Brand new CW45 issues

[newkahrsmell]

Hello everyone
I have a new CW45 that has exhibited about an 80% failure to fully feed round two of a loaded magazine. No issues loading and firing one round from the magazine but the second round usualy fails to fully load and return the slide to battery. A palm tap to the back of the slide corrects the issue "sometimes" but more often extra effort is needed to rack the slide to unload the unfired round.

Does this sound normal?
Is it too early to expect proper operation?

Also, the machined area in the front inside of the slide between the barrell and the guide rod has overlapping areas and the metal is paper thin, razor sharp and breaking out. I have tried to link photos of the slide area (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0187.jpg)1, slide area2 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0186.jpg), slide area3 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0185.jpg). I am wondering if anyone thinks this is normal.
By the way, this is the first box of 50 rounds fired
Thanks

[Deano]

That's not normal. If I were you I'd contact kahr about getting a new slide. Did you buy this new?

[TucsonMTB]

Looks like a missed machining step in the slide manufacture. There is ordinarily a semi-circular relief cut in that area.

Send a picture to Kahr customer service and perhaps follow up with a phone call.

Email: service@kahr.com Phone: (508)795-3919

Edited to add: Oh, and if this is a new gun, they will probably volunteer to send a prepaid shipping label. If not, ask for one. ;)

[jocko]

Hello everyone
I have a new CW45 that has exhibited about an 80% failure to fully feed round two of a loaded magazine. No issues loading and firing one round from the magazine but the second round usualy fails to fully load and return the slide to battery. A palm tap to the back of the slide corrects the issue "sometimes" but more often extra effort is needed to rack the slide to unload the unfired round.

Does this sound normal?
Is it too early to expect proper operation?

Also, the machined area in the front inside of the slide between the barrell and the guide rod has overlapping areas and the metal is paper thin, razor sharp and breaking out. I have tried to link photos of the slide area (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0187.jpg)1, slide area2 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0186.jpg), slide area3 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0185.jpg). I am wondering if anyone thinks this is normal.
By the way, this is the first box of 50 rounds fired
Thanks

after round 2 feed and do Ok witht he rest of themagazine???

If so u have what i think is a mag problem and more than likely a follower that is grabbing the magazine release button which is at round 2/3 in every magazine. It is easy to check out. but I think also kahr missed a final maching operation on the front of the slide thing. There is some photos over on the kahr tech section showing your slide and what it should look like. Look under cw45 fixes. I think it could be there. If u can take photos, I would send them to kahr to the attn of Jay and state ur concern. I wouldnot think that is causing the feed thing issue though: a call and conversation with jay should get some answers. Again photos speak a 1000 words for the kahr CS to see also.

Under the kahr tech section, look at the propper prepping thread, it discusses how to check for that 2/3 round possability with the magazine. a 5 minute simple check and aqlso a 5 minute fix if u so desire. If that was the problem with the feed thing, I would say fix it in house and be dfone with it but the slide maching operation might be something kahr wold want to get back and redue . again photos do wonders..

PS reviewed ur photos. they are excellent, send them email to kahr attn Jay, if the gun is new which it isn, then they should pay to take it back on their dime, not yours.

[gb6491]

Hello everyone
I have a new CW45 that has exhibited about an 80% failure to fully feed round two of a loaded magazine. No issues loading and firing one round from the magazine but the second round usualy fails to fully load and return the slide to battery. A palm tap to the back of the slide corrects the issue "sometimes" but more often extra effort is needed to rack the slide to unload the unfired round.

Does this sound normal?
Is it too early to expect proper operation?

Also, the machined area in the front inside of the slide between the barrell and the guide rod has overlapping areas and the metal is paper thin, razor sharp and breaking out. I have tried to link photos of the slide area (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0187.jpg)1, slide area2 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0186.jpg), slide area3 (http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u435/blr_63/IMG_0185.jpg). I am wondering if anyone thinks this is normal.
By the way, this is the first box of 50 rounds fired
Thanks
Welcome to the forums:)

In regards to your feed issue, let's start with easy to fix things:
Try different ammo.
Check that your magazine spring is installed properly: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9193
Clean the extractor parts to include the tunnel in the slide.

