No, I'm not the world's greatest pistol shot. I wish I was, but for whatever reason I can't seem to shrink my groups to those of my peers, even when I'm handling the same gun in identical conditions.
    Maybe it's a matter of attitude, but more than likely it's the simple fact that my real interest isn't in sub-moa groups when it comes to most handguns-it's in finding the center of mass, twice, at short range, quickly, efficiently, and with the kind of power that puts a summary end to any life threatening situation.
    That's why I was so eager to test the Kahr Arms Polymer Micro 40, PM40, which is chambered for .40 S&W. It packs the kind of punch that can end a confrontation, in a svelte, less-than-an-inch-thick package.
    OK, maybe svelte is the wrong word, but statistics don't lie. At .90-inch wide, 5.35-inches long, and four-inches tall, it has the kind of streamlined figure you're not embarrassed to be seen with. Tipping the scales at only 15 ounces, without the magazine, it's also easy to see why concealed carry is such a breeze with this little fire breather.
    Unfortunately, my results don't tell the whole story. Out of the box, the PM 40 I tested wasn't too happy. Two failures to feed in the first 20 rounds, with two different types of ammo, had me concerned. But with each round it digested, its attitude improved. Out of curiosity, I returned to the troublesome ammunition after 50 rounds. It didn't balk at all-the gun was begging to be shot, and it was obvious its true performance could only be found 500, 1,000 or 1,500 rounds later. The owner's manual confirms this with, "The pistol should not be considered fully reliable until after it has fired 200 rounds."
    Bearing in mind its intended purpose - self defense- it proves both reliable and accurate enough to dispatch a bad guy with authority. Before shooting, I incorrectly theorized the black polymer grips would be somewhat inhospitable on this light of a .40 S&W platform. But I was wrong, and recoil was more than manageable with the extra-capacity magazine, which comes standard with the PM40 - as well as a five rounder. And the extra-capacity magazine adds only slightly to the handgun's overall height. I'd recommend keeping the five rounder for that tactical reload (although in all fairness, I have to admit I did not test the five-round version because I was so comfortable with the six-rounder).

    While I expected the .40 S&W chambering and lightweight package to gang up on my hand, I genuinely enjoyed the more than 100 rounds I sent downrange. It was a blast to shoot, and I'd gladly carry this as my backup self-defense weapon, or for concealed carry.
    My overall shooting performance is another story. I could get three holes to almost touch on the target every time-at seven yards anyway-but the other two would be astray. As if to confirm my suspicions that I couldn't shoot up to this gun's potential, my best five-shot group was right at three inches , using Remington Golden Saber 165-grain brass jacketed hollow points. Unfortunately, the first four groups with that ammunition ran its average well above those from the Winchester 155-grain Silvertip hollow points, which averaged 3.8-inch, five-shot groups. The PM 40 was settling in, and it was obvious it was more than enough gun for self-defense purposes.
    But getting the gun on target, quickly and efficiently is what it's all about. The PM 40 is sleek. Its low profile, and lack of protrusions means it can be deployed with minimum hang-up or delay. At 15 ounces, there's also no reason for leaving it behind on those sultry, sunny days that often spawn safety-compromising excuses.
    Offhand results say it all. All tested ammunition cycled flawlessly and resulted in the kind of two, center-of-mass body shots that are, by definition, mandatory in a self-defense gun, The PM 40 is available with tritium night sights as an option, but target acquisition was reliable and fast with the drift-adjustable, white bar-dot combat sights that come standard-even in the low light of our test range. This gun feels good, comes to target naturally, and beyond a doubt should be considered by anyone looking for a self-defense handgun.
    Kahr's claim that its double-action-only trigger is one of the smoothest available today is well founded. In the PM 40, however, I found it had a great deal of travel, although it was extremely reliable, repeatable, and features the kind of crisp break that could make this an even better shooter once fully broken in. Trigger pull averaged 5.9 pounds.
    The PM 40's 3.06-inch, match-grade polygonal rifled barrel features special steel inserts to maximize lifespan and reliability. Its matte stainless steel slide atop the polymer frame is also a nice look-imparting to the PM 40 a mix of old-world reliability, with modern technology. Without fail, the slide locked back when the magazine was empty. It also comes with a trigger-lock for long-term storage.
    Perhaps my only complaint- one again quite possibly mitigated by a short break-in period-is the stingy magazine release. On more than one occasion it required a tug on the magazine's bottom for removal, despite repeated working of the release.
    All in all, Kahr's PM 40 is the kind of handgun I'd gladly choose for self-defense purposes. The price is right, it packs the kind of firepower that instills confidence, and in the kind of package for day-to-day carry, regardless of ambient temperatures, or wardrobe choice.