Do kahrs ever go KaBoom?

[Allen]

I was reading on the Smith & Wesson Forum that at least 5 incendents where a Shield 40 cal has come apart while being fired. Some seem to be blaming the guns while others are saying it has to be the ammo. Since I've only had my first Kahr (CM9) for little over a year I was wondering if any of the Kahrs are very prone to this situation also. My only experience with S&W is through the years of owning their revolvers so not very familiar with their automatics.

[Bawanna]

Any gun regardless of brand can go kaboom given the right circumstances. We've seen a few Kahr kabooms. I would not say they are prone to it. All had signs of high pressure, side plate blown out. One I recall only required a new side plate and it was good to go.
Only heard of 2 or 3.

Ive seen Smith revolvers and I blew up a ruger single action myself.

[wyntrout]

Some people have managed to blow them up by firing another round without checking the barrel for obstructions after a weak round or squib. Here's a picture of a Kahr where a woman did that.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7507&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1359647630

Several of us have had cases burst. I had three incidences of that... factory reloads with a particular weak brand of case. I blew three extractors out and only found one. One each with PM9, P9, & K9. After the K9 I destroyed the rest of the bad cased ammo. With the P9 the side plate blew off as well, so I decided to finish off the last three rounds of the suspect ammo with the K9... no side plate and stronger pistol... still blew the extractor out, so I gave up and destroyed the last few rounds with those cases.

Reloads are usually the culprits... combinations of squibs(low or no powder charge) followed by another full power round without checking the barrel is clear of obstructions. Of course there's the more destructive overcharging kabooms.

The barrels are very strong and no one has been inured badly, as far as I know. The embedded steel rails in the front of the frame can be seen in the Kaboom picture.

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

Just another reason why I never use reloads, even manufactured ones. I would think that since Kahrs have a fully supported chamber, the chance of a blown up one would be minimal.

[hardluk1]

40's do seem to the round to kaboom most often. My carry ammo is from underwood and it is one of those hotter loads. But shows no signs of bulging like you see from a m&p or glock and some others with standard ammo. Run that underwood- star brass thru a bulge buster die and these same hot loads slide thru like the die like a powder puff load .

[Barth]

I agree that handloads and obstructions seem to be the usual suspects in kabooms.
I've shot tens of thousands of rounds and never had one.
But I only shoot new high quality brass cased factory ammo.
My MK40 Elite has over 2000 rounds of 135/155/165/180 gr 40 S&W.
With the MK being all stainless, including the frame, it seems to handle 40 S&W particularly well.

[muggsy]

Just another reason why I never use reloads, even manufactured ones. I would think that since Kahrs have a fully supported chamber, the chance of a blown up one would be minimal.

O'Dell, I've been reloading all types of ammo including shot shells, since the mid 1970s. Everything from .380 auto to .300 Win. Mag. I have never blown up a gun nor have I experienced a squib load from any of my reloads. Safe reloading is no accident. Having said that I would never use reloads that I didn't put together.

[Bob T]

O'Dell, I've been reloading all types of ammo including shot shells, since the mid 1970s. Everything from .380 auto to .300 Win. Mag. I have never blown up a gun nor have I experienced a squib load from any of my reloads. Safe reloading is no accident. Having said that I would never use reloads that I didn't put together.

This right here ^^^^

[berettabone]

O'Dell, I've been reloading all types of ammo including shot shells, since the mid 1970s. Everything from .380 auto to .300 Win. Mag. I have never blown up a gun nor have I experienced a squib load from any of my reloads. Safe reloading is no accident. Having said that I would never use reloads that I didn't put together.
+1..........and +1http://kahrtalk.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Bawanna]

Me to about that same time frame too. I managed to blow up one. Totally my fault. If PO Ackerly Tri Plex loads work in an old carbine they should work in a modern day Ruger single action right?

Wrong. Ruger fixed it for free. Replaced the bulged cylinder and reblued the whole gun, it had been around the block numerous times.

I can't say for certain but I'm convinced I fired a double charge through my PM45 once too. Only thing I could figure. It was bang, bang BOOM. I stopped, checked to see if the gun was intact, then checked to see if I was intact, priorities don't cha know? All was fine.

My son standing behind me thought what the hell was that?

[feedramp]

Luckily, I've never had any "kabooms" since I began shooting 30 years ago.



Hold on a minute ... have to knock on some wood.

[W5JCK]

No kabooms for me either and I've been shooting for over 40 years. But I have never shot reloads and never will.

[TheTman]

I came close to a kaboom once, was shooting handloads and had a squib. Luckily the bullet lodged between the barrel and the cylinder so the cylinder wouldn't turn, or I may have shot another round. I didn't think the shot fired at all, I didn't hear the primer go off, and of course felt no recoil. I was just going to go on to the next round but the cylinder was locked up. Thank God he watches over idiots like me.

[DanTana]

I remember having one squib load while trapshooting. I watched the wad come out in slow motion only traveling about 10-20 yrds. I was shooting once near a guy with an AR-15 who shot some reloads that blew his receiver up. Thing was bulged pretty badly. He was mad, said his buddy reloaded them. I told him he owes you a new gun.

[Rubb]

Safe reloading is no accident
Bingo

[muggsy]

Some people have managed to blow them up by firing another round without checking the barrel for obstructions after a weak round or squib. Here's a picture of a Kahr where a woman did that.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7507&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1359647630

Several of us have had cases burst. I had three incidences of that... factory reloads with a particular weak brand of case. I blew three extractors out and only found one. One each with PM9, P9, & K9. After the K9 I destroyed the rest of the bad cased ammo. With the P9 the side plate blew off as well, so I decided to finish off the last three rounds of the suspect ammo with the K9... no side plate and stronger pistol... still blew the extractor out, so I gave up and destroyed the last few rounds with those cases.

Reloads are usually the culprits... combinations of squibs(low or no powder charge) followed by another full power round without checking the barrel is clear of obstructions. Of course there's the more destructive overcharging kabooms.

The barrels are very strong and no one has been inured badly, as far as I know. The embedded steel rails in the front of the frame can be seen in the Kaboom picture.

Wynn:)

That's a classic example of a bore obstruction Kaboom, Wynn.

[muggsy]

No kabooms for me either and I've been shooting for over 40 years. But I have never shot reloads and never will.

The only difference between factory ammo and my reloads is that I personally know the guy who put them together. He's a real sweetheart. The only factory fodder that I run is in my carry gun for serious social work. :)

[O'Dell]

O'Dell, I've been reloading all types of ammo including shot shells, since the mid 1970s. Everything from .380 auto to .300 Win. Mag. I have never blown up a gun nor have I experienced a squib load from any of my reloads. Safe reloading is no accident. Having said that I would never use reloads that I didn't put together.

I'm sure your reloads are just fine. I've never gotten into it and there is a considerable amount of skill involved, so I don't do it. I was mainly referring to buying commercial reloads. I've never had a blow-up, but I have experienced quite a few "weak" loads and one squib. There was no powder charge and only the primer fired so it was obvious, but it scared me enough that I quit using them.

[Barth]

I agree that handloads and obstructions seem to be the usual suspects in kabooms.
I've shot tens of thousands of rounds and never had one.
But I only shoot new high quality brass cased factory ammo.
My MK40 Elite has over 2000 rounds of 135/155/165/180 gr 40 S&W.
With the MK being all stainless, including the frame, it seems to handle 40 S&W particularly well.
Can't imagine a Kaboom with factory, brass cased, ammo in it.