Additional Comments:  I am a believer in the Second Amendment and the right to defend myself. As a CCW permit holder, I take the responsibility that comes with it seriously.  That means if I am going to carry it, I want it to work if I have to use it. I have carried and shot many different handguns and have come to realize that the first rule of gun fighting is true to this day- take the gun to the fight!

 

For me, that means I need a gun that is lightweight and small enough to carry on my person on a daily basis. It also means that I want an ultra reliable gun that I can have confidence in. As a hand loader, I am interested in terminal ballistics, and that translates into “stopping power” in a carry gun. Additionally, a carry gun should be reasonably accurate at combat ranges.

 

I think I have found an answer to all of my requirements in the Kahr CW40.

 

Gun Details

When I picked up my CW40 I knew it would be a good fit for me to carry. It was compact and lightweight, with an overall length of 6.36 inches, a height of 4.62 inches, .94 of an inch wide and an empty weight of 16.8 ounces. At the suggestion of my gun dealer I added a Hogue Handall Jr. slip on grip. It really gave the CW40 a better all around feel for my hand. 

The gun has a black polymer frame and an attractive matte stainless steel finish. The trigger is wide and smooth and also made of solid stainless steel. The action is a Browning type locked-breech design. There is no external hammer. When the trigger is pulled, the double-action mechanism draws back and then releases the striker. This gun operates much like a DA revolver in that it does not have any external safety; the trigger is your safety. The factory sets the trigger pull at between 7 and 9 pounds. Because the trigger is wide, it gives the impression that of being lighter than it is. The trigger is smooth and breaks cleanly.

The dovetail rear sights are a raised V shape with a white post in the notch. They are adjustable for windage, but not elevation. The ramped front sight has a large white dot in the middle of it. I have never owned a gun with a sighting system like this, and it has taken some getting used to by me. I do think that it’s a great way to “line up” sights quickly in a combat situation.

The metal magazine holds 6 rounds and an additional round may be chambered, giving the CW40 a total capacity of 7 rounds in a gun that is smaller than many .380 and 9 MM offerings. The magazines are well made, and a bit pricy to buy.

 

At the Range

 

The factory recommends a break-in period of at least 200 rounds. I grabbed a box of ammo and headed to the indoor range. I was really expecting severe, painful recoil and some initial problems jamming/feeding during break-in. I was shooting 180 Grain Winchester FMJ flat nose bullets.

 

The recoil was not bad at all, thanks to the Kahr's ergonomic design and the Hogue grip, especially when you consider the gun weighs a mere 22 ounces when loaded.  The trigger pull was not bad either, and I liked the sights, although they will take me a bit to get used to.

 

 I am happy to say I had zero malfunctions in 100 rounds of range time. It fed flawlessly and shot good, but not great groups. I have since reloaded some 180 grain rounds and shot them with indifferent accuracy results. It is my belief that I will have better results with lighter bullets. I am still in break-in period and don’t expect great results yet. Frankly, I am still getting used to the sights and the DA trigger pull. Based on my research, I think that I will eventually be pretty happy with the accuracy of the CW40.

 

In summary, this gun is a well made, lightweight, compact pistol. It feels good and has a nice finish. I would recommend it to anyone who was looking for a quality CCW firearm.

Please Support Our Fine Sponsors!

PRODUCT REVIEWS

 

 

R

E

V

I

E

W

S