Glock 43 Review

Kahr CM9

"Budget version of the Kahr CW9"

 $565.00

Specs:

• 9mm, Capacity 6+1, Barrel 3.0", Polymer and Stainless
• +P Rated
• Mechanism: Trigger Cocking DAO, Browning Recoil Lug, Passive Striker Block
• Fires Without Magazine
• Weight: Pistol 14 oz., Magazine 1.9 oz.
• Dimensions: Overall Length 5.42", Height 4.0", Slide Width .90"
• Sights: Drift Adjustable White Bar Dot
• Comes With One(1) 6 Rd. Magazine, 7 Rd. Available

Standard vs. El-Cheapo Version

Click below for full-sized comparison picture in .pdf

 Notables:

• Tapered Slide Aids Concealability
• Rifled Barrel, as Opposed to Polygonal
• Checkerboarding of Front and Back of Grips (straps) Means Major Control
• "Simple Control Buttons Were Easy to Manage"
• Well Cut Slide Serrations Means a Solid Grip
• "Shoots to Point of Aim"
• "Much Better Trigger than the CW9"
• Plastic Sights and No External Safety
• Top-Heavy When Empty
• Standard Kahr Takedown Process, Simple Reassembly
• Accuracy Under 2" at 15 Yards (?)
• "No problems with a variety of 9mm ammo"
• "Superior ability to land multiple, fast shots."

Basically: "Kel-Tec PF9 still rules this class, but the CM9 is a close 2nd place, due mainly to the higher price."

Forum Opinions:

• Respectable Bullet Velocities for a Short Barrel
• Long-Pull Trigger Must be Fully Reset
• the Sights are a Joke

PF-9 vs. LC9 Pocket Pistols

Pocket 9mm Comparison:

                         Kel-Tec PF-9

                                                                               Ruger LC9




                                 Specs:

              PF-9                                                   LC9

• Length: 5.8"                                             6.0"
• Height: 4.4"                                             4.5"
• Barrel: 3.1"                                              3.1"
• Sight Radius: 4.7"                                     4.6"
• Front Strap Height: 1.7"                            2.3"
• Back Strap Height: 2.6"                            2.7"
• Weight Empty: 14.6 oz.                            17.1 oz.
• Weight Loaded (147 gr): 18.5 oz.             21 oz.
• Capacity: 7+1                                           7+1
• Max. Width: 0.98"                                     1.05"
• Max. Grip Thickness: 0.89"                          .97"
• Frame: Matte Black Polymer                      Matte Black Polymer
• Barrel and Slide: Alloy Steel                       Alloy Steel
• Trigger Pull: 5 lbs                                        7.4 lbs
• Trigger Travel: 3.3"                                     3.3"
• Warranty: Lifetime                                      None Written

Summary: Kel-Tec PF-9 $333.00
Slim and easily concealable. Available in blued, parkerizing or hard chrome. +P rated. 1 magazine and 2 floor plates, one flat and one with a finger ledge. Fixed sights with an excellent sight picture; rear sight adjustable for windage. Checkerboard grips provide excellent traction. Magazine release not easily accidentally hit. No data on whether this is a drop-free magazine. Gun fires without magazine in place. Snag-free out of the pocket. No mechanical safety; internal hammer-block. Good serrations in rear of slide. Light rail groove that did easily snag on clothing. Simple takedown procedure. Reassembly slightly more difficult. Long trigger reset required. Easily rapid-fired. Tendency toward trigger-pinch noted. Heavy recoil with most defense loads.

Summary: Ruger LC9 $443.00
2.5 oz. heavier than the Kel-Tec (17% heavier), steel sights and trigger-plastic on the Kel-Tec, thicker and longer slide, right-handed thumb safety, loaded chamber indicator, includes 1 magazine and 2 floor plates, includes polymer carry-box and pouch, nice matte-blued finish, slide and barrel-alloy steel, polymer frame, Italian-made magazine-like the Kel-Tec, swelled grip, frame cutout tended to cause thumb interference with trigger operation, identical trigger pull length (double action only), more room in the trigger guard, stiffer trigger pull (4 lbs+), "way worse trigger than the Kel-Tec with noticeable stacking at the end", highly visible white-dot steel sights-drift adjustable, front sight tended to snag on clothing, trigger return-reset shorter by 1/8", magazine disconnect means gun is useless without the magazine. Easy takedown and reassembly, beveled magazine opening for easier insertion, slower in rapid-fire, less felt recoil than the Kel-Tec.

Synopsis:
The Ruger is "Heavier, thicker and harder to shoot well"

"An imitation Kel-Tec by Ruger doesn't quite measure up to the original."

                                                                                                   

9mm State of the Art

STI GP6-C

$827.00

Check out the GP6-C's unique lines in this less than great photo from STI International

Specs:

• Caliber 9mm
• Capacity: 17 Rounds
• Frame: 30 RC, Chrome Moly Steel w/ Integral Tactical Rail
• Grip: Textured Polymer
• Slide: 4.15" Tri-Top w/ Front & Rear Cocking Serrations
• Trigger: DA/SA
• Barrel: 4.25"
• Safety: Ambi Thumb Safeties, Internal, Passive Firing Pin Block
• Guide Rod: One Piece
•  Sites: Fiber Optic Front, Adjustable Rear
• Overall Length: 7.9" 
• Weight Empty: 23.8 oz. 
• Blue
• Competition Approved: USPSA (Production Division), IPSC, IDPA

Gun Reviews:

• Built for Combat, or Competition Shooting 
• Ergonomically-Designed Grips
• Accurate for a Combat Pistol: 2" and Less Groups at 25 Yards
• Super-Fast Firing Capabilities
• "Smooth Trigger" 4 lbs SA/8 lbs DA
• "A Great Handgun", Shooting Illustrated
• "Borrows From Many of the Best Handgun Concepts, Old and New"
• Known in Europe as the K-100
• Highly Proven in European Competition Shooting
• Rotating Barrel Action
• Rated for 100,000+ rounds of ammunition 
• Simple and Easy to Field-Strip
• Traditional Double Action/Single Action
• Comes with 17 and 20 Round Magazines
• "Utterly Reliable"
• Can be Carried "Cocked and Locked"
• Totally Ambidextrous
• "Fairly Long Double-Action Trigger Pull"
• No Magazine Safety
• Second Strike Capability (Pull the trigger again to fire an unfired round)

Gripes:

• No Loaded Chamber Indicator
• Cheesy, El Cheapo Case Included
• Sharp Rear-Site Blade
• Slight Rearward Torque During Recoil
• Safety Levers Somewhat Inaccessible
• Brisk Magazine Insertion Sometimes Caused the Slide to Chamber a Round
• Plastic Guide Rod