Got a new PM9 and have a couple of questions

[Kodiak]

Hey guys, I just picked up a new PM9 yesterday and have two questions that no doubt has been asked before. Anyway, I have read about the 300-500 round break-in period on these, as well as cleaning them before firing, etc.
My first question is, is it normal for the slide to be extremely stiff to pull back? I have had 6 or 7 automatic pistols and have never had one so hard to pull. The release lever is also a major bear to use. I was racking the slide last night as I was told rack it around 500 times before I fire it, and after 20 or 30 times, I had to take a break. In fact at one point, I could not get it to release, and came back a half hour later, and had the strength and grip to release it.

Also, the dealer I bought it from recommended I use only self defense ammo to break it in. This could get costly very quick! Is this absolutely necessary? Thanks for any help to a noob. The gun is totally different to break in compared to my XDm or p229. Thanks for any advice.

[dshideler]

Congrats on your purchase. Check out the breaking in your kahr sticky under kahr tech. The slide will of course loosen up after shooting it a few hundred rounds. As for the slide stop, it is designed to be hard to press down with an empty mag. Either insert a full mag and try or take out the mag and it is much easier. Supposed to be a sign of an empty mag when it's hard to push down.

[kahrseye]

First off, I used Winchester White Box to break in mine and I've not heard anyone hear say you need anything more expensive. The slide is a little stiff when new that's why you should read Jocko's tips on prepping the gun. He suggests you rack the slide a couple hundred times be for going out the first time. Also the slide release will loosen up with use. Good luck.

[dshideler]

Also I have used nothing but cheap ball ammo in my new cm9 and have absolutely no problems.

[Jeff00042]

Definitely use only full metal jacket rounds to break-in the gun. No sense in spending the money on personal defense rounds. Once you have 200 rounds through it, try some hollow points and see how it goes. Good luck. The PM9 is a winner.

[Kodiak]

First off, I used Winchester White Box to break in mine and I've not heard anyone hear say you need anything more expensive. The slide is a little stiff when new that's why you should read Jocko's tips on prepping the gun. He suggests you rack the slide a couple hundred times be for going out the first time. Also the slide release will loosen up with use. Good luck.

Great news as I just bought 500 rounds of Winchester 115g FMJ when I bought the PM9 at the gun show. Yep, been racking the slide and up to about 300 times right now, but its still STIFF! Glad to hear the release will loosen up. I'm sure my gun is just fine, just more break-in to do over most other pistols.

Thanks everyone for the quick replies!

[JFootin]

Yeah, these small Kahrs have the stiffest recoil springs you'll ever see. They will loosen up some, but will never be easy. They have a lot to do and a short space to do it in, thus the stiffness. The guns are very tight when new, too. But after a few hundred rounds, it feels like a different gun, and sweet! :D

[Kodiak]

Yeah, these small Kahrs have the stiffest recoil springs you'll ever see. They will loosen up some, but will never be easy. They have a lot to do and a short space to do it in, thus the stiffness. The guns are very tight when new, too. But after a few hundred rounds, it feels like a different gun, and sweet! :D


Cool, that's what I'm hoping for. I have small hands and this thing fits me like a glove. Can't wait to get it out and blow a bunch of rounds through it.

[xrmattaz]

And....SO soft shooting for a very small, lightweight pistol! You'll appreciate that heavy recoil spring when you shoot that little gem!

[sierrajb]

I felt the same concerns before my PM9 became broken in. To me, the break in period was FUN as well as affordable since you do NOT need to use the expensive loads during break in. Enjoy your new PM9. You'll love it more with every trigger pull.

[FLBri]

I concur with all the comments and advise. The PM9 is a "Pistol" (pun intended) to rack and release when new. It will eventually loosen up into your favorite carry pistol with ultimate reliability.

If you shoot your guns allot ... the ones that start loose get looser. The Kahrs are tight as can be when new, but settle in for the long haul with great tolerances and a very 'quality' feel to them.

The slide stop will eventually 'mate' itself in ... but it will always be harder with the empty magazine. That is the design of the gun, as you are not only releasing the slide stop from the slide, but also forcing the mag follower down via the release pin on the side of the follower. With a round, or more, in the mag ... the pin is not engaged. You can see how this works by putting the slide stop in with a magazine and leaving the slide off. Still ... as the springs break in and the hard edges of the interacting metal pieces wear together, it gets easier.

[jeffe007]

Break in period was simple- shoot it like u stole it!

[Kodiak]

Thanks again guys. I will try and get it out this weekend and shoot as much as I can with it. Reloading those small mags over and over again will be the tedious part. I have racked the slide about 600 times now, and it does seem to be loosening up.

[JFootin]

Thanks again guys. I will try and get it out this weekend and shoot as much as I can with it. Reloading those small mags over and over again will be the tedious part. I have racked the slide about 600 times now, and it does seem to be loosening up.

I got a Butler Creek Universal LULA Mag Loader (http://www.opticsplanet.net/butler-creek-universal-lula-black-pistol-loader.html) and it makes loading these little mags so quick and easy!

[jocko]

kodiak;a everything these guys said is dead on target. Kahrs are stiff, they will smooth out. no 500 rounds break in need. at best 200 rounds and u will think u have a different gun. Thge hand racking thing, will for awhile be tuff to master, so use the slide stop lever to loead that first round for the first 200 or so round.s u CAN TRY THE HAND RACKING THING BUT IF U GET A FTF ISSUE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE STOP LEVER. u SURE DON'T NEED ANYTING EXCEPT WWB fmj amo to break it in with either. Thsoe recoil springs will take a pre designed set after a few hundred rounds and it willget easier to hand rack as u and the gun learn to mate up correctly. Irt is just not the gun breaking in, it is also u learning the guns quirks. It ain't never gonna be as easy tohand rack as some of ur other semij'
s. That is just a kahr, that ey are tight new and they seem to stay tight. accept it and adjust toit.

indeed do the lube chart thing and the propper prepping thred on the kahr tech section. It will save u maybe some head aches. Gret gun, take ur time with it andit will serve u well.forget about any quirks in the first 100 rounds they will soon dissappear if you have any, doing the Prep part will el;im9inate most of any little quirks to.

[340pd]

I got a Butler Creek Universal LULA Mag Loader (http://www.opticsplanet.net/butler-creek-universal-lula-black-pistol-loader.html) and it makes loading these little mags so quick and easy!

+1. If Any of you readers don't have one, GET one. Now that invention is worthy of a Nobel Prize for peace (of Mind).

[Kodiak]

+1. If Any of you readers don't have one, GET one. Now that invention is worthy of a Nobel Prize for peace (of Mind).

Thanks, I have an Uplula for my double stack pistols, and was not sure if they made one for a small single stack like these Kahr mags.

[wyntrout]

The large UPLULA works with 9mm and larger... single stack, or the fat ones.

For .380 and smaller, including a lot of .22's, get a Baby UPLULA. I think I got all of mine... two of the larger and one of the small... at Midland when they were on sale for about $25 or $26 several times. They work great, but if you use the large one on .380 you could have trouble... the "beak" is too large to go back far enough.

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

Thanks, I have an Uplula for my double stack pistols, and was not sure if they made one for a small single stack like these Kahr mags.

This model is the Universal LULA, and it will handle single stack or staggered mags in 9-45 caliber, not 380. If you have this model, you have what you need.

[wyntrout]

Same post time... <Twilight Zone music... imagine it>

Wynn:D