New CM9 and a few problems. Need advise.

[exile0514]

I just got a new CM9093N last Wednesday and took it shooting on Saturday. Boy, what a problem this pistol turned out to be. Every single round the slide would completely get locked to the rear (not by the mag catch, the actual slide was binding on something). After about 100 rounds into the "break-in" period, I called it quits because my left hand was raw from hitting the back of the slide to get it to become unstuck. I drove home, feeling a little defeated, to see what could possibly be causing the problem. After looking at the pistol the past few days on and off thinking about what the issue could be, I started looking for wear marks (the most obvious signs of jams). Here's some pictures of what I think is the problem:

http://imgur.com/a/ENMLc

In the first picture, you can see where the barrel is rubbing on the inside of the slide during recoil. Nothing too bad, I imagine that the two surfaces