CW45 (and other poly Kahr pistols): issues and fixes

[Cornel]

Maybe I missed it in here but here is a previous post about how to work the receiver of some Kahrs.

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4454

[gb6491]

Magazine dropping (random round count):
This was happening to jhertzler:
"Well, I've read about this problem, and sure enough, I have one now and it's dropping its magazine every three or four rounds."( http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17243654)
He tried some of the fixes described earlier in this thread with little joy, but was able to resolve the issue with his own fix.
Posted with his permission:
"Given this discussion about somewhat loose mag well tolerances, I put a small piece of Velcro tape (about 3/8 by 2 inches) (the "little hooks" side of the Velcro arrangement) in the side of the well opposite the latch. I also "shaved" a little of the little hooks off a bit with some small scissors as it didn't need to be that thick. The result is that the magazine is held more tightly against the latch side of the well (more to the right).

The result also is that the magazine no longer drops when firing. The magazines fit too snugly in the well to drop freely when released, but that's OK with me. The tape stays put really well, as it has very strong adhesive and the tape is basically made of plastic. It would be easy to replace with a new piece of Velcro tape if it ever gets worn or loose in there (gun cleaner on it or something).

I guess you could put Velcro or any other (strong) adhesive tape on the magazines, too, rather than inside the magazine well. I think it's less noticeable in the well and you don't have to use so much tape. It works no matter which magazine you put in.

The gun shoots great now -- feeds and cycles all ammo with no problem -- shoots very accurately and point of aim. I guess I'm good to go. Thanks for the correspondence about it." http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17231851&postcount=11

"Here's a couple of pictures, of the gun and of the tape fix, referenced above. Just for fun, note the shooting results last week at 10 yds. Not too bad for an amateur. Joe"

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

Thanks for sharing this innovative fix with us Joe; well done.

[cblambert1645]

from one of my other posts...
1911 mags will run in a Kahr 45, better actually than the Kahr mags that are what 45 bucks? I started with inexpensive Springfield factory compact mags that I bought for around $20, (let me know if you need some) just standard Metalform style officer stuff, then removed the follower, trimmed an 1/8" off the tail so I could barely stuff the 7th round in with the slide open to make it easier for 6+1 carry....and take a belt sander or file to the little bump. The nose of the follower needs tweeked slightly down as to not hang up the slide.
next around .100" of the feed lip at the most forward highest edge needs removed on the right side to clear the ejector...on the left side .030" needs to be removed to clear the slide rail. strip & remove the barrel the re install the slide, & mag & you'll see instantly what I mean. I can literally modify these mags in in minutes. The result will be a better functioning mag, steel flush mag floor plate that will except a proper bump if need be thats not finicky (I cant get mine to stop running now) that can still inter chance with a officer 1911 & no cheap plastic mag floor plate that would break if hit right on a hard floor & be USELESS. After alot of measuring & checking cw45 has a really tight chamber with steep sharp leade. This prevents the use of some (Hornady 200grn XTP- my favorite load) from chambering fully- and locks 'er up tight if tried. So Im using Winchester 185 silvertips & Federal 185 JHC with good results as the bullets ogive is seated closer to the case mouth. Lastly, the extension tail on the bottom of the slide that strips rounds from the mag, needs re-contoured & polished smooth, the dang thing is so sharp that it will plow brass from the top cartridge in the mag- especially with the overly strong spring of the Kahr Mag- if you keep it do yourself a favor & trim a coil off the spring.

[gb6491]

cblambert1645,
Welcome to the forums
That's excellent info you posted above. thanks!
I've quoted you and pasted the info into an ongoing thread in the "P and CW Series Pistols forum" about modifying Officer's/Compact magazines: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3317
Regards,
Greg

[oso1964]

i just got my pm45 back from kahr yesterday,they fixed many problems.have'nt shot the pistol yet to see if it runs. after seeing photo i checked the clearance of the stripper on bottom of slide when inserting mag. there is no clearance. i have to insert cartridges about .005" short of back of mag. to clear stripper. now if slide is closed and i insert loaded mag. and rack the slide by hand the pistol chambers rd. ever time. in photo that was cw45 that was beveled. my pm45 has no bevel at all. i read that was kahrs fix was to bevel the stripper.was that on just cw45,or was that for both cw and pm45? i dont really feel like sending the pistol right back to kahr when i can bevel the stripper myself. that was one of many issues i had with my pm45,that it would not chamber a rd. by releasing slide stop. i informed kahr of this problem.

[gb6491]

... i read that was kahrs fix was to bevel the stripper.was that on just cw45,or was that for both cw and pm45? i dont really feel like sending the pistol right back to kahr when i can bevel the stripper myself. that was one of many issues i had with my pm45,that it would not chamber a rd. by releasing slide stop. i informed kahr of this problem.

Yes, the bevel "fix" has worked on both CW45 and PM45 pistols.
I increased a bevel that was already on my CW45 (as shown earlier in this thread) and Kahr later beveled the slide on wyntrout's PM45 to fix the issue. See wyntrout's posts here:
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=15174&postcount=86
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=15194&postcount=93
Regards,
Greg

[oso1964]

thanks gb6491, i saw earlier in thread your pics of cw45. i read wyntrouts post,but could'nt find anything when clicking on links in wyntrouts posts. once again thanks you have ansewered my question and hopefully after i bevel the stripper and the fixes kahr has made my pistol will run. i am actually starting to feel like my pm45 is going run and will become my carry gun,which is why i bought it.

[Catshooter]

oso,

They can be work, but to me, they're worth it. Mine took work and I'd do it all over again if I had to.


Cat

[billpocz]

Great thread!

The small bevel on the breechface saved me from a nervous breakdown!

[RogerP9fan]

I just received a UPS link that my CW45 is on it's way. Just wanted to express my appreciation to gb6491 as he is obviously a great help to us Kahr owners. Hope my new pistol runs smoothly with no problems, however.....if there are issues, I feel better about having this thread and others to turn to for help.