New [to me] K40 - normal slide fit?

[JonMark]

I picked up a used Kahr K40 online for around $360, I thought it was a great price on such a beautiful firearm. It came in today, and it looks great, very beautiful pistol, and no signs of wear anywhere on it. The only thing that concerns me is that it doesn't seem nearly as tightly fitted as CM and CW series I've owned before. This bothered me because I thought the K series is supposed to be a more premium line than the polymer ones. The slide doesn't seem to go all the way forward/completely flush with the frame (pictured below). If I move the gun side to side, there is also considerable slide movement/wobble - as though the slide is kinda loose on the frame. Every Kahr pistol I've previously owned have been put together so beautifully, very tight, with zero slide movement at all. Is this normal for the K series? How can I fix it?

I've stripped the firearm and given it a very detailed cleaning, reassembled and same thing. Would a new recoil spring help? ... Oh, there also seems to be a lot more play in the trigger than what I would consider normal in the polymer lines.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af141/JonMark85/1548CCAE-3EE4-4601-B690-90CFB39C939B_zps14lekkjn.jpg (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/JonMark85/media/1548CCAE-3EE4-4601-B690-90CFB39C939B_zps14lekkjn.jpg.html)

[Bob T]

I can't really address the slide play, without tactile input, but the slide on my K40 seems to go forward far enough to achieve a flush state at the rear of the pistol.
Not as close of a pic as yours, but I think you can see what I mean. I could take a better pic tomorrow if it would help.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/Baatfam/ForumPics/Shooters/firearms-1030222.jpg (http://s27.photobucket.com/user/Baatfam/media/ForumPics/Shooters/firearms-1030222.jpg.html)

[Alfonse]

Both my K9 and MK9 have noticeable side play if I hold them down and work the slide side to side. Most noticeable at the rear of the slide. I thought about that and the slide to barrel is very solid. So, sights and barrel should be very consistent. The way they shoot seems to confirm that is the case. My triggers are wonderful.

I have not noticed slide play in my plastic Kahrs.

[berettabone]

I have no play with the slide on my MK, and the trigger is soooooooooooooooooo smooth, you may equate this as play. I can stack my trigger a bit, and it's how I shoot it. I don't know what the trigger pull weight is supposed to be, but it feels like 3#

[Purple Mountain Outdoors]

My Kahr T9 has significant slide play. Much more than any polymer Kahr I've had.

[Redstate]

My K9 has some slide play, and the end of the slide also hangs past the frame, maybe not as much as yours. My Mk9 slide is the opposite insofar as the frame slightly overhangs the slide, and the slide play is less than that of the K9. My P9 Covert slide is flush wit the frame; however, there is considerable slide play. They all function 100%. The Polymer Covert has around 3,000 rounds through it , the MK9 a little over 1000 rounds, and the K9, over 500 rounds.

[hasselhoss]

Slide play ain't necessarily a badthing. Should be Uber reliable. It won't affect aim since you aim down the slide.

[JonMark]

Interesting. Well, I suppose the non-flush fit and slide play is "normal" for this series. I suppose it's just my OCD going into overdrive here, lol. Since my polymer framed Kahrs are all so tight and fitted perfectly, I expected the same with the higher quality stainless models. As long as it shoots! Thanks for your input!

[cohoskip]

No side play on my MK9 and slide lines up nicely...

[AJBert]

Just checked my K40, slide is nice and tight with no play and the rear end is a nice flush fit.

Heck of a price and as long as it shoots just fine I wouldn't worry about it in the least.

[b4uqzme]

Just a note: I don't think Kahr did itself any favors labeling some of their guns "premium". It's been my experience that they are all of the same quality...just different.

With that said I think it might be a good idea to install a new recoil spring and to make sure it is installed correctly. That might help the slide overhang a bit. What's it look like at the muzzle? Anything sticking out too far?

P.S. How is the recoil? Too harsh? That might be an indicator that it needs a new spring too. Also, it should be a little stiff to rack. If it's pretty easy, that might be telling you that it's time to change.

P.S.S. I too can detect a little slide wobble in my steel Kahrs.

[omgtkk]

We have a used K40 on consignment at our store and the slide overhangs the frame on that gun just as yours does. On my personal K9 though, the fit is flush. That's an outstanding price for a premium pistol. Enjoy.

[marshal kane]

Can you push the slide further in the forward direction to make it even with the frame? If not, a new recoil spring may not solve your problem. Is the barrel hood flush with the breechface? If it is, then the barrel is fitted. I'd send that picture to Kahr and see what they say. Kahr just might want to make some adjustments.

