Picked up new CW45 & Mag Pack 7rd mags - UPDATED W/Range Report

[DougGuy]

Today I finally picked up my new CW45, and of course went through the stickies and cleaned it well, looked it over closely and fitted a cpl mags to work in it.

First up, cutting the half moon cutout between the barrel bore and the recoil spring recess as pictured in one of the sticky threads, mine had the booger in it and needed the relief cut. Check..

Then looking down the barrel, I found a questionable area in the land above the barrel lugs. Can we say :eek: a time or two? It looks like a laminated piece of steel but I can't get it to move. I can hook an xacto blade in it but it doesn't move. Might have to call Kahr and send them this photo..

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01562_zps19e77527.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01562_zps19e77527.jpg.html)

The factory magazine follower needed relief to keep it from hanging up on the magazine catch, and the inside of the magazine well needed a little smoothing where the seams in the polymer mated up, there was a little flashing hanging out into the mag well that made dropping the mag sorta stiff and sticky. Now it feels good, drops out easy, locks the slide back.

The Mag Pack magazine, is a polymer follower equipped 7rd mag with a Wolff spring that fits flush with the CW45! Yay! I gave the follower the same relief as the Kahr follower so it clears the magazine catch, and also noticed a witness mark from a tiny spring that hooks around the trigger bar and keeps it held in position, so I got the dremel tool and gave it some clearance as it could possibly have rubbed against the magazine making it harder to drop out. Now it feeds good, drops out easy, and locks the slide back as well.

All of this is pre-range checking and testing, it hasn't been fired yet but these are just basics that ought to be tended to before live fire anyway.

Stock Mag Pack 7rd magazine:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/MagPack7rd_zpsd0000595.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/MagPack7rd_zpsd0000595.jpg.html)

Mag Pack magazine showing relief area for trigger bar spring (upper red circle) and the area of the follower that needs to be filed away (lower red circle, before filing):

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01563-c_zps293357dc.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01563-c_zps293357dc.jpg.html)

Follower after filing (not a very good photo)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01564_zps4a7dfde4.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01564_zps4a7dfde4.jpg.html)

These mags fit about as flush as possible:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01565_zpsa43cc8e6.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01565_zpsa43cc8e6.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01568_zpsa7c7f599.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01568_zpsa7c7f599.jpg.html)

Sights blacked out, ready for first range session!

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01570_zpsdfe8c413.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01570_zpsdfe8c413.jpg.html)

I have some 200gr LSWC put up, both magazines feed them without issue, but in cycling by hand, the slide won't eject the round, as the barrel comes out of battery, it drops and the rim of the case being ejected digs into the shoulder on the round in the magazine. That doesn't mean it won't function in live fire, I will have to see if it will function with them. I don't have enough hardball to break the gun in, and I am going to have to load some ammo for it, all I have right now is a 500rd box of Rainier 200gr copper plated LSWC.

[Bawanna]

Your being patient and thorough, my hats off to you.

That barrel does concern me some. I'd sure send that photo to Kahr and see what they have to say about it. If you can't move it or pry it up or anything, I'd be reluctant to shoot it.

Picture might be a bit deceiving but it looks like a major obstruction to the bullet path to me.

One shot might blow it out or it might blow it up. I'd let Kahr make the call.

I don't know if they will send you a barrel, probably want it back which shouldn't take too long if they have them on hand.

I hate to even think it since it looks like your ready for range time.

[gb6491]

Nice post DougGuy. The photos are very well done.:)
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

What's your thoughts on that barrel Greg? Was hoping you'd be along.

[gb6491]

What's your thoughts on that barrel Greg? Was hoping you'd be along.
Not good: hard to say what that is in the rifling, but it also doesn't seem like they did a very good job with the finish reamer either (the leade (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leade) looks to be uneven).
I'd think replacement would be the best route with that one.
Regards,
Greg

[MikeyKahr]

From Greg's lips to God's ears. Or Kahr CS. For what little my opinion is worth, I would not settle for less than a barrel replacement.

[DougGuy]

Had a good day shooting today, so time to post the 1st range report for this CW45.

First, let me thank the contributors for the sticky threads for cleaning and prepping, that information definitely helped to get one of these pistols from new in the box to ready for the real world without problems.

The Mag Pack magazines did sorta good, they fed ball, LSWC, hollowpoints, and locked the slide back about half the time. Empties were thrown in a high arc as far as 15' away from the shooter. One of the Mag Packs would get really stiff after loading only 4 rounds, but the other one worked great. I may send it back to the seller and ask for another one to replace it.

The factory magazine worked great and locked the slide back 100% of the time.

ALL of the magazine followers were filed down to clear the magazine catch before even heading out to the range. Again, thanks for the sticky threads!

