The Kahr S9
Okay, a philosophical question: Is there such a thing as an everyday carry pistol that is too small, too light and too easy to shoot? The last one, absolutely not. But the other two, now they are matters of opinion. I feel it is possible to get an everyday carry pistol that is too small and too light, and if you have it chambered in a full-power cartridge, it can be a bear to shoot.
I found the new Kahr S9 to be a Goldilocks pistol: just the right size, just the right weight and just the right amount of 9mm ammo. If you’re not familiar with Kahr, the company makes single-stack pistols with double-action trigger mechanisms. The firm started off with steel-frame guns but eventually switched to polymer. The new S9 is Kahr in every way—a polymer-frame single-stack semiauto with a double-action trigger—but it adds a few touches that make it an even better carry pistol. And for less money.
Before I get to the details, there are a few things worth addressing. One, some people scoff at single-stack guns and say a double-stack pistol isn’t hard to conceal and gives you a lot more shots. I’ll grant you the capacity of a double-stack pistol can be beneficial, and they’re not hard to conceal. But they are hard to live with.
One of the big improvements found in the S9 is the presence of an accessory rail for lights and lasers, a feature other Kahr models lack.
Mark my words: If you stick with a high-capacity pistol long enough, you’ll be like the rest of us old-timers and be really sensitive to the aches and pains of carrying a pistol. You’ll be going back to a single-stack just to reduce the
