K9 questions- Gun back, More ?'s

[Jason4x4]

HI, found the site while looking for info, Bought a K9 from a co-worker about a year ago, don't know nothing about it other then that.

Wife took it to the range and it shot once, then wouldn't shoot any more, I took it apart, and found a broken spring under the grip. I ordered a new spring from Kahr, but I am not sure if it installed correctly.

Here is a pic,

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z74/namttipj1/IMG_2734.jpg

ANd 1 more question, I also have a P40, and the slide is easier to pull back to load a bullet into the barrel on the P40 then on the K9, which is fine for me, but the K9 is for my wife, and she is having problems pulling the slide to load the K9, is there lighter springs that I can put in it to make it easier for her to load?

Thanks in advanced from the Newbie. :D

[JERRY]

use the IPL (illustrated parts list) and youtube....there should be plenty of help for a simple spring replacement.

[Jason4x4]

I've been searching Youtube, all I can find is slide disassembly, and the parts list doesn't show exactly how the spring goes,

[Jason4x4]

also, serial # is ac00xx

the serial # list doesn't go back to that #, so apparently it is older then 1995?

[Jason4x4]

took it shooting today, it worked fine, was weird after shooting my springfield xd, but a couple shots and it was fine.

Still don't know if the spring is in properly, but it works.

Also ordered the 18# spring from gunsprings.com, we will see if that helps my wife.

got home and cleaned it all up, it was definitely used, But I only paid $150 for it, so I can't complain.

[Jason4x4]

Just got an email back from Kahr, production date is April of 1995.

[ripley16]

That is as early as a K9 can get. I hesitated to answer because your trigger bar and frame are slightly different from mine. Newer K9s are even more different. I guess Kahr changed it early on in production. The spring is the same and in the same location... just attached to parts that don't correspond with my Kahr's parts.

For $150, who could complain? That's a deal and a half! The carbon steel Kahrs are a bit prone to rust. I'd suggest Eezox as a rust preventer. It may help.

The 18# spring is about as light as they come, so I hope it works for your wife. Enjoy the new gun.

[Bobby]

150. Agh never my luck!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Jason4x4]

That is as early as a K9 can get. I hesitated to answer because your trigger bar and frame are slightly different from mine. Newer K9s are even more different. I guess Kahr changed it early on in production. The spring is the same and in the same location... just attached to parts that don't correspond with my Kahr's parts.

For $150, who could complain? That's a deal and a half! The carbon steel Kahrs are a bit prone to rust. I'd suggest Eezox as a rust preventer. It may help.

The 18# spring is about as light as they come, so I hope it works for your wife. Enjoy the new gun.
You can kinda see the wear marks from the old spring, it appears to be on the same spot, I assume this is an updated spring, that also fits the newer Kahr's, because it looks like the spring in my P40, but the trigger bar is different in that one too.

[Bawanna]

It sure doesn't look right to me. That little hook in the back should always be in contact with the trigger bar.

I'll try to remember to pull the grip off my K40 tonight and see what it looks like. It could be as you say they sent a newer style spring.

The fact that it works is good but I still don't think it's right.

[wyntrout]

I got my K9 early 1998 and it's different, but for it's worth here are some pix with slide locked back and forward in battery.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Comparing yours and mine, I think that there must be a different spring for your older model... longer or shaped so that the upper curve fits in the slot that your new spring is in the very front of. This spring doesn't look correct and may not function reliably... and the friction or contact with the spring on that front of the slot could cause premature breaking at that point.

It seems like the correct spring would fit further back with the upper loop IN the slot, and the bottom loop should cup the trigger bar as my newer one does. I think that you should email Kahr with your picture and maybe mine for comparison and see if they have a correctly fitting spring.

Wynn:)

[Jason4x4]

I got my K9 early 1998 and it's different, but for it's worth here are some pix with slide locked back and forward in battery.

Wynn:)
That's what it looks like on my P40 too.

Here's what is left of the original.


http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z74/namttipj1/IMG_2739.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z74/namttipj1/IMG_2737.jpg

You can see the loop in the spring is bigger on the original.

[wyntrout]

Dang! Looking at your K9, it seems like the spring's upper loop will be forward of the slot and in danger of breaking or departing its position. Try locking the slide back and take a picture of that.

I just saw your pix of the old spring. You definitely have the wrong replacement. Contact Kahr and see if they still have the old springs.

Wynn:)

[Jason4x4]

just sent an email to Kahr.

[Bawanna]

PM inbound.

[jocko]

I got my K9 early 1998 and it's different, but for it's worth here are some pix with slide locked back and forward in battery.

