After reviewing available products available to the general public, I purchased one of the finest self-defense handguns in the world (in my view). Coming from a family rich in the traditions of big game hunting, law enforcement, and military service, I decided some years ago to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Why? Because of the increasing activity of local drug gangs, violent and desperate illegal immigrants, and the adage that “you don’t need a gun, until you really need one, and quickly”. But mainly, it was because I realized that the course of old age (in my case) included becoming more cranky and unforgiving and at the same time withering away physically, diminishing in stature and stamina.
This could be a lethal combination for me in these troubled times, and I was determined to even the odds in any violent confrontation with some young tough. As my body is now skinny and emaciated compared to the days of my youth in the Strategic Air Command when frankly, I was an Apollo whose image could have been stamped on Greek coins; I had to conduct an exhaustive search for a handgun that I could actually conceal on my person, access rapidly, and fire accurately.
It also had to be reliable, easy to reload quickly and have sufficient firepower to bring down a flock of gang members decisively. I would rather kill them all in a firefight in one sitting than shoot one and depend on the police to go after the rest later. Well, here it is. It is very expensive ($908+ tax & shipping) compared to a Glock, and it’s the same 9mm caliber and can fire the same high-powered hollow point tactical rounds (1400fps hot load). But it is smaller, lighter, thinner, and can actually slip in the front pocket of my jeans or running shorts without the tell-tale bulge.
My Kahr PM9093N with the standard 6+1 magazine and night sight
I had to wait months for the delivery, as this weapon has become a favorite of spies and undercover cops around the country, and when I got it, I was dying to see how accurate it was with the three-inch barrel. So, I called my neighbor who is a retired SWAT team trainer and asked if he would take me to the cop’s firing range to get some practice with it. Not knowing my background with firearms, he snickered for a moment, and then agreed, saying he needed a little comic relief. The snickering continued when he saw the gun, and we compared its size to his massive police-issue Glock and the even bigger .45 he was issued when he was in the Army Rangers. He decided to bring both guns to the range, and when we got there, he proceeded to set up his target about five meters away. I set mine up at about twice or more the distance, a range I was used to shooting with my old S&W .357 Magnum revolver.
As I came back to the firing line, he said, “You know, most gunfights occur within 10 feet of you and your adversary. You should train at the distance that I set my target at.”
“I just wanted to see just how good this short barrel is.” I replied
We both fired off a clip, me with my Kahr, and he with his Glock. My little gun did not kick nearly as hard as I expected, and we went out to inspect the targets. He had a group neatly over the heart area of the target. I had a wider grouping, but they were all head shots. He looked at me with new respect. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
I said, “Oh, my Dad taught me how to shoot when I was a kid, and the Air Force taught me about the .30 carbine in boot camp.”
I put 100 rounds down range that day without a jam, although the Kahr manual cautioned that it might jam in the first two hundred round ‘break-in period’. I’m very happy with my purchase. The best thing about this weapon is that it is double-action and does not feature a safety that you have to worry about.
