New CW9 initial concerns

[GKC]

I just bought a new CW9. I owned one once before, several months ago, but traded it before I even shot it, as part of a deal on a 1911. I've been wanting another ever since, so I finally decided I had better get one while I still can, just in case.

I ordered this one from Gun Genie, and picked it up at my local gun shop. I was in a real rush, and didn't even open the box...just paid and ran. When I got it home and unboxed it, the first thing I noticed was that the slide was INCREDIBLY difficult to rack. It had the plastic slide block in it, that it is shipped with, and I thought it might be hanging on it somehow...so, I finally got the slide back and got the slide block thingy out. It was a little easier to rack, but not by much, if at all, and the slide action seems VERY gritty. The gun was dripping in oil, so I would think it had some lube on the slide rails, but it may not.

I picked up a couple of extra magazines for it at the same time, and none of the three insert or drop freely. (I've read about how to check/fix those issues, though.) All three will lock the slide open, but man it is hard to get the slide back far enough to lock. It may just be my memory, but I sure don't remember anything like this with my first CW9. As for releasing the slide from the slide lock lever, no way...it is locked tight. I can barely get the slide back far enough to push the slide lock lever down to release it, and I can only do that if I release the magazine first.

It seems like I read this somewhere, although I can't find it now, but I am going to leave the pistol locked open for several days. It seems like I read five days was the suggested period. In the meantime, I am going to be reading the manual, this forum, and watching the videos. Once the 5 days is over, I'm going to break it down and clean it very well...as well as checking and cleaning my magazines.

My questions are:

1) Does anyone else have this stiff slide/lock issue? I have never felt a new pistol this difficult to rack the slide.

2) Am I not remembering correctly, or will the 5 day locked open help?

3) The serrations on the slide are razor sharp on this pistol...so sharp they hurt. I sure don't remember this on any other Kahr I have held/looked at in the stores. Anyone else have this? Will stoning or fine grit sandpaper help?

One positive so far is that on dry fire, the trigger sure is smooth, just like I remembered it from before. Plus, this pistol just feels good to grip...it's just the right size.

I am really hoping I can resolve all this...maybe this is entirely normal and just "noob" issues.

[MW surveyor]

Couple of things to do:

1. Clean all of the new factory oil and grease out of it.
2. Insert a spray nozzle in the clean out hole.
3. Go to the lube sticky in tech.
4. Re-lube the gun as per the sticky.
5. Reassemble
6. Put on a pair of gloves and rack that slide as much as you can at a time. Locking back the slide might work but it is cycles that will make the spring set.
7. Good luck!

The slide lock is used to keep the action open with an empty mag. If you try to release the slide on an empty mag, you will get a bunch of resistance like you are experiencing.:o

You can round over the serrations but wait until you do the 500 racks (with the gloves on!)

[gm412]

My p380 was the same way - next to impossible top rack.. I had to send it back to Kahr for feed and light strike issues. I received it back this week and it is no longer so hard to rack. Before it took everything I had to rack it and holding it back to disassemble it was a two man operation. Not sure what KAHR did but now it is easy to rack.

[GKC]

Couple of things to do:

1. Clean all of the new factory oil and grease out of it.
2. Insert a spray nozzle in the clean out hole.
3. Go to the lube sticky in tech.
4. Re-lube the gun as per the sticky.
5. Reassemble
6. Put on a pair of gloves and rack that slide as much as you can at a time. Locking back the slide might work but it is cycles that will make the spring set.
7. Good luck!

The slide lock is used to keep the action open with an empty mag. If you try to release the slide on an empty mag, you will get a bunch of resistance like you are experiencing.:o

You can round over the serrations but wait until you do the 500 racks (with the gloves on!)

Thank you! I didn't even think about the slide lock/empty mag...all my other pistols are 1911s and I never use the slide lock to release the slide. I just sling shot them...but I'm trying to follow the Kahr "rules." ;)

I'll give your recommendations a shot (pun intended.)

BTW, I've been reading the threads/debates about brake cleaner vs other products. I already have some poly safe Gun Scrubber, so I will use that.

