New to me K40

[AJBert]

Picked up a used K40 last weekend and haven't had a chance to do a thing with it until today. No real need for pics as it your everyday, basic K40.

Even though used I decided to go through the entire prep for a new gun as I have no clue as to how many rounds have been through it. Toughest part of the prep was just getting the slide off! Had to borrow a set of hands to help as I couldn't hold the slide back AND get the slide stop pin out at the same time.

Happy to say the previous owner either put very few rounds through it or knew how to clean it very well. Bad part was everthing was very dry, as in no evidence of any lube. I do know it sat in the store for 6 months before coming home with me.

So, after blasting out the striker channel (nothing in it) and cleaning everything with good old trust Hoppe's #9, I lubed it up with some Mili-Tec just a bit wet on purpose. Racked it about 100-150 times and felt smooth of as silk.

So, loaded up the 6 and 7 round mags with Remington UMC 165 grains, as I can get these or the 180's in bulk at the store fairly cheap. Just a quick test and everything worked flawlessly.

Now, I know this is not the end all of testing and will not use it to carry immediatedly. I will put many more rounds through it, including various SD rounds until I find one that my K40 likes. But, it has passed the initial testing period and I must say I am impressed.

Though, it is just a bit more "snappy" than my Springer 1911. I know. There is a trade off when going down in size yet still having a very capable round. And I am perfectly fine with the recoil and actually expected a bit more. When I get the chance, I'll run more rounds through her until I'm ready to use it as my carry gun.

I guess not much new in the post as with many other new owners, sorry:001_tt2:

Oh, and going by the SN of DF59XX, I'm guessing late '09 or early '10 and the feed ramp was a beautiful polished mirror! Don't ask what I paid for it as I truly stole it. Let's just WELL below...ummmm...$500. WELL BELOW.

[jocko]

u can go to wolffs gunspring and order the heavier poundage recoil springs and I would think this could help alot and better yet send the barrel and slide to magna port and really have a dandy K40. Our surpreme commander, he was our boss before his promotion has a ported K40. U might get his comments, nbot that they would be a basis for realy anything!!! That is a nice gun and wellbelow $500 is a great price

ur factory K40 recoil spring is 20#. wollffs makes 22 and 23# for the K40 which I would think would make a nice set up, while ur at their webb site, consider the 5# drop in striker spring, Trigger travel stays the same but sure drops poundage a few pounds.

[AJBert]

The recoil isn't near enough right now for me to do anything about. After a few more rounds, I just might take your suggestions and act on them. I knew going into this that the .40 was snappier than the 9mm. I'm just not a 9mm type of guy.

One problem I did find, after shooting, is the my trigger finger wasn't on the "tip" but on the "crease". May have to find something to "lengthen" the grip or just train myself on this particular firearm to make sure I am pulling with the tip of my finger.

Much more range time (side yard) and ammo needed before I make a decision. And I still need to find a holster for it, and yes, I'm researching that on here!

[AJBert]

Put 50 more rounds through her today after work, zero problems. Getting used to the trigger and shooting a bit more accurately. The Wolff's springs might be a good investment as the is a little sore spot on the inside of the index finger joint to the hand, if that makes sense. We'll give it a couple of days and put a few more rounds down range.

[AJBert]

Ran a few more rounds down range and started having the slide locking back, as in failure to return to battery. At first, it was only with the 7 round mag but then started to do it with the six round mag.

I didn't want to start another thread, thus why I'm putting it in here. I've put approximately 200 rounds through her thus far and it only started on the last 30 or so.

First thought that came to mind was the thumb, so I was very mindful of that but it kept doing it. Guess I'll tear it down to clean and lube again but if anyone has any other recommendations I'm all ears.

[Tinman507]

The recoil isn't near enough right now for me to do anything about. After a few more rounds, I just might take your suggestions and act on them. I knew going into this that the .40 was snappier than the 9mm. I'm just not a 9mm type of guy.

One problem I did find, after shooting, is the my trigger finger wasn't on the "tip" but on the "crease". May have to find something to "lengthen" the grip or just train myself on this particular firearm to make sure I am pulling with the tip of my finger.

Much more range time (side yard) and ammo needed before I make a decision. And I still need to find a holster for it, and yes, I'm researching that on here!

Seriously consider the PJHolster. Paul made one for my K9 that I totally love! It disappears on my 3:30-4 o'clock. If he can do a K9 he can do a K40. Super fast turnaround.

[AJBert]

Seriously consider the PJHolster. Paul made one for my K9 that I totally love! It disappears on my 3:30-4 o'clock. If he can do a K9 he can do a K40. Super fast turnaround.
Out of all the holsters I've been researching, PJHolters are at the top of the list.

[jocko]

Ran a few more rounds down range and started having the slide locking back, as in failure to return to battery. At first, it was only with the 7 round mag but then started to do it with the six round mag.

I didn't want to start another thread, thus why I'm putting it in here. I've put approximately 200 rounds through her thus far and it only started on the last 30 or so.

First thought that came to mind was the thumb, so I was very mindful of that but it kept doing it. Guess I'll tear it down to clean and lube again but if anyone has any other recommendations I'm all ears.

are saying it is not locking open but just not fully returning to battery, then IMO get anew set of recoil springs. I would order them from wolffs also. Even though the srping in there now is basically new, it might not be right. I think if it was my K40 I would put the 22# spring in it also. strtange that it was Ok for so many rounds and now is acting up. Kinda tells me it could be recoil spring related. No doubt a relube ain't gonna hurt a darn thing either. U might try to shoot it left handed to see if FUR SURE THE THUMB thing is not an issue, or let another good shooter also try it.

[AJBert]

It is locking open. As soon as I start to pull the trigger I can tell as the pull is much lighter, just reach up with the thumb and hit the slide lock/release lever.

I'll try the left hand shooting as you suggested. If it is me, I can't figure out why it all of a sudden started.

[jocko]

uR PROBABLY OK BUT ALL UR DOING IS ELIMINATING SOME POSSABILITES. U also nee dto check to see if by chance the bullets are hitting on the inside of the slide lock lever and engaging the premature lock open. The propper prepping thread address's this and tell u how to check it out.. take 5 minutes. again ur just eliminati9ng the possbilityes. while that slide is off and the slide lock lever is reinserted check to see how the lever is positioned on the slide lock spring which is on the nsde right side dust cover. With the slide off the gun, u should be able to flick the slide lock lever up and down andit immediately returns downward. If it sticks then that is an issue. I seriously doubt if that is the case to,but again takes 5 minutes to eliminate the possables.

There is jut not much to cause premature slide lockingopen on the K models other than what I mentioned about and that also of the thumb thing. very strange that in 200 good rounds it is now acting up. Go slowly with the trouble shooting thing. Not sure new reecoil springs will take care of that issue either but it is allabouot proper timing in these semi's to, so why not try a new set while ur at it. again ur just eliminateing anothe rpossable.

The K40 is not like a K9. it is still a 40 cal and it has alot more recoil than the9mm and quite possably your grip has changed jsut a tad and as u know the slide stop leve ron kahrs is IMO kinda big. Left handed would at least eliminate the "ol thumb" thing real fast to.

[AJBert]

I remember reading about the slide lock lever and the interferance it can cause.and will check that out, just had forgotten about it. Thanks for dusting the cobwebs out of this mostly empty cranium!