Micha2u
06-09-2012, 10:20 AM
I thought that I would recap my first year with my Kahr CM9. Sorry if this is a little wordy but I never related a first trip to the range since I was not aware of the Kahr Forum until somewhat after that took place.
I have several full-sized firearms but purchased my CM9 it in anticipation of the pending Wisconsin CCW law changes. I evaluated many compact and subcompact .38 and 9mm handguns and picked the Kahr for the way it felt in my hand and for its Glock-like simplicity. It is designed to go bang when you pull the trigger and there is no additional safety or magazine-disconnect to worry about.
I read the Kahr manual, cleaned it and took it to the range to start my 250 round break in with UMC 115 gr FMJ ammo. There were a couple of FTF problems but I had no big concerns until I took it apart to clean it. There were severe scratches on the inside of my slide.
Looking for possible answers to the scratches is what that led me find to the Kahr Forum. Based on threads I contacted Jay at Kahr customer service who sent me a shipping label to return my slide for inspection. It took 2-3 weeks but they sent me back a new replacement slide. I believe the problem was a machining burr that broke off inside, got caught between the slide and barrel and scratched the slide interior during cycling when firing. I asked but Jay said the gunsmith who looked at it had no thoughts on the cause of the problem.
Since I didn’t have a slide for a few weeks, I had time to work on getting my 6 round magazines to drop freely. My magazines were measured and they were already at the low end of what was recommended to squeeze to in order to get them to drop free. I opted to polish the inside of the polymer frame with small pieces of fine grit wet/dry sandpaper attached to the magazines with two-side sticky tape. I inserted the magazines a few times, removed the sandpaper and my magazines dropped free.
I tried rubber grips but kept going back to the factory grips and, for me, they are what I prefer. I added a Crimson Trace LG-437 LaserGuard that is a great fit on my CM9 and I like it a lot. The lack of an ON/OFF switch doesn’t bother me and it’s always ready when I grip the gun. I do not use the ON/OFF switch on a Crimson Trace laser that I have on my full sized 9mm and it is always in the ON position to be able to be ready immediately. No problems with battery life since they aren’t on unless I’m gripping the gun.
I’m not the world’s best shot but I can hit what I shoot at if I cover the target with the front sight. I have put close to 1,000 rounds through the gun and it is utterly reliable with my carry load of Winchester PDX-1 (+P) 124 gr. I can slingshot the slide to load and reload it and my mags fall free when reloading.
I have a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster I hope I never have to use my CM9 in a self-defense situation but the bottom line is I am confident that I am concealed carrying a totally reliable self-defense handgun that will be there if I need it. That’s what I wanted when I bought it.
I have several full-sized firearms but purchased my CM9 it in anticipation of the pending Wisconsin CCW law changes. I evaluated many compact and subcompact .38 and 9mm handguns and picked the Kahr for the way it felt in my hand and for its Glock-like simplicity. It is designed to go bang when you pull the trigger and there is no additional safety or magazine-disconnect to worry about.
I read the Kahr manual, cleaned it and took it to the range to start my 250 round break in with UMC 115 gr FMJ ammo. There were a couple of FTF problems but I had no big concerns until I took it apart to clean it. There were severe scratches on the inside of my slide.
Looking for possible answers to the scratches is what that led me find to the Kahr Forum. Based on threads I contacted Jay at Kahr customer service who sent me a shipping label to return my slide for inspection. It took 2-3 weeks but they sent me back a new replacement slide. I believe the problem was a machining burr that broke off inside, got caught between the slide and barrel and scratched the slide interior during cycling when firing. I asked but Jay said the gunsmith who looked at it had no thoughts on the cause of the problem.
Since I didn’t have a slide for a few weeks, I had time to work on getting my 6 round magazines to drop freely. My magazines were measured and they were already at the low end of what was recommended to squeeze to in order to get them to drop free. I opted to polish the inside of the polymer frame with small pieces of fine grit wet/dry sandpaper attached to the magazines with two-side sticky tape. I inserted the magazines a few times, removed the sandpaper and my magazines dropped free.
I tried rubber grips but kept going back to the factory grips and, for me, they are what I prefer. I added a Crimson Trace LG-437 LaserGuard that is a great fit on my CM9 and I like it a lot. The lack of an ON/OFF switch doesn’t bother me and it’s always ready when I grip the gun. I do not use the ON/OFF switch on a Crimson Trace laser that I have on my full sized 9mm and it is always in the ON position to be able to be ready immediately. No problems with battery life since they aren’t on unless I’m gripping the gun.
I’m not the world’s best shot but I can hit what I shoot at if I cover the target with the front sight. I have put close to 1,000 rounds through the gun and it is utterly reliable with my carry load of Winchester PDX-1 (+P) 124 gr. I can slingshot the slide to load and reload it and my mags fall free when reloading.
I have a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster I hope I never have to use my CM9 in a self-defense situation but the bottom line is I am confident that I am concealed carrying a totally reliable self-defense handgun that will be there if I need it. That’s what I wanted when I bought it.