In regards to the front of your slide:
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1612&page=2

Regards,
Greg

[newkahrsmell]

Thanks
Yes. NIB

[newkahrsmell]

Thanks for al the responses folks. I appreciate it.
Deano
Yes. Purchased NIB
Jocko
After round two consistantly would not go into battery, I never tried to load three rounds in the magazine
gb6491
Thanks, I will take a look at those forums

Everyone
I emailed the pictures to Kahr. They called me as requested. Told me the slide was "normal" and that appeared to be metal from the finishing processs that would wear off as the gun broke in. He was having a difficult time explaining overlap in the machined recesses and I think we were not describing the machining on the same plane, as in horizontal, vertical, etc. So, I asked them to send me pictures of a proper slide so I would understand his explanation and the guy totally shut down, said they dont have cameras and could not/would not take photos. In the mean time, I examined another NIB Kahr slide (PM9) and I see the semicircular cutout as TusconMTB mentioned. In comparison, that certainly is a lot of slag to wear away during breakin.
Personally, I think the guy is totally wrong but that may be their policy
So, I am awaiting their prepaid label so the gunsmith can take a look and send it back in 4 to 6 weeks.

[CJB]

Newkahrsmell...

If you own a Dremel or similar, you can clean that up. Take a look on the forum here... as was stated, its supposed to have a half-moon relief cut, which is not critical, just some extra clearance for the barrel. Looks like things may be tappin on that area? The little crack doesn't concern me, as it will be removed when the relief cut is made.

Second round issue. Unlike the venerable 1911 (why do we call it venerable? I dunno...), which like rounds on the shorter side, the Kahr seems to like them on the max end of length, so long as they feed into the magazine. However, also make sure you have that little bevel at the bottom of the slide on the underside of the breech face. That bevel is there to facilitate rounds rising up, mostly on magazine first insertion, but afterwards you get some help too. If that cut is not there... oh, I guess a trip to Kahr, as its a double whammy on that particular slide. I mean, me, I'd just correct it myself, but that might be beyond your means, and you might just wanna avail yourself of their services. Make sure magazine(s) spring(s) are in the right way around too. Proper clean and lube of new Kahr is a good thing... you'd be surprised at what gunk comes outta them striker channels when new. And... use some quality ammo, not range reloads, or sub-bargain basement stuff. The WWB ammo is underpowered. Similarly, the Remington cheapies and Federal cheapies aren't much better. First two hundred, go for a box of full power stuff. Expensive, but will hasten the break in. Its not so much metal-to-metal break in, and wear pattern establishment, but more recoil spring break in. Those puppies are very tight, and only cycling them at firing speed gets them where they stabilize within the correct range of tension for proper operation. If the pistols came with weaker springs, those springs would devo into weakling girly springs, and the pistol would need new springs constantly in order to function. So... thats why we're into that all-important 200 round break in.

[jocko]

If it was mine, I would follow CJB direction but again I am kind of handy with tools and dremels etc, but if kahr is gonna pay to ship it back and u are alittle reluctant to do the mod, indceed let them have it to do it right. It might not hurt a damnthing the way it is but we all know it is not the way kahr wants that slide to leave the factory either. It is not finished right that is for sure, whether it effectds reliability is another thing.

Let um fix it for u right, and they will, document everything tha tyou wkant them to look at to. if there is no bevel on the interface bar (bottom peace on the slide that picks up the next round) then let them know it is not there, or they might just look right past it. Document all ur concerns, and then ask them if they will to call u before sending it back to let you know what thery did do and what they did not do.

[CJB]

Interface bar? Jocko, have you been hitting the books again? Thats a fifty dollar term ya smart ol' galoot!

[jocko]

well some where years ago, someone smarter than I,,, that I felt knew what he was talking about used that term to describe that bar. It has stuck with ever since. I am not sure what the fokkt hey really call it. some call it the pickup bar, which is OK actually if one thinks about it INTERFACE BAR makes zero sense, but I am sticking to that term.

[CJB]

Interface bar, pickup bar, a pair or .45's... there's gotta be a one liner in there someplace.:D

[newkahrsmell]

Thanks Jocko and CJB.

I decided to give it one more try

I polished the feed ramp and cleaned up the magazine follower where it was hanging up in the magazine catch cutout (per the sticky :) ) and put 50 rounds / 230 gr ball *factory loads* through the firearm.
Test parameters
Rounds in magazine - test iterations (fancy wurd) - failures
1 3 0
2 3 0
3 3 0
4 3 0
5 4 0
I had at least three instances of the trigger not resetting until I removed my finger from the trigger. These were near the end of the box. This could be shooter error or fouling. It was almost a delayed reset, ie, remove finger from trigger, count to one and hear/feel the reset. Odd ?? But, overall a huge improvement as far as feeding and firing.

BTW.. Jay did say the slag would flake out of the semicircular cutout with additional breakin. It appears to be doing just that. I will post another pic soon, but will most likely send it back for proper finishing.

[newkahrsmell]

And thanks for all the great advice. I try to learn something new everyday and this has really helped me make quota.

[jocko]

Interface bar, pickup bar, a pair or .45's... there's gotta be a one liner in there someplace.:D

truth be know, "biker talk"