First Impressions
My test gun came from the Guns.com Certified Used section, and when I opened the box, I was surprised by how small the CM9 is. Given that it’s even smaller than my Ruger LC9, I would say it’s the definition of a pocket pistol.
Looks-wise, the CM9 is simple and to the point. I like how the stainless-steel slide looks. Some may call it boring, especially compared to today's choices, but it’s exactly what I’d expect from a budget option: no frills.
I didn’t have a holster to test carrying the CM9, but based on its size, it should be a breeze to conceal. It’s technically a pocket pistol but doesn’t have a manual slide safety, so a holster that covers the trigger is your best bet, regardless of how you carry.
Features
Kahr claims the CM9 is a near-identical clone of the PM9 at a more affordable price. Still, to offset the roughly $200 difference, the company needed to include some budget-friendly features.
The CM9 originally shipped with only one six-round flush-fit magazine, but you can buy seven or eight-round extended magazines. My used sample came with an eight-rounder. The barrel has conventional rifling rather than match-grade polygon rifling.
The bar-dot combat sights are what you’d expect from an entry-level pistol of its time. The plastic front sight is pinned in, and the rear metal sight is drift-adjustable.
The slide is simple, featuring only rear serrations. I found it pretty stiff to rack, and I assume that’s why the previous owner added grip tape on the rear of the slide. The slide stop lever and magazine release button function but feel clunky.
The grip texture is almost non-existent and not nearly aggressive enough for a micro-compact that already takes some effort to hold securely. Stippling, a Talon grip, or even some grip tape would make a big difference.
The CM9 uses a Browning-type locked-breech design with a passive striker block. When the trigger is pulled, the passive firing pin block is unlocked, which cocks the pistol and fires the round. This makes the pistol safe until the trigger is pulled without needing a slide or trigger safety.
Specs
Here are the basic specs for the Kahr Arms CM9:
- Weight (Empty): 15.9 ounces
- Length: 5.42 inches
- Barrel Length: 3 inches
- Height: 4 inches
- Width: 0.9 inches
- Trigger Pull: 6.25 pounds
- Caliber: 9mm
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Capacity: 6+1, 7+1, 8+1
Range Time
I took the CM9 to the range and ran a few magazines through it at 5 yards to get a feel for the gun. Micro-compacts aren’t the easiest to shoot, especially with such a short sight radius, but I was able to get some decent groups to start.
On the first shot of my third magazine, I experienced a failure to feed, and the slide locked back. After clearing it, I realized there was some extra space in the magazine from front to back. If the rounds aren’t fully seated to the rear, the round will nose-dive and catch on the feed ramp instead of feeding. I tossed the dented round and got back to work.
After that, I made sure to give the magazines an extra slap on my palm and didn’t experience the issue again. Since I only had this one to test, I’m not sure if this is a known issue with the CM9 or something that happened over time to this particular used piece.
I put 200 rounds of Blazer Brass 115-grain through this gun with only a single malfunction. Hardly enough rounds for an actual longevity test, but it was reliable during my range time.
I also shot a couple of boxes of DoubleTap 77-grain DT Lead Free HP rounds without issue. I expected the self-defense rounds to be extra snappy in such a small pistol, but they weren’t. I could hardly notice a difference in recoil from the range ammo. The DoubleTap performed well and was a pleasure to shoot.
Shooting Notes
The trigger pull is long on this little pistol, but not as long as other pocket pistols like my Ruger LC9, which I swear feels a mile long. Even with a long, heavy pull, the trigger feels smooth with no grit. The reset is also long, so I found the CM9 difficult to shoot rapidly.
The grip is short and can be tricky to hold onto after a while. I have small hands and could get a full grip with the flush-fit mag, but it didn’t feel great. I let my husband shoot it a bit, and he had to tuck his pinky underneath. We agreed that the extended magazine made it much more enjoyable to shoot.
I found the CM9 accurate enough for a concealed carry pistol. At 10 yards, I maintained decent groups. At 15 yards, my group spread a bit with a couple of flyers but still wasn’t bad. I tend to pull to the right slightly, especially as I’m getting used to a pistol.
There’s no doubt the CM9 is a snappy little gun, but not any more than you’d expect. Recoil is easy to manage. The sights are small and difficult to pick up on follow-up shots. The previous owner painted the front sight orange, but I’m not sure if that helps or hinders. As with all micro-compacts, it takes a good amount of practice to achieve consistent accuracy.
Pros & Cons