Wynn:)

My K9 is exactly like that wyn, not as old as urs either. He must really have an early one..

[wyntrout]

When his slide is to the rear, that new spring could take off or be broken. It's obviously not for his pistol!

After comparing the pix again, I see that the trigger bar position is NOT going to change, but the precarious position of the spring resting against the forward edge of the slot will hasten its breaking at that point.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

I don't even see the trigger bar i reference to what ur photos shows even.

[Jason4x4]

just got an email back from Kahr


Good afternoon. Thank you for the question. Since the firearm is that old you would have to replace the trigger, trigger spring, trigger spring spacer, trigger bar, and the trigger bar spring (which you already have) in order to update it. I hope this information helps and I apologize for any inconvenience.

Can I do that myself? or do I need to send it in?

[Bawanna]

I would guess no. I wouldn't do it myself.

[jocko]

I would send it back, just in case kahr finds sumpin else that i not right. Not gonna be a cheap event for u as postage is gonna cost you probably bot ways to,plus parts and labor..

sad but it looks like ur good deal is slowlly headed south...Just sayin

[wyntrout]

Dang! That could get expensive... just the shipping. I wonder what they will charge you for all of that.

If I had to pay for ALL of that, I might just try "adjusting" the spring until the upper loop moves a bit more into the slot... and the bottom part cups and lifts the trigger bar correctly. That might break or weaken the spring if you weren't careful, but the springs are cheap... relatively... just buy a couple for spares. This can be done without disassembling the pistol, using needle-nosed pliers... protected ones, if you can put something on the jaws to stop major scoring and weakening. I'm adventurous and CHEAP, so YMMV!

Wynn:)

[ripley16]

Maybe you could scour some gun part sites for an old K9 spring. You might get lucky.

Or... if you send it in for the work, you may as well ask them to give you the "elite" trigger package in that case and get a nicer trigger out of the deal. It costs about $125.

If you're handy, have some gunsmithing experience or talent, you could probably do it yourself. I haven't, but it's said to be a frustrating experience changing the trigger. $$ Vs. frustration... your call.

[Jason4x4]

Good afternoon. Our cost is $65.00 for labor + the cost of parts + $25.00 for shipping. All parts can be ordered from the website but I can tell you it is a bit difficult to work on the trigger in our firearms.

seems it would be right about $125, I wonder if they are installing the elite trigger... hmm.

[jocko]

more than likely yes, and if u specify, indeed they will do it...

[Jason4x4]

well, just got back from fedex, it ain't cheap sending overnight from AZ to MA...

[wyntrout]

Well, I hope that isn't all that you're getting from Santa!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[Short Bus]

Well, I hope that isn't all that you're getting from Santa!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)
I would be overjoyed if I got a K9 from Santa

[Jason4x4]

any one have a good source for replacement magazines? the K9 was delivered to Kahr 2 hours ago.

[Tinman507]

Ivanhoe Warehouse (http://www.ivanhoeoutlet.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=43)
7 Rnd 9mm $27.50 ea in stock

[Jason4x4]

Ivanhoe Warehouse (http://www.ivanhoeoutlet.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=43)
7 Rnd 9mm $27.50 ea in stock
Thank you

I know it just got there today, but I am like a kid waiting for Christmas, I want the gun back all fixed up. :D

[Tinman507]

Don't blame you. If mine were to go down for any reason, I'd happily carry my CM9 but I'd still pine away for the K9.

[Jason4x4]

WOO!! got a call, they are gonna do the elite trigger, and a set of night sights while they have it, and a spare magazine, should have it back next week.

[Jason4x4]

Hopefully I have it back by the end of the week,

Next Question,

I have the 18# recoil spring here, it says to use it with "Reduced power ammo loads only"

What exactly would be considered "reduced Power"?

[Short Bus]

Hopefully I have it back by the end of the week,

Next Question,

I have the 18# recoil spring here, it says to use it with "Reduced power ammo loads only"

What exactly would be considered "reduced Power"?
I would guess non +P bulk ammo, but that's just a WAG

[Jason4x4]

Got it back today!

They put the trigger in, and Night sights, and also replaced the recoil spring, I just took it out to try the 18# spring for my wife, and the new one car put in is shorter then the new 18# and 20# I got from Wolff.

Top is new wolff, middle is new kahr, bottom is old kahr

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z74/namttipj1/IMG_2750_zps3f475e1a.jpg

Went ahead and put the new magazine spring I got in to the old Magazine, I think it was a little worn out.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z74/namttipj1/IMG_2744_zps6934a62a.jpg

[Jason4x4]

the 18# recoil spring also came with a firing pin spring, is that also a lighter spring? or is it the same as factory, just new?

