I read this you should too!

[david8613]

im not sure if this was posted already on this sight but i thought i would share. I found this interesting read on another site...

http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/defensive-carry-guns/142231-kahr-pm9-recoil-springs-probably-also-applies-cm9.html

[jocko]

as u know by now the kahr PM9 has two different lengths of recoil sprngs depending pon what slide version u have. If you have the older version what I call the blunt nose version it takes a 13 coil outter spring. If you have the new version with a tapered from end nose of the slide it takes a 15 coil outter sprngs. U can't put the 15 coil in the blunt nose version. I just won't work. The 15 coil version sometimes is very hard to even get in the new style slides but that is where it belongs, so it will go and then once u shoot 50 rounds the spring takes its designed set and everything seems to smooth out alot better.

I totally disagee with the 1000 or even 1500 round change thing but again this is me. one should change when he desires to do it. sometimes the gun itself if u over due it will let you know. I get easily 2000+ rounds out of my springs and I just change the outter spring and never the entire assembly, which is very expensive and IMO not needed. the outter spring takes the brunt. ( I have the old style slide, blunt nose)
Sad thing is that if u have the new version tapered front nose peace, u have little chosie but to buy the entire recoil assembly from kahr as that isthe only way they sell it and ur talking $25 plus postage. But if u have the blunt nose older style slide, then u can order directly from wolffs guns springs just the outter recoil springs (13 coil) which is much cheaper in price. Kahrs recoil springs are some of the stoutest in the industry, they can take alot of rounds and I mean alot.

[david8613]

thank you jocko very informative...

[JimC]

From Kahr Arms on 8/05/2011:

Good afternoon. Thank you for the question. If the firearm is used as
a carry weapon, we would recommend changing the recoil spring every
1200-1500 rounds or every couple of years (whichever comes first) as
preventative maintenance. If this firearm is just used for range use, we
would recommend changing it whenever you start to see failure to feed or
return to battery issues. I hope this information helps.
sincerely,
Jay
Kahr Customer Service

My PM9 is not a range gun, it's my EDC gun when it works 100%.
I replaced my first recoil assembly after 1036 rds because it is my EDC and the cost of a new recoil assembly is insignificant when it comes to 100% operation on my pistol.
Unfortunately, the new unit only lasted for 389 rds, before failing after the first three rounds fired!
The (two) replacement asemblies that Kahr sent me are both the older 13 coil version and the one in the pistol right now seems to work just fine after 171 rds.
I can pull the slide completely to the read and lock it into place without the dragging or stacking as with the 15 coil spring.
Maybe the older recoil assembly works just fine in the newer PM9 slide?

[PYROhafe]

Well crap! I'm right around the 1500 mark.... guess I should go ahead n order a new one. Thanks for bringin this to my attention!

[JimC]

Well crap! I'm right around the 1500 mark.... guess I should go ahead n order a new one. Thanks for bringin this to my attention!

It obviously comes down to a personal choice.
For me it's a no brainer, the unit is inexpensive and it affords peace of mind in my EDC.

[HDoc]

Is there a secondary source for springs? Or perhaps a recoil spring(s) from another sub-compact that works better?

[CrabbyAzz]

Well I have around 1000 rds thru my CM9 and it's finally feeling perfect. I have no plans to change the spring before 2500+ rds.

[ostater]

Hey all, new member here. I just ordered a new recoil spring for my blunt nosed 2002 p9 based on this thread. I have maybe 1000 rounds thru it. I too have trouble slingshotting the first round with about a 50/50 success rate. Hopefully the new spring will work, will repost with results when I get the replacement.


I don't remember if I had trouble with this 10 yrs ago. The wife and I shot it a couple of times and then the pistol didn't see daylight til recently. It's a great shooter and it feels good to bring it out again.


On loading, the manual says: " Pull the slide fully to the rear and allow it to spring forward into the locked position. Do not impede the forward travel of the slide or attempt to ease the slide forward. The full spring tension of the recoil spring is required to assure proper feeding of the round from the magazine. " It does not say to load the first round using the slide stop.


Kahrs website Q and A offers: " If you would prefer not to carry a round in the chamber, you may remove a round from the magazine. This alters the angle of the bullet and will allow it to chamber even if you ride the slide. ". Maybe an option for those who don't carry condition 1?

[jocko]

kahrs are made to be carried loaded. IMO if u think in a SHTF situation tha tyour gonna properly rack that slide perfect, then ur dreamin. Not to be harsh for oly u know what u want to do but if ur not gonna carry with onein the pipe. I would recommend leavintg it home. Just sayin

It won't be easier to slingshot it with a new recopil spring IMO, probably gonna be harder even until it takes its designed set. U just need to work at it more. Kahrs havea very stout recoil spring. 99% here master it very fast but if u can't all the more reason to carry the gun LOADED.

By the way that blunt nose kahr is IMO the best of the best, don't get rid of that baby..

[gobe]

By the way that blunt nose kahr is IMO the best of the best, don't get rid of that baby..

Senior Member Jocko ... I have a PM9 that is several years old that had to go back to the factory early on for feeding problems. Love the gun, but have never developed the confidence in it to carry it as a 'primary' CCW. Wish I did. Have several hundred rounds through it and it seems to have settled down. Bought the all-black w/night sights and added a Crimson Trace laser .... really was comitted to using it for CCW. Carry Condition 1 (old 1911 'Cocked 'n Locked' shooter).

My question is: how do I know whether I have the old style (Blunt front) or new sytle (tapered?). Can you ID by serial number changeover? I can't see any 'taper' on their website pictures. Didn't know there was a difference, but now that I've read this thread, I don't know what I have ... old or new. Would like to know for proper spring changes.

