KAHR CW9 vs Walther P99

[M9FAN]

My wife and I went to the Pasadena gun show this past weekend and she found two 9mm pistols that comfortably fit her hand; the KAHR CW9 and the Walther P99. With the big show at Reliant coming up this weekend, I have a few questions regarding these handguns:
1) Which pistol is better known for accuracy?
2) Which pistol is better known for reliability?
3) Which pistol is better known for durability?
4) What are reasonable prices to expect to pay for each pistol?

One last question: my wife is left-handed; are either of these pistols manufactured for left-handed shooters or are either of them capable of having their safety, magazine release, and slide release reversed to accomodate a "south paw"?

Any advice, pros & cons, and/or personal experience would be appreciated.

[AFJailor]

Well, I have never fired the Kahr, but you should go check out the prices...Kahr jumped their prices up quite a bit. Plus I think the ergonomics on the walther are just better.

[shipwreck]

Go to http://www.handgunforum.net and look at all the positive comments on the P99 - It is my fav handgun of all time - the A/S version. I don't care for the QA trigger version as much.

I've given up on buying expensive 1911s after finding my P99 and shooting so well with it.

[LarryH]

By the way, the "big one" this coming weekend is at the Reliant, not the GRB (didn't want you to drive to the wrong place and pay for parking you won't use).

[M9FAN]

By the way, the "big one" this coming weekend is at the Reliant, not the GRB (didn't want you to drive to the wrong place and pay for parking you won't use).

Oops! Thanks for the correction.

[LarryH]

We may see you there. We'll be there first thing Saturday morning, probably leave about 1400 (have obligations after 1700 Saturday and all day Sunday).

[yerasimos]

I have done business on a couple occasions with one board member here who had a long saga of trying to get his Kahr to operate reliably. I have not tried shooting one, but his (and others') experiences tend to discourage me from taking that brand seriously.

I have a fair amount of experience with the Walther P99, and I found them to be very, very reliable. They have left-friendly dual-sided magazine releases. I do not consider their decockers to be very lefty-friendly; they are better positioned for right-thumb access when these pistols are held in the right hand. The slide release lever is only on the left side, though according to the gunhandling doctrine I have been taught/adopted, I prefer to use the opposite hand to pull back on the slide to release it forward.

I have a lightly-used 2006 P99 AS in 9mm for sale if you are willing to consider used guns.

Good luck in your search, wherever it takes you.

[HankB]

I had a Kahr P9 and it was such an awful piece of junk that the company gave up on trying to fix it and replaced it . . . I immediately traded the replacement for a G26, which has the virtue of actually working.

Walther fans seem to love their pistols with an almost religious fervor, but I noticed that after an initial flurry of use, P99 numbers have faded from the IDPA circuit - reliability issues. Yes, some folks will no doubt say they've fired truckloads of ammo through theirs without a hiccup, and I won't call them liars . . . but based on what I've seen, maybe Walther has a problem with guns produced on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons.

One thing I'm fairly confident of - once Walther brings out a new model and discontinues the old model, spares dry up pretty quick; Walther isn't known for supporting discontinued items.

[PhilR.]

1. Walther. But that's not saying that the CW9 is inaccurate.
2. Walther. Kahr's can be hit or miss, but from what I've read, it seems that the CW9 does ok.
3. Walther.
4. $399-$429 for the CW, apprx. $575 for an AS Walther.

For your last question (two questions) neither pistol can be altered to be more lefty friendly. However, releasing the slide can be done by "slingshotting" the Walther, and the slide release lever of the Kahr is most likely reachable with either the trigger finger or thumb of the left hand. The Walther's mag release is ambidextrous.

PhilR.

[PX]

JUST MY OLD FART OPINION:



First, I'm a dyed in the wool, dedicated Walther "homer".. I've never shot a Kahr, period so can't comment on them.

I have in the past owned a surplus Walther PP, surplus Walther P1, and surplus Walther P5.. I presently own the pictured Walther P99c/AS, P99/AS, and the new PPS.

So far I have never had a bad Walther.. Always reliable, extremely accurate..

If the pistol you are considering is for your spouse please add the new Walther PPS to the mix. The PPS is simply so slim and concealable it has made me put my previous all time favorite P99c/AS back in the gun safe. The PPS has better sights than the P99's. IF your wife is into cc the PPS is the pick of the litter. (I'm a lefty too.. )

For home defense the full size P99/AS is the ticket.. 16+1 (or 17+1) capacity..

Here's my cc duo.



FWIW PPS's are extremely hard to find right now, but the supply should be increasing and the price decreasing shortly.

Just options.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeory

[kdom]

Just wanted to throw my experience with a Kahr into the ring - I have no basis for comment on the walther. I've been extremly happy with my Kahr PM-9. It is extremely accurate for a gun of its size, and has become my main "daily carry" gun. I've heard the Kahr horror stories, but these all seem to be older - I have seen nothing but good comments on the CW-9.

I've put about 750 rounds through the PM-9 so far, and had only two "issues". About round #50 it failed to lock slide back on an empty magazine, and somewhere around #725 it failed to go into battery on a single round. This was during an extended range session, after about 375 rounds of cheap reloads, however, so the gun was extremely dirty at that point. I fired a few more magazines without issue before calling it a day.

Only caution I would give is to say it is "snappy" - I don't mind the recoil, but my wife does not like shooting the PM-9 at all...

[M9FAN]

Thanks for all of the input, guys/gals! Any others?