New CW40 owner

[dklo]

I picked up my new CW40 last week and in the process of showing me how to properly dismantle the thing, the dealer bent the slide stop spring. He bent it back into place and I took it to the range. I put about 50 rounds through it with no problems at all. The next day I put 200 rounds through it with no problems.

I took it home and cleaned it and reassembled it. I took it to the range again and the slide would lock back with rounds in the chamber on the 3rd shot. then it would run fine. then it would lock back on the second shot. then run fine for the rest of the mag. Then it would lock back on the first shot and then run fine.

I took it home and it looked like the spring was bent slightly UP from 90 degrees. I bent it down and reassembled the gun confirming the spring sat in the notch in the slide stop. Took it back to the range and ran 200 rounds through it no problem.

I called Kahr and they recommend replacing the spring. They told me it was incredibly easy to install but I am no gunsmith and I plan on using this as my carry gun. The spring looks EXACTLY like it should in the manual, the slide stop lever has good tension (it wiggled a little prior to the malfunctions) and seems to be working fine. Should I attempt to replace it? I dont know of many gunsmiths in my area.

The Kahr agent also said that my malfunction sounded "weird" and it may be my thumb accidentally pushing up on the slide stop during recoil. I am inclined to agree since my slide only locked back once per mag, it did NOT lock back after every round.


any help would be appreciated!

[roskee]

I'm no gunsmith either, but keep these two things in mind:

Kahr's turnaround time isn't the most speedy. Secondly, if you attempt it yourself, feeding 100+ rounds through it will tell you if you're carry gun is carry-worthy.

[air8]

Surely Kahr would send the spring to you. Once a spring has been mis-shapen it will not work the same as original. It will be softer or firmer depending how it was bent. Since this spring doesn't take much loading it will most likely be fine. However I personally would it if it were mine. The slide stop is a mechanism I want to work perfectly every time.

[Planedude]

Anyone here know what size bit is used on that slide stop screw/washer? I bent mine a couple of weeks ago (note to self: do not talk BS and assemble guns at the same time...), ordered a new screw/washer/spring from Kahr. My attempt to replace it today was thwarted because I don't have a bit that small.
Soooo... What bit do I buy now?

Thanks

[gb6491]

dklo and Plandude;
Welcome to the forums!

Anyone here know what size bit is used on that slide stop screw/washer? I bent mine a couple of weeks ago (note to self: do not talk BS and assemble guns at the same time...), ordered a new screw/washer/spring from Kahr. My attempt to replace it today was thwarted because I don't have a bit that small.
Soooo... What bit do I buy now?

Thanks
Most likely a #6 Torx (at least on my CW9 and 45); I believe they use a #5 on the P380 and read elsewhere they be moving to that size for all the poly guns. Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, etc. will usually have them.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_239384-16878-60272_?PL=1&productId=1067905
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-pc-mni-star-tamper-proof-key-set-97469.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-star-bit-set-93316.html
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6158544901P?hlSellerId=15470
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/tools-hardware/hand-tools/husky/6-piece-hex-screwdriver-set-114546.html
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11221030&kw=torx&origkw=torx&searchId=54864803404

This is what I have (bought mine at an electronics store):
http://www.amazon.com/Wiha-36392-L-Wrench-Short-Piece/dp/B002QV0FGA/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt
Regards,
Greg

[jocko]

there is some photo tutorial on the kahr tech section, i THIK UNDER CW45 FIXES SHOWING THE PROPER POSITION OF THAT SLIDE STOP SPRING. u CAN TWEEK IT URSELF WHILE ON THEGUN EVEN. READ THE TUTORIAL KAND TEST IT OUT If the gun is doing OK do not put the new spring in, keep it for further uswe in case something happens. It sounds tomelike u tweeked it properly. It is not rocket science to fix it.

Number #6 torx tool is the proper tool, sears sells them separtely, but the list that GB provided willdothe same. Harbor freight has them in sets and they are cheap to buy. Just remember u are screwing that little screw into polymer threads, so it never really tightens up either. SNUG IS GOOD. IMO if it iw working now just don['t mess with that little screw either. I have had my PM9 for over 5 years and with over 32K rounds throgh it and heaven only knows the hundreds of time I have had this gun apart and I have replaced that spring only once.

Very evident to me also that DEALERS don't know jack sh! tabout kahrs either. I do think ur OK with the gun now. Just6 shoot it like u stole it..

[Planedude]

Yeah The parts were cheap on the Kahr web site, but the shipping was more than the parts. I was forced to add a hat, a shirt along with a pocket holster and spare mag for the P380. I had to make that shipping worthwhile... Honest dear.
The CW40 and the P380 swap out as my carry guns depending on what I'm wearing that day. Function first and formost. I did bend the spring back to pretty much OG shape. (remember to put a thin flat bladed screwdriver tip on the top of the spring at the washer before bending the end of the arm up for best results. You'll need the fulcrum.) That done the slide works perfect by hand (not shot yet) and is is now reloaded for carry. I will still replace the spring/washer/screw when I get a small tip, just to be sure my carry gun is perfect. Thats the jet mechanic in me coming out I'm sure.
...And yes, dealers don't know jack about Kahr's from what I've seen.

[dklo]

Thanks Jocko. I will put some photos at the end of this post so you all can actually see my spring. I did look at the "Prep your Kahr" thread and I noticed when I put a loaded mag in the gun with the slide off, if the rounds weren't seated properly in the mag (all the way back) the tip of the bullet would hit the slide stop. I think that may have been my issue, especially since I remember not having all of the seated all the way back (the mag is tight!) and the fact it only locked back on 1 round out of 6. anyways. here are the pics. any thoughts or does it look good?

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu302/BWI0809/photo2.jpg
spring sitting in its notch.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu302/BWI0809/photo1.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu302/BWI0809/photo.jpg

I apologize for the wierd camera angles

[jocko]

the photos IMO are good, the spring looks fine, try shooting it left handed to see if the slide locks open, that willeliminate the thumb thing as the culprit. Normally the top round is gonna move forward in the magazine, so that might be normal. with the round sin the mag and the top round allthe way back and theninserted, it shouyldnot hit that slide stop lever. that isthe way to test out with the slide off. If it is hitting that slide stop at all, call kahr and tellthem and they will send u a new slide stop lever, then and only then, tweek that slide stop lever urself by filing back that nub that is hitting the round just a tad, then retest until clear.

U seem to have a knowledge of what to look for and how to go about fixing it, so go slowly. More than likely the gun now is running fine and if so leave all alone, why nsteall a new spring when u have this one adjsuted perfect. the less times you mess witha that little screw that holds the spring in, the better off u will be..