[jocko]

th best thing u can do is do the lube thing, due the clean thing before anything. On the kahr tech section there are two good stickys thaqt willhelp u alot.

#1` kahr lube chart

#2 propper preppng of ur new kahr.

After u do all of the above there is just nothing better than shooting 100+ ropund sout of the gun and trust me it willbe much easier to rack and the action itself will have smoothed out alot. Ur kahr is tightk it will come out of it, IMO there is not a thing wrong with your kahr. Just rounds down range is the best. Kahr recommends as u know a couple hndred rounds before getting to escited.

as far as the mags not dropping there are fixes shown on the kahr tech thread. Use what ever spray gun cleaner floats ur boat. again everything u read on this forum is suggestions not dictates.

What Surveyor is telling us is dead on target..

[kmans]

My CW9 had a stiff slide when I first got it, but it is smooth as silk now. I use a product called Strike Hold. It cleans, lubricates and protects metals. I first saw it at a local gun show several years ago and have been using it since. It does an amazing job of lubricating and protecting metal and at this point I would not use anything else. Check it out at www.strike-hold.com. You won't be sorry.

[GKC]

Thanks again for the replies and information.

As the saying goes, "When all else fails, read the instructions."

When I got out the packet which includes the owner's manual, there is a sticker on the plastic envelope that (in bold letters) says that the slide release is DESIGNED to be difficult to release on an empty magazine. :o

So, now I am cleaning, reading, and racking. I won't be able to go to the range until next week.

[SmokingGun]

Don't just spray out the striker channel. Disassemble the gun and clean it out properly. Likely has metal shavings and gunk in there. Then shoot it. The CW9 is a fantastic pistol.

[GKC]

Don't just spray out the striker channel. Disassemble the gun and clean it out properly. Likely has metal shavings and gunk in there. Then shoot it. The CW9 is a fantastic pistol.

Yes, I do plan on doing that. One of the things I really like about the Kahr design is that you can do that without knocking out pins, etc.

[SmokingGun]

Yes, I do plan on doing that. One of the things I really like about the Kahr design is that you can do that without knocking out pins, etc.

Great! It is well worth doing and it's a good way to learn more about your pistol. Best of luck with your CW9....fantastic choice!

[GKC]

1) Read the manual cover to cover today.

2) Broke the pistol down and cleaned it.

Now I'll concentrate on racking the slide 500 times, and then clean/lube it again. I also need to break down/clean my magazines, and make sure they are re-assembled correctly.

I hope I can get to the range this week.

[mrvco]

My recently purchased CW9 was surprisingly stiff, but ran through 100 rounds of FMJ and HP ammo without a hitch on its first trip to the range last week. You do have to fully rack the slide to chamber a round. Releasing it from the slide-stop notch will not chamber a round (not that I tried it more than once).

[espresso]

Kahr recommends using the slide release to chamber the 1st round but once broken in most people don't seem to have a problem fulling racking the slide on the first round. I shot my CW9 this weekend which brought up the round count to about 800 or so. I tried to cause a malfunction.....racking the slide...pressing down the first round in the mag....4 different people , 4 different types of ammo 2 of them JHP and I didn't have the first hiccup.

[hardluk1]

Do not take for granted you have to sit around and rack the slide. It my just as well run fine brand new, cleaned and lubed. My cm9 does. By the time you fire a couple hundred rounds you may find the recoil spring soften up a bit and it my also no long have to have thye slide released to chamber a round. Both my cw and cm work like a slicked up 1911 . I can slowly release the slid and chamber a round. You have time with 1911's ,the kahr will teach you what it likes and when.

[GKC]

Do not take for granted you have to sit around and rack the slide. It my just as well run fine brand new, cleaned and lubed.

I think mine is going to be one like yours....I haven't had time to work on it much, due to some things that came up unexpectedly...but the few times that I have been able to rack it, it already seems noticeably different. Different good, that is. :)

[Rescue271]

Mine was also hard to rack when I first got it. I remedied this by giving it a very thorough cleaning, and storing it with the slide locked back.

When pulling it out of storage lube your guide rod and rails and pull the slide back and forth until you get tired of doing so.