I had zero failure to fire with factory ammo, and two with lswc handloads that were seated too deep in the case, allowing for excess headspace and light striker marks on the primers. I didn't load these, my shooting buddy loaded them for a Glock.

Overall, I was quite impressed with how accurate this pistol is, and it was 100% reliable with factory ammo, and 100% reliable with my own handloaded plated 200gr LSWC @451" the same rounds the gun would not cycle by hand cycled reliably under live fire. I kinda thought that might be the case. The gun would not fully chamber any .452" loads no matter what bullet style.

The before and after shot of the "WtFisThat" in the barrel, it seemed to lap itself somewhat and I presume that is lead filling in the pothole but you can see it has smoothed out some, and didn't cause any problems at the range. Before firing on the left, the right hand image is after 100+rds:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/Barrel1_zpsb2659ff3.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/Barrel1_zpsb2659ff3.jpg.html)

3 strings of fire noted by groups. First group fired was TZZ 230gr FMJ next was 200gr plated LSWC handloads over unknown charge of W231 (this ammo was about 20yrs old, and worked flawlessly) last group fired was CCI Lawman 200gr JHP "Flying Ashtray." Heavier bullets shot to a lower point of impact here, and I stood the bottom of the black square on top of the front sight to give an idea of point of aim:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01574_zps7da4cc83.jpg.html)

Another very good shooting load is the Hornady Custom 230gr XTP +P in the brown box. This would be the carry ammo that this gun prefers, I'm not going to argue with it!

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/DSC01575_zps82e501c0.jpg.html)

[DougGuy]

Called Kahr and sent them a pic of the barrel, let's see what they do...

Edit: Sent them an email with pics of the barrel at 10:30am, they called at 11:10am and said they are sending out a new barrel..

[gb6491]

Called Kahr and sent them a pic of the barrel, let's see what they do...

Edit: Sent them an email with pics of the barrel at 10:30am, they called at 11:10am and said they are sending out a new barrel..
You have to like that kind of response.
BTW, I like reading your posts and the photography is excelente, keep'em coming.
Regards,
Greg

[jocko]

Called Kahr and sent them a pic of the barrel, let's see what they do...

Edit: Sent them an email with pics of the barrel at 10:30am, they called at 11:10am and said they are sending out a new barrel..

groups u posted,I canoly wish my barrel had that":flaw"in it. Not sure I would rush to change to the new barrel either.:amflag:

[Bawanna]

That thought crossed my mind as well but frankly that barrel scares me.
I would not have shot it myself. You don't need a bag to carry your balls when you go bowling but my hats off to ya.

I suspect your are an excellent shot and the new barrel will work even better.

If it don't I'd sure like to hear about it and work as a group to try and figure out why.

[wyntrout]

Great post and pictures! I would use the new barrel and see if it's as accurate for sure... what Jocko said!

Wynn:)

[DougGuy]

Great post and pictures! I would use the new barrel and see if it's as accurate for sure... what Jocko said!

Wynn:)

Nod to that idear! ;)

What? No whiteout in the house? The last blonde musta used it all up on the monitor! :madgrin:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/20130603_1322571_zpsce38215b.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/20130603_1322571_zpsce38215b.jpg.html)

I blacked out the dot the "i" sight because I usually just use black sights but in rapid fire, with the DAO trigger, I found myself hunting for the front sight and remembering back to shooting a S&W 5906 and really liking the 3 dot combat sights for rapid fire. I rarely feel the need for the 3 dot sight but on this Kahr, it will be mucho appreciated. Now I guess I gotta go buy some white fingernail polish...

[Bawanna]

That's gonna look very weird dude. Maybe hit the model section and get some model paint.

It's sort of like the lingerie dept, the looks you get when shopping alone, uhh you guys have done that right?..................:o

[DougGuy]

Kahr sent a new barrel and it looks REALLY GOOD! There is a noticeable difference in the polish and finish of the new barrel, it has a tiny bit of freebore before the rifling starts, it looks really even and required just the tiniest amount of the barrel hood to be carefully filed off before it would begin to go into battery, maybe .003" which I asked them to send a long barrel so I could fit it. +1 for Kahr's customer service!

[DougGuy]

The new barrel Kahr sent lived up to it's looks by shooting splendidly! It shot 230gr cast HP, 230gr cast RN, 230gr plated HP, factory HP, and the 3 dot sights that I painted with fingernail polish then filled in with superglue worked very well in rapid fire, and they stayed painted when cleaning it with brakleen and Hoppes #9.

It's shot-in now, can definitely feel a difference in slingshotting the first round out of the magazine, springs have taken their "set" all seems to be working like it should..

Thanks for all the tips and the help...