Cold weather issue

[M4Mike]

I live in northern Pennsylvania and I have recently purchased a new cw9. I have put about 300 rounds through it with no issues until it got cold out. When it gets cold out the gun will not fire or you have to jerk on the trigger. I took the slide off and cooled it down. The pistol worked just fine but when I cooled off the lower it will not fire. I did this multiple times with the same result. Any thoughts?

[TucsonMTB]

Looks like you have a couple of options.

1. Sell the gun to someone from the South.

2. Call or email Kahr requesting warranty service and a prepaid shipping label.

Email: service@kahr.com Phone: (508)795-3919

I'm sure someone will offer some other suggestions, like a heat gun and thousand foot extension cord, but they may not be practical. ;)

[jocko]

it ain't the weather. u have something wrong with the gun. I would go with Tucson MTB and at least give kahr a call and run it by them and if they need to have it back then insist they pay to send it back.

document what the issues are if it goes back, so they have a place to start looking.

I am assuming u have taken the slide completely down and cleaned and checked out the striker channel. Dry is good in the channel. less lube the better..

[Bawanna]

How cool are we talking here M4? Freezing?

My thinking is a carry gun should never get that cold, and if deployed even in sub arctic temps it would run and keep running plenty long enough till your out of bullets for a long time.

If its left in your glove box unoccupied it could get cold enough for any lube or grease to freeze up and literally gum up the works.

When it's cold as Jocko so eloquently stated little or no lube is best.

[garyb]

Too cold? No such thing as too cold. Northern deer hunters including those from the great State of PA have never heard of such an issue with firearms. I understand this is not your hunting weapon, but I can't imagine any of the hundreds of thousands of guns out here in the northern cold having mechanical problems because of cold. Deer hunting and the gun industry would be a total wreck and make our new/old President really smile. Really?...too cold?

Mike, I'd get dig a bit more for the real problem, as Jocko suggests. Sir, with all due respect, something is going on but it tain't the cold. Could be the lube, could be the prep, could be alot of other things...but not the cold.

[M4Mike]

Here is the response I got from Kahr about the cold weather. I wouldn’t consider 35 degrees “extreme cold”. Good afternoon. This can at times be an issue with the polymer frame contracting in theextreme cold. As this is designed to be a concealed carry firearm we wouldnormally expect some form of on body or very close to body carry the bodytemperature would avoid this contraction and thus any such issues. Have a good day from Kahr.

[kerby9mm]

After reading the Kahr reply I now have another reason why I'm glad I own 2 Steel Kahrs'.

[hardluk1]

I am a dumby that will shoot year round despite the cold and have shot my kahrs when in the high teens with no problems also so used the same lubes at 5 to 10* below zero with no problems. I don't use old school lubes , only synthetics. I still can't see even some 40 year old rem oil causeing problems even at 20*. Got be a mechanical problem.

[LorenzoB]

Never take the manufacturers first response to be the final word.

[M4Mike]

I responded to there e-mail and this was there response.......
Good morning. Our firearms are polymer only and as such are more sensitive to temperature. As this is designed to be a concealed carry firearm and small enough for on body carry the idea is that the firearm would be kept warm by the body carrying it. This would generally mean the firearm would be in a relatively constant temp well above 35. Have a good day from Kahr.

[jocko]

Here is the response I got from Kahr about the cold weather. I wouldn’t consider 35 degrees “extreme cold”. Good afternoon. This can at times be an issue with the polymer frame contracting in theextreme cold. As this is designed to be a concealed carry firearm we wouldnormally expect some form of on body or very close to body carry the bodytemperature would avoid this contraction and thus any such issues. Have a good day from Kahr.

that comment came from the janitor at kahr. as that is pure bull sh!t. Glock would be out of business if this was even the slightest bit true. If u wana bury ur kahr in the snow for a week. to prove a point, then IMO, u need some special attention, NOT THE GUN. It seems we always try to puch the envelope on everything. I have no doubt that proper lubricants play a big part in anything working.

I can remember years back that My harley just used 20-50 normaql oil as that was all there was. In the dead of a good winter, that bike would hardly turn over due tothe lubricant being so so thick. i now run the modern synthetics in my Harley and althought it doesn't crank over like 80- degree days, it does crank over and with modern fuel injuection ALSO STARTS.
Put thick grease on ur gun in the winter and don't expect it to get thinner, it willget thicker. I would blame the lubricants before I would blame any gun. Just sayin.

