Not happy with my CW45

[MHWASH]

I'm not ready to give up, I'm just getting frustrated. I want to make it clear that I've only tried my own handloads, that have worked flawless in both my XD and my P220. The only problem I am having is the slide is not going all the way forward. Sometimes it only takes my thumb to push it forward, sometimes I just have to clear the round. I originally thought the problem was too long oal. I managed to get 30 Berry 200s to run with out a glitch. I've shortned some 200gr XTPs to the point where if I go any shorter I will be on the "nose" of the bullet. I've also tried some 200gr lead rnfp. I plan to try some factory ammo as soon as I can get to the next town over. Any ideas?

[jame]

Did you buy this gun new? I'm getting one soon, and I'll forego my reloads for the first 200 rounds. Getting things slicked up with factory ammo has cured a lot of bugs for a few of the new guns I've owned.

[LaP]

At least try a box of factory loads. What have you got to lose?

[n2brk]

I ran some reloads in my 1911 that acted the same way. It turned out the crimp wasn't quite right. Maybe it's worth double-checking?

I also read that break in on factory loads is preferred.

I know it can be frustrating on a new gun - so good luck!

Wally

[MHWASH]

I will try some factory loads sometime this weeekend, there just are none to be found in my small town. I've got the crimp set pretty tight, but I am also going to get a Lee factory crip die and try that.

[MHWASH]

Put 50 flawless rounds of factory 230 ball through it today. I'm very happy about that, now I just need to figure out whats wrong with my reloads. I will be ordering a box of 230 rn to try.

[Bawanna]

I suspect they are a bit to long. I had the same issue with my PM45. They just don't like to long an OAL. I use the Lee factory crimp die and like it very much but with my original hand loads they just wouldn't run in the PM45.
All it took was a tad shortening and they run fine.

I always bring a box of factory when I go to the range but only shoot them if I have an issue. Since the initial hand load hiccups I've never had to go back to the factory.

As others stated I like to use factory ammo in a brand new gun when I can afford to. Some of my guns have never seen factory ammo and never had issues.

If factory is running for you, you just gotta dial them reloads in and you'll be set.

[CJB]

I think you were on the right path by shortening rounds. MY PM45's like things shorter rather than longer. I don't have an XD, but do have a P220 (and had another before it). P220's seem to feed pretty well on whatever feeds through a 1911.

Lots of things can be going on... crimp as was stated, bullet ogive profile, length, overall case sizing, slightly elevated primers... all that sort of thing.

Get some cheap factory - WWB or Federal or UMC... see how it does with that hardball. If you're ok there, then I suppose you'll have some fun tayloring your handloads to suit the Kahr.

One more bit of madness. I bought some commercially reloaded stuff - 200g TMJ's. They were feeding ok in my Officers ACP and Commander, but would not feed well in the Kahr. Shortened them a lot... maybe .040-.050. They now fed in the Kahr perfectly, and would not feed worth a crap in the Officer's or Commander. Just the way things were (are?)

[Bawanna]

I generally shoot nothing but 230 grain bullets but I have a bunch of 185 grain Hornady that came with my press. I've been pondering loading them just specifically for the PM45. My reloads work in all my guns once I got them to work in the PM45 but I thought maybe the lighter bullet along with the short barrel might be a good combination.

They are good bullets, and I've used them before years ago. Might as well use them for something. Just been setting since they arrived.

[Longitude Zero]

This is why I NEVER use reloads in any semi auto pistol. Fortunately I can stay with factory loads. In a revolver I use reloads but NEVER in a semi auto.

[wojo1911]

Had the same problem with reloads with my CW45. I shortened the FMJ from 1.260 to 1.245 and the SWC from 1.250 to 1.240 and both work great now. If you remove barrel and just drop the round in it should not stick at all and you should be able to turn it upside down and have the it fall out just like with a factory round. I also set the crimp higher as well. Good luck.

[MHWASH]

I'm patiently waiting for my Midway order to arrive so I can try some 230 fmj. Unfortunatly they were out of extra mags.

[DKD]

I quit using reloads for carry purposes years ago, mostly for liability reasons.
Reloads if given TLC by a diligent reloader is as good or even better than factory, as one can easily measure & weigh each and ever chage not to mention keep the powder type, and lot numbers the same which enhances accuracy. The factory cannot hope to match that level of detail in mass production. They buy powder by the ton and the type varies from month to month. They only evaluate the purn rate & pressures of the bulk powders that they use to assemble there ammo.
I personally never had any problems with relaods in either revolver or semi automatic pistols.
Just stick to the spec's in current reloading manuals and keep the seating depth within spec's...one must be aware that seating a projectile too deeply increases pressure dramatically, especially in high pressure loads like 9mm, 357 SIG and others of that ilk. Just keep the pressures / load density / powder charges reasonable and follow the manuals and things will work just fine.

