DougGuy
06-02-2013, 09:59 AM
Compared the cost, weight savings, concealability, and a lot of other factors between a Commander size 1911 which I carried for years, and something newer and picked the Kahr Arms pistol because it is one that I can buy it, break it in, and carry it without modifications or a handful of aftermarket bells and whistles. Wolff springs, Made in USA, reliable feeding and a well deserved reputation for being surprisingly accurate for a compact carry gun were value added factors to me. Also, there is the possibility of a courtroom defense should the gun ever need to be used in self defense, and the least you do to one, the better off you are, and this one being DAO was another plus that I considered for just that reason.
Not sure how to rate this pistol as far as build quality and fit/finish. The design does incorporate cost cutting methods of production. There are some things the factory could do a little better on like changing the magazine follower which if left unmodified can intermittently hang up on the magazine catch and cause a failure to feed, although I had read forum posts on how to clean and prep one of these to avoid problems and the tips I got there worked very well. I was able to put mine through it's paces from the first round fired to the last with 100% reliability with factory ammo and also some plated LSWC handloads.
I may build or buy another Commander in the future, but considering the last excellent condition vintage Colt Commander slide I saw sold for more than this pistol cost, it will be a ways down the road.
Thanks for the responses on the other thread I started a while back over these Kahr pistols, there wasn't anything really negative said so I gave it the nod and decided to buy one.
First live fire session, 3 strings of fire noted by groups. First group fired was TZZ 230gr FMJ next was 200gr plated LSWC handloads over unknown charge of W231 (this ammo was about 20yrs old, and worked flawlessly) last group fired was CCI Lawman 200gr JHP "Flying Ashtray." Heavier bullets shot to a lower point of impact here, and I stood the bottom of the black square on top of the front sight to give an idea of point of aim:
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg.html)
Another very good shooting load is the Hornady Custom 230gr XTP +P in the brown box. This would be the carry ammo that this gun prefers, I'm not going to argue with it!
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01586_zpsdda38360.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01586_zpsdda38360.jpg.html)
Not sure how to rate this pistol as far as build quality and fit/finish. The design does incorporate cost cutting methods of production. There are some things the factory could do a little better on like changing the magazine follower which if left unmodified can intermittently hang up on the magazine catch and cause a failure to feed, although I had read forum posts on how to clean and prep one of these to avoid problems and the tips I got there worked very well. I was able to put mine through it's paces from the first round fired to the last with 100% reliability with factory ammo and also some plated LSWC handloads.
I may build or buy another Commander in the future, but considering the last excellent condition vintage Colt Commander slide I saw sold for more than this pistol cost, it will be a ways down the road.
Thanks for the responses on the other thread I started a while back over these Kahr pistols, there wasn't anything really negative said so I gave it the nod and decided to buy one.
First live fire session, 3 strings of fire noted by groups. First group fired was TZZ 230gr FMJ next was 200gr plated LSWC handloads over unknown charge of W231 (this ammo was about 20yrs old, and worked flawlessly) last group fired was CCI Lawman 200gr JHP "Flying Ashtray." Heavier bullets shot to a lower point of impact here, and I stood the bottom of the black square on top of the front sight to give an idea of point of aim:
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg.html)
Another very good shooting load is the Hornady Custom 230gr XTP +P in the brown box. This would be the carry ammo that this gun prefers, I'm not going to argue with it!
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01586_zpsdda38360.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01586_zpsdda38360.jpg.html)