PM45 trigger reset

[JohnR]

Can I adjust it? No other gun I've ever shot requires the trigger to go literally all the way forward to reset it. My other Kahrs don't need to go anywhere close to that. I was trying some rapid fire, and unless I remembered to move my finger all the way, it wouldn't reset so no click, no bang.

Still waiting for the slide to loosen up, too. Makes for very difficult tactical reloads. I can't put much meat on the tiny slide without risking being pinched by the ejection port as it slams closed, and you really have to release it like a sling shot or it will not load a round.

It's still a great carry piece which I can hit COM without much effort. But its purpose is SD, meaning double taps or more, and trigger reset needs work. And with a 5 round mag, tactical reloads are a must so that stiff slide is a killer!

I really like the PM45, but I really love my K9!

[jocko]

I would say there is no adjustment available.

[JohnR]

Well heck, that ain't what I wanted to hear!

[Bawanna]

That's the only little thing I would change on mine is that reset.

I'm not hung up on trigger reset like many of the guys I work with but I don't like it that long.

I don't think there's anything that can be done about it and I'm surprised the others aren't the same way. I thought my K's were very similar.

[CJB]

Its a long DA stroke of the trigger... its gonna have a long reset.

Reloads - you have two scenarios.
1. You're empty. The slide is back, you insert a charged magazine and press the slide stop.
2. You're not empty, but want a full mag. You have a round in the chamber, so just replace the magazine.

So, given only two scenarios, WTF is the problem?

[JohnR]

I've been shooting Kahrs for over 3 years, 4 models. This one ain't like the others. My K9's trigger resets about 3/4 of the way forward. My PM45 resets 100% of the way forward.

As for the slide release, I learned early on why Kahr says to slingshot it instead of thumbing the release. The slide isn't far enough back at that point. It won't strip a new round.

[DavidS]

As for the slide release, I learned early on why Kahr says to slingshot it instead of thumbing the release. The slide isn't far enough back at that point. It won't strip a new round.

????
Kahr Operating Instructions, page 16:
"Insert the magazine into the magazine well at the base of the grip until the magazine catch engages fully.
Pull the slide fully to the rear and lock it back using the Slide Stop. Next push down on the Slide Stop to chamber the first round into the barrel. Do not chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and letting go of the slide. This may cause the slide to not go fully into battery."

[gb6491]

????
Kahr Operating Instructions, page 16:
"Insert the magazine into the magazine well at the base of the grip until the magazine catch engages fully.
Pull the slide fully to the rear and lock it back using the Slide Stop. Next push down on the Slide Stop to chamber the first round into the barrel. Do not chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and letting go of the slide. This may cause the slide to not go fully into battery."
It depends upon which version of the Operating Instructions you have.
At least one earlier version says:
"...Pull the slide fully to the rear and allow it to spring forward into the locked position. Do not impede the forward travel of the slide or attempt to ease the slide forward. The full spring tension of the recoil spring is required to assure proper feeding of the round from the magazine."
http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm - Kahr KP Series - page 10
Regards,
Greg

[JohnR]

I thought I was losing my mind for a moment. All I know is, if I don't pply about 50 pounds of force and get the slide ALL the way back, it won't strip a round.

[DavidS]

It depends upon which version of the Operating Instructions you have.
At least one earlier version says:
"...Pull the slide fully to the rear and allow it to spring forward into the locked position. Do not impede the forward travel of the slide or attempt to ease the slide forward. The full spring tension of the recoil spring is required to assure proper feeding of the round from the magazine."
http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm - Kahr KP Series - page 10
Regards,
Greg

That version (2002) did not include the PM45. I suppose it depends upon which version came with the JohnR's PM45.

[DavidS]

That version (2002) did not include the PM45. I suppose it depends upon which version came with the JohnR's PM45.

After pondering this for a bit, I guess it makes no difference. If it works, it works - no matter how it is done.

[JohnR]

After pondering this for a bit, I guess it makes no difference. If it works, it works - no matter how it is done.

This is true. My other Kahrs would work if you thumbed the slide release, but not 100% of the time.

Mine just feels like they've squeezed down the .45ACP platform just a smidgen beyond its practical limits, yet it still functions fine if I do my part. Now, pass me the steroids...

