Kahr CW 40 Review
by: Donnie R

I usually carry a Springfield XD 40 sub-compact, but recently started a quest for a "smaller" gun for those few times my XD was a tad too big.  Looking at the different models out, I was forced to decide the "must haves" to narrow the field.

For me, I decided that the minimum round I'd consider carrying would be 9mm.  I needed it thinner and lighter.  I was looking at kel-tec's when I saw an ad for the Kahr CW9 on sale.  When I stopped by the shop, thanks to the then pending election and after waiting for the clerks to finish helping the dozens of customers ahead of me, they had sold out.  However, I was informed that they had a few left in .40. Sweet, I'd much rather have a 40 anyway.  During a quick once over of the weapon, I noticed the masses in line behind me in a frenzy and decided I better go ahead and buy it on the spot. (Ha, how ya like that- no 3 day wait for me suckers!)

I got home and really had a chance to give it a good looking over and panic set in.  The Tupperware on this gun wasn't as nice as my XD or a Glock. The slide felt gritty when I worked the action and these strange black plastic shavings were coming from the rail.  Worry set in that I had made a serious miss calculation.  Sheer terror started when I tried to sling-shot the slide to chamber a round and had 3 FTF in a row.

I calmed down and decided to read that little book that comes with most manly toys.  It seems that this gun had a few things I wasn't used to. 1). they were serious about the 200 round break-in period 2). The side release wasn't broken- they made it impossible to drop the slide on an empty mag on purpose & 3) Contrary to internet wisdom, they actually expect- really insist- that you use the slide release to chamber a round. 

Armed with this information, I headed to the range to burn $200 er 200 rounds of ammo.  Seeing as this gun weighs a hair over 16oz, I was a little leery of what was going to become of my hand.  But I actually survived this session without any loss of function of my digits and without a single hiccup from the gun.  It had nearly identical recoil as the XD even though that one weighs in at a respectable 26+oz.

So after carrying the Kahr around for 3 months and 1,000 rounds later here's my personal thoughts on her.  I assigned  points that mean absolutely nothing.

Slide and Barrel:
Both Stainless steel (+1)
Barrel 3.6" (for a sub-compact) (+1)
Front sight is plastic and staked (-1)
Rear site is metal and gives a good window (+1)
serrations on slide a bit sharp on the edges (-1)
No safety (+1)

Trigger:
Metal, smooth, and wide: (+2)
Double action only, similar to a DA revolver but not quite.  Takes a range trip or two to get the feel     (neutral)

Grip:
Tupperware isn't as nice as others but not bad (neutral)
Checkering is a bit too raised and sharp for my tastes (-1)
Design gives you about an extra 1/2 inch for your grip without any extra over all height to the gun (+1)

Field stripping:
Okay I'm spoiled here with the Springfield which can be taken down and put back together in <30 seconds.
It kindda sucks, you have to move the slide back about 1/2", line up a mark on the frame with one on the slide AND at the same time punch out the slide release from the opposite side.
(once I figured out you couldn't do it with your bare fingers it became easilier) (-1)

The one thing that really needs to be addressed is Kahr should really change the guide rod to a captive spring!!! Good Lord it is a PITA to get that sucker back in!!! I guess the spring is extra strong due to the overall light weight of the gun but I have learned how to string together swear words at a respectable lenght.  Curtis would be proud! (-2)

Overall :
less that 1" wide (+1)
~16oz  (+1)
Fairly mild recoil (+2)
6+1 rounds, hey it's a single stack, it's close to the same firepower as a 1911, and I do have spare mags (neutral) 
accuracy- pretty decent actually  (+2)
Cost <$400 ( I won't cry too hard if anything happens to it) (+2)
Cost of spare 7 round mags >$30 WTF? (-2)

All in All, I'm happy with this purchase.  I still pick the XD if I'm going to a shady area, but I don't have any qualms at all with the Kahr.

 
SpringField XD 40SC top, Kahr CW40 bottom

another view of the CW40

notice the difference in width

3 mag's "quickly" fired,  7yrds, (7 rnd spare mag in gun)