[BucketBack]

I left my G-Lock in a bucket of snow last year to check it's reliabilty.

I left my CW9 out in the cold for 2 days at 32 degrees max, probably lower temps.

Both the G-Lock and Kahr shot fine and yes I'm special anyway.

Really just bored with way too much idle time on my hands.

We do have some snow now, maybe I could fill a bucket up with snow and put the Kahr .........:eek:

[mr surveyor]

I would consider flushing out the firing pin/striker channel real good with break cleaner or other pressurized non-lubing gun solvent.... and NOT adding lube to that area. I can imagine light strikes from cold induced gummed up striker.

just a thought

surv

[M4Mike]

I have sent Kahr another request for a repair order number.

[kuchman]

I agree with most of the others; the gun is the issue. I shot my CW9 in 20 degree weather the other day with no issues. It was on the tailgate of the pickup for 20 minutes before I got my targets up. Shot 50 rounds with no hiccup. I assume you already tried firing the gun dry or with a good synthetic lube.
Sounds like you got a real idiot on the phone to give you "the fix".
Keep trying!!!!
Good Luck..:33::phone:

[BucketBack]

I shot my CW9 after it's been in the cold van for 2 days. It's was 20 out today with a 12 degree wind chill. I only fired 2 mags because of the wind. No problems besides my cold face and hands.;)

[Tank]

I live in Wisconsin and my winter shooting is outside below 32 deg. Was just out last week. My T40 and P380 both run well in the cold, as do all my guns. My guess would be oil (or grease) that is not up to the cold. I won't buy that it is the firearm.

I know mine are good to around 10 deg. (I would bet lower) and below that crime almost comes to a standstill in my parts as it's too cold for the criminals. Could be differnt in Alaska or places like that though.

[M4Mike]

Thank you all for responding to my issue. Kahr has yet to send me a repair order number. Sending them another e-mail.

[Tank]

Be sure to let us know what they find or say about this. I would think most people that live in cooler climates would like to know.

[leftysixty]

Forget the e-mail! Maybe it don't get looked at by anyone that cares!

I have had good results with Kahr and other companies by calling customer service! If you call you will know that the problem is at least being considered. You also can be refered to someone that has useful knowledge.

Give it a try:D

[BucketBack]

Be sure to let us know what they find or say about this. I would think most people that live in cooler climates would like to know.
I'll be shooting my CW9 in a couple hours, it was stashed for the weekend in a car safe, in a van that wasn't moved, since we drove a different van down to DeToilet.
It's 21 degrees here in Newaygo this morning.

I assume it will run just like my Glock does under the same conditions.:biggrin1:

[M4Mike]

Kahr finally sent me a repair order number. Will keep you updated.

[19Delta]

Kahr finally sent me a repair order number. Will keep you updated.

Any updates?

Myself and a friend went to the outdoor range yesterday. It was a balmy 21 degrees F here in northern IN. We shot AR's for a while, then after about 20 min switched to the handgun range. I was shooting (more breaking in) my Kahr CM9, and just practicing with my carry Kahr p380. He was shooting his CW40. Mine fired flawless (both), and had the same trigger pull as usual.

His would not shoot. At all. Pulled mag and round out, pulled trigger REALLY hard and it would click (with what seemed like a 1/4 second delay). He decided lets not be dumb and shoot a broken gun.

We get home, unload, start cleaning AR's, pull his kahr to figure it out, rack slide, trigger pull is back like normal. We were confused. Took it apart sprayed a ton of Brake parts cleaner (non chlorinated) in the little glory hole to make sure channel was good and clean. Cleaned rest of gun, relubed with his rem oil like always. Worked great. Threw it in the freezer just for giggles. Ate Dinner, pulled his gun. Had to pull trigger ALL the way back, when it was as far back as it could go, if you squeezed with a bit more force (guessing 15+lbs) it would "fire/click" (no bullets, we inside house). HMMMM. Let it warm up for 10 min or so. Right back to normal. Now we feel like we are onto it. Put both his .40 and my cm9 back in freezer. 30min later, my cm9 is great, like always, it clicks off just before to rear of pull. His? yep, no click unless you pull ALL the way to rear, then squeeze pretty hard. After it warmed up, works perfect again.

He bought his used at a local gunshop. Will kahr fix his? Anyone else find a fix to this? What is the fix? New lower?

Cold and curious.

[richholland]

Any updates?

