New PM9 - Slide extremely stiff

[Fizzyone]

I just picked up my new PM9 and am about to take it apart for cleaning. The slide is extremely tight, and actually got stuck/jammed part of the way back once as I was trying to rack it. I loaded a couple of snap caps in the magazine and tried cycling the slide--the first round popped out the ejection port as I expected it would, but the second round just sort of sat in the chamber. I took it out, and now the slide is jammed in the locked-open position and the magazine will not come out.

I'm a female, so I know my hand strength isn't like a man's, but I've got other semi-automatic pistols and have fired probably a dozen or more different ones, and have never encountered a slide like this. It almost feels like something's not right with the way it's assembled.

Any ideas? :confused:

[gm412]

This is normal. I still have trouble. The first couple of cleanings are the hardest. Kahrs are very stiff. It will loosen some with use.

[JimC]

Yours sounds like the one that I looked at last year at a LGS before buying the one that I currently own.
I decided against buying the first one. It felt like someone dropped a handfull of sand down the ejection port. ;)
I could hardly get the slide drawn to the rear sufficiently to lock it open.

[pitandkahr]

Mine was very stiff too...Stiffer than any of my XD's or XDm's...You might also have a little difficultly taking out the slide stop, but just give it a little tap and then follow the sticky for the proper prep/lube and you will be good...After the first 100 you will notice a significant difference...Just be patient and it will turn out to be a great little gun...I love mine and just picked up my MK9 a couple hours ago...So I will be going through the process again with this new sexy girl...LOL

[MW surveyor]

OK, I'll take a stab at it.

First, see if you can pull the slide back just a bit further, then while holding the slide back, engage the slide stop. If that works, then try to remove the magazine holding the mag release in and pulling on the bottom of the mag. The mags on the Kahrs do not always drop free so don't worry about pulling it out.

If you were able to get the mag out......let the slide go back into battery (close), then align the marks and push out the slide release leaver. This is not always an easy task the first couple of times so have patience. Leaver out? Pull trigger and slide the slide forward and off the rails.

There are a few videos around on Ytube and also look in the tech section of this forum for the cleaning and lubing stickys as well as some ideas for breakin.

AND WELCOME TO THE FORUM.

[Fizzyone]

Thanks for all the fast responses and for the reassurance!

My hubby came home and helped me disengage the jammed slide, and he racked it about 2 dozen times and it's already loosening up (but those serrations on the slide--ouch! They're sharp!) but still pretty tight compared to my other guns. Now, with both of us working together, we managed to take the slide off and I'm following the first-cleaning sticky. Once I have everything well lubed and put back together, I'll spend the evening racking the slide so it continues to loosen up. I'll check the follower springs in the magazines and all the other things the sticky suggests.

I took a vacation day tomorrow, so I'll go down to the range in the morning to see how my new toy works. Hopefully my sticky-slide episode is the only hiccup. I'll report back when I get home. ;)

[Tinman507]

Congrats on the new gun.
The best thing you can do for it is shoot it. It's gonna feel like a totally different beast after tomorrow when you break it down to clean.
Have fun!

[jocko]

how abvout letting a male person try to rack the slide back and lock it open for you. It just sounds tight to me and certainly could be a real chore for a woman just staring out with a PM9. They have the stoutest recoils springs of any gun maker and they are a bear to hand rack for even alot of males, so don't feel bad about it. It will get better, but IMO u might have to still fight this gun to hand rack it or to clear a jam. I would suggest in ur case, just pass on the take aprt thing and trying to clean and lube it but jsut go to wal mart and buy a hundred rounds of WWB 115 grain fmj and just shoot it like u stoleit. Using the slide lock lever to load that first round every time. If all goes well, the u might start at the range to try some hand racking to see if u can load and unload thegun properlyt and safely. I think u hve ur work cut out for you to. If the gun has not been apart I doubt if it is put together wrong, just tight as hell..


That will get better as rounds go out the barrel

[MW surveyor]

A word of advice if you are going to be racking the slide tonight.........wear gloves :)

Glad you were able to get it apart, lubed and back together.

Have fun with it tomorrow!

