Is it just my imagination or....

[O'Dell]

am I hearing of more problems from new Kahr owners lately? Most have heard me say that I have or have had seven Kahrs and have yet to have a problem. It's true, but five of those seven were built four or more years ago, and I never checked the build dates for the other two. I have been recommending Kahr to anyone who would listen for quite a while, but am I wrong to do so? One of my best friends bought a PM9 last fall and he has had some problems. As usual, I checked it off to improper prep and new shooter errors, but maybe it wasn't. Kahr has obviously ramped up production and increased sales lately - has quality been a casualty? I would hate to see Kahr go the way of the company with the initials of Taurus. They seem to think that if you throw enough mud enough will stick and the rest can be swept under the rug. [My personal best for mixing metaphors]

What do you think, guys? Am I worrying about nothing?

[Barth]

I'd like to think there is a huge influx of non gun savy folks getting handguns for the first time.
No handgun experience and a light pocket micro equals trouble right away.
Lot's of these folks may not even put 200 rounds through a gun in a year?!?
Mix in Kahr's usual need for a break in period to get reliable.
With a need for pretty good lubrication to function properly.
And now the numbers of new folks with issues rise drastically.

I think it may well be the quality of owners,
not the quality of the guns, that's falling.

[Alfonse]

I think the CM9 and CM40 are bringing the volumes of Kahr shooters way up. The traffic levels on this sight would probably confirm that.

[PYROhafe]

+1 to Barth
Weve seen several on here that never even bothered to open the owners manual or give the gun a proper break in.... so im sure many many more are doing just that.

[Popeye]

Like many products when quantity goes up quality usually goes down. I'm not saying this is case here but it does at least bring up the question. Like Barth. What I really believe is that many gun owners and I'm not just talking Kahr owners simply make the minimum of effort to fully understand there pistols before they shoot them. Then they wonder why they get less than perfect results.

[JimC]

I think Barth has hit the nail squarely on the Kahr head!

One can see from the questions posed here that many owners are totally inexperienced in firearm handling and use. They have to run to the Internet at the first sign of a problem when many times the problem lies with the owner/shooter and or the ammunition that they choose to use.

[jocko]

I'd like to think there is a huge influx of non gun savy folks getting handguns for the first time.
No handgun experience and a light pocket micro equals trouble right away.
Lot's of these folks may not even put 200 rounds through a gun in a year?!?
Mix in Kahr's usual need for a break in period to get reliable.
With a need for pretty good lubrication to function properly.
And now the numbers of new folks with issues rise drastically.

I think it may well be the quality of owners,
not the quality of the guns, that's falling.

how on target u are with that comment. but try to tell thatto some of the owners.. We have gun people here to that do some weird sh!t to their guns . I always felt that the propper prepping thread was neverintended for SAVVY gun owners but for the newbie and the illinformed. Hell look at the NYPD K9'sthat we are seeing on this forum bought used. Can u believe such sh!t was carreind by an officer that is supposed to save ur life with that gun and how abused they have been to it.

[JimC]

There's another way of looking at this and the truly devote Kahr owners here aren't going to agree or like this but, new S&W Shield owners are having far fewer problems with their pistols than new CM9 or PM9 owners.
That includes both 9mm and .40 cal.

Maybe it is a Kahr Arms QC thing after all. :confused:

[gb6491]

There's another way of looking at this and the truly devote Kahr owners here aren't going to agree or like this but, new S&W Shield owners are having far fewer problems with their pistols than new CM9 or PM9 owners.
That includes both 9mm and .40 cal.

Maybe it is a Kahr Arms QC thing after all. :confused:
S&W does seem to have a winner in the Shield. Then again, it is also a larger pistol than the CM/PM9. IMO, the smaller sized pistol is going to be less tolerant of operator error; when moving up to the larger sized (more comparable to the Shield) CW/P series guns we see far fewer problems.
Regards,
Greg

[jocko]

DID THEY EVER SOLVE WITH THE SHILED THE PART ABOUT THE SLIDE GETTING OUT OF BATTERY EASY AND THEREFORE A DEAD TRIGGER. i SEEN A VIDEO ON IT AWHILE BACK

[JimC]

DID THEY EVER SOLVE WITH THE SHILED THE PART ABOUT THE SLIDE GETTING OUT OF BATTERY EASY AND THEREFORE A DEAD TRIGGER. i SEEN A VIDEO ON IT AWHILE BACK

WOW!!! NO NEED TO SHOUT!!!

I haven't seen much about that recently so I guess it's a non-issue at this point.

People buy them and shoot them and shoot them and report 0 problems.

I kind of gave up trying to find one locally and after I gave the thumb safety a second thought, I don't have a whole lot of interest in the Shield right now.

Now, that's not to say if I walk into a LGS or Pawn & Gun and find one sitting in the case, that I won't take a closer look at it. ;)

Recent Shield Reviews (http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/256225-you-happy-your-shield.html)

[itsthelaw]

The Shield isn't pushing the limits of engineering like Kahr, so you will have fewer problems. Kahr started the race and continues to lead the race. S&W backed off draft and make money. Smart? Yes, but I will take the leader.

[jocko]

sorry about that no shout intended, . Maybe some people are also unaware of the little picky issue..

[jlottmc]

Maybe a column A and a column B type thing going on. I know there are lots of new folks coming into the fold, including women, and I am happy to welcome them all. There is a ton of demand right now and it's not just Kahr. I know that there are companies Freedom Group cough cough that have let QC go down the crapper, but it seems that the rest of the big guys Kahr included are not going down as quickly. There does seem to a disturbing uptick in those kinds of reports. Barth you have a good theory going there.

[OldLincoln]

I've noticed a new influx of new gun owners. That's a smart move especially with the uncertainty of things with the UN gun grab and general uncertainty at present. I was a re-newed gun owner when I got my PM9 and would have been lost without you guys, so I hope we will be as kind with them as you were with me.

[ReFracture]

If the overall percentage of pistols that have issues remains the same, yet sales go up, you will hear about more problems.

Lets face it, most people who are happy about their gun are not going to go on a forum or post videos on youtube about it. It's people who have issues that generally do (like me! :D).

[jocko]

ur so right, they are out enjoying their guns. and m,ost don't evenknow about kahr talk, but when one hasissues he then surffs the net and bingo "here we are ". ready to hear all ones complaints etc.

[yqtszhj]

I'm with O'dell a bit due to higher production volume, and agree with Barth, Jocko improper Prep, and Greg on tolerance.

I still recommend Kahr 9mm's to everyone with a bit more breakin the smaller they go in size (CM9). I like my CW45 too.