MA compliant PM9 makes thumb bleed

[redbeardmcg]

New user here, and also new Kahr owner as well. I'd like to start by saying excellent forum with a wealth of great information.

Now to the point: I live in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts and was pleasantly surprised to find that Kahr went through all of the asinine steps in producing a MA compliant version of the PM9. Though the chamber loaded indicator is silly, I don't really notice it is there so it doesn't bother me. The manual thumb safety however is a different story.

I just did my initial break-in -- flawless by the way, aside from a few nose dives while using the 7-rounder -- and noticed I was bleeding all over the safety. No matter how I alter my grip it seems to cut into my knuckle, or just above it if I point my thumbs up.

Has anyone with this version of the PM9 noticed this, and if so have any of you found a way to prevent this from happening? My thought is to file down the back lower corner of the safety, but I'm hesitant to start filing down components on a brand new gun.

The image below shows where the safety is taking skin off my thumb. After 300 rounds I had quite the chunk of skin missing. My grip while shooting is twisted a bit further to the right placing the spot on my thumb directly behind the safety, when I took the picture my grip was not exactly as it is while shooting.


http://www.rdmnetworks.com/stuff/public/kahr_thumb_safety.jpg

[getsome]

Ouch...A gun shouldn't hurt to shoot...Looks like you have a few choices....1 wear a shooting glove...2 get out the files and go to work 3 have a gunsmith remove the safety altogether but that might be a liability if you ever had to use it to defend yourself and wound up in court...4 stick a heavy duty fabric band-aid over the area where the safety is hitting your thumb before you start shooting...

I wouldn't try and change your grip from what feels normal and natural to you so adapt the gun to what you need....Many here have altered the slide release for the same reason because I think they have some guy at the factory put an edge on the darn things before shipping....A Dremmel tool and a little time should get the results you need....Good luck and welcome to Kahrtalk by the way!

[jocko]

leave the safety where it is at, at best u can have that safety lever countoured somewhat by a good smitty and smoothed. Also maybe u just need to change ur grip . To my knowledge and we have quite afew of MA PM9 out there ur the first with this report, so I am going to say thye shooter needs to change something. These guns are small and ur gip has to beoff somehow for this to be an issue, IMO...

Leave the safety system alone.. I would contour the safety on the back side and smooth and u should be good to go..

[Chogers]

Are you a big guy with big hands? Because I have the same gun and I have no problem in that department. I dont see why you would have a problem at all because of the backwards safety. Most people complain that the safety being up is off and down is on but Kahr must of had some kind of keen sense of the thumb being irritated if the safety was down while firing. I guess it could be worse for you than if Kahr did design it the other way around? ;)

[jocko]

I am told there are other semis that the safety works the same way,so it is not a kahr anomoly.

[MW surveyor]

I believe that safeties that are mounted on the slides are all "up is on safe, down to fire". This is probably the least expensive way to make them as there are no additional parts needed.

[Bear549]

You may want to try a grip sleeve to help keep the gun from jumping in your hand. I like the Talon Grips.

http://talongungrips.com/

http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h389/Bear549/Shooting/6ec7ac37.jpg

[Kiehtan]

I too live in the People's Republic. I purchased a new PM9 and fired it today for the first time. Put 100 rounds through it and had no issues with the safety adversely affecting my thumb. I only used the 6 round mag, and had zero issues. Next time I take it out, I'll put 100 through the 7 round mag.

[joshh]

I have same gun & lg hands and havent had an issue. Maybe you should round the edge that cuts you a lil bit.

[apheod]

get some lotion on those hands for a start! lol

[Chogers]

I am told there are other semis that the safety works the same way,so it is not a kahr anomoly.

Very true Jocko...:)

[muggsy]

If you are shooting with your arms fully extended try bending your elbows a bit. Allow your elbows to absorb some of the recoil. If the gun is rolling in your hands you need to take a firmer grip. Any sharp edges on the safety can be removed by sanding them with fine emery cloth. Good luck and tight groups.

[redbeardmcg]

Thanks for the advice everyone. There is a sharp burr on the bottom corner of the safety right beneath the serrations, I'll have my old man (machinist) turn that edge down a bit. Oddly enough I do think a big part of this is the weather, it was a cold day at an outdoor range at the Shirley Rod and Gun Club, my skin dries out something fierce which I'm sure made it seem worse than it was.

-Ryan

[wyntrout]

I use my left thumb to hold down the right thumb to stay clear of the slide lock lever and the magazine release button, as the lady in this picture or as I'm doing in the next photo with my ported P40:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/overlappedthumbsgrip.jpg

Wynn:)

[redbeardmcg]

Wynn, very interesting -- I've never considered modifying my grip in that manner. I suppose I'm spoiled by my Browning Hi-Power, and to be honest this is my first sub-compact so I'm sure I need to make the appropriate adjustments.

Once I get that edge smoothed out I'll try overlapping my thumbs. Thanks again!

-Ryan

[Bawanna]

If your use to a Hi Power or a 1911 I would not try changing your grip to a revolver hold. It will trip you up on the safety every time.
I'd just turn dad loose and have him smooth the heck out of that safety lever.
The law requires it to be there, the law does not require you to turn it on.

Smooth it, round it, weld it in the off safe position and move on to the next lifes challenge.

[jocko]

I kinda like that photo of SUZI, she seems just like my kind of gal, tall, thin, blonde and a shooter

[wyntrout]

Good luck, Ryan. I'm trying to stay off the lever and the magazine release... both can be rough with recoil, especially the PM45 and the P40. I automatically overlap thumbs shooting right-handed, but nothing seems automatic when I try to shoot with my "weak" hand. if I'm not really being careful and thinking about it, I wrap my right hand too high and get bitten by the slide.:eek:

Wynn:)