[Bongo Boy]

The striker spring provided by Wolff is factory weight--it should say so somewhere either on the red and white slip of cardstock in the back, or in the product description found at the site where you bought it or at the Wolff site.


I have the 18# recoil spring here, it says to use it with "Reduced power ammo loads only"...What exactly would be considered "reduced Power"?

That's a great question, and one I'm confident can't be answered to the happiness of all. With some research and agony, you might be able to determine a fairly narrow range of loads for factory ammo--where muzzle energy is given for the ammo or, more likely, where you can calculate it using the bullet weight and muzzle velocity (if given). If all this magic works out in your favor, then you could say reduced loads are those loads having less than 90% of the muzzle energy of the average of your sample.

Now, that's all fairly unlikely to provide much for you, and if you don't handload then it's all moot anyway. I would say the closest you can come with factory ammo to 'light' loads might be Winchester white box and Federal Champion ammo--Wally World Ammo, as it's known.

[wyntrout]

The lengths will be different because the "used" springs have taken a "set"... remaining compressed a bit. That's normal and the springs are designed with that in mind. What's important is the number of coils, everything else... coil and wire diameter, temper, etc. being the same. I haven't really looked to see if the coil count is the same on the different weight recoil springs. I have a few sets and am putting lighter 5# striker springs in all of my Kahrs, but I did buy a set of recoil springs for my XD45 at the same time from Wolff to try different weights of recoil springs when I get around to it... just for the heck of it. They offer sets like that and include a regular striker spring with the Kahr sets. I have all kinds of springs from them... recoil, magazine, and striker.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

top and mddle redoil spring ae 19 coils bymy count, the bottom one is `18 coils. IMO anyt oneof those willbe fine in your kahr...

I really don';t think the 18# recoil spring willbe of an harm what so ever. Woplffs puts some of this lingo in teir sets to CYA. The gun will tellyou if recoil springs need changing,, normally. She is gonna shoot lighter loaded ammo than +P stuff anyways due tocost and due jto why shoot that high doll;ar stuff to pounch hole sin paper. Leave the 1`8# in for her. If she does good with it, then consider it a success.

thik about this: The kahr PM9 and PM40 take a factory recoil spring of 18#. Now I can assure u that 40 cal is a hell of alot more ump than that 9 will ever be, so IMO if the PM40 comes standard with the 18# spring, ur certainly doing nuttin wrong with an 18# in a K series.. Just sayin

[Jason4x4]

yea, I emailed wolff, and they told me the frinig pin spring was factory, and to replace it after 2500 rounds.

Went and shot it today, and what a night and day difference between the triggers.I had my wife shoot it after she shot her new ruger LC9(which she doesn't like the trigger pull length) and she said she liked the K9 now, but too late, I am keeping it. :D

[jocko]

I have never replaced my striker spring in over 32K rounds and Ihave thewolffs 5# striker in it even. I rthink their statewment is a CXYA statement. Certainly not needed to do that, but also , what ever floats ur board. I have not read of any on this foru changing the striker spring with so little rounds through it..

[Bongo Boy]

I'm in agreement with Jocko on this one, that's for sure. I don't believe that spring should ever need replacement, but I'd say closer to every 50,000 rds to provide a feel-good experience, not because you'd really be doing anything.

I personally think the recoil spring replacement habits of a lot of shooters are a bit excessive, too--but that's at least an area where you can conceivably feel the change over time (I sure can't). Folks get excited because used springs are shorter than new ones...well, yup, they do experience inelastic deformation. But, in the case of recoil spring replacement, you're not using tools to do it and it's quick and easy. Frequent striker spring replacement using improvised methods is, to my mind, likely to cause premature wear on that little plastic spring guide thingie, risk loss of the striker block spring, and just generally cause more putzing around than it's remotely worth. Just my view.

I believe most engineers designing systems are going to design with spring shortening in mind because that permanent deformation happens very early on in the lifecycle of the spring. It isn't something that generally continues to happen for the lifetime of the spring, to my knowledge.

[jocko]

hwh bongo boy, just lookin the mirror, that is also permanent deformation. BY DESIGN.

I like it phrases being used today to depict a young woman. they are now called Smooth skinned women. WTF

[Bongo Boy]

hwh bongo boy, just lookin the mirror, that is also permanent deformation. BY DESIGN.

Yeah, well that's a case where I'd like to be able to just swap out every few thousand miles, Jocko. :)