9 Covert
The Kahr PM9 Covert was released in 2019 and like the Kahr PM9 is also chambered in 9x19 Parabellum.
PM40
The Kahr PM40 is chambered in .40 S&W.[ It comes standard with either a black frame and stainless slide, or fully matte black.][ Additional features available on some models are tritium night sights and Crimson Trace laser sights.]manual safety
Close-up shot of a safety of an M16A2 rifle
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling.
Safeties can generally be divided into subtypes suc ...
and a loaded chamber indicator.[
]
PM45
The Kahr PM45 is chambered in .45 ACP
The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...
.[ It comes standard with either a black frame and stainless slide, or fully matte black.][ Additional features available on some models are tritium night sights and Crimson Trace laser sights.]manual safety
Close-up shot of a safety of an M16A2 rifle
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling.
Safeties can generally be divided into subtypes suc ...
and a loaded chamber indicator.[
]
References
External links
Review of the Kahr PM45 from ''American Rifleman''Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kahr PM Series
Semi-automatic pistols of the United States
9mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistols
.40 S&W semi-automatic pistols
.45 ACP semi-automatic pistols