K9 slide to frame fit

[JR1138]

I just got a new K9 (my first Kahr) and there seems to be substantial side to side slide slop. I currently own six pistols and none move as much as this one, 4 don't move at all... rock solid, and one wiggles ever so slightly and it's 12 years old and cost half as much. I have read about how Kahrs are precision fit and "tight" and require a break-in for that reason, but the one I'm holding in my hand seems to run at odds with those statements.

I'm curious if this is normal or acceptable. Attached is a short video showing the wiggle. Does it need a return trip to Kahr?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTuGmlZXpHg&feature=youtu.be

[CJB]

No...

[jocko]

Its debateable IMO. but here is what I think I would do. send this email video to Jay or eion at Kahr, and run your question by them. What CJB or I think does not matter, it will ultimately be what kahr determines is accepatable.. My K9 does have some side slop after watching ur video. I have never noticed it, nor really paid any attention either, as the gun IMO shot great for me. and some kahrs are gonna be tighter than others. Just the nature of the way guns are made.

asking us can only complicate things IMO, for again the final decision is gonna be kahr, and if their answer doesn't appeal to you , based on what I our others here say, then ur not gonna be happy.

I think I would do the prep and lube thegun and just go out and shoot it to see also how the gun does to. It might just surprise you to.. Just sayin

My K9 does tighten up alot though with a full mag and round in the chamber.

My PM9 is as tight as tight can be, no side play what so ever and it has over 32K rounds through it. The rail system on the polmer guns is different.

[FLBri]

It won't hurt to email Kahr CS ... but I bet they say it is normal ... because it IS.

I have a PM9 that is tight as can be. I also have a T40 that is sloppier than yours. They are each just as accurate and reliable as 3 others in my possession.

I know what it's like to get a pistol and get surprised by something you find and wonder about it's affect. Please shoot it and likely you will forget the rest.

[jocko]

I think ur right FLBri. Why does it seem the polymers are tighter than the steelversion, I cannot explain, but I shootmy K9 far better thanmy tight as hell PM9, but love um both. I have hadmy K9 for about 4+ years and I guess I am not that picky/finicky. It went bang every time, it shot damn close to where I aimed..

[ripley16]

I for one have never considered Kahrs as being "tight". That said, I've never considered "tight" as a desirable attribute of a pistol. Tight leads to malfunctions in many cases.

"Tight" adds nothing to accuracy. Accuracy is solely a function of repeatable sight to barrel alignment, and the frame has little to do with this. How does the K9 shoot, is it reliable, is it accurate? These are questions to answer. Imho, how much wriggle is present isn't a game changer.

[JR1138]

Thanks guys! I will see what Jay or eion have to say. I suppose I reach either of them through the service@kahr.com address, right?

I had read lots of comments about how tight Kahrs are. I didn't realize that those statements are more applicable to the polymer guns. And you're right, the final arbiter will be how well it shoots. (It's actually a Christmas present for me, so I'm not supposed to be playing with it 'til then) :biggrin1:

I have a Ruger SP101 that, when brand new, seemed to have a rough trigger....not an uncommon trait that most folks said smooths out over time. Well mine turned out to not have a rough trigger at all but it did have late initial timing and you normally only find out-of-spec timing on worn out revolvers. After that experience I tend to be a little OCD about new guns.

FWIW, http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-action/49687-sp101-initial-timing-repair.html

[jocko]

Ripley 16 IMO is correct. ur concedrn has been noted, not IMO just lube it, clean it, do the prep thing and then shoot it like u stole it and more than likely u will soon forget abut ur ijitial post...

[JR1138]

I for one have never considered Kahrs as being "tight". That said, I've never considered "tight" as a desirable attribute of a pistol. Tight leads to malfunctions in many cases.

"Tight" adds nothing to accuracy. Accuracy is solely a function of repeatable sight to barrel alignment, and the frame has little to do with this. How does the K9 shoot, is it reliable, is it accurate? These are questions to answer. Imho, how much wriggle is present isn't a game changer.

True, but I have Crimson Trace grips on a revolver and was considering it for this pistol as well....and being mounted to the frame I wonder how much the accuracy would be affected. Not a game changer though, I suppose I will just avoid CT grips for the Kahr.

[RRP]

If one is accustomed to XDM, M&P and Glock, the sloppy fit of a Kahr slide may be a concern, initially. But that disappears after it's been shot a few times. At the short range these guns are made for, accuracy does not seem to suffer.

[FLBri]

True, but I have Crimson Trace grips on a revolver and was considering it for this pistol as well....and being mounted to the frame I wonder how much the accuracy would be affected. Not a game changer though, I suppose I will just avoid CT grips for the Kahr.

The laser won't be affected. The CT mounts fixed to the fame, and as Ripley16 said, the only issue that matters is how the barrel locks up ... and that is guided by your slide stop pin that is through the frame and the lug on the barrel. Even your top sights will be just as accurate because, though you may have some 'wiggle' in the slide, you will see that it always returns to the exact same spot at rest. In essence, the slide is just a mass of metal that goes back and forth to operate the mechanics of the other parts (very simplistic description, of course).

Believe me, I'm just as finicky about this stuff as you and those things tend to bother me. It took me a while to accept the way the Kahr's operate and their tolerances. But in truth, the most accurate gun ( Maybe It would be better to say ... I am the most accurate with it) I own is the T40 and that is the 'loosest'.

[muggsy]

Kahrs are like beautiful women. If you start looking too closely you start finding flaws.

[JR1138]

I corresponded with Jay, showed him the video, and he affirmed that everything is normal. :cool: :D

At this point I'm leaning toward some of those purty wood grips from the Kahr shop. I got a pair of Hogue Pau Ferro grips for a revolver once and they were awfully light-colored. I guess there's a wide variation. I would prefer rosewood or coco bolo but it looks like the Kahr shop is it for K9 wood grips.

[jocko]

before u buy any grips getout and put a couple hndred rounds down range. Makes sure the gun is runingright, Make sure u like the gun, then proceed. I know of no one who makes wood grips for kahrs other than kahr , so look no further. We have a master grip maker on this forum, but he has yet to come forward with any kahr grips 'YET". Just sayin.

[kerby9mm]

If you aren't satisfied with hiw your K9 shoots you could look up the posts by the member Apheod of something like that about his K9 slide to frame fit. There's even a u tube video on how it rattles.

[JR1138]

Unfortunately I won't be able to shoot the K9 'til after Christmas as this is a gift and thems the rules of the household. :hurt: :D

I'm new to Kahrs and my other pistols don't show this much lateral slide movement, if any, which was the genesis of my concern. But I'm content now that Kahr says it's normal. Now, if it shotgun patterns at 7 yards, that'll be a different story.