WB
I use a Glock 30s, Kahr PM45, and P9 Covert
Sunday, August 10, 2025, 18:21

The 30s is a 11-shot .45, 3.8” barrel, the Kahr is a 6-shot .45 and 3.25”. In .45 the velocity performance is not much different with this small barrel difference from a 5”. The heavier the bullet the less the difference. I’ve always felt the farther you get from the original Govt. 1911 pattern (on that chassis), the more attention to detail needed for absolute reliability.

The 3.25” 9mm also shows little performance loss with the barrel an inch or so shorter. Just today comparing my pocket gun to a full size Glock the difference was Winchester Service Grade - 115 gr. 1225 fps / 1290 and 115 gr. Monarch Target - 1025 / 1085 fps. A surprise was the Monarch 124 gr. ran faster in the Kahr at 1085 fps. Same speed the 115 ran in a full size Glock?!

It’s a personal decision. Could be a very important one. It can be fun too.

Mid-size guns are not too bad these days. Still, they require some practice and are more sensitive to “limp writing”, compared to big guns. Bust loose with that 16 oz. Kahr pushing a 115 over 1200 fps, it lets you know it. However the same basic gun (slightly longer grip) in .45 ACP is much easier on the hand. More of a firm push.

I took a couple comparisons to what sizes we are considering. The Glock 30s actually has a longer barrel than this Ruger compact 1911. The Kahr 9 and .45 are basically the same size. This pic is a P model with the full hand size grip frame shared by the P9,P40 and basically the PM45.