I Carry: Kahr X9 Pistol in a Crossbreed Holster

Hey everyone, this is Shooting Illustrated bringing you another episode of “I Carry.” In today’s feature, we’re taking a look at the new Kahr Arms X9 9 mm pistol and some related gear. Let’s take a closer look at this setup:

Firearm: Kahr X9 (MSRP: $549)

Long known for small, single-stack concealable 9 mm pistols, Kahr Arms launched a first for the company in 2024: The double-stack X9 pistol. With a familiar look and now holding 10+1 rounds, the X9 brings a Kahr to the micro-9 mm double-stack table. One look at the X9 and it is immediately recognizable as a Kahr; from the stepped trigger guard to the texturing on the front and back straps to the beveling on the slide, it shares unmistakable ties to Kahr’s single-stack pistols, especially the P9 that shares a polymer frame and accessory rail.

Sizewise, the X9 is smack in the middle of the double-stack micro-9 mm pistol group: 3.5-inch barrel, 6.1 inch overall length, 1 inch width and an unloaded weight of 17.8 ounces. It’s slightly larger than the SIG Sauer P365 and roughly the same size as the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus, putting it in the sweet spot for concealability and shootability.

Up top, a single white-dot front sight settles into a black rear notch with a single white bar in the center, but that’s not all. There’s also a native optics cut for the Holosun K-series footprint, which will also accept the RMSc footprint. There are quite a few excellent optics that use this footprint, and mounting is simple: remove the cover plate, fit the optic in place and torque it to manufacturer’s specifications. Curiously, the cover plate is held on with slotted screws, and our test model was put on quite snugly. We didn’t want to risk damaging it in the process of taking it off, so we went with the iron sights, which work just fine.

One quick note about the magazines: the 10-round magazines that come with the X9 have a grip-extension sleeve designed to fill in the space between the bottom of the pistol grip and the magazine floorplate. In the model I had for testing, this sleeve was slightly oversize and did not allow the magazine to seat fully. Were this my personal handgun, I’d lightly file the sleeve until it fit properly; since it was a test pistol, I simply took the sleeve off and everything worked fine. While there are rumors that the X9 will take Springfield Armory Hellcat or SIG Sauer P365 magazines, we did not have a chance to test that on the range.

Holster: CrossBreed The Reckoning IWB (MSRP: $76.95)

We’ve opted for a Crossbreed The Reckoning holster for today’s kit, given the small size of the Kahr X9 and suitability for appendix carry. The Reckoning is a hybrid design for which  Crossbreed is known, with a leather backing for comfort and a kydex shell precision-molded to the shape of the firearm for which it is intended. Twin steel clips are attached low to allow the holster to have a cover garment tucked in over it for deep concealment, and retention can be adjusted by means of seven different attachment points.

In addition to the tuckable steel clips for inside-the-waistband carry, Crossbreed also includes two polymer clips that allow the Reckoning to be carried outside the waistband if desired. Simply remove the steel clips from the front and attach the polymer clips to the back to carry outside the waistband. A variety of options can be selected for the Reckoning, including a concealment claw for appendix carry, a sidecar-style magazine carrier and different kydex and leather options.

Accessory: Grayman Tactical Keyhole ballistic-lens sunglasses (MSRP: $260)

The last piece in today’s kit is definitely more fashion oriented: Grayman Tactical’s stylish Keyhole ballistic-lens sunglasses. Designed to protect your eyes from spall and debris, the Keyhole offers impact resistance to ANSI Z87.2 standards, while polarized lenses protect your vision from the sun’s rays. Frames are available in a variety of colors, while lenses can be polarized or non-polarized.

We wouldn’t normally include protective eyewear as an everyday item, because most often they’re oversize, clunky glasses that look out of place when not at the range or perhaps on a motorcycle. With the stylish Keyhole – or perhaps Grayman Tactical’s take on Aviator-style glasses – you can protect your eyes at all times with glasses that look good no matter where you are or what you’re doing. That they look similar to the glasses worn by De Niro in “Heat” is purely coincidental, of course…