[jocko]

indeed, good hubby no doubt, what Surveyor staed is a good idea and while ur at it, leave the slide locked back tonight to. Once those springs take their designed set, it willbe a different gun, be patient,kahrs are tight, they have extremely strong recoil springs, do't mess with defense ammo until the gun is running right, shoot close,k kahrs triggers are loooooong but so so smooth. don't worry to much about groups either, that will come in time. right now all we want is a good successful first trip and ur ability to hand rack alittle better. Ur family with semi's so once u get accustomed to the PM9 do some tap, rack and bang drills with it. U have the best semi compact 9 on the market

hopefully u have read the two good sticky's on the kahr tech section.

#1 kahr lube cvhart

#2 propper prepping of ur kahr.

welcome aboard to this group of good people whio are here to help, if needed.

[pitandkahr]

A word of advice if you are going to be racking the slide tonight.........wear gloves :)


I used them because w/o them your hands will be pretty beat up whether they are male or female hands...Just sat and watched TV while I racked the slide...Probably got out at least 200 plus and it was noticeably different...

[JFootin]

You need to be carefull of the orientation of the slide stop lever when reinserting it: 4:00 until half way in, then 3:00 the rest of the way. There is a takedown video on the CM9 page on the Kahr website. Look below the picture and click the Downloads tab.

[david8613]

im still a new pm9 owner like yourself, one thing I found that helped alot was using gun grease vs just plain gun oil on the slide rails this made a huge difference, feels so smooth now. try it I think you will agree. +1 on the gloves I found that out the first long session of racking the slide. another thing that worked for me is breaking it down, cleaning, lube it a few times even if you haven't been to the range seems to really loosen it up some too. last thing I did was insert and eject your mags a bunch of times ok maybe more than a bunch of times but now my mags drop free, nice!

[jocko]

hopefully u have read the manual and then maybe even read it again. there are some real MUST DO's stated.. What JFootin stated is gospel,

[Fizzyone]

Okay, an update. Hubby is working on breaking in the gun and here's what's happening (I'm letting him work on it--he's got the hand strength).

If he racks the slide, pulls the trigger on an empty chamber (releases striker), and tries to rack the slide again, when it gets about a half inch back, it hangs up/meets an obstruction. The slide doesn't jam per se, but resists being pulled back any further--letting go of the slide lets it close, and then "jiggling" the slide forward and back a little eventually allows the slide to go all the way back. This is happening consistently after every empty-chamber trigger pull.

ETA: This is exactly what was happening when I first took the gun out of the bag, before I took it apart. It's loosened up some from working it, but it's still hanging up at that exact same spot.

Does this sound like something that will resolve during the break-in period? If so, I'll just follow through with my plan to take it to the range in the morning.

Again, I really appreciate all the advice and insight--as well as the welcome! I'm looking forward to some positive range reports after this tenuous start.

P.S.: Jocko, yes, I'm a firm believer in reading the manual. In fact, I was the one who read it to my husband as he took the gun apart, so I read it and re-read it twice so far. ;)

[kerby9mm]

You guys and your sissy hands! I understand the lady has soft hands but you men need to use your Kahr's more to TUFFEN UP your hands!

[Fizzyone]

Hubby and his mechanically inclined mind has identified that the striker is not retracting after the trigger is pulled, and it's causing the slide to hang up as described above. Jiggling the slide makes the striker retract and the slide can be racked easily until the trigger is pulled again.

We're going to take the gun back apart and give it another good cleaning. But I'm interested in hearing what you guys think about this.

[Tinman507]

Shoot some brake cleaner up in the channel and then in the little hole on the bottom of ths slide. Work the striker pin in and out a few times.

[TucsonMTB]

Shoot some brake cleaner up in the channel and then in the little hole on the bottom of ths slide. Work the striker pin in and out a few times.
+1 . . . And don't be alarmed that the pin sticks out after you dry fire. It really does not create a problem when shooting live ammo. Trust me. ;)

[Fizzyone]

Okay, I'm gonna just bring it to the range and see how it works. I will say that, before I bought this gun, I rented one at a local range and absolutely fell in love with it. It felt like an extension of my hand and my groupings were tighter my first time shooting it than what's typical with my Kimber 1911, which I've been shooting for almost 2 years.

So I'm already sold on this little gun, and will do whatever it takes to get it to where I'm confident with it as my every-day carry.

