The Kahr's can have some feeding and FTF issues. I have gone through 2 guide rod spring kits with my PM40. The factory said they were only rated for about 1000 rounds. I had over 1200 at the time I was having issues. They sent me a new guide rod spring set, and it solved the problem. I have gone though another set not long ago when I got to another 1K rounds. Once I got through the break in period, the gun ran great. I never feed it cheap ammo. I run mainly good reloads through it (not hot loads), but use factory ammo for carry and a few practice rounds here and there. I think the Kahr's are a great carry gun choice. Just practice enough to shoot it well. They are little and take a little more work to shoot well.

For slim carry (pocket pistols), I like the Kel-Tec P3-AT. I sold my Kahr PM40 because of the distracting recoil & kept my PM9.

You may want to look at the Glock 36. It is a single stack .45 and only a little bigger (well, a little+) than a Kahr.

For slim, I recommend the Walther PPS. I got to handle one at B&S guns, and it felt fantastic.

The Ruger LC9 is pretty slim.

What about the Sig 220 compact, you can find them used for around 600, they shoot great and come in SAO or DA/SA.

I started with a ruger sp-101 in .357...to big/heavy and I don't like shooting it with .357. It carries OK in a belt holster. Also I think the ballistic advantages of the .357 are reduced when fired from such a short (2") barrel. It makes an ok house gun but you might as well get a full size revolver at that point.

Next came Glock 26 (9mm)...great gun, and I shoot it well, but still a little bulky (wide). Good for a belt holster or in a big coat pocket. +p ammo has similar ballistics to .357 from a short barrel. Never tried to carry it IWB.

Current carry piece is a ruger LCP (.380). It's tiny...Easily drops into a front pocket. Reasonably accurate. Recoil is noticeable but doesn't bother me. Ballistics are inferior to 9mm...I'm not confident that you can get adequate expansion and penetration with HP bullets so I carry ball in it.

I have shot a Kahr K9 but I thought the trigger pull was weird. They are definitely slim though.

If the sig p938 (9mm) proves to be reliable I might look at getting one...especially if they make one with a steel frame.

No longer manufactured but still available through internet dealers and auction is the Star PD, 45acp. Jeff Cooper wrote that if you couldn't afford a Colt officer and $$$ to have smith modify it, buy a Star PD and you were good to go. Came with features like beveled mag well, adjustable sights, lightweight frame, etc. Not trying to argue, just repeating what Cooper said about it.

I used to carry a G27 in my front pocket but it would drag my britches down. I'm trying a P238 now. So far, so good. I believe I could stuff that thing in my underwear if I needed to.

Depends on the ammo. Here are some stats for Double Tap (very hot, loaded to SAAMI limits).
All of these tests were done using 10% ballistic gelatin provided by Vyse gelatin using all FBI protocols and 4 layers of denim and two layers of light cotton T-shirt in front of the gelatin.

DoubleTap 9mm+P
115gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1415fps - 12.00" / .72"
124gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1310fps - 13.25" / .72"
147gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1125fps - 14.00" / .68"


DoubleTap .40 S&W
165gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1200fps - 14.0" / .70"
180gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1100fps - 14.75" / .68"

DoubleTap .357 Sig
125gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1450fps - 14.5" / .66"

DoubleTap .357 Magnum
125gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1600fps - 12.75" / .69"
158gr. Gold Dot JHP @ 1400fps - 19.0" .56"

DoubleTap 10mm
135gr JHP @ 1600fps - 11.0" / .70" frag nasty
155gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1475fps - 13.5" / .88"
165gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1400fps - 14.25" / 1.02"
165gr Golden Saber JHP @ 1425fps - 14.75" / .82"
180gr Golden Saber JHP @ 1330fps - 16.0" / .85"
180gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1300fps - 15.25" / .96"
200gr XTP @ 1250fps - 19.5" / .72"
230gr Equalizer @ 1040fps - 11.0" and 17.0" / .62" and .40"

DoubleTap .45ACP
185gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1225fps - 12.75" / .82"
200gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1125fps - 14.25" / .88"
230gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1010fps - 15.25" / .95"

DoubleTap 9X25
115gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1800fps - 10.0" / .64" frag nasty
125gr Gold DOt JHP @ 1725fps - 15.0" / .74"
147gr Gold Dot JHP @ 1550fps - 17.5" / .68"

I know for a fact that some of the 10mm velocity claims are not correct. We have tested a few of them. But it depends on what barrel and how long it is on what velocity you get, and they can post the fastest speeds they got. Out of a G20, they were not near the claims. You can only push a bullet so fast and still be within pressure limits, and function.

I tested some Winchester 175 grain Silver Tips I loaded this last weekend. The 175 was running 1222 fps out of a G20, and 1181 fps out of my G29. Factory Win ammo was running 1040 fps out of my G29 carry gun. That's 140+ fps slower! When I have pushed the 10mm to top-end loads and beyond, the gun does not cycle as well, and has feeding/ejecting issues. Bring it back down to normal (still powerful) pressures, and it works fine. Everything is a give and take.

I'll take ammo that is a few fps slower and functions perfect, over some break-neck speed ammo that doesn't cycle and function in my weapon.

My post was mainly aimed at the response from someone that 9mm penetrates more than 40,45, and 10mm. I was just pointing out that you can load a 10mm with 135gr bullets and put enough powder behind it to get a lot more penetration than any 9mm. You can get velocities that will make a non-bonded bullet come apart in the air. I know a guy that chrono'd his 10mm 135gr load at 1700 fps out of a Delta Elite.
That being said, I realize you have to balance penetration, expansion, and reliability of function when you're talking about defense loads. Nuclear loads aren't necessarily best for that.

LC9 carries well

I have a keltec PF9 that I really like for easy daily CC.

Sig 239 in 9/40/357Sig

I know you said no 1911, but this is the slimmest 9mm I've ever carried. It also carries 9 + 1.

I also like the idea of the new P938 and the Kimber Solo.

I love my Kahr PM9!

After about 500 rds it has yet to FTE or FTF.

Considerably less expensive than a Seecamp or Rohrbaugh and exceptionally well made.

I'll not conceal carry anything less than a 9mm.

The small 40's or .45's are too much 'thump' on my hand in a CC weapon.

I've seen a chick in a bunch of gun magazines claiming that "slim is sexy." I don't know what she shoots but she seems to have a point...