[CJB]

The manual has been changed, most likely to prevent functional problems that folks have with the slingshot method of loading.

One point to ponder - Kahr pistols have very little overtravel of the breechface against the back of the next round in the magazine. The slingshot method can be unreliable - especially for new pistols with tight springs.

On the other hand, the slide release method should always work, and thats what is now stated in all current manuals.

JohnR ol' bean.... just shoot the gun a bit. Get about 300 or so rounds of full power ammo through it. The spring will become slightly relaxed, and you'll have a better time shooting the pistol.

[JohnR]

That's encouraging. I'll keep at it. It has 274 rounds through it now.

I just did an experiment with snap caps. Tactical reloads, Slingshot vs. slide release.

Slide release: 10 attempts, 9 failures (round gets stuck nose-up)
Slingshot: 10 attempts, 10 perfect loadings.
Conclusion, regardless of what the manual says, this particular PM45 needs to be slingshotted, not slide released.

I did find that with some careful gripping, I can grasp more of the slide without pinching myself in the ejection port.

[Bawanna]

That's encouraging. I'll keep at it. It has 274 rounds through it now.

I just did an experiment with snap caps. Tactical reloads, Slingshot vs. slide release.

Slide release: 10 attempts, 9 failures (round gets stuck nose-up)
Slingshot: 10 attempts, 10 perfect loadings.
Conclusion, regardless of what the manual says, this particular PM45 needs to be slingshotted, not slide released.

I did find that with some careful gripping, I can grasp more of the slide without pinching myself in the ejection port.

I'm wondering if you don't have the bevel on the front of the pickup rail. That was common for awhile. When locked open the next round in the mag comes up under the pickup rail instead of in front of. When slingshotting you pull the slide far enough back for the round to pop up, same as firing.

You should not be having failures with the slide release load method.

[JohnR]

Colonel, do you have a picture or diagram of the pickup rail so I can examine mine?

[Bawanna]

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1612

Look at post # 4. Good pictures and a great thread by Greg.

[JohnR]

That was excellent, thanks. I see what's going on in mine, as the magazine is inserted, the case rim of the first round comes up right under the bottom leading edge of the stripper, just like Wyntrout's. That tilts the round nose-up, so releasing the slide only scrapes the stripper along the top and it won't feed (I get the "crunch" too).

If adding a bevel is the answer, I'll do it. But I just hate to do Kahr's work for them, for free. My K9 has that 3/16" gap between the case rim and the stripper, making the slide release do its thing. One thing - Greg mentions adding to the bevel as if he had a bevel to start with. Mine has zero bevel, it's a 90 degree angle, sharp. Is this right, or did Kahr forget to bevel mine?

(Yeah, it's dirty here, I haven't cleaned it yet.)

[Bawanna]

Yup, yours didn't get beveled. And you've completely solved your issues. Your feeding up underneath instead of in front of as you mentioned.

It's really easy, shouldn't take any time at all. Break out the file.

Stuff a mag in once in awhile till the case rim clears as it should.

[JohnR]

Outstanding! I love this place!

[CJB]

For the record, I checked all three of my PM's and they all reset just before the trigger is fully forward.

Dunno what to say, except its the nature of the beast?

B-man! You did wonders again.... excellent call.

JohnR, just make it like it looks in the picture in that thread, and you'l be all set. You don't wanna over do it....just enough to allow the rim to slide up forward on that top round as the mag is inserted with the slide back.

[JohnR]

It took a couple of light touches with a dremel, and a stone to smooth it over, and now thumbing the slide release works 12 out of 12 times. Plus, it's easier to rack a round in from battery.

Can't wait to go shoot it again now!

[CJB]

Nudder sack sess storee!

[JohnR]

:amflag::amflag::amflag:

[JohnR]

Fifty more rounds today, it works great.

The only "issue" is shooter-induced. I sometimes slip the mag in, and thumb the slide release too soon (before the mag is seated), and it messes up the feed. Gotta slow down.

Otherwise it feeds flawlessly and is crazy accurate.

The other thing I don't love is double taps are slow with the DAO trigger, but that's a factor of the design.

[CJB]

So I guess you've gotten beyond the reset?

[JohnR]

So I guess you've gotten beyond the reset?

It's still farther than my K9, but this time I remembered to move my finger farther forward. I can't say I like it, but you can't have everything.