Kahr Arms X9: Optics-Ready, Double-Stack 9mm

In 1995, Justin Moon obtained a concealed carry permit and began searching for a compact EDC pistol. When Moon couldn’t find what he was looking for, he took the rather drastic step of designing his own carry pistol and starting his own firearm manufacturing company. In doing so, Moon helped redefine concealed carry pistols and built Kahr Arms into one of the finest American firearm manufacturers.

The newest carry pistol from Kahr is the X9, a trim semiauto 9mm pistol that borrows many design aspects from previous Kahr pistols while simultaneously adding in some new features that modern shooters demand. For starters, it comes with a slide that is cut to accept widely available Holosun K optics. The X9’s takedown lever is also a new design that’s easy to operate and helps maintain the pistol’s trim, streamlined look.

That streamlined profile is important when you’re carrying concealed, and few companies understand that better than Kahr. The company’s first firearm was the K9 pistol, and that gun was seamless to carry because it was narrow and didn’t have oversized controls that bit into the owner’s body. Those narrow controls also prevented the K9 from hanging up during the draw. The K9 was a trim, safe, reliable pistol that was ahead of its time.

The new X9 is a more modern take on the original K9’s concept. Like other Kahr pistols, the X9 utilizes the company’s DAO Trigger system. When the slide is cycled, the striker is retracted and partially tensioned. The passive striker block prevents the striker from releasing unless the trigger is pulled completely. When the trigger is pulled, the striker moves rearward, the spring is fully tensioned, and the passive striker block is deactivated.

Smooth Trigger Pull and Feature-Rich

The result is a rather long but smooth trigger pull and an internal passive safety system that the shooter cannot forget to deactivate in the heat of the moment. The design does not require the “bladed” safety trigger seen in many handguns, and I like the Kahr’s smooth trigger shoe. It’s also nice to know that the gun you're carrying cannot discharge until the trigger is pulled completely rearward. That’s one reason why police officers have chosen Kahr pistols as their backup guns for years.

The X9 also features a double-stack magazine that boosts capacity to 10 rounds. Two 10-round magazines are included with each X9 pistol, one of which comes with a flat baseplate while the other features a pinky extension.

The X9 I tested came with a package that contained an extension sleeve, an extra pinky extension base plate and a base plate lock that holds the internal spring in position. The bag was labeled “X9 15 round & SIG X-Macro 9mm.” Kahr has teased a 15-round magazine for their pistols, and they’re selling those 15-round magazines on their website.

What’s all this mean? Well, the svelte little X9 with its double-digit capacity can now hold either the company’s 15-round mags or SIG X-Macro 17-round magazines. That makes the X9 even more versatile, allowing you to configure the gun to suit your needs. Want maximum concealment and portability? The flush-fit magazine holding 10-rounds is a perfect choice. Want to prioritize capacity instead of a small footprint? The Kahr allows for that, too.

Attention to Detail

The X9 is manufactured in Kahr’s state-of-the-art Greeley, Pennsylvania facility. Trim and easy to carry, the X9’s CNC-machined stainless steel slide measures just under an inch wide and at the widest point (the ambidextrous slide stop), the pistol measures just under 1.1 inches. Height is 4.375 inches and overall length is just 6.125. The pistol has an unloaded weight of just 17.6 ounces.

Those small dimensions make the pistol easy to carry concealed even under light clothing. In addition, the minimalist controls (the ambi safety, reversible mag release button and rotating takedown lever) allow this gun to ride comfortably against the body and won’t hang up on the draw. The steel slide has had all the rough edges machined away, and the metal has been relieved along the front half of the slide. The slide also features a blackened matte finish that holds up well to the rigors of daily carry.

The X9’s 3.54-inch barrel, like the slide, is made from stainless steel. Everything about the pistol is precision-machined and the gun fits together nicely. What’s more, while the grip frame is made of polymer, the trigger, sights, and controls are made of metal. An American-made pistol with real metal components—what’s not to love?

