Clearing/Chambering a round

[Dan49829]

I purchased a Black Stainless Kahr PM9 with Night Sightsbecause of its conceal ability and the way it felt in my hand. I have only fired a little over a hundredrounds through it, but so far it has been extremely accurate and very reliable.

I am afraid to carryit however because I can’t hand rack a round without it jamming so bad that Ihave to retract the slide and lock it open to release the magazine.

Kahr’s answer to this was that the PM9 was designed to bechambered using the slide stop. So if around happens to fail to fire (for whatever reason) it is necessary to releasethe magazine, eject the faulty round, lock the slide open with the slidestop, re-insert the magazine, and then chambera new round by releasing the slide stop.

At the range, this may be an inconvenience, but in agunfight you would probably be dead!

If you want to keep your PM9 at your bedside or in a nightstand, and prefer not to have a round chambered (for safety, possible unauthorizedaccess, or whatever), you would either have to store it with the slide lockedopen (and risk something contaminating the chamber), or store it in the usualclosed position, and in case of an intruder, grab your pistol, pull back theslide, lock it open with the slide stop, insert a magazine, and chamber a roundusing the slide stop (while potentially waking up in a fear induced adrenalinerush).

With other pistols, I am able to draw, insert a magazine,chamber a round, and fire fast enough that observers have commented that theythought the gun was already loaded. I cannotdo this with my PM9 because I would have to draw, lock back the slide with theslide stop, insert a magazine, chamber a round using the slide stop, andfinally fire. In this regard, it kind ofreminds me of an old flintlock rifle I used to own.

My PM9 has become a very expensive conversation piece - or avery accurate diminutive target pistol that’s inconvenient to clear a FTF from.

It looks like the feed ramp may be too steep, and could bewhy it won’t feed like other pistols??? Ijust wish Kahr would address this design failure, or at least stop insulting usby claiming it was “designed” that way on purpose!

Would appreciate any suggestions because other than the feedproblem, I really love this pistol!

[skiflydive]

My CM9 chambers a round by racking the slide every time. It didn't at first but now it's well broken in and does just fine. If you really think it's a "Failed" design you should sell it.

[Ikeo74]

While at home, Load the mag 1 short, install it into the gun and rack 1st bullet into the chamber. Take mag out and insert 1 or 2 rounds and reinsert into gun. Carry it loaded in a good holster. Problem solved. It will eject and load the next round without any effort from you.

If you decide to only load all Kahr magazines 1 short instead of forcing in that final round you won't have the problem with the gun. It's as simple as that. Consider it a 5 shot and forget about it.

[LorenzoB]

Keep a duty pistol at your bed side. I know you are very comfortable with loading a mag and racking the slide to "get ready" for a defensive situation, but you might reconsider the amount of time it takes to do that after waking up in the middle of the night to a confusing and bad situation. And more importantly, also consider the high potential for Murphy's law to make things worse.

As for the Kahr... many report here that they can chamber a round by hand just fine. I know I can on my CW9 (but not at first). It takes some break in time, and A LOT OF PRACTICE to not ride the slide. Full size duty pistols are forgiving here with their long travel and long springs and gently sloping feed ramps, the round will chamber even if you ride the slide a lot. I think duty sized pistols have caused many to learn bad hand racking technique (including me) because they are so forgiving in this respect. But many smaller pistols, because they are so short, are designed with steep feed ramps, tight springs, and very little slide travel. This means that if you interfere the motion of the slide when it is trying to chamber a round (ie "riding the slide"), it may cause a failure to feed.

So, I believe that Kahr put the notice in their documentation about only using the slide stop in order to avoid a lawsuit and complaints, and customer service phone calls, etc.

[LorenzoB]

....If you decide to only load all Kahr magazines 1 short instead of forcing in that final round you won't have the problem with the gun. It's as simple as that. Consider it a 5 shot and forget about it.

