Kahr cm45 nothing but problems

[themarmot]

recently purchased a a kahr cm45 and while trying to break it in (first 200 rds).after pre disassembly and lubricating as per this forum i've had ftf ,fte and ftf routinely and now the slide wont lock back or strip a cartridge from the magazine. Makes it kinda hard to finish the break in if i can't load it. im very disappointed to say the least. iv'e always been a glock man and really wanted the kahr to work. any advice would be appreciated ive been shooting for 30 years and work part time in a gun store. so im very familiar with handguns and field stripping and their operation . thanks

[89grand]

Send it back to Kahr I guess. I just recently purchased a CM9 and it ran 105 rounds right out of the box without a single failure of any kind. Some people get a lemon once in a while.

[jcannady]

One question, two suggestions. Do you have the same problems with both magazines? Clean it thoroughly after each trip to the range (glocks can go without a bath but not a kahr) and shoot it wet.

Jim

[themarmot]

it functioned fine with that magazine yesterday. slide won't lock back on empty mag or no mag ?

[themarmot]

i love the size and feel of the cm45 compared to my glock 30 .i think it would be much better for a edc if it was reliable .the glock 30 digests everything but is rather bulky.

[b4uqzme]

I wish I could tell you the majic fix. They can be great pistols. Mine runs fine. There are extensive threads on CW45 issues and fixes. They all apply to your CM45 too. Best of luck.

[themarmot]

tried my other mag a 6rd i bought and it won't lock back with either

[Joe A.]

Have you looked at the stickies in the kahr-tech sub forum? Look it over to see if there's anything to help. If not, call Kahr.

I purchased a new cm9 a few months ago and had a few start-up problems and the information on this forum really helped me to solve them. After solving a few issues and a longer than normal break-in, it's good to go now.

Just don't give up.

[gb6491]

tried my other mag a 6rd i bought and it won't lock back with either
Is the slide moving back far enough to manually lock it back?

Did you happen to disassemble both magazines?
Correct interface of spring to follower
http://i39.tinypic.com/15guw0m.jpg
or
Checked the slide stop spring's condition and position?
Good spring and position
http://i43.tinypic.com/33o0089.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[themarmot]

it locked back on both mags yesterday .just not today . can't even get it to load a round

[themarmot]

slide stop spring looks just like your pic

[gb6491]

it locked back on both mags yesterday .just not today . can't even get it to load a round
The large recoil spring is directional. Any chance you reversed it?

[yqtszhj]

Ive got a recent cm45 and breakin was a little challenging but it runs good now and i like it a lot. Here are a few suggestions that helped me out:
Run it wet, well lubed first 300 rounds at least.
Keep a very firm grip first 300 rounds.
Use good factory ammo first 300 rounds
Check the mag and make sure the follower is not hanging on the mag release on the 2nd or 3rd round feeding from the mag.
Clean the gun good after 50-100 rounds during breakin and re lube.

That took care of FTF problems i had

Also i shortened the ejector on mine (not that im recomending that) which may have helped with FTE. I never really had fte when shooting though.

Welcome and hang in there.

[CJB]

If the end of the recoil spring guide is not seated correctly in the frame recess, the slide will not move far enough back to allow it to pickup a round, nor will it allow it to reach the hold open notch for the slide stop.

Despite your vast experience, the Kahr is correctly and more than adequately designed, runs reliably once the recoil spring is broken in a bit, and once broken in, generally gives long and trouble free service.

Typical problems are user error, the use of less than hot loaded new ammo for break-in, and the occasional manufacturing faux-pas, such as reversed mag spring, recoil spring reversal, occasional barrel feed ramp nose touching the follower on the last round, and a few cosmetic issues like light stamping of the lettering or non centered sights.

The biggie with Kahr, and I'm sure your lengthy expert experience has already told you, so I'm preaching to the choir, is the recoil spring (assembly). On pistols like the 1911, the Browning HP, old Smith & Wesson 39/59, Walther P38, Beretta 92 series, CZ-75, etc etc, there is considerable overrun of the slide past the point that is required to pick up a fresh round from the magazine. The overrun allows for a few items to be tolerated well. First, is that the recoil spring is less critical in its tension and length to some extent. Second, since there is tolerable recoil spring variability, there is also ammunition strength that can be tolerated. Those are biggies for reliable function.

In the Kahr, and all sub-compact pistols, there is very limited slide travel, which results in severely limited overrun of the slide. There is also less room for a lengthy and tolerant recoil spring assembly. As such, the strength of the recoil spring (and magazine spring) must be controlled in a careful manner and within closely prescribed tolerance limits. The problem with that is the nature of spring material, which will reduce its function with immediate use, and then retain that "set" in its tension for a considerable time before slowly degrading. Kahr, and other manufacturers, rightly ship the pistols with springs that are not of ideal tension, but much stronger, knowing that those springs will "become the right tension" with short use. Kahr says 200 rounds, but thats an estimated number, as its dependent on the ammo used, and even the shooter to some degree. Consider too, that a new recoil spring in an otherwise "broken in" pistol will require the same sort of break in. Larger pistols often require break-in only to smooth out rough parts. The Kahr is generally manufactured to a degree of quality that does not present rough parts needing smoothing, so the recoil spring is really the only element that needs break in attention.

But hell, you already knew that....!~

[muggsy]

Let me see if I have this right. You have thirty years of shooting experience, are well schooled if field stripping guns, work part time at a gun store and can't get your CM45 to run properly. What's wrong with this picture? Does the gun store have a gunsmith? If not, contact Kahr service. Kahr has several and at least one of them knows what he's doing. Off hand, I'd say that you have reassembled the gun incorrectly. Watch the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2cZgVg_SwA

[themarmot]

Muggsy , you are correct sir,after watching the video i failed to make sure that the slide stop was inserted over the slide stop spring.i guess somehow it got inserted under the spring. color me embarrassed .thanks for your patience guys apparently on old dog can learn new tricks.boy do feel like an idiot

[themarmot]

Thanks for the info CJB apparently my experience is not as vast as i thought . lol . I've been mostly a glock and 1911 man mostly 45acp .this is my first micro 45 other than my glock 30 which isn't very micro.

[muggsy]

Muggsy , you are correct sir,after watching the video i failed to make sure that the slide stop was inserted over the slide stop spring.i guess somehow it got inserted under the spring. color me embarrassed .thanks for your patience guys apparently on old dog can learn new tricks.boy do feel like an idiot
No harm, no foul. I'm glad that you were able to solve your problem with just a little video assistance. That shows a lot of promise. If you have any more problems don't hesitate to ask for help. I may be a little rough around the edges, but I'm well intentioned. If you're a 1911 fan you can't be all bad. :)