[TheTman]

I have very little slide play in my CM45 and CW40. Maybe a millimeter or two. The rear of the slide on the CW40 sticks out slightly past the frame a millimeter maybe you can feel it easier than see it. Both had a round in the chamber.

[AFCop]

I had a K40 that would do that, but only sometimes. I never figured it out, but if I took it down and reassembled it would usually end up fitting flush again. May have been the way the guide rod fit against the barrel cam? I sold the K40 so I cant check it for you.

[muggsy]

All steel guns need a little play in the slide so that when they get hot they don't bind. Something may be preventing the slide from going fully forward. That I'd have checked out. Send your photos to the Kahr Service Department. They'll know for sure.

[Flieger]

I own two K40's and have played with quite a few more. I have never seen that much of a overhang on a K40. If anything, they have a propensity to sit a little forward.

If that is the natural way your gun is sitting at rest, not in battery, it needs to be looked at. I would call Kahr customer service on Tuesday and maybe send them your picture after explaining what it looks like.

[Bongo Boy]

I honestly thought mine was about 1/4 to 1/3 of what I see in your photo, roughly, with a round in the chamber. But when I took a photo, it looks pretty darn flush. Is that photo with an empty chamber? Did you try to push it forward with your hand, with some considerable push or drop the slide shut? I guess the proper way to ask that question is--are you very confident it's really fully in battery?

As for play, I personally would be very happy with a somewhat 'sloppy' K40, given it's meant to carry and work when you need it. Tight-fitting, no rattle, no wobble is, to me, for target, display and feeling good about the $3,000 custom you bought. It might not be too much of a surprise that the Wilson Combats and the Ed Browns and so on are the ones I've seen jam when folks try to actually shoot them at IDPA matches. Pretty embarassing at IDPA, not much fun when in 'combat'. I couldn't care less if it shoots a 1" at 50 yds if it doesn't go 'bang' at 5 filled with pocket fuzz and dog hair.

I'd wonder a lot but not worry too much about the slide not going forward, if it shoots. But I'm just thinking it's the barrel that's maybe out of spec--even if it has no impact on function at all. I don't know.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x150/Bongo_Boy/Kahr%20K40/RearSlide_zpsst1nzllb.jpg (http://s182.photobucket.com/user/Bongo_Boy/media/Kahr%20K40/RearSlide_zpsst1nzllb.jpg.html)

Both the slide itself and the slide-in retaining block thingie (name escapes me) are replacement parts.

[queevil]

I wouldn't worry about it. My K40 Covert has some slide play at the front and it doesn't affect practical accuracy or function. As a matter of fact, it's one of the more accurate pistols I've owned. If it was a $3000 1911 it would bother me, but my K40 Covert is essentially a very classy belly gun. I don't think about the slide play.

[hasselhoss]

Just a note: I don't think Kahr did itself any favors labeling some of their guns "premium". It's been my experience that they are all of the same quality...just different.

With that said I think it might be a good idea to install a new recoil spring and to make sure it is installed correctly. That might help the slide overhang a bit. What's it look like at the muzzle? Anything sticking out too far?

P.S. How is the recoil? Too harsh? That might be an indicator that it needs a new spring too. Also, it should be a little stiff to rack. If it's pretty easy, that might be telling you that it's time to change.

P.S.S. I too can detect a little slide wobble in my steel Kahrs.Having owned a K9, CW9, CW45 and now a CM9..... After a few hundred rounds they'll ask shoot the same. Buy the dirtiest steel cased ammo you can find and shoot as much of it as you can afford before carrying it.

[RonW]

All my Kahr's have some play in the slide on a empty magazine ( or no mag inserted). Load up a mag then insert it and I'll bet that slide play is gone. Without knowing the age or round count of the k40, I suggest playing it safe & ordering a complete set of new springs. Firing pin spring, recoil spring, trigger bar spring, trigger spring is what I'd consider replacing. All of these & more can be ordered online here http://www.kahr.com/Parts/Kahr-K40-K4043.asp

[jg rider]

We have two 98 K9 Elites that are a loose slide to frame fit. Being a amateur gunsmith that customizes 1911's, to me slide to frame fit is a must.

So I decided to tighten the lateral play on one of the K9 slides. Big mistake ! The slide cracked at the thin slide groove. Kahr replaced the slide.