[jocko]

that i the best thing u can do. there isnothing like the Bang thing taking care of little picky issues that will soon dissappear. what ur hubby is doing IMO is the right thing for you to. then once u get to the range and shoot it a few rounds, u will get use dto it to. Being u have shot a PM9,u know what to expect. It is a super gun, IMO the best of the best, just take ur time with it. give it a chance to make u happy

[pitandkahr]

that i the best thing u can do. there isnothing like the Bang thing taking care of little picky issues that will soon dissappear. what ur hubby is doing IMO is the right thing for you to. then once u get to the range and shoot it a few rounds, u will get use dto it to. Being u have shot a PM9,u know what to expect. It is a super gun, IMO the best of the best, just take ur time with it. give it a chance to make u happy

well said and so sensitive to the love PM9...LOVE IT!!

[Sage]

Congrats on your new gun. I love my PM9. After 500 rounds you will think it's a different gun.

p.s. I racked mine about 500 times before it ever shot it.

[pitandkahr]

Just finished the prep and lube of my new girl a beautiful MK9...I actually love the detailed ritual that goes into prepping a Kahr...Now it's glove (yes, I'm secure enough to say and use it...:D) and watch some tv while getting a couple hundred racks under her belt...Then tomorrow BANG BANG 100 rounds on her and her sexy PM9 friend...Gonna be a great day!!!

[jocko]

well said and so sensitive to the love PM9...LOVE IT!!

and as u know my past track record on this fourm shows that indeed ol jocko IS A VERY SENSITIVE MAN.:D

Just sayin

[AIRret]

Hey Fizzyone, Congratulations on picking a great GUN. As a woman I initially had a real tuff time with racking the slide and field stripping the pm9 (my husband was a great help). I also have some nasty medical issues that limit the strength in my hands. Some of those issues lead to me switching my strong side. I've shot right handed all my life and in November 2011 I had to make the switch, and I must say it's going well. I probably should have switched sooner because I'm left eye dominant, but the gun felt weird in my left hand. Anyway, enough of that. I just want you to know that after 400 round and a lot of work I can rack it, clear it, field strip it, and shoot the Hell out of it. STAY WITH IT! To this day I still work at racking ....
One thing that might help is when you rack the gun push forward with your dominent hand at the same time you are pulling the slide with your off hand.
Good luck. You'll like this forum, people are very helpful.

[Fizzyone]

Hey Fizzyone, Congratulations on picking a great GUN. As a woman I initially had a real tuff time with racking the slide and field stripping the pm9 (my husband was a great help). I also have some nasty medical issues that limit the strength in my hands. Some of those issues lead to me switching my strong side. I've shot right handed all my life and in November 2011 I had to make the switch, and I must say it's going well. I probably should have switched sooner because I'm left eye dominant, but the gun felt weird in my left hand. Anyway, enough of that. I just want you to know that after 400 round and a lot of work I can rack it, clear it, field strip it, and shoot the Hell out of it. STAY WITH IT! To this day I still work at racking ....
One thing that might help is when you rack the gun push forward with your dominent hand at the same time you are pulling the slide with your off hand.
Good luck. You'll like this forum, people are very helpful.
Thank you for this! I actually have arthritis in my thumb joints, with my left hand being the most painful. My strong side is my right, so it's the more painful hand that racks the slide, which I know is hindering the racking process even more. For a while, I was doing hand-strengthening exercises, but my orthopedist told me it wouldn't have an effect, positive or negative, on the OA so I stopped. I think I need to go back to the grip-strength exercises now. I refuse to give up on this gun, and appreciate your encouragement. It's gonna be worth the effort, I know. Worst case, I'll try shooting lefty.

ETA: I can't slingshot the slide on any gun (thumb and fingers grip), so I use the palm-on-top, thumb-toward-the-back method, keeping clear of the ejection port.