This is a good point. The last round is crammed pretty tight in the magazine which makes it more difficult for the slide to strip off that first round. This is exaggerated when hand racking if you ride the slide even in the least bit. You must pull strait back and continue pulling strait back after your hand comes off. Loading one-less round in the magazine will make it a little more forgiving in this respect.

[LorenzoB]

By the way... Welcome aboard! It sounds to me like you are going to love this pistol once you break it in and get used to hand racking it (after it loosens up a bit). Just keep shooting it! It is well worth the investment. Don't carry it or keep it by your bedside until you are confident it will be the right tool for those jobs.

[Tilos]

Welcome:
Many here have been down that well worn road you are on now.
If you're convinced you gun functions poorly, is poorly designed, then there's not a lot we can do to help you.
1st it could be ammo related.

What I'm about to suggest will start a lot of bloviating/posturing about Kahr, but it has worked for me and many others.
A simple mod to the mag follower will allow reliable hand racking/loading, it's a $5 part that can be easily replaced should you choose to after the springs, etc settle in with some more rounds fired.

Here's a link to the most popular thread about this mod:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14747&highlight=mag+mod

Buffing/polishing the feeding lips on the mags have also helped this problem.

This will work if to have a racking problem with the gun, but will not change the wording in the Kahr manual, if that is what you have a problem with:D

[getsome]

Hi Dan49829 and welcome to Kahr Talk....You have a very nice CCW pistol that is mainly designed to be carried in a pocket or small holster with a round in the chamber....like others have said the gun is super tight from the factory and WILL require several hundred rounds of fire before it will break in and all the parts will smooth out....after 3-4 hundred rounds fired it will be possible to hand rack/slingshot the first round like any other semi auto pistol...Give it time and the more you shoot it the better and easier it will be to operate.....

For a bedside home defense pistol I would recommend a larger duty pistol like a Springfield XD, Glock, S&W M&P (my bedside gun) or whatever larger higher capacity pistol you can shoot well and leave the Kahr for CCW use...I keep an inexpensive Mossberg Maverick 12 gauge next to my chest of drawers with a full magazine but the chamber empty....Light weight, more than enough firepower for zombies and that sound of a pump shotgun racking in a shell will cause most bad guys to rethink what they are doing in your house at 3:00 am....

My advice is to keep shooting your fine little PM9 until it breaks in good and you will think of it as a completely different pistol....Anyone can make a cheap loosely fitted slop slided pistol that will fire but Kahr makes a gem of a high quality tightly machined engineering masterpiece that started the pocket 9 pistol business that all the other manufacturers are still trying to catch up to....Give it some time and shoot shoot shoot it and then see if your don't change your mind and if not then sell it here, as a matter of fact i am in the market for that very pistol so let me know....Good luck with it and again welcome to Kahrtalk....

[jocko]

I purchased a Black Stainless Kahr PM9 with Night Sightsbecause of its conceal ability and the way it felt in my hand. I have only fired a little over a hundredrounds through it, but so far it has been extremely accurate and very reliable.

I am afraid to carryit however because I can’t hand rack a round without it jamming so bad that Ihave to retract the slide and lock it open to release the magazine.

Kahr’s answer to this was that the PM9 was designed to bechambered using the slide stop. So if around happens to fail to fire (for whatever reason) it is necessary to releasethe magazine, eject the faulty round, lock the slide open with the slidestop, re-insert the magazine, and then chambera new round by releasing the slide stop.

At the range, this may be an inconvenience, but in agunfight you would probably be dead!

If you want to keep your PM9 at your bedside or in a nightstand, and prefer not to have a round chambered (for safety, possible unauthorizedaccess, or whatever), you would either have to store it with the slide lockedopen (and risk something contaminating the chamber), or store it in the usualclosed position, and in case of an intruder, grab your pistol, pull back theslide, lock it open with the slide stop, insert a magazine, and chamber a roundusing the slide stop (while potentially waking up in a fear induced adrenalinerush).

