Slide stop spring - K40

[doctorv]

I have a K40 for about 10 years, and have never had any issues, period, with many hundreds of rounds (maybe a thousand, I don't shoot that much). Recently, I had a few instances of the slide locking back with some rounds still in the mag. I researched the issue and it seems it may be either me thumbing the slide release or some kind of technical problem. I spoke with the Kahr customer service and the first thing they suggested was to replace the slide stop spring - so I have it in mail already. While I wait for it to arrive and wonder how will I replace it, a question occurred to me - how could that spring affect the slide locking or not locking back? Isn't it purpose to keep the slide release lever in place? And the lever stays in place, nice and snugly (it takes some gentle "persuasion" to remove it during the disassembly). I am confused a bit, although I inclined to trust the customer service... :)

[TucsonMTB]

Edited to add: Disregard this message, except for the welcome of course. I did not know how different the K series is from the polymer framed models. Sorry!

http://i53.tinypic.com/4j4zsp.jpg

Look for the picture above in the thread at this link: http://kahrtalk.com//showthread.php?t=1612&page=2

It is part of Greg's description of the method for replacing the spring.

The rest of that thread may be of interest too.

Best of luck and welcome to the forum.

[Bawanna]

A K40 isn't like that. The spring is on the right side. Different set up completely. I cant see it going bad myself.

[gb6491]

I have a K40 for about 10 years, and have never had any issues, period, with many hundreds of rounds (maybe a thousand, I don't shoot that much). Recently, I had a few instances of the slide locking back with some rounds still in the mag. I researched the issue and it seems it may be either me thumbing the slide release or some kind of technical problem. I spoke with the Kahr customer service and the first thing they suggested was to replace the slide stop spring - so I have it in mail already. While I wait for it to arrive and wonder how will I replace it, a question occurred to me - how could that spring affect the slide locking or not locking back? Isn't it purpose to keep the slide release lever in place? And the lever stays in place, nice and snugly (it takes some gentle "persuasion" to remove it during the disassembly). I am confused a bit, although I inclined to trust the customer service... :)
The spring also functions to keep the stop lever down (away from the slide) until the lever is pushed up by the follower or user manipulation.
While this thread deals with another issue it contains some info in regards to replacing the spring and making sure it is in place properly: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15039
Regards,
Greg

BTW, welcome to the forums:)

[doctorv]

Thank you for the information!
Well, I will have to inspect the spring again to see if it is out of the groove, because it seems to be positioned just right, well aligned and does its job of keeping the lever in place. I also never had an issue of the slide not locking back after the last shot - which was the issue in the thread that gb6491 linked in his response.

I already am a bit reluctant about trying to replace the spring myself. I have a local smith so I guess we can handle it if need be.

I also think I will head to the range and try a few hundred rounds with a different way to grip the pistol. Who knows - it still can be me and not the gun. I just wonder how come it never happened before - years of use?

Thanks again for your welcome! :)

[doctorv]

Hi again
I have just inspected the spring and taken a close up. I hope you can see. It seems that the back end of it just rests against the slot. Should it be inside a groove? Is that normal as is?
I hope you can see.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/29/adypu4ys.jpg
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

[jocko]

it looks perfec to me, u stated it is hard to get the slide stop lever out. that in itself tellsmeit is in that litlte groove of the slide stop. My thought are the thumb is gettingin the way. That slide stop spring normally never gives anissue. We have seen a few that have actully broke but urs in not the case. I wold be reluctant to change that spring with the few instance u noted to.
Also it could also be the rounds hitting insde on the slide stop lever and pre engaging the side stop lever.this can happen with possable an out os spec round. Being this slide stop leve rhas been in thegun for a 1000 rounds, I doubt if the lever is oput of spec. I would error more to the possability of a few out of spec rounds doing this , or ur thumb. U slide stop lever IMO looks like it should and works like it should.

With the slide stop lever in thegun like ur photo shows, can u flip that liver up andit immediately returns down ward, or does it just sit there. that slide stop spring is always wanating to pull that lever downward. Only the magazine follower is what is supposed to push the lever upward..

That is an excellent photo to.. super job. U ust know GB6491

[Bawanna]

I'll have to look at mine to be sure but I agree with Jocko (much as it pains me) and your spring looks fine. Some slightly long rounds would do it, the thumb of course although you said you've shot a lot without issue, which points me back to the rounds.

I'd try another box and see what happens.

[doctorv]

Thanks for your insights!
To answer the jocko question - yes, once released, the lever goes back. I wouldn't say the spring yanks it downward, but the lever positively moves back down. You are also right - I said previously that I cannot push the lever out with my thumb, I do have to tap a few times with something plastic, like a screwdriver handle or a mag plate.

The issue was connected to 2 different mags and two very different types of ammo - a mild target semi-wads and much hotter HP rounds. I will be at the range tomorrow with both kinds of ammo, having fun shooting with one hand grip, left hand grip, etc :)... I will report later.

[jocko]

I'll have to look at mine to be sure but I agree with Jocko (much as it pains me) and your spring looks fine. Some slightly long rounds would do it, the thumb of course although you said you've shot a lot without issue, which points me back to the rounds.

I'd try another box and see what happens.

is good for pain, maybe try 3 of them at once when reading my stuff. It might do wonders. Just sayin. It never pains me to read ur informative information yadda yadda yadda.

Actually reading ur great info is like chemo to me. it just takes away the pain. Just sayin

[Bongo Boy]

The spring is in the correct position in your photo, and it would be darn near impossible for it not to be. It's a fairly husky spring and I don't see any options for getting it installed incorrectly (well--that was a stupid thing to say).

Man, that's a clean gun. :o

Anyway, it is fairly common with other guns (such as Sigs, for example) to depress the slide lock lever with the thumb while shooting--obviously, it's never an issue and never noticed until that one last shot. But I did it quite a bit and I know others have, too.

I would find it very surprising if weapon operation, in the context you're talking about, would be impacted in the least by the complete removal of that spring, let alone a weak one. Plus, I don't believe that spring should ever need to be replaced, ever.

You could always stick some black shoe polish on the serrated portion of the lever, then shoot a magazine or two (slingshot the slide) and then inspect the thumb. :)

[doctorv]

Hi!

Good news today.

I am sure your assessment was correct - there is nothing wrong with the spring. I have just fired 100 range FMJ and 9 mags (54 rounds) of hot JHP ones, paying attention to my thumb. Not a single hiccup... :) I am a much happier camper.

I guess I need to practice more :). 1000 rounds in 10 years... Oh well.

Thank you all for helping! I do try to keep my guns clean, I find gun cleaning to be very therapeutic...

[jocko]

good for u, . one has to remember that k40 when it goes bang is a awful explosion and everything happens faster than the eye can see. The gun wants to go some where in ur hand and that thumb is the closest thing to upsetting the cart to. It happens, but once u figure out what the issue is, u can work around it with ease.

Nice job of trouble shooting to. certainly ur excellent photos gave this forum members the ability to project their opinions to..

[Bongo Boy]

I have just fired 100 range FMJ and 9 mags (54 rounds) of hot JHP ones, paying attention to my thumb. Not a single hiccup... :)
I feel like I had to change quite a bit in order to comfortably shoot the K40. In fact I had a bleeding thumb (literally) after first starting to shoot it. So, no surprise you had to do a little tweak or so.

Happy shooting!