[Snidely Whiplash]

Fizzyone, my sister is petite (plus she's no spring chicken - if she sees this comment I'm dead!) and struggled with the same problem. Fortunately, her determination more than makes up for her lack of size and strength (growing up with three 'ever-so-sensitive' brothers :rolleyes: no doubt helped in the determination department). She does grip strengthening exercises, practices racking the slide frequently (she uses the 'overhand' method, too), and shoots regularly. At first, she thought she had made a mistake buying a gun with such a strong recoil spring, but now she's mastered it and LOVES her CM9. Stick with it - you can do it! I think you'll love your gun, too. :D

[Fizzyone]

Thanks, Snidely, sounds like your sister and I are cut from the same cloth in many ways, including the determination. :D I'm off to the range in a few minutes--even though it's still hard to rack the slide, I know that shooting it is the way to (a) loosen it up a bit and (b) give me the best chance to figure out what works best for me with my PM9 (and as far as I'm concerned, giving up on it is not an option!).

It's good to know I'm not the only one dealing with hand strength issues and that it's absolutely not unsurmountable.

[Snidely Whiplash]

"...and as far as I'm concerned, giving up on it is not an option!"

Now THAT sounds like my sister :) !!

Have FUN at the range!

[jocko]

mind over matter tells me she will succeed. It is so easy to give up... as it seems that is what JBrowncreative wants to do..:rolleyes:

[MW surveyor]

mind over matter tells me she will succeed. It is so easy to give up... as it seems that is what JBrowncreative wants to do..:rolleyes:

Whoa! u sure r sensitive today :rolleyes:

[Fizzyone]

Just got back from the range and I put a grand total of 202 rounds through my PM9, a combination of American Eagle (124 gr), Federal Champion, Federal Range & Target, Blazer Brass, and Herter's Brass. Aside from 2 nosedives in the 7-round mag (round 3 and round 4) within the first 50 rounds, this little gun ate everything I served it. I've already informed Hubby that I'd like him to fire up the Dremel and polish the feed ramp to address the nosedives, even though the last 150 rounds were flawless.

On a side note, my hubby insisted I call Kahr this morning before shooting the gun, to make sure there were no safety issues. I spoke with Ian on the phone and he was awesome, took the time to explain things--he confirmed that hand-cycling the slide doesn't have enough oomph like shooting live ammo has, most likely causing the striker to not retract after the trigger is pulled on an empty chamber. He reassured me that if I encountered any serious issues my first time to the range with the PM9, I could ship it to them and they'd fix the problem. It was nice to speak with someone who took me seriously (as all of you here have), and not condescend or give an attitude.

So I've passed the 200 round threshold with my PM9, with what I consider to be flying colors--it's already more reliable than my Kimber Pro Carry II. I loved the PM9 that I rented several weeks ago, and to my relief, the one I bought performed better than I expected, given the initial difficulties last night, so it's safe to say that I LOVE my new PM9. Now I just have to get back to my grip-strengthening exercises!

[crazymailman]

Glad to hear your range trip went well. As for the 7 round mag, there are several who have had issues with them. It seems that with the pressure from the shooter's pinkie, the mags will shift ever so slightly in the mag well and create the nosedives. If you can avoid putting said pressure when shooting, I believe you will be ok with that one.

[skiflydive]

Great report. Great news. Congratulations!

[Fizzyone]

Hey, Crazymailman, that thought crossed my mind just a few minutes ago. Given that the issue didn't continue and only happened with the 7 rd mag, I'm blaming operator error and not the gun. :o

[MW surveyor]

We take everything seriously here (sort of:rolleyes:).

Good to read that you had a successful range trip with the PM9. Lots of folk have problems with the 7 round mag in the PM9 so don't feel like the Lone Ranger on that one.

[jocko]

fizzyone, if ur nosedives were the result of the 7 round mag, then fear not, IMO send the mag backand get a flush fit 6 round maga. Ur gonna train the way ur gonna carryt and I donm't see u carrying the 7 round mag as ur promary mag. If that wast he case u couldhave bought a cw9 and had a flush fit 7 round mag. Some have no issues with the 7 round mags, some do, there are some "fixs" talkedabout here also, u might check to see if the follower is getting caught mayhbe coming up and sticking a tad by the mag release button. this is fixable and easy to checkout to. Proppeing thread discuss how to check and fix this. U got the best like pocket rocket money can buy,

ur striker pin thing is not an issue, as Iam was right to, It is the enertia of the slide that retrcts the striker. that is why ikahr shows in the manual "primer swipe" Striker pin cannot get away fast enough to eliminate primer swipe. very common on srtriker fired guns. Glocks are the same way.

