By John Connor, American Handgunner
Three years ago I had never fired a Kahr pistol. Since then I’ve shot seven of ’em extensively, of four different sizes and four calibers, and I can’t help wondering, why aren’t they more popular than they are? Reasonable or not, American handgunners tend to expect smaller, simpler guns to cost less than larger, more complex ones. I think there’s a certain lack of appreciation for the challenge of making any mechanical device smaller and lighter while maintaining the strength and reliability of a larger, heavier specimen tasked with handling the same pressures and violence of action. Make sense? After my experience with Kahrs to this point, it does to me.
The “smaller, stronger, better” aspect is easily explained by the history of the company. Before Kahr made its first pistols, they specialized in high-precision machining of small critical parts for industrial applications. When they made the shift to handguns, that heritage simply carried over. You might say it’s in their genes. Today, the dimensions of even Kahr’s “full-size” pistols are more like those of other makers’ compact guns.
There are cases where you truly get what you pay for, and quality doesn’t come cheap. However, recognizing America’s economic downturn, in 2014 Kahr introduced their “Value Series” CT pistols, replicating all the essential features of their Premium Series TP pistols — but shaving $200 or more off their prices.
Two great carry choices for the Kahr twins: Left, for OWB, the sleek, handsome Illusion by Exodus Gunleather. Right, for IWB, the surprisingly comfortable Professional from N82 Tactical.
–
How?
They accomplished this by substituting conventionally-rifled barrels for the match-grade polygon-rifled tubes which are far more expensive to produce, using an MIM (Metal Injection Molded) rather than a forged slide stop lever, making a few less machining operations on the slide, going to simple roll marks versus engraving, and mounting a pinned polymer front sight instead of a TP’s drift-adjustable steel sight. Also, you get only one magazine with CT pistols, whereas TP’s come with three — a situation easily rectified. The TP4543 lists for $697, while its fraternal twin, the CT4543 sells for $449 — a $248 savings. Interesting, huh?
My question was this: At a lonely ATM at 2230, or in a dark parking structure at 0200, what difference will that $248 make?
Both Kahr pistols easily field strip to simple, strong components.
–
Fraternal, Not Identical
At first glance one thing is evident: These are fighting pistols, not target guns, LE/military arms or recreational plinkers. They’re designed to be comfortably carried, quickly deployed, pointed instinctively and shot with combat accuracy in fast, close and violent encounters. Both the CT and TP45’s are slim, with slides and grip frames only 1.01″ wide. The only projections from the smooth slab sides are the magazine release buttons and very ergonomic grooved slide locks.
Grip frames are low-drag textured on the side flats and very aggressively textured on the front and back straps; so aggressively textured in fact I recommend wearing gloves when you’re putting them through high-volume break-in shooting. I wouldn’t change that texturing at all. It’s perfect for “the fight you didn’t expect but were prepared for.” With an overall length of 6.57″ and a height of just 5.25″, the largest hands can still get a solid, full-fingered grip.
Both are light, the TP45 weighing in at 20.8 ounces and the CT45 at 23, due to the streamlining lightening cuts on the TP’s slide. Magazine capacity is the same as your old 1911: Seven rounds plus one up the spout. Mags are smooth, stout stainless, with slightly angled base pads for a good grip. All fed in smoothly, operated flawlessly and dropped free upon release. Trigger reach, measured from high on the backstrap to the surface of the trigger is 2.4″, which should accommodate a wide range of hand sizes. Note the trigger guard is nice and roomy for thick-fingered Neanderthals like me.
The action is a trigger-cocking breech-locking DAO (Double Action Only) with a Browning type recoil lug. It’s a strong, simple design. My go-to gunsmith says “There just ain’t much to go wrong, so it doesn’t.” That’s why he has carried a Kahr PM in his right front pocket since the mid-90’s.
The heart of a Kahr pistol is its trigger, and it’s ideally suited for speed-reactive gunfighting. Trigger pull, I gotta say, is sweet, with a short take-up and a longish pull which feels more like that of a tuned DA revolver than it does most other semiauto pistol triggers. This is because instead of moving a trigger bar linearly, you’re rotating a cam, which cocks the striker, pushes the firing-pin block out of position, and then releases the striker.
It is so unique it’s protected by seven patents, and what you get is a smooth and safe firing system. Given the length of the stroke and the order in which it operates, the possibility of accidental discharge is considerably lessened. Trigger pull weight measured an average 5.5 pounds on the TP45 and a few ounces heavier on our CT45. They smooth out considerably during break-in.
Yes, they do require break-in, and they’re worth the effort. Kahr recommends putting 200 rounds downrange before you pronounce them reliable for carry. My personal rule is 400 rounds. You’ll probably experience some failures to feed completely into battery in your first firing session, and that’s normal. You may also get occasional empties hurled back at your forehead during the first 100 rounds, and that settles out too, with a normal “throw” of several feet to your four and five o’clock.
Kahr uses Militec-1 Synthetic Weapons Lubricant at the factory and I recommend continuing that. I’ve found if you use Militec-1regularly and follow instructions, you shouldn’t ever need an aggressive solvent. Get a four-ounce bottle, a one-ounce with precision needle applicator and a one-quarter ounce tube of their grease. Field stripping into five simple, strong components is easy. On new Kahrs like these, I wipe ’em down and lube liberally — not “dripping,” but generously — and dab grease on bash-and-chatter points. After 80–100 rounds, I lightly wipe off the excess and keep shootin’. It has worked for me, and it did again on these two guns.
They’re not target pistols but their accuracy is commendable. Those groups were shot on 1.25″ black pasters at 10 yards.
The CT45 at top is simply roll marked while the TP45 is nicely engraved. Note the bevel for easier holstering on both slides.
Punching Paper
True confessions: I admit it — I loved shootin’ these pistols. Even while going through the coughs and stutters of break-in they balanced, swung, pointed and behaved so well under recoil it was a real pleasure. I’ve shot a number of pistols which seemed to have everything goin’ for ’em, but when it came to rapid action drills and snap-shooting, they just didn’t fit. They wouldn’t stay locked in my hand, constantly needing correction. I enjoyed the TP and CT45’s low bore axis, nice high solid grip under the beavertail, stability in the hand, and their triggers were a delight to work with.
Ammo shot “for record” included Hornady 185-gr. FTX Critical Duty, Cor-Bon 160-gr. DPX, Buffalo Bore’s “Low Recoil Standard Pressure” 185-gr. FMJ-FN, and Federal Premium 230-grain HST. Both Kahrs readily digested them, along with about 500 rounds of good ol’ Winchester “White Box” 230-FMJ Target/Range ammo, which shot beautifully. The Buffalo Bore loads shot the softest, the Federal HST the stoutest, with the others in between.
I said they’re not target pistols, but of course I had to determine their “inherent accuracy.” Check these results: At 10 yards, rested, two-handed, 5-round groups ran as small as .83, with the largest measuring 1.2″. I think that answers the accuracy question, huh?
In snap-shooting drills on reduced silhouettes at seven yards, 7- and 8-round volleys fired at about one round per 1 to 1.5 seconds ran 2.5″ to 3″. Since the adult human gourd is 8″ to 9″ across, I think these Kahrs are good to go for gunfighting. Both models delivered essentially the same level of accuracy.
We had both pistols equipped with Kahr’s standard sights, which feature a big white dot on the front post and a white square centered under the U-notch rear sight. Ordinarily I’ll opt for night sights, but this setup will deliver precision when you have time to go squinty, and they’re very fast when you don’t. When you need speed up close and furious, just plant the dot over the square in a flash sight picture and squeeze — you’ll be right on the money.
Kahr’s .45 ACP siblings slug it out. The original TP45 on right, with the value-priced CT45 on the left.
The Wrap
In every respect applicable to gunfighting, both pistols performed superbly after break-in. I’d carry either one into a fight anytime. If you like the sleeker look of the TP45’s slide and its drift-adjustable steel front sight, pony up the extra bucks and get the TP. If you’re looking for a bargain, the CT45 delivers plenty of bang for two-thirds of the bucks. Or, look at it this way: You know you should have a mirror-image backup for your primary Roscoe, right? Well… Save some money on Number Two! Connor OUT
Thanks to American Handgunner for this post. If you are a handgun guy take a moment and click here to visit AmeircanHandgunner.com.
Better yet, get American Handgunner magazine delivered to your door – Click here for subscription options.