Myself and a friend went to the outdoor range yesterday. It was a balmy 21 degrees F here in northern IN. We shot AR's for a while, then after about 20 min switched to the handgun range. I was shooting (more breaking in) my Kahr CM9, and just practicing with my carry Kahr p380. He was shooting his CW40. Mine fired flawless (both), and had the same trigger pull as usual.

His would not shoot. At all. Pulled mag and round out, pulled trigger REALLY hard and it would click (with what seemed like a 1/4 second delay). He decided lets not be dumb and shoot a broken gun.

We get home, unload, start cleaning AR's, pull his kahr to figure it out, rack slide, trigger pull is back like normal. We were confused. Took it apart sprayed a ton of Brake parts cleaner (non chlorinated) in the little glory hole to make sure channel was good and clean. Cleaned rest of gun, relubed with his rem oil like always. Worked great. Threw it in the freezer just for giggles. Ate Dinner, pulled his gun. Had to pull trigger ALL the way back, when it was as far back as it could go, if you squeezed with a bit more force (guessing 15+lbs) it would "fire/click" (no bullets, we inside house). HMMMM. Let it warm up for 10 min or so. Right back to normal. Now we feel like we are onto it. Put both his .40 and my cm9 back in freezer. 30min later, my cm9 is great, like always, it clicks off just before to rear of pull. His? yep, no click unless you pull ALL the way to rear, then squeeze pretty hard. After it warmed up, works perfect again.

He bought his used at a local gunshop. Will kahr fix his? Anyone else find a fix to this? What is the fix? New lower?

Cold and curious.

I have exactly the same issue with my P9. I purchased it new in box.

I tried the freezer trick as a test also, and it went just as you described.

[jocko]

sure sounds to me like a lube issue. My advice, keep it out of the freezer.that scenario ain't gonna happen.

take that remingotn oil and put it in the freezer and then later pullit ouot and see how thick it comes out. Might just surprise u... but befor ethat put some of that oil in a teasspoon andjust sit it aside and see which one flows after the freezer thing...

I use dto shwo that to people with Usig Mobil One and then regular oil, put um both in a freezer in a jar and then tomorrow see which one still pours and which one is damn near solid...

[richholland]

sure sounds to me like a lube issue. My advice, keep it out of the freezer.that scenario ain't gonna happen.

take that remingotn oil and put it in the freezer and then later pullit ouot and see how thick it comes out. Might just surprise u... but befor ethat put some of that oil in a teasspoon andjust sit it aside and see which one flows after the freezer thing...

I use dto shwo that to people with Usig Mobil One and then regular oil, put um both in a freezer in a jar and then tomorrow see which one still pours and which one is damn near solid...

It isn't a lube issue with mine.

I took it apart and cleaned and dried it - including the striker channel.

Results are consistent - if the gun gets below about 37 degrees, striker does not fall on trigger pull.

[jocko]

I would email kahr and tell them exactly what you have found and put it to the attention of Jay... doesn't sound right to me either...

[mr surveyor]

tell me that you guys are NOT putting oil in the striker channel

[19Delta]

tell me that you guys are NOT putting oil in the striker channel

Clean as a whistle hear!

[richholland]

tell me that you guys are NOT putting oil in the striker channel

Of course not. Clean and dry.

[richholland]

I called Kahr this morning and got a RMA #. They said that they will be sending me a pre-paid shipping label.

See the thread I started about this in the tech forums here: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=220692#post220692

[WolfAK]

Jumping in late here but a couple weeks ago I was out at the range with my P9 and the warmest it got was around -16 degrees Fahrenheit. We were out in that cold from about 9am until 3pm with a few breaks to warm up. I shot a couple hundred rounds through my P9 without a single failure. I was very impressed. The P9 handled the cold better than me!

[newCW45guy]

I never checked cold weather function until today.

This morning I installed the 5lb striker spring. Everything worked trigger a tad lighter with the spring.

Tonight after the gun sat in the car all day. 26F on the drive home.

Got back inside unloaded gun and tried the trigger... Just to feel that now lighter trigger. Oops something is wrong. Trigger travelled full travel without firing. As gun warmed the trigger travel to fire started to get iffy at full travel and got shorter and shorter (within minutes) until it was back to normal.

This is definately something about the polymer frame contracting/expanding. Changing the striker spring wouldn't affect any geometry of the action.

Something worth considering if one stores their gun in a car in cold weather and expects it to go bang.