The metal sights are dovetailed into the slide and feature Kahr’s white bar-dot combat sights. The rear sight features a white bar in the center of the sight and comes with a trapezoidal cutout that cuts glare and drives focus on the front sight. The front sight features a simple white dot, but the rear/front sight configuration promotes rapid sight alignment. The Kahr’s sights remind me of the Straight Eights that are popular in 1911 circles. Rapid sight alignment is beneficial on a defense pistol, and the metal rear sight features a flat enough profile that you could cycle the action one-handed if needed. Of course, the optics cut allows for the use of an electrooptic, so you have plenty of good sighting options with the X9.

Grip and Ergonomics

Kahr did an excellent job on this gun’s polymer grip. The recessed portion of the grip just below the beavertail allows for a high handhold on the gun for better recoil mitigation. The flat sides of the grip feature micro-texturing while the front and backstrap portions come with more aggressive box-type texturing that keeps the gun firmly planted in the hand. There’s a sufficient undercut on the trigger guard for maximum control and comfort and ample room within the trigger guard for even large fingers.

With the flush-fit magazine in place some shooters with large hands will need to float the pinky finger of their shooting hand, but even if that’s the case, the Kahr is manageable to shoot thanks to its grip angle and beavertail design. I wear size large gloves and could fit my whole hand onto the grip, and with the option to use extended magazines, the Kahr is now suitable for those with even the largest mitts.

In addition to the well-designed grip, the Kahr also comes with a three-slot accessory rail on the dust cover. This makes it easy to add a light, which I believe is beneficial on a compact carry pistol like this.

With an MSRP of $549, the American-made X9 is a great value. In addition, Kahr backs these pistols with a lifetime warranty.

Range Testing

Kahr did an excellent job designing the X9 to be trim and easy to carry yet comfortable to shoot. Modern micro 9mms are light, but sometimes those guns are too light to effectively manage recoil. Not the X9. This pistol’s comfortable grip and forward-thinking grip design and geometry help make the Kahr easy to shoot even with hot loads.

I liked the Kahr’s sights the more I shot the pistol. The X9 was primarily designed for shooting at self-defense ranges and the dash-dot sight setup is perfect for that application. From seven yards I could consistently fire double-taps into the torso target, and I could do it quickly. Of course, if you’d like to add a red or green dot sight, that’s now an option.

Kahr sacrificed oversized controls for maximum concealability and I think that was a wise decision. The X9 is simple to operate for right-and left-handed shooters, and the straightforward control layout won’t confound the shooter even when firing under duress.

The relatively long but smooth trigger pull is consistent, and I appreciate the safe design. It’s little wonder that Kahr guns have always been so popular as backup guns for police officers. The robust X9 with its DAO trigger system is the ideal BUG gun for when your bigger pistol goes down. But the Kahr is also suitable as a primary self-defense weapon. With a standard double-digit capacity (and even more with the new magazine and SIG compatibility), the Kahr offers ample rounds on tap for personal protection.

Easy to Confidently Carry

The gun’s trim size and light weight make it easy to carry, so you’ll feel comfortable with the Kahr and actually carry it. A full-sized pistol does no good in a gunfight if you aren’t carrying it, but the right-sized Kahr is a pistol you’ll be comfortable carrying all day year-round.

The X9 is an evolutionary step forward in Kahr’s line of personal defense pistols. It’s hard to believe that Kahr has been around for 30 years, but one reason that the company has been so successful is because they build the guns their customers need and want. The X9 is a perfect example of that customer-first design. It’s an American-made EDC pistol that’s simple to operate, accurate, and reliable.

Kahr X9 9mm Specs

• Type: striker-fired semiauto
• Slide: CNC-machined stainless Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless steel
• Barrel length: 3.54 inches
• Overall Length: 6.125 inches
• Width: 1.05 inches
• Weight: 17.6 ounces (unloaded)
• Capacity: 10
• Magazines: 2 metal magazines included, one with a flat base and one extended
• Finish: Blackened matte stainless
• Sights: white bar-dot metal combat sights
• MSRP: $549
• Manufacturer: Kahr Arms, kahr.com