Kahr CW9 problems. Slide failing to return to battery.

[snreuchlein]

Okay all, I just recently purchased a Kahr CW9 for my EDC. The first 250 rounds went through it and I only had one malfunction when the slide failed to return to battery. On my second range visit I was shooting several different varieties to include Lehigh Defense 70 grain High Energy Retaining Ordinance and 115 grain maximum expansion, P&G 115 grain total copper jacket, and American Eagle 115 grain FMJ's. The AE rounds were inherited and probably 6 years old. I had a light strike and reset the trigger by pulling the slide back just enough. From then on I encountered failure after failure in that the slide would not fully return to battery or experiencing light strikes. Does anyone know of any reason this may have occurred. I have not yet returned to the range and was disheartened by the results. Of course, Kahr recommends setting the slide and releasing it via the slide release lever rather than slingshotting, which i had been doing, Does this decrease the amount of pressure the recoil spring has and would that affect the slide returning fully into battery? I don't know, any help is appreciated. kahr is willing to examine and repair the gun if necessary.

[MW surveyor]

First thing I'd do would be to clean and lube the gun then test to see if it will fully chamber a round using the slide release.

[snreuchlein]

Thanks for the input, I cleaned it, lubed it, round chambers with slide release and and slingshot method.

[MW surveyor]

Forgot to say welcome to the Kahr forum.

If you read the sticky's here they will give you a lot of information.

Good to read that the rounds now chamber.

One thing that is important is to blow out the striker channel from time to time. Clears out any debris that may collect in the channel that could lead to lite strikes.

Only thing left now is to go out and shoot it again.

[Ikeo74]

quote from you: The AE rounds were inherited and probably 6 years old.

If all your problems are with this ammo, it is the ammo causing the problem. Do you know if they are factory or reloads? I bet they are reloads. If they are, you will still have the problem next time at the range. It sounds like the ammo is too long on the OAL which is the not going into battery problem. Next, I think they are too light of a load to cycle the gun which causes the failure to eject and reload problem. Get rid of that ammo or shoot it in another gun that has weaker springs springs.