If u dry fire practice, u might notice that merely a 1/4" of slide retraction resets the striker, so hand racking the entire way is not need to practice dry firing.

U did wellin shooting 200+ rounds in one session IMO. that is alot of rounds even out of a big semi,let alone a kahr. Nice to have another good woan shooter on the 4umn...Just sayin

[AIRret]

Outstanding!!
I had a little trouble with my 7 round mag (FTF) on my first trip to the range with my pm9 So I loaded the mag up and let it sit for a month and it's been fine since. But, maybe that was a coincidence and I developed better technique as I got used to the gun. All I know is that all my mags. are 100% reliable. I like the 7 round mag so well that 99% of the time it's the one I use as a spare when I carry (which is everyday).

[gm412]

Outstanding!!
I had a little trouble with my 7 round mag (FTF) on my first trip to the range with my pm9 So I loaded the mag up and let it sit for a month and it's been fine since. But, maybe that was a coincidence and I developed better technique as I got used to the gun. All I know is that all my mags. are 100% reliable. I like the 7 round mag so well that 99% of the time it's the one I use as a spare when I carry (which is everyday).

I think you posted this before and then I tried it. Seemed to fix my 7 round mag. That said I do not like the way it feels at all so I don't use it.

[GROTMAN]

Fizzyone...I had a little trouble with my 7 round mag at first as well but found it worked well with just 6 rounds in it so used it that way for awhile. After about 600 rounds or so I decided to try 7 again and it has worked perfectly since then. I don't know if things just got "loosened up" or the kinks just worked out but everything works fine now. Now have over 1200 rounds through my pm9 and loving it. Know you will too and happy shooting :53:

[Snidely Whiplash]

Sounds like a successful day at the range, Fizzyone. That's great!

[jocko]

I have read where some have put the 6 round mag springs in the 7y round mag and had great results. Certainlyt u can't hurt anything buy switching mag springs around to test that theory out.

[Fizzyone]

I guess my main focus today was getting some rounds through the gun to start breaking it in--didn't pay too much attention to my grip. I must have adjusted my grip after the first 50 rounds, because I didn't have any more problems with the 7 round mag. But now that I'm aware of what might be causing the nosediving, I'll make sure I'm careful not to grab the magazine extension with my pinky. Might as well develop the right habits from the start.

AIRret, I've got the 7 round mag loaded to capacity. I'll store it that way for a bit. If I have any more problems with it, I'll probably just stick with the 6-round mags. Jocko, you're right--I won't be carrying with that extended mag sticking out, so train the way you carry.

Hubby and I are taking a Combat Focus Shooting workshop in August, so my goal is to be able to run the PM9 in my sleep by then--fast target acquisition proper grip, reloads second nature, etc. So that means lots more trips to the range between now and then. :madgrin:

[jocko]

seems u have the desire to succeed and that IMO is #1. Ur gonna do fine.
If u wanna tune ur PM9 a tad, buy the 5# striker spring from wolffs, it is super, drops right in, not a hairy trigger as the trigger pull stays the same but sweetens on the trigger a tad. Ur trigge rnow is probalby aorund7# kand it will lihten up with rounds ouot of it to. U won't get light strikes with the 5# either . Nice set up.

gunsprings.com

a good place to buy extra kahr mag springs to as they are rated at 5% more strength, which is a nice thig and u will notice no difference in the loading of the mags either.

Their kahr PM9 recoils spring are not for ur new style so pass on that section...

I am pm-ing u

[Fizzyone]

Thanks for the info, Jocko, got some springs on order. I already love the smooth trigger pull (surprisingly, the longer DAO pull has been easy for me to adjust to... but maybe it's just the Kahr's DAO trigger...), and lightening it up a little will make it that much better.

[jouesdeveau]

Welcome to "KahrWorld", the world of small and tight.

The downside is a break in period as the springs gradually loosen a bit. The up side after the break in is what it's all about: superb reliability, amazing accuracy, and very manageable recoil in a small gun.

Welcome to "KahrWorld"!

[Seafood Guy]

Mine was really tight as well when I bought it brand new. After I put 200 rounds through it in one day, it loosened up.