CW9 - First Round Chambering - Safe to Carry 7+1?

[codegeek]

Greetings all! New Kahr CW9 owner here. I picked her up second hand with less than 400 rounds through her. She looked brand new. I took her to the range last week, and I experienced the dreaded first round chambering issue. Good news was, once I got that first round to chamber, she pretty much ate everything I fed her. I noticed the issue both with trying to chamber the first round, and with chambering a round, then loading a full seven round magazine (7+1).

Ever since that range day, I've been researching this issue. I understand the slide lock load method, and the option to sand the follower down to increase the angle of the first round. I have not attempted that yet. I practiced some more full round loads with snap caps, and she seems to feed the first round or two just fine if I make sure the rounds are at the back of the magazine. Of course, I haven't confirmed this with live rounds yet.

I'm off to the range next week to run some SD rounds through her in anticipation of adding her to my carry rotation. I guess my question is this: is 6+1 my only option with this pistol? I don't want to load 7+1 then have the top round jiggle around and nose dive on me during a stressful moment. I still need to test the 8 round magazine to see if it is doing the same.

Any thoughts or advice welcome. Glad to be here :-)

[Buzzard45]

welcome to the forums, be sure to check :Kahr-Tech (http://www.kahrtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27) so much great help there. if you haven`t already, look at Harrylee`s inside the 8 round mag.

[wyntrout]

Welcome to the forum, codegeek. I'll add my list of info and links after this. Carry 7+1. That's what I do with all of my Kahrs... flush-fitting magazine capacity +1 and a reload of the largest capacity for that caliber... usually only one or two more rounds, but could come in handy.

For +1 carry just chamber a round and the remove the magazine, top it off and make sure the top round is fully to the rear, smack the back of the magazine into your palm... ONE good whack, then re-insert the magazine. This should give you at least TWO trouble free shots. The top round in a full magazine thusly inserted shouldn't migrate... the following ones might, though. A firm grip IS really necessary for chambering of all rounds... initially and during firing. As the pistol breaks in and loosens up, it may become what I call an all-aspect firing pistol. I really have to work extra hard to get mine to fail to chamber a round when holding it very loosely and firing with one hand. This is to be desired because "in the heat of battle" you won't always have time to get a proper two-handed grip and carefully hold your pistol correctly, but you still want it to fire because your life may depend on it.

If you didn't have a round in the chamber, you may never get one there, or doing so may give the BG a reason to add you to the top of his target list... as in the game of Whack-A-Mole... and you being the MOLE!:eek:

Welcome to the Kahrtalk forum supported by K a h r Arms.
Here are a few essential links and things to do BEFORE you take your new pistol to the range, and ESPECIALLY BEFORE taking it apart and trying to re-assemble it! The Kahr is a different design… 6-7 unique patents cover the Kahrs. I’m not trying to imply that you don’t know anything about guns, but many don’t know anything about the Kahrs and some of the things you can do to damage or cause malfunctions of your new, or new-to-you Kahr pistol.

First, if you don’t have a manual, yet, or one didn’t come with your pistol, you can view it and/or download the pdf file here:
http://www.kahr.com/PDF/kahrmanual.pdf

Please watch one of these videos FIRST! These videos can point out possible problem areas and emphasize correct procedures!
Take down and re-assembly videos:
T, TP, CW, P, & PM/CM Series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=G2cZgVg_SwA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G2cZgVg_SwA)
MK series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...mSCnIOaUk#t=0s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zXmSCnIOaUk#t=0s)
K series:
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-K9-Elite.asp
There are many links on fixing problems listed in several places… under the New Member or Kahr Tech sub-forums.

A very handy one is the Kahr Lubrication Diagram:
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14750
Many of your questions can be answered in these areas and you can learn how your Kahr works and not damage it with improper handling.

Another great resource for information on Kahrs... Archives of Magazine and Internet Reviews for Kahr pistols by industry experts. They test these pistols and report on their views and the ammo they tested in it. This is a good way to find ammo that might fit your needs along with accuracy and feeding in the pistol... usually from a rest with velocity and energy, as well as penetration and expansion sometimes... very informational.

http://www.kahr.com/product-reviews.asp

Frequently asked questions: http://www.kahr.com/faq.asp?

One very important bit of advice: Hold the Kahr pistol firmly when firing OR CHAMBERING a round. These compact pistols need all of the force they can get from the slide to get a round into the chamber successfully. If you don't hold the pistol firmly, part of the needed momentum is transferred to MOVING THE PISTOL and the top round will DIVE and jam into the right side of the feed ramp. The weak hand, over hand rack method gives the best grip and a firm rack will give you the best chance at chambering a round.

Use the weak hand fingers over the slide(clear of the ejection port), thumb along the slide and pointing to the rear. Use the gun hand to simultaneously firmly push the gun as you give a vigorous rack with the weak hand and cleanly release the slide as it reaches the rear limit and is "snatched" from the weak hand. This approximates a real rack from firing and beats the slide release method WHEN executed properly. Much more strength can be exerted when this is done closer to the body.

Here's a video on that. The first part is what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=hjLbFOw8sow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hjLbFOw8sow)

There are many helpful members here most of the time who might be able to help you, but as anywhere, there are many opinions and not all are correct. Be mindful of this before doing anything drastic to modify your pistol!


Wynn:)
Aka wyntrout

PS: I keep thinking of stuff to add and help new members... and am trying to cover most of the popular subjects. Yes, it's repetitious to many, but possibly not to all new members. This approach is easier than having to look up every tidbit for each new member or question that arises. :)
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[codegeek]

Thank you both. I ordered a 7 round follower and magazine spring to try the sanding experiment. I have no problem cycling full magazines with my snap caps. Just makes me wonder if the snap caps are different or the weapon is going to cycle fine. Just the excuse I need for more range time!

[kerby9mm]

Another way to load your Kahr is to put one round in the mag,chamber the round then drop mag load it up then insert mag in gun. That way no rounds in the mag are disturbed by chambering the first round.

[jocko]

just use the slide lock lever to load that first round, as kahr suggests. Intime both u and the gun will get to know each other better and u will e able to hand rack it. I see no need to modif the follower, Ur just not used to it yet. Give the gun and u time to adjust. Hand rackinbg properly is not rocket science but every gun can be alittle different...

I really think ur doin OK and thge fact that the gun funciton s OK tells me it is u and thegun not yet properlyt mating up yet. Sometimes I think we to often try to make the gun adjust to our quirks..

[codegeek]

just use the slide lock lever to load that first round, as kahr suggests. Intime both u and the gun will get to know each other better and u will e able to hand rack it. I see no need to modif the follower, Ur just not used to it yet. Give the gun and u time to adjust. Hand rackinbg properly is not rocket science but every gun can be alittle different...

I really think ur doin OK and thge fact that the gun funciton s OK tells me it is u and thegun not yet properlyt mating up yet. Sometimes I think we to often try to make the gun adjust to our quirks..

I appreciate that. Being a techie, I like to experiment, and the additional spring and follower will allow me the luxury of tinkering with the option of reverting back to the original state whenever I want.

[jocko]

no problem onm y side, one can always make sumpin that works ,even work better--sometimes.