Slide hard to rack with round in chamber

[FooFoo502]

I researched this from previous posts and still can't get this corrected. Since buying my CW4543, I've always had problems press checking it with a round chambered, with or without a magazine inserted, but it didn't seem to stick...just seemed to be the spring being still stiff. I've put about 400 rounds through it over the past year or so with no issues, but about two months ago, I noticed that it was impossible to press check and even when trying to eject a live round by racking the slide, the slide was almost impossible to engage...magazine inserted or not. I've taken it apart, cleaned it to ridiculous levels...even polished the feed ramp and chamber throat...but still sticks. Each time I clean it, I'm able to rack the slide once or twice to eject a round but it seems to hang slightly, then the sticking begins again. I noticed that the edges of the extraction lip on the ejected rounds seem to have little nicks in them and feel rough to the touch. I tried slightly deburring the edges of the extractor with a small file and even the bottom of the ejection port on the slide to allow a smoother slip between it and the barrel assembly...but still happening. I haven't tried to fire it yet since this began...afraid the casing my rupture or jamb in farther if the slide gets stuck when trying to cycle...any ideas?

[warbird1]

If it was me I would call CS. Nice people to deal with. Might get your problem solved quick.

[muggsy]

If you keep your gun fully loaded a press check isn't necessary. You can tell by looking at the extractor if there is a round in the chamber.

[addictedhealer]

If you keep your gun fully loaded a press check isn't necessary. You can tell by the extractor if there is a round in the chamber.

+1.

Although when I'm doing serious training I do press checks with no problem.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/29/eryrymev.jpg

[muggsy]

It could be the ammo you are using. If the nose of the bullet is engaging the rifling when the slide is in full battery that could make it difficult to press check the gun.

[gb6491]

I researched this from previous posts and still can't get this corrected. Since buying my CW4543, I've always had problems press checking it with a round chambered, with or without a magazine inserted, but it didn't seem to stick...just seemed to be the spring being still stiff. I've put about 400 rounds through it over the past year or so with no issues, but about two months ago, I noticed that it was impossible to press check and even when trying to eject a live round by racking the slide, the slide was almost impossible to engage...magazine inserted or not. I've taken it apart, cleaned it to ridiculous levels...even polished the feed ramp and chamber throat...but still sticks. Each time I clean it, I'm able to rack the slide once or twice to eject a round but it seems to hang slightly, then the sticking begins again. I noticed that the edges of the extraction lip on the ejected rounds seem to have little nicks in them and feel rough to the touch. I tried slightly deburring the edges of the extractor with a small file and even the bottom of the ejection port on the slide to allow a smoother slip between it and the barrel assembly...but still happening. I haven't tried to fire it yet since this began...afraid the casing my rupture or jamb in farther if the slide gets stuck when trying to cycle...any ideas?


It could be the ammo you are using. If the nose of the bullet is engaging the rifling when the slide is in full battery that could make it difficult to press check the gun.

+1 on what muggsy wrote.

Did you switch ammo about the time the issue worsened?

What muggsy refers to can happen because of the round's overall length or because of the bullet's shape. We see this some in Kahr CW45s. IMO this is because they have a short amount of free bore/leade cut into the barrel. Here's a drawing to illustrate:
http://i42.tinypic.com/10fnptx.jpg
The top barrel has a short amount of free bore/leade in front of the chamber. I think it's pretty easy to see how some rounds might have a length or bullet that could contact the barrel's rifling when chambered.

As a quick test, remove the barrel and lightly drop a round into the chamber. The round should seat with the back of the case flush with or very slightly below the rear of the barrel hood: (image originally posted by BDS-THR on TFL http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495250)
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3109/45seatingpossibilitiesx.jpg
My guess is that your ammo will be slightly protruding (as in the far right above). However, you will be able to seat it flush by applying a little pressure to the round. If this is the case, I think you have about three options:
1. switch to an ammo that seats flush when you drop it into the chamber and operates correctly in your pistol.
2. Return it to Kahr for repair.
3. Have a local gunsmith ream the barrel to increase the "free bore".

I guess there's also a chance that your chamber is tight. If you can wiggle the round a little when it's in the chamber then I doubt this is an issue.

Regards,
Greg

[jocko]

listen to these guys, they are right ontarget. GB 3options are good to. If it was my gun, I would switch ammo to see if it persists. If it just seems to act up with a certain brand, then move on to anutter brand. If it is there isn many utter brands, I think I would let kahr have a look at it on their dime. A smitty (good one) could do it but it will cost you. ...

[Longitude Zero]

Agree with the guys here it sounds like an ammo issue to me. I have never had this issue with my CW45 with any ammo I have used.

[copterdrvr]

I had this exact issue with my CW40, but it was a much worse situation.

I was having issues that included my pistol not firing at all and having rounds that did not fire, feel like they were "jammed" in the chamber and could not be cleared. The reason the pistol wouldn't fire is because the slide wasn't going all the way forward into battery. The slide was VERY close to being all the way forward BUT not quite and that kept the gun from firing.

The problem was that the ammunition was not going far enough into the chamber and that left a very slight portion of the case extending past the hood of the barrel which would be picture number 4 in the above picture.

This type of problem is VERY ammo sensitive and it's based on the case length AND the chamber depth. The 9mm, 40 SW and the 45 ACP all headspace on the casemouth so if the particular ammo you're using is made up with a "longer" case, it won't make your pistol happy...

My problem was a short chamber which was easily fixed.

[FooFoo502]

thanks for the response guys. The press check is just old school training that never went away...it also just reassures me that the weapon is fluid and not likely to jam if the slide is smooth...just my opinion but it makes me feel better. As for the ammo issue...I've only put ball ammo through it for training but carry Hornady ZombieMax (I know..I know..but it's the same as the Critical Defense but with green polymer instead of the red and it was on sale $9 cheaper than the CritDef). I tried switching to some of the Speer GoldDot I have in the drawer and it seems to be just as stated...the Hornady casing is too wide and is jamming in the barrel. I'm Glock armorer certified so I'm able to handle the reaming and polishing...gonna tackle it this weekend

[FooFoo502]

I finally got around to smoothing the throat of the bore with 1000grit wet sand and CoolIt fluid wrapped around a dowel and it made the rounds slide in and out like butter. Micro adjustment but helped a huge amount. I did find that the sticking was actually the ammo, as like I said before, the Gold Dot and my latest Hydra Shock release with no effort. The Hornady actually stuck so bad I had to carefully(!!) put the slide in a padded vise and force the receiver back with both hands! after the polishing, the Hornady is easier, but still sticks slightly...so no more using THAT ammo!

[Baklash]

Being pretty dang ignorant and new to semi-autos, what the heck is a press check?:confused::blushing:

[timboy]

Racking the slide rearward enough to confirm there is a round in the chamber.

[b4uqzme]

This is a good thread that I must've missed the first time. Thanks for the follow up OP. I've had just a couple of FTRTB's with my CM45 so I think I'll do the bullet drop test...just in case.