help me replce my Kahr CM9...maybe..advice needed

January 05, 2022, 11:25 AM

Hey, I am thinking of going polymer for lighter weight and looking for something that is exactly the same or smaller than my CM9. Mine fits in my blue jean pocket well and I like it..accurate, reliable BUT heavy..

capacity is not so much an issue , no revolvers', as it must be flat enough to appear as a wallet/cell phone in my back pocket..

any suggestions that are smaller and lighter ?

January 05, 2022, 11:30 AM

Windhover

If you are staying with 9mm, I doubt there's a lot of other options out there that is lighter in weight. Hellcat, Glock 43, SIG P365 are all a bit heavier.

If you are downgrading to .380, Kahr P380 is much lighter and flatter, as would I suspect many other .380 subcompacts.

I have both the PM9 and P380, and the P380 is the preferred when I am wearing summer clothes here in Southern California with Boraii trigger cover in the front pocket.

P380 with 7 rounds in the gun plus a reload of 6 rounds weighs the same as S&W M637 with just the 5 rounds of 125 grain Nyclads.

January 05, 2022, 11:31 AM

1KPerDay

Your CM9 is already polymer and is among the lightest and smallest 9mms around.

You might try an original Ruger LCP (not the new doublestack) if you want the smallest and lightest "real caliber" pocket gun. If you consider a .380 a viable caliber.

January 05, 2022, 11:52 AM

RogueJSK

Is your Kahr perhaps a MK9, instead of a CM9? The MK9 is the metal framed pocket 9mm from Kahr.

Because as noted, the CM9 is already polymer and lightweight. The only other semiauto 9mm that's lighter and smaller than the CM9 is the Rohrbaugh R9, which is no longer in production.

Otherwise, to go any lighter and smaller than the CM9, you're going to have to compromise in caliber (dropping down to .32/.380) or capacity (like a 2 shot derringer).

January 05, 2022, 12:49 PM

Flash-LB

Try a Kahr PM9. I've had one for almost 20 years as a BUG.

January 05, 2022, 01:00 PM

BigSwede

Smaller and lighter? No. The 365 is better though, it replaced my PM9 that I pocket carried for 13 years

The P380 came to mind as said above

January 05, 2022, 01:30 PM

iron chef

quote:
Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Try a Kahr PM9. I've had one for almost 20 years as a BUG.

Is this a joke?

The PM9 and CM9 are identical in size & weight. The CM9 is a budget-conscious version of the PM9.

As previously noted by others, I can't think of any 9mm smaller than a CM9. The only ones I know of that are lighter are made by Kel-Tec (PF-9, P-11), and I don't know if they're still in production. They're also larger than the CM9, and to put nicely, less refined.

quote:
Originally posted by golddot:
...it must be flat enough to appear as a wallet/cell phone in my back pocket..

The only way you'll get something approaching that level of thinness is if you go to a smaller caliber. You should check out something along the lines of a Ruger LCP II, LCP Max, S&W Bodyguard 380, or Kahr P380

January 05, 2022, 01:45 PM

golddot

thanks fellas, my CM9 is a budget version of the PM 9 and has a polymer frame and steel slide..I can not find a local gun shop that has a lot to compare it to.

I thought that walther made a slim SS 9mm but did not know if it was smaller, probably flatter tho

January 05, 2022, 01:59 PM

PASig

I think you need to go to a .380 if you are worried about a CM9 being heavy in your pocket.

I went from a .380 TO a CM9 and like it, I carry in front right pants pocket but yes there are days when I wished it was a .380 again

I'd recommend a Kahr CW380 if you like the CM9, here is the size comparison

The CW380/P380 is thinner, smaller and lighter and really does well in a pocket:

January 05, 2022, 02:20 PM

Mad Max

quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
I think you need to go to a .380 if you are worried about a CM9 being heavy in your pocket.

I went from a .380 TO a CM9 and like it, I carry in front right pants pocket but yes there are days when I wished it was a .380 again

I'd recommend a Kahr CW380 if you like the CM9, here is the size comparison

The CW380/P380 is thinner, smaller and lighter and really does well in a pocket:

PASig speaks the truth.
If you have a CW9, the PM9 will be practically the same. The MK9 is heavy as a brick.

The P380 is tiny and is my favorite pocket carry.

January 05, 2022, 03:06 PM

Flash-LB

quote:
Originally posted by iron chef:
quote:
Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Try a Kahr PM9. I've had one for almost 20 years as a BUG.

Is this a joke?

The PM9 and CM9 are identical in size & weight. The CM9 is a budget-conscious version of the PM9.

As previously noted by others, I can't think of any 9mm smaller than a CM9. The only ones I know of that are lighter are made by Kel-Tec (PF-9, P-11), and I don't know if they're still in production. They're also larger than the CM9, and to put nicely, less refined.

quote:
Originally posted by golddot:
...it must be flat enough to appear as a wallet/cell phone in my back pocket..

The only way you'll get something approaching that level of thinness is if you go to a smaller caliber. You should check out something along the lines of a Ruger LCP II, LCP Max, S&W Bodyguard 380, or Kahr P380

No, not a joke. I was thinking of the CW9, which I also have, and confused it with the CM9. Nothing more.

January 05, 2022, 03:33 PM

1KPerDay

quote:
Originally posted by iron chef:

As previously noted by others, I can't think of any 9mm smaller than a CM9. The only ones I know of that are lighter are made by Kel-Tec (PF-9, P-11), and I don't know if they're still in production. They're also larger than the CM9, and to put nicely, less refined.

To put it more accurately, more shitty.

My PF-9 broke after 50 rounds (trigger bar) and again at 680 rounds (slide cracked). I'm done with those yahoos.

January 05, 2022, 03:51 PM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
You might try an original Ruger LCP (not the new doublestack) if you want the smallest and lightest "real caliber" pocket gun. If you consider a .380 a viable caliber.

This ^^^^^

When I drop my Ruger LCP-CT (Second Generation, not to be confused with the LCP II) into my pocket in a DeSantis Pocket-Tuk you wouldn't know it was there. It's footprint is so unobtrusive I can pretty much forget it's even there.

As for .380 ACP: I regard it as barely adequate. Such being the case: Shot placement is quite critical. Luckily, it shoots surprisingly well for me:

Some Mozambique drills:

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher

January 05, 2022, 10:40 PM

CQB60

I really like my PM9, would be one of the last guns I would part with. For your conundrum, I was thinking of suggesting a Kahr P380 or CW380 as well. The P380 is on my short list.

January 06, 2022, 04:29 AM

wacopolumbo

My vote is for the Kahr P380 as well. Same trigger, manual of arms as what you are used to. You could also go with the Keltek version, the P3AT. I’ve had one of those for years. It was my “last ditch” option on several deployments.

I had a P380 and loved it. For some reason I got rid of it (don’t remember why) but I will buy another.

January 06, 2022, 08:33 AM

sigarms229

Smaller and lighter would mean moving to a .380 or smaller.

My recommendation would be

Ruger LCP
Ruger LCP II (I prefer it over the LCP)
Kahr P380

Lastly I know it's not what you asked for but the Sig P365 is a far superior platform to you Kahr CM9. Prior to the Sig I carried a Kahr PM9 or MK9 for years and frankly the Sig P365 is in a different league. It is amazing how well it shoots for a small handgun.