Also keep in mind that new Kahrs are very stiff and their compact designs leave darn little roof for loose tolerances which does compound the potential problems one might experience.

[DKD]

Hey BAWANNA,

Those 185 grainers and 200 grainers work fine in my PM45. I tried a few mags work of hand loaded 185 grain Golden Sabres and they feed & functioned perfectly.
You are correct that the velocity loss due to the 3" barrel is partially negated by using the slightly lighter slugs, which in turn aids in expansion. Thats why I tend to use 200 grain Gold Dots as my carry load in my PM45 and in my Kimber 3" Ultra Raptor 45 ACP.

[MHWASH]

DKD,

Your reasoning is logical, but for practice there is no reason not to run reloads. I can afford to buy the best for carry, but I cannot afford to buy factory for the amount that I like to shoot.

[TriggerMan]

This is why I NEVER use reloads in any semi auto pistol. Fortunately I can stay with factory loads. In a revolver I use reloads but NEVER in a semi auto.I'm with you. Have never shot a single reloaded round.

[Disapointed]

I reloaded 9mm 22 yrs ago the ol fashion rock chuck one at a time way. Even weighing each individual charge of powder. I shot them through a beretta 15 shot mel gibson special, Lol. Never had one dud or bad round. Problem was, it took forever to load just a box of 50. I guess these days reloading has come along way and is fast. A buddy of mine reloads 500 at a time in one sitting. I dont have the time or patience these days. The only thing I reload now are centerfire hunting cartridges. :59:

[revred]

I picked up a CW45 on Friday and shot it for the first time today. I used 3 different types of ammo, but had the same issue as the OP with one of them. It ran fine using American Eagle 230gr FMJ and Speer Lawman 230gr TMJ. It just did not like the Federal Premium 230gr HST. It didn't do it with every round, but it happened enough times that I'm ruling them out as carry ammo and will shop for something else.

Does there seem to be any one brand of hollow points that is a common denominator for reliability in the CW45?

Chris

[Longitude Zero]

Does there seem to be any one brand of hollow points that is a common denominator for reliability in the CW45?

Chris

Not for me. Mine eats up HST's and my brother in laws chokes on them. His loves Golden Sabers, mine eats GS up also. Guns are a lot like women each is different and unique.

[O'Dell]

Mine too. I've never tried a factory load that didn't work. I don't shoot reloads in any of my pistols.

[jocko]

I picked up a CW45 on Friday and shot it for the first time today. I used 3 different types of ammo, but had the same issue as the OP with one of them. It ran fine using American Eagle 230gr FMJ and Speer Lawman 230gr TMJ. It just did not like the Federal Premium 230gr HST. It didn't do it with every round, but it happened enough times that I'm ruling them out as carry ammo and will shop for something else.

Does there seem to be any one brand of hollow points that is a common denominator for reliability in the CW45?

Chris

kahrs are not ammo sensitive but in ur case u proved that it dislikes one brand, so ur doing the right thing, move on to what works perfecrt. My bet is that a couple hundred rounds down range and the gun gets even smoother that those Federal rounds will work OK. My P380 would not do well with 102 golden sabres, shoots everything else fine, so fokk golden sabres, I just moved on. to many good 45 rounds out there to get to excited about maybe one or two brands it doesntt like, but we have read that later on as the gun smooths out, those rounds worked OK...:blah:

[TheTman]

Never had a problem with the 230gr Hydra Shoks. The gunsmith at the place my friend bought his 3" Kimber suggested he use 185 gr loads in it due to the shorter barrel. The 185 gr loads get moving faster and reach a higher velocity than the 230gr loads, which improves bullet performance. I still use the 230gr Hydra Shoks when I can find them since they supposedly perform better at lower velocities than many other HP bullet designs.

[nmkahrshooter]

The key is factory loads!! More problems have been caused by re-loads. You spent the money on a fine pistol, spend the money on quality ammo.

[johnh]

Mine does that with Tula. Yes I know, crap ammo, but all I could find when I went to break it in. It is fine with other ammo. They are tight pistols out of the box.