P9 flush mag plate?

[cangler]

Do they have any other base plates for the mags that are more flush than the stock? im not sure I like the base plate sticking out so much. Just wondering...

[ripley16]

There's the two piece metal base plate, available for the MK9, that will fit the magazine. However, it is not totally flush, still has a small gap, but is smaller than the polymer base plate. Order from the Kahr site, parts for a MK9.

[wyntrout]

I don't like the "flush-fitting" polymer bases and put metal ones on my P40 6-round mags for carry. I used the MK40/MK9/PM9 metal bases and lock plates on the carry mags for maximum concealability.There is a space left and it did pinch me so I added a plumbing O-ring to stop the pinches.:eek:

I tried a 1/8" diameter with Inner Diameter of 15/16" and it was too fat and too loose on the magazine tube. a 3/32" thick O-ring with and inner diameter of 3/4" is just right. if the O-ring is TOO FAT, there's too much downward pressure on the magazine catch and that's a PROBLEM!

When you order the base plates, buy the KIT which includes both pieces and save a few bucks. Kahr Parts search for "PM9 magazine metal base kit"

http://www.kahr.com/searchResults.aspx

O-ring/magazine pictures here on post#106:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8426&highlight=O-ring&page=11

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/P40%20firing%20165%20Grain%20Blazers/FatO-ringsmiddlebrokenfollower_2117.jpg

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/P40%20firing%20165%20Grain%20Blazers/O-rings_2119.jpg

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/Every%20Day%20Carry%2009202012/IMG_3259_zpsdea06ce1.jpg

Wynn:)

[LorenzoB]

Kahr metal base plate
There has been much discussion on this topic in the past, so below is a good place to start...

Greg posted a nice photo of his CW9 with a metal baseplate
http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=176974

wyntrout came up with a nice o-ring idea to keep the metal baseplate from pinching you (this is a problem for some depending on the gap and pinky location while shooting). See post #13 here...
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8436

Tilos cut down a plastic extended mag baseplate and it looks really nice. See post #6 here...
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14540

Later in that same thread is a photo and some discussion of my CNC machined aluminum base plate. I have been pretty busy and still trying to get "fit" figured out on different guns other than my CW9 before I start selling them.

[LorenzoB]

LOL! Sorry for some "duplicate" info there. wyntrout posted while I was still typing (slowly on my phone).

Anyway, here is mine...
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/24/amu2e2a2.jpg

[wyntrout]

I had to edit mine to show that the thickness of the O-ring was 3/32"... just right.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I've concluded one thing about all of the "malfunctions" experienced by nearly everyone here at one time or another... that the polymer magazine base is part of the reason. There's a lot of slop at the top of the magazine well and how you grip that polymer follower changes the location and pressure of the top of the magazine against components at the top. Pushing the base to the left too much can cause the top round to hit the feed ramp far enough to the right to just stick there and too much pressure to the right direction on the base... and a bit to the rear, can cause early slide lock... before empty.

Hanging onto the the grip and the base with a death grip can cause unintended results with the polymer bases. I think that's why there is less of a problem with the flush-fitting metal bases.

JMHO and YMMV.

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

LOL! Sorry for some "duplicate" info there. wyntrout posted while I was still typing (slowly on my phone).

Anyway, here is mine...
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/24/amu2e2a2.jpg

Lorenzo designed and fabricated these himself. He is going to make some for a lot of us who want them! :)

[cangler]

LOL! Sorry for some "duplicate" info there. wyntrout posted while I was still typing (slowly on my phone).

Anyway, here is mine...
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/24/amu2e2a2.jpg

This is clean looking, how did you do that? :D

[LorenzoB]

Thanks. I designed it, then machined it on a CNC milling machine out of solid aluminum. My goal was to make it match up to the bottom of the grip better so that it wouldn't look like an afterthought. I am a mechanical engineer, and I like to spend money and pull out my hair on "hobby" projects like this! ;) It was a lot of work, but I am hoping to sell them once I figure out the right fit for different guns. It started out as a pet project for me, but custom tooling cost was higher than expected, so I am hoping to turn it into some business and see how they sell.

I hope to post a video of the machine soon.

[MikeyKahr]

Nice job LB, let me know when you start selling them. Or if you need a beta tester. :D

[CJB]

The more flush fitting... the greater the risk of problem as far as seating goes. There has to be a little gap.

Maybe Kahr over does it. Dunno, but the gap is there on purpose, to allow an ample amount of movement to seat that mag.

[LorenzoB]

CJB, I agree, there should be a gap to ensure proper seating. I have some regular mags for my CW9 with a large gap, and some extended mags that I have to slam home just to get them to seat. So Kahr sometimes goes both ways on that. Through testing of many prototypes of my baseplate, I found the gap that I prefer that is small, but still allows easy engagement every time. The trick is how many different baseplates will I need to make to accommodate the different gaps. I am in the middle of figuring out some ranges so I can break them into 2 or 3 groups. And then coming up with a simple way for people to identify which group their gap fits into. That way they will get the best fitting baseplate for their gun.

I believe wyntrout may be right about some malfunctions caused by slop. My magazines moved a lot before I fitted my baseplate. Now they stay put. I didn't have malfunctions before, but I can see how that might contribute to them. I don't know, but that could be why Kahr changed the design of the bottom of the extended mags... so they would seat more against the bottom of the grip. Just speculation.

Also, I think part of the reason the gap variations and the large gaps exist come down to using the same magazines on many different gun models and many revisions of those models over the years, and not wanting to open the can of worms by revising the magazines along the way. So I don't think it is all about design and function, I think it has a lot to do with manufacturing, cost, logistics, etc.

[CJB]

mental note... develop the uni-gap base plate this morning... sell the concept to Kahr by 11:30 sharp...

~~~~~~~~

Yah I know. Kahr is build for a purposeful world. Not really beauty queens are they. The base plate gap used to irk me... now I care less. Sorta like those teeth on the girlfriend that make her look a little Hee-Haw... ya gotta consider the whole package

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWnRqdO9ApiI5gC8sBAqqOgGkoj8kd6 sUVnDUrsxdmctBxBSQWuw

[LorenzoB]

Lol!

[wyntrout]

How about a simple metal base kit for the Kahr .45 magazines... kind of like the ones for the other Kahrs. I don't like the polymer bases, even though the one on the PM45 makes the grip just right for me. Then... maybe a metal follower that allows and extra round capacity. The Kahr follower and its narrow front to back spring doesn't work well with other followers and takes up the space for another round. Just a thought.

:yo:

Wynn:)

[LorenzoB]

Thanks Wynn, I thought about making a follower. Maybe I'll get there. For now I'll stick with finishing this baseplate project then expanding it to the 45's etc, then make other parts....

Other than my guide rods ;)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/26/yzevata7.jpg

Dang, I still gotta test these!! There is just not enough time.

[wyntrout]

Tell me about it! Wifey and I went to the beaches yesterday... only nice day for a while. Had fun, but it was my normal wash day. Doing that now and umpteen other projects. It really helps that Wifey is around all the time now... laid off back in July.:rolleyes:

Oh,and still have multiple computer problems... main machine didn't want to even boot just now.:(

You sure do great work! It really helps when you know what you're doing... AND have the correct tools!

:yo:

Wynn:)

[LorenzoB]

Thanks, but who said I know what I'm doing? LOL!