[jocko]

look at ur slide is the front end tapered or kinda blunt nose like glocks slides. Kahr shows both styles on their webb site yet,

geton the kahr site kand pull up the PM9 photos, all of those are of the blunt noxe version, now hit on the cm9 ste and look at that slide. all theymake in that model and in todays PM9 models is what that slide looks like. It is a tad longer and beveled in front.

If u have the blunt noxe vbersion u can go to wolffs gunsprings and just order the outter recoil springs for your PM9 as that is the exact model theymake that outter spring for. that is allu really need.

If you have the beveled version u gotta order the complete recoil assembly from kahr, as wolffs as of now does not make that outter spring yet.

New style slide beveled will take the kahr 15 coil recoil assembly, the blunt nose version takes the 13 coil recoil assembly.

[MO_Soldier]

Lock your slide to the rear.
Flip it over.
Look on the slide, right behind the striker block.

Of there is a dimple, you have the new style. If it is smooth, you have the old style.

[jocko]

not true. that just depicts what kind of dovetail the slide has., not the bevel or blunt nose version. my old style pM9 has the dimple but it takes the new style dovetail. Kahr some years back changed their dovetails and I would imagine to be more in line with the after market makers as most are all now standardized..

[MO_Soldier]

Oh thank you Jocko. I forgot that!

[ostater]

Yes I agree with you jocko on one in the pipe but I realize this is a huge debate and not everyone sees it the same. Just thought it was interesting that when your mag is not full racking the slide is much smoother, almost as smooth as a g26, due to the 'altered angle of the bullet' per kahr.

I spent a few min practicing with a full mag and got it to work everytime. Pulled the slide back till it hit the stop then released. If that slide aint hittin the stop it won't work.

[jocko]

Oh thank you Jocko. I forgot that!

be an age thing u know, I seem to not remember what I did yesterday: Just sayin.

[jocko]

a gun and the shooter must mate up correctly to be a good working team. the gun canonly do what u allow it to do. Kahrs are npot easy th=o hand rack but once a person gets use dto his kahr it becomes second nature. Kahr recoil spriungs are in the 18# + range where asw my G19 is 13#. Mnd over matter, and yes size does matter.

The thing that makes the slide release lever work so nice is trhat it is releasing the slide everyt time with the same velocity and at the same length to produce propper feeding. Once a person learns to hand rack, he is doing the same thing as the slide lock lever only now it is all automatic. One should definitely practice both ways and get good both ways. Just sayin. I can say without a doubt my tuffest gun tohand rack EVER is my P380.

[gobe]

Thanks a bunch, Jocko! I definitley have the old style (blunt) PM9. I guess that's good (according to your post: "By the way that blunt nose kahr is IMO the best of the best, don't get rid of that baby.. ") Didn't know there were two styles of the PM9. Thanks again, guys.

BTW: How old do you have to be to 'graduate' to a Senior Member? I'm 74. And, the 'tripmeter' has me stuck at 2 posts. Sure got more than that!

'gobe'

[Bawanna]

Thanks a bunch, Jocko! I definitley have the old style (blunt) PM9. I guess that's good (according to your post: "By the way that blunt nose kahr is IMO the best of the best, don't get rid of that baby.. ") Didn't know there were two styles of the PM9. Thanks again, guys.

BTW: How old do you have to be to 'graduate' to a Senior Member? I'm 74. And, the 'tripmeter' has me stuck at 2 posts. Sure got more than that!

'gobe'

Serious? How many you think you got. I'll have the boss take a look and see if your trip meter is stuck?

100 post makes you senior, 12,000 is a sure sign your and addict or have no life, I'm not sure which.

[jocko]

IMO if ur 74 u should be seior with 2 posts, no doubt about it. U are sure older than I am by about 6 years. U get my vote senior!!

basically what senior statesgains u, is less friends on this forum. Ask Bawanna!!!:israel:

[gobe]

Funny, guys. I'll be 75 in September, but I was a pilot and kayaker, so I'm not a real old 74. "Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is optional."

Been doing a lot of 1911, .45ACP shooting lately (I reload), but a friend of mine reloads 9mm (which I don't) with FMJ's and talked me into buying 1K to add on to his order. I really want to shoot the PM9 more and see if it's really settled down and reliable, cuz I really want to carry it. My always-carry is a S&W 442 in .38 Spl+P. It goes 'bang' every time! Never had a gun that I couldn't trust until I got the PM9 (darn)! It's the only 9mm I've got.

BTW Bawanne ... I've got two posts on the last page and both are listed as 2 posts (?). Really don't know how many I have and was just kiddin' around. It's no big deal.

'gobe'

[gobe]

BTW ... I was telling my shootin' buddy, who carries a PM40, about the two style PM9's and he asked, "Did they do that with the .40?" Told him that I'd ask (?) He's the guy that convinced me to buy the Kahr, but the .40 is an odd-ball caliber for me, so I got the 9.

'gobe'

[jocko]

PM40 the same way, blunt nose and now beveled slide and .020 longer. stick with the 9, it is more fun to shoot IMO. Just sayin.

I wold bet ur buddy would cry "uncle" before u would with his PM40 and your PM9:israel:

[kahrfun00]

kahrs are made to be carried loaded. IMO if u think in a SHTF situation tha tyour gonna properly rack that slide perfect, then ur dreamin. Not to be harsh for oly u know what u want to do but if ur not gonna carry with onein the pipe. I would recommend leavintg it home. Just sayin



I would concur.

[gobe]

I wold bet ur buddy would cry "uncle" before u would with his PM40 and your PM9:israel:

I'll bet you're right, although I've shot his .40 and it's really not that bad considering its size. But, I'm not very recoil sensitive. He shoots IDPA with a 1911 type 9mm. Don't think he'd want to do it with the PM40.

'gobe'