ilmbaba
06-10-2012, 06:16 PM
I took my CW45 out for its first run. I will admit that I was a little nervous because of some of the reports I have heard, some of the stories I've read on here, and also because my CM40 went back to Kahr after the first visit to the range (for a broken mag follower).
I ran 108 rounds through it (I'll explain the odd number in a minute).
I had 50 rounds of American Eagle (Federal) 230 gr FMJ RN rated for 890 FPS out of the muzzle. I also had a box of Federal Champion 230gr FMJ RN rated for 830 FPS out of the muzzle.
I had one FTF on the 3rd bullet to chamber, and that was the only problem I had for the Factory rounds. For that one FTF, I just pulled the slide back, let her go, and it fed and fired fine.
The gun was flawless. The recoil wasn't bad, and it was pretty darned accurate. My first 18 rounds shot a little left and below center, but I had the same issue with my CM40, and I think it's just me getting used to the 5 Mile trigger pull. When I started really concentrating, I put a good amount of them right where I was aiming. I bought a Hogue Handall Jr, as I had seen some people did that, and it still left some of the barbed wire grip exposed. It bothered me at first, but later on, no problem and no lasting marks. I may try the next size up, or maybe even the bicycle innertube, and put this grip on my CM40 (if I can get it off).
The only real issue I had was not the gun's fault. As I've read on here more than once, the Kahr is pretty tight. I had 11 of my 230 gr LRN reloads. Some fired perfectly, some didn't quite go into battery (a small push with my thumb took care of that), and three would not let the gun go fully into battery. I'm thinking that the problem was in the crimp, or possibly the OAL.
I was having a small issue with my reloader (it's a Lee), where the Factory Crimp Die would actually trim down the lead bullet a touch (because they're a tad bit bigger than a FMJ bullet), so I started just using the bullet seater to crimp. That would leave the cases about .002 wider, and I think it's making the difference. Either way, the reloads that were within tolerance did fine, and were accurate as well.
I know a few people have had issues with their CW45s, but I didn't. I also didn't have any real issues with my CM40. It just broke the mag follower.
I have to say that I think doing some of the pre-shooting prep steps makes the difference. I didn't do all of it, but in both cases, I took them apart, cleaned them out good, followed the lube chart, reassembled them, and racked the slide a few hundred times. I did not shoot the brake cleaner in the firing pin channel (although I did buy the cleaner to do it). Maybe a new Kahr needs the prep, maybe not. All I know is I did it, and I had no mechanical issues that weren't part of the normal break-in. I am convinced that this gun will just get sweeter and sweeter as time goes on (and I get better at reloading).
If Kahr would just do something about the cheese grater grips, I'd be even happier.
If you are thinking about picking up a CW45, go for it. You can buy with confidence!
I ran 108 rounds through it (I'll explain the odd number in a minute).
I had 50 rounds of American Eagle (Federal) 230 gr FMJ RN rated for 890 FPS out of the muzzle. I also had a box of Federal Champion 230gr FMJ RN rated for 830 FPS out of the muzzle.
I had one FTF on the 3rd bullet to chamber, and that was the only problem I had for the Factory rounds. For that one FTF, I just pulled the slide back, let her go, and it fed and fired fine.
The gun was flawless. The recoil wasn't bad, and it was pretty darned accurate. My first 18 rounds shot a little left and below center, but I had the same issue with my CM40, and I think it's just me getting used to the 5 Mile trigger pull. When I started really concentrating, I put a good amount of them right where I was aiming. I bought a Hogue Handall Jr, as I had seen some people did that, and it still left some of the barbed wire grip exposed. It bothered me at first, but later on, no problem and no lasting marks. I may try the next size up, or maybe even the bicycle innertube, and put this grip on my CM40 (if I can get it off).
The only real issue I had was not the gun's fault. As I've read on here more than once, the Kahr is pretty tight. I had 11 of my 230 gr LRN reloads. Some fired perfectly, some didn't quite go into battery (a small push with my thumb took care of that), and three would not let the gun go fully into battery. I'm thinking that the problem was in the crimp, or possibly the OAL.
I was having a small issue with my reloader (it's a Lee), where the Factory Crimp Die would actually trim down the lead bullet a touch (because they're a tad bit bigger than a FMJ bullet), so I started just using the bullet seater to crimp. That would leave the cases about .002 wider, and I think it's making the difference. Either way, the reloads that were within tolerance did fine, and were accurate as well.
I know a few people have had issues with their CW45s, but I didn't. I also didn't have any real issues with my CM40. It just broke the mag follower.
I have to say that I think doing some of the pre-shooting prep steps makes the difference. I didn't do all of it, but in both cases, I took them apart, cleaned them out good, followed the lube chart, reassembled them, and racked the slide a few hundred times. I did not shoot the brake cleaner in the firing pin channel (although I did buy the cleaner to do it). Maybe a new Kahr needs the prep, maybe not. All I know is I did it, and I had no mechanical issues that weren't part of the normal break-in. I am convinced that this gun will just get sweeter and sweeter as time goes on (and I get better at reloading).
If Kahr would just do something about the cheese grater grips, I'd be even happier.
If you are thinking about picking up a CW45, go for it. You can buy with confidence!