CW9 Barrel Question?

[powwowell]

My CW9 is not as accurate as I would like it to be. While doing a "plunk test", with the bullet about to fall out of the casing, the bullet never touched the rifling. I bought the pistol used, so it's possible the barrel has been "BUBBA'ed". The ramp and inside the chamber have been polished to a mirror shine. The cases are seating on their mouth, as they should.

My question is . . . do Kahr barrels have an unusually deep throat? Does anyone have an extra CW9 barrel that they would like sell? If so, could I try it out first?

[gb6491]

My CW9 is not as accurate as I would like it to be....
My question is . . . do Kahr barrels have an unusually deep throat? ..
I'd say "no". We actually see some of the opposite, especially with the .45s
Likewise, accuracy issues, at last mechanical ones, are quite rare. In what regards are you not satisfied with the accuracy of your CW9?
Regards,
Greg

[MW surveyor]

Have you bench shot the CW9?

What was the OAL and the diameter of the bullet of the round with the "bullet about to fall out of the casing".

[powwowell]

Have you bench shot the CW9?

What was the OAL and the diameter of the bullet of the round with the "bullet about to fall out of the casing".

I have not bench shot the CW9.

The bullet was a 124 grain plated RN, from Berry's. The diameter is .354. I generally choose 1.150 for a COL. Except for HPs. But, I wanted to see what the maximum COL, I could use for the CW9. When checking for the maximum COL, I discovered that the bullet was not touching the rifling. A bit surprised I was. I'll check it again tonight.

[dhgeyer]

For a gun that size, with that short of a sight radius, and with that long of a trigger pull, I have been quite pleasantly surprised at how accurately my CW9 can shoot. I have not checked chamber dimensions.

[Charlie98]

For a gun that size, with that short of a sight radius, and with that long of a trigger pull, I have been quite pleasantly surprised at how accurately my CW9 can shoot. I have not checked chamber dimensions.

...my CW9 as well. It's been a while since I've had my CW9 apart, but I don't recall much of a leade or throat taper or anything out of the ordinary.

[MW surveyor]

The bullet was a 124 grain plated RN, from Berry's. The diameter is .354.

The .354 diameter is your problem! A 9 mm FMJ should be at .355 and if you are shooting lead it should be .356. The .354 is undersized for a 9 mm. You will not get the accuracy that you want with the lesser diameter bullet.

[gb6491]

The .354 diameter is your problem! A 9 mm FMJ should be at .355 and if you are shooting lead it should be .356. The .354 is undersized for a 9 mm. You will not get the accuracy that you want with the lesser diameter bullet.
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/worthy.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)Well said MW surveyor

[CW9 Shooter]

My CW9 is not as accurate as I would like it to be. While doing a "plunk test", with the bullet about to fall out of the casing, the bullet never touched the rifling. I bought the pistol used, so it's possible the barrel has been "BUBBA'ed". The ramp and inside the chamber have been polished to a mirror shine. The cases are seating on their mouth, as they should.

My question is . . . do Kahr barrels have an unusually deep throat? Does anyone have an extra CW9 barrel that they would like sell? If so, could I try it out first?

Found the same thing with my CW9...very deep throat. With a 115 Berry RN touching the lands, the OAL of the round would be 1.353, which is nearly .05 longer than the total length of the case AND bullet just touching each other! (.750 + .556 = 1.306)
Haven't tried shooting my CW yet, but this makes me wonder!

[MW surveyor]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/worthy.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)Well said MW surveyor

OK, where'd you get that smilie?

[MW surveyor]

never mind

[CW9 Shooter]

Found the same thing with my CW9...very deep throat. With a 115 Berry RN touching the lands, the OAL of the round would be 1.353, which is nearly .05 longer than the total length of the case AND bullet just touching each other! (.750 + .556 = 1.306)
Haven't tried shooting my CW yet, but this makes me wonder!

UPDATE: Found the OAL using Berry 115 RN bullets must be less than 1.170 to function in the magazine. 1.175 hangs up. I shot a few at 1.165 and they were decently accurate (for me) considering this was the 1st time out with my CW9. Those Berrys are jumping .188 to the lands!
BTW - the CW9 impressed me with it's lack of recoil! Very easy to shoot! :)

[powwowell]

Thanks for posting your CW9 findings, CW9 Shooter.

After reading claims of amazing accuracy of CW9 and P9 pistols, I expected to take the X ring, out at seven yards. It is probably me, but it ain't happening. My CW9 is no more accurate with Federal 115 FMJs, than any other short barreled 9mm that I've owned. For self defense, it would do it's job at seven yards. It is good to go. I'm happy with it.

In an effort to wring out tighter groups, I commenced to put together some reloaded ammo for the CW9. I'm not the most accomplished reloader in the country, but my mess does go boom. As with any pistol that I reload for, I like to have some numbers, before I get started. The OAL is most important in 9mm, because it's a high pressure round. I was trying to identify the longest OAL I could load for. That's when I discovered the deep throat.

I have read many, many times that 9mm bullets (FMJs, JHPs) should be .355 diameter. Cast should read .356. I have nine hundred, ninety-five Precision Data, 115 grain FMJs. Two hundred and forty unknown manufactured, 115 grain, FMJs and seventy-four Berry 124 grain, plated RN. I have not measured every one of them, but the ones that I have, my caliper says they are .354 diameter.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to say I'm satisfied with the accuracy of my CW9, with factory ammunition. If I reload for it, I'll use my standard 9mm OAL of 1.150. I do not want to purchase another barrel, nor borrow one.

[MW surveyor]

Well it is possible that your calipers are off by 0.001 :)

Due to the design of the hard cast lead bullet that I use, I have to load at 1.150 and have not had any problems with feeding and firing. Accuracy usually depends on how I feel that day (some days are better than others). LOL

[powwowell]

I have egg on my face. Only the 124 grain plated bullets measure .354. The others measure .355.

I did bench rest my shots today. Accuracy was much better, with Walmart Federal 115 grain FMJs. It looks like I need more trigger time.

[muggsy]

A long trigger pull and short sight radius makes accuracy a bit more challenging, but you should be able to master the gun. At 21 feet I can keep all of my shots within a three inch circle. That's accurate enough for a defensive concealed carry pistol.

[powwowell]

The problem was with me. At an indoor range yesterday (Tuesday), off of a rest, the pistol was amazingly accurate at 10 yards. A friend who was there, is now in the market for a CW9.

As far as reloads go, the longest length that will function through the magazine, is the limit. Don't worry about the chamber, or throat. If a Berry, 124 grain HP doesn't touch the rifling and prevent chambering, ain't nothing else going to.