Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns LC9 or CM9?

They have these two subcompacts at the LGS. Has anyone had experience with BOTH that they would like to share? Are there any other comparably priced little single stack 9's to consider? I'm a 45 guy, but started loading for my daughter's 9 and figured WTH.

I don't have experience with both of these, but I will mention that I like the smoothness of the Kahr's trigger. I have a PM9 which I enjoy shooting and carrying.

A Keltec PF-9 may be a good sub-compact to take a look at as well.

I don't care for the trigger cocking guns with no trigger blocking device. The Glock's trigger bar is minimal but it's MUCH better than nothing. Neither the CM9 or the LC9 has a trigger blocking device, but the LC9 does have what all pocket pistols SHOULD have, a manual thumb safety. Pocket guns need this even more than other guns because even if you dedicate your pocket to the pistol, at sometime you'll space it and drop something else in there. And that something can get into the trigger guard. With a manual safety it's just a non issue. Plus you can safely lighten the trigger pretty much all you want with no risks in the safety department. I personally think this "no safety" fad is a mistake. Yeah we can work with it, but why should we? It's just so easy to equip a pistol with a thumb safety. And I'm sure someone will mention a pocket holster...but that's a given and in my book doesn't negate the need for a thumb safety.

I have the LC9, and will not "give it up". The sights are just too good for a small pistol. I hit what I aim at with it. The trigger pull is long, but smooth.
You can't go wrong with it.

Just purchased a Kahr CM9 over the weekend and have been really impressed with it. I have put 150 rounds through it thus far with zero malfunctions(Kahr recommends 200 round break in).

My wife has a LC9 and I think the Kahr CM9 trigger is much better. I initially bought the CM9 to pocket carry(and will probably do so some). What I found out though, is this little pistol just disappears IWB and is comfortable to boot.

The LC9 is a very accurate little pistol too. My biggest concern is the magazine disconnect on it. However, my wife is very accurate to 15 yards and can operate all the controls and slide efficiently, and feels comfortable with it. I would much rather her carry something she's comfortable and proficient with then nothing at all.

Wife has a KelTec PF 9 and we think it is the best of the bunch, and by quite a margin. Second pick (and she had one of these for a while as well, as have I more than once) would be the KAHR. The only thing she did not like about the KAHR was the very long trigger pull, but the trigger pull IS quite smooth. The Kel Tec trigger is fairly light and smooth for a DAO gun, and the trigger pull length is not excessive like on many others. We eliminated the Ruger from consideration because of its external thumb safety. A gun so equipped is a non starter- not to be considered - piece for newer shooters IMO. One more thing to learn and manipulate in a crisis which can easily be forgotten. Don't want my wife to draw upon a close charging rapist, pull the trigger and then in that moment of crisis with fine motor skill badly deteriorated have to try and remember them manipulate a thumb safety. Her carry gun, and those of any other newer shooter who is not going to practice very much needs to be a point and shoot proposition, in my strongly held opinion.

Give the Kel Tec a try, I think you will like it!

Yeah the Zimmerman special should work quite well. I'm partial to the Kahr because it fits my hand better.

Thanks for all the input. What about the Sig 290?

Don't have any experience with it but isn't it a bit larger? The Sig 938 would certainly be worthy of consideration.

Love my cm9. Easiest gun to conceal and has been flawless

I've owned the PF-9 and currently have the Kahr CW-9. Gotta say the Kahr handles the 9mm recoil better than the PF-9 for me, but that's a subjective observation and not a rule by any means. The PF was very accurate, but the CW is just as or more so, though it costs at least 100 more if that's a consideration.

The mag disconnect on the LC9 goes away pretty easily just watch a 5 minute youtube video on how to do it.

I had a PM40 and although accurate was never really a fan of the Kahr trigger it stacked up, stacked up then blam not a smooth, although long pull like the LC9.

Got a clip to carry the LC9 like the Kel-tek or help secure it on an ankle holster.

Mike

Kevin's point is well-taken, assuming you only carry the CM9 in a pocket. I don't. The absence of a thumb safety is therefore a non-issue for me.

I do prefer the CM9 to the LC9. I didn't think I would, but it just fits/handles better and has been utterly reliable with a variety of top-tier LEO/SD ammo. It's one of the top three carry guns in my rotation.

I generally use ankle holster

I have the ruger and the CW9 and the CM9. Spring kits are available for the Ruger to make it lighter.

Kahr pistols are unreal accurate, but you must practice to master the long trigger pull. Kahr's long trigger pull is smooth, but it kills accuracy for a lot of people that want to jerk the trigger.

"but it kills accuracy for a lot of people that want to jerk the trigger."

Let me submit - with respect of course - that the long trigger isn't what is killing the accuracy...but rather the people who want to jerk it!

s4,

I had a PF9 for a number of years. Both it and my P3AT showed
a lot of internal wear. Both were sold.

My replacements were LC9 and LCP both with CTC laser sights.

Both have 200 or so rounds through them with no wear noticed.
The trigger pulls on both are very good. And I like the feel
of each when shooting.

I have put verious types of ammo through each with no failures.
The LC9 functions with a "limp wrist" hold. The PF9 required a firm hold to compete its cycle.

No negatives on Kahr so I would compare weight, ets. before deciding. Price may be an issue but the Rugers are both great pistolos.

I'd take the Kahr over the Ruger, and would never want an external safety on a pocket fighting pistol.

"I'm a 45 guy,..."

S4,

Maybe you should give the Kahr PM45 or the soon to be released/released? CM45 a look. I've got the CW45 and like it. I also have a CM9 and had a CW9, like both but ===> "I'm a 45 guy".

Jerry

My wife has both!! She prefers the LC9. I have, and prefer the CM9 over the LC9. I suppose is all a preference thing.I read an article on the LC,the author said it felt"like a well used bar of soap". A very good discription, as it has no sharp edges, everything is radiused.The CM is also perhaps a little tempermental,a break-in required, and more returns to the factory for "tuning" than one should expect. However, for a "pocket pistol",it has a good trigger,is very accurate,point-shoots(at least for me)exceptionally well, and is fractionally smaller than the LC9. Either one should serve you well. Just treat the CM more like a Porche than a Honda!! memtb