With other pistols, I am able to draw, insert a magazine,chamber a round, and fire fast enough that observers have commented that theythought the gun was already loaded. I cannotdo this with my PM9 because I would have to draw, lock back the slide with theslide stop, insert a magazine, chamber a round using the slide stop, andfinally fire. In this regard, it kind ofreminds me of an old flintlock rifle I used to own.

My PM9 has become a very expensive conversation piece - or avery accurate diminutive target pistol that’s inconvenient to clear a FTF from.

It looks like the feed ramp may be too steep, and could bewhy it won’t feed like other pistols??? Ijust wish Kahr would address this design failure, or at least stop insulting usby claiming it was “designed” that way on purpose!

Would appreciate any suggestions because other than the feedproblem, I really love this pistol!


post and u have caught the design failure--so u say. Only thing wrong with that kahr is that it needs more rounds down range and the gun will smooth out 100%. THERE IS NUTTIN WRONG WITH THE FEED RAMP. Ur never gonna handrack it as fast a any glock as kahrs recoil springs are the stoutest in the industy. once u and the gun better mate up, u can indeed hand rack it with ease. As far as a abed side gun if in doubt of having a loaded gun there, just keep the slide locked open with a hot magazinein it, and u can if shtf either hand rack that first round or use the slide lock lever which is faster than anyhand racking that you can do. also u can do it one handed.

Were here to help you if U WANT IT but this design failure crap from a 1str time poster, kinda cuts deep to us who know the truth. If u decide to sell it , post it on this forum and I can assure u it will be gone in a heart beat..:Amflag2:

In the meantime welcome abaord.

[h2ohhh]

While at home, Load the mag 1 short, install it into the gun and rack 1st bullet into the chamber. Take mag out and insert 1 or 2 rounds and reinsert into gun. Carry it loaded in a good holster. Problem solved. It will eject and load the next round without any effort from you.

If you decide to only load all Kahr magazines 1 short instead of forcing in that final round you won't have the problem with the gun. It's as simple as that. Consider it a 5 shot and forget about it.

I'm just breaking in my CW-45 and this gent is absolutely on the money. My weapon will fire when racking with 5 in the clip. Every time I've tried it though though I use the slide stop method most of the time.

My bedside features a Ruger Mini-14 with an empty chamber and a full clip. Racking one in that will send shivers down the spine of an intruder like the aforementioned pump gun.

[jocko]

try squeezing 15 round sin a G19 magazine and see how hard it is, load a few short and it is a breeze, expecially for rangeuse, load short and forgetabout the pain and suffering, or get a uplula and quit *******. If you have a 6 shot magazine, then what Ikeo sated is the way to go. why run it a round short, range use, ok but for carry, no way..

[xsailer]

Dan, Had similar problems with my CM9. I kept at it and shot several rounds and worked the actions that solved the problems. As they all say above.

Use it and you'll keep it.

[hogsnguns]

You might go to the Kahr tech section and read up on the proper prep of a new Kahr and also look over the proper lube section. I followed these easy to follow instructions and have been able to hand rack my PM9 rounds from round one. I am convinced that following the proper prep has helped my Kahr to run trouble free from day one.
Welcome to Kahr talk. There is a ton of information and helpful people on this site. Good luck with your new Kahr.

[hogsnguns]

Kahrs also have close tolerances, so are tight to begin with. Kahr advises 200 rounds to break in. Kimbers tolerances are also tight and suggested 600 rounds to break in their cdp pistol. I had problems with my Kimber til after the break in period. I no longer have any problems with my Kimber. The Kimber also cost more than the Kahr.
I am sure that if you do the prep work and just shoot your gun some more, you will really enjoy your new gun.

[Dsollars1800]

At first the mechanism is much too tight. A few hundred rounds should loosen it to the point that you can reliably slingshot it if you do it smartly.

[jocko]

I would think this fellahas heard enough from us to now assume maybehe jumped thegun with his opinions. Gotta remember though. Kahrs are not for everyone either. BUT they certainly are for ol jocko.

[RedRyder]

My favorite carry pistol is my P9 and yes, I can slingshot load the first round and have always been able to. I know Kahr says use the slide stop but I've never gotten used to doing that. I also occasionally carry my Ruger LC9 and I've always found it odd that Ruger insists that you slingshot it and you can't even use the slide stop to load the first round. Really glad I've never had a problem with my P9 in this respect. :D

[jocko]

the ruger is not designedto load from the slide stop. there is a difference in the ruger and kahrj.

With kahr u do have TWO options to load. take ur choice. Guarantee u that if ur one had is in bad shape the slide release lever is a real god send. Makes no difference to me how one loads his kahr, aslong as he can do it every time correctly. That is the nice thing about using the slide release lever over hand racking. One is always a perfect release,the other (handracking) for some is marginal,as we seem to hear so much about that part.I can't back this up with ay real percentages,but IMO most women have a very difficult time hand racking a kahr, let alone hand racking it perfeclty. If a woman is trained to use the slide release lever that scenario is no longer a possable. In owning an semi auto clearing a jam or misfire is a MUST,so again proper hand racking is needed,so get good both ways. I would be very surprised if a woman at least most all women could clear a jam on a kahr. Sures ome can, but most cannot..
not knocking women but kahrs are what they are. Hand rack a Glock and then hand rackakahr. Tell me there i sno difference!!!!!! b.s.

[RedRyder]

Jocko, you are oh so right about women and the Kahrs. My wife recently got her CCW and I wanted her to use the P9 for range quals. No way could she handle racking the slide, even keeping the weapon in close to her body for extra leverage. She wound up using the LC9 for semiauto and a Colt Detective Special in .38 for revolver.

She had no problem racking the slide on the LC9 so that may wind up being her carry gun now.

[Tilos]

RedRyder:
Most can rack any gun with arms straight out in front of you (elbows locked), holding the gun sideways and using the strength in your shoulders to rack the slide.
Try that, and then let your wife do it...in close will never work.

[RevRay]

What everyone is saying is true ... a couple hundred more rounds will loosen everything up. BUT, if it turns out you still don't like it ... I'll swap you my CM9 for your PM9 straight up. My CM9 is so smooth a ten-year-old could hand rack it. I just want to be helpful.

[340pd]

I just lengthened the groove in the mag followers using 600 grit sandpaper wrapped around a pen. I did about half of what is shown in the pictures. It worked on all three of my mags and I can rack in super slow motion without any issues whatsoever. Try it on one mag. I did all three (after testing the first one) in about ten minutes.

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6943&highlight=follower+mod&page=2

[Dan49829]

Thank you for all the suggestions and assurances, and Iapologize to those whose feathers may have been ruffled by my comments, butconfirmation bias tends to illicit such reactions. I wouldn’t have paid this much for a pistol ifI hadn’t liked a lot of things about it – as stated, but every time I contactedKahr about the gun jamming on the first round, I was only told that it was designedto feed using the slide stop.

No suggestion that this might ever change or even improvewith use, no suggestion that I may not be hand racking consistently or evenproperly, no suggestion about trying one less round in the magazine (since allfour of my magazines do the same thing) – just another iteration of the same(their tech people were very polite though).

“Design flaw” may “cut deep” (I suppose if you work for Kahror own stock) but considering the mantra I received from them (pasted below fromone of their email responses) every time I inquired about the feeding problem,I think “design flaw” was a logical conclusion.

“Our firearms areonly designed to chamber with the slide locked back, inserting a loadedmagazine and using the slide stop lever. Chambering by racking the slide will cause a failure to feed as you haveexperienced.”

And Jocko, first time poster does not necessarily mean firsttime shooter; it may just mean first time frustrated enough to go online shooter. Since posting, I have read several ofyour posts, and they, along with others, were very helpful – thank you!

The examples I used in my post had nothing to do with what Ihave on my night stand, and I can’t even remember the last time I had a FTF;they were used to illustrate why I would consider a gun designed to only feedusing the slide stop as a faulty design.

I was so frustrated with this gun that I purchased a 9mmshield on my way home the other day (a pistol I had previously passed over forthe Kahr), but it’s a little larger than I wanted, and the trigger feels likeit belongs on a cap gun, so I’m happy to hear that there may be hope for myPM9. I had intended to sell it, but I’mgoing to give it another chance based on all of your feedback, and the posts Iread today. Thank you!

Although the Shield is very slim through the grip, I noticedthat their magazine is semi-staggered, and unlike Kahr’s, the rounds stay inthe proper position without the “stacking” effect.

I do stand by my statement about Kahr pulling its head outof its – well wherever its head is! HadI not taken the time to go online and post about this pistol before putting itup for sale, I probably would have never given that company another chance andwould have bad-mouthed them forever!
Thank you for the link to the magazine mod photos also!

[Tilos]

You are welcome, the link I posted has a lot of really good info, pics, vids and explanations(thanx Greg), but unfortunately is mixed in with a lot of posturing/anger/bloviations.
The mod is actually a twofur for those whose barrel ramp is breaking followers on the last shot, as it'll create clearance from contact:cool:
jmo

[Ikeo74]

Dan, keep us informed as to your progress in getting the gun to load. We are supportive of these kind of problems and we can work you through it, guaranteed. I have 2 Kahrs and both work perfectly by hand racking. A CM9 and a MK9. Love both of them. Remember to listen for the "click, clack" sound when racking the slide.

[Dan49829]

Thank you! I'm not going to be shooting until I have time to mod one of my mags to see if it helps with the angle of that first round.

[Ikeo74]

OK, but keep in mind, I have not modified any of my mags and they all work. No broken followers either. I have 2 each 6 round and 2 each 7 round mags.

[CJB]

Welcome.

A. BREAK IN

B. You don't hand rack Kahr's, you release the slide on a charged magazine. You may find that hand racking works after you get some rounds through it, and you're proficiency increase.

C. Please take the time to really read the manual... its covered in the manual very plainly. Not jabbin ya for it, just saying that Kahr is not like every other gun you've had. Kahr is Kahr, and there are things that Kahr does that make it unique and very well suited for what it is - a speacialized deep concealment pistol.

Hope that helps!~

[b4uqzme]

Welcome Dan. Good post. IMHO Kahrs really excel as carry guns...where most prefer to keep a round chambered...which fixes your issue. Many of us keep something different at the bedside. Higher capacity/light rails/etc.

Glad you got that off your chest and more glad that your pm9 is getting another chance. Let it do what it's best at = hide in your pocket. Good luck.

[wyntrout]

It is NOT designed to be loaded... a round chambered... using the slide locked back and released with the slide release. That was a recommended method to get around or make up for most people RIDING the slide. And you know nothing about levers and mechanical advantage if you think that holding the gun at arms' length give you an advantage... more strength... the opposite is true.

Using the weak hand over the slide... here as I advise in my New Member Welcome:

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)

Wynn:)

[Tilos]

I understand why you feel that way about racking something like a full sized Kahr, not a PM or CM
Here's another racking method, explained by Kathy Jackson, using her hip to drive the gun forward:eek:

http://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

I often wonder why in all/most online racking vids the gun is always a full size gun(1911), with the hammer already cocked, and no mag or ammo:confused:.

A full mag puts a lot of pressure pushing up on the slide, that adds the need for considerably more force to rack.

That and many have the muzzle against the weak hand forearm:eek:

Edited to add:
wyntrout:
Stiff arming and using your shoulders, as I described earlier in this thread, works well regardless what you think you, or I know about leverage or mechanics.
But I guess you'd have to try it to know:D

[Dan49829]

So why doesn't Kahr tech support explain the things you guys have been advocating when they receive a complaint from a new owner? Liability? or because it's easier to just say:


“Our firearms areonly designed to chamber with the slide locked back, inserting a loadedmagazine and using the slide stop lever. Chambering by racking the slide will cause a failure to feed as you haveexperienced.”

[gb6491]

So why doesn't Kahr tech support explain the things you guys have been advocating when they receive a complaint from a new owner? Liability? or because it's easier to just say:


“Our firearms areonly designed to chamber with the slide locked back, inserting a loadedmagazine and using the slide stop lever. Chambering by racking the slide will cause a failure to feed as you haveexperienced.”

IMO, that's a bogus CS response. Older Kahr manuals instructed the operator to load the pistol via a "slingshot" technique:
http://i39.tinypic.com/29zc3lt.jpg
http://stevespages.com/pdf/kahr_kp.pdf
Regards,
Greg

[Tilos]

Yes Bovine Skat, but I have accepted that Kahr is not going to change it's tune here and have moved on.
I suggest others do the same, as anything else is a waste of your energy.
jmo
As I mentioned in another related thread, followers are cheap enough for me to experiment with, as well as slide stops, before swapping calls/e-mails with Kahr and sending a gun back, but that's just me.
I guess if you are not confident about doing it yourself, then sending it back is your only option, unless you have someone local that is dependable.
If I decided to send a used/messed with gun back I would not expect Kahr to repair it for free.
again, jmo

[jocko]

my 21 cents, I owuld rather see a owner screw with followers if he has issues, at the worst he uins a follower. Messing with the feed ramp. certainly can be done in house b ut screw it up and ur on your own with kahr service.

In time this feed ramp thing will also be a thing of the past,just the same way the busted backs of magazines has now almost dissappeared.:behindsofa:

[Linthead]

my 21 cents, I owuld rather see a owner screw with followers if he has issues, at the worst he uins a follower. Messing with the feed ramp. certainly can be done in house b ut screw it up and ur on your own with kahr service.

In time this feed ramp thing will also be a thing of the past,just the same way the busted backs of magazines has now almost dissappeared.:behindsofa:

Modifying an inexpensive magazine follower instead of an EXPENSIVE barrel makes a lot of sense, but making excuses for split magazines or broken followers does not.

Both are problems that (a) should never have been ALLOWED to happen and (b) should have been permanently corrected a LONG time ago. Kahr has good customer service after the fact, but they clearly have poor process control and non-existent / ineffective quality management systems. Kahr needs to, should and can do better.

[jocko]

I made no excuses here, I stated that the busted magazines issue that was very prevelant a year+agpo is now behind us. Probably a halfmillion kahrs out in the hands of owners today,we only read here of those who do have an issue. certainly is not an epedemic thing as some would think itis. YMMV If it eirks a owner to have to send a gun back the alternative is to peddle it and moveo n to that perfect gun, and when u find it, please let us all know.:amflag:

[KoolBreeze]

I've never had any issues sling shoting a round in the chamber of my CM9, even when it was new. The trick is to be aggressive. Snap it all the way back and turn it loose. If you try and ease it back, struggle getting it back or ride the slide versus releasing it, then it may jamb.

[kflo01]

My CM9 chambers a round by racking the slide every time. It didn't at first but now it's well broken in and does just fine. If you really think it's a "Failed" design you should sell it.


Same.
When I first got it and tried to chamber a round without the slide stop sometimes the round would "catch" and not go into battery without help. Not its about 90% when chambering a round without the sldie stop and I had ZERO doubt the more I rack the slide the more and break the gun in it will be fine. I have aabout 200 rounds thru it at this point and and probably racked the slide another 200 times dry firing.

[Dan49829]

I haven't had time to work on the mags yet, but I've been hand racking/dry firing my PM9, while paying more attention to what I'm doing, and found that I do ride the slide forward, and have probably always done this.

Apparently, the S&W's, Glocks, Rugers, Auto Ordinance, and assorted others I've owned through the years have been more forgiving in this regard.

I agree with those who think the PM9 mags need a redesign. Took the Shield out yesterday and even purposely riding the slide didn't affect chambering. I know there are other factors that influence this, but in looking at the magazines alone, it seems like the Kahr magazine should sell for about $5, whereas the Shield magazine seems to be of much better quality. I still prefer the PM9 however, but selling the Shield isn't going to be as easy as I first thought.

[gb6491]

... but selling the Shield isn't going to be as easy as I first thought.
Put an Apex Fully Machined Sear (Hard Sear) in that Shield and it'll be even harder to part with;)
Regards,
Greg

[Biner]

I can attest that the racking method advocated by Wyntrout does indeed result in the round going into battery each and every time on my CM9. If I just pull-back and release the slide without the "modified grip", it will hang on the feed ramp 75% of the time. I have never had a single FTF while actually shooting with over 500 rounds through the firearm.

Thanks!

[gmcjetpilot]

I do follow Kahr instructions for chambering the first round, but in a gun
fight, clearing a jam/malfunction, yes I'd rack it.

1) Don't have FTF issues, keep clean, use quality ammo
2) Practice clearing jams, at least TAP - RACK (yes you can rack it)
3) Practice shooting and assure it does not jam in training
4) A friend carries two guns, prime & backup + a knife, consider that
5) Trust your gun or get a new model/brand/type (revolver/pistol)

As far as #5, I admit my G26 has more of my trust then my CM9, only
because of what I read here. However my personal experience with my
CM9, zero failures in 175 rounds. I carry CM9 as my only weapon, no
backup. No plans to replace it. The size, trigger, accuracy are all pluses. I
also carry the G26, which thicker and heavier, but has as good or better
trigger and better accuracy and less recoil. I like both. If I could only have
one it would be a tough choice.

Saying things like if this happens you are dead is a little dramatic. Who
knows what would happen. Just pulling a gun out might stop the attack.
You have to have the confidence you will prevail and train to that. You
might just stop an attack by drawing a gun. If that fails and the gun does
not fire, beat the attacker with the gun.... ;)

[jocko]

quote: I do follow Kahr instructions for chambering the first round, but in a gun
fight, clearing a jam/malfunction, yes I'd rack it.


question: what utter way would u clear a jam or malfunction????? Just sayin.

[addictedhealer]

Sling shot that bastard, don't be a *****. Be quick and on purpose.

[muggsy]

When Kahr pistols are new the guns are very tight and the recoil springs are very stiff. Since most men feel that they were born with a gun in their hand few take the time to learn how to properly handle a gun. It is for that reason that so many new shooters experience problems chambering the first round in Kahr pistols. The people at Kahr probably got fed up with irate customers complaining about a problem that didn't exist and that's when they came up with the fool proof method of chambering the first round using the slide stop method. I was taught the proper way to chamber a round from an expert in firearms and never experienced the problem with my CM9 or P380 in chambering the first round using the sling shot method.

[BucketBack]

My new to me CM9 sling shots a round into the chamber so far every time with ease. My CW9 sling shots just fine also.

Less wear on the slide stop that way.

[RevRay]

Just in case you've forgotten the offer, let me repeat ... I'll swap you my CM9 straight up anytime ... it slingshots every time like butter. Just saying ...

[muggsy]

Just in case you've forgotten the offer, let me repeat ... I'll swap you my CM9 straight up anytime ... it slingshots every time like butter. Just saying ...

You come from the Bawanna school of bargaining, RevRay. Try to remember these words. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Work's for me, RevRay. ;)

[NBMiata]

My pm9 has no issues feeding the first round by racking it. But I did do the mag follower mod and polished the feed ramp more then kahr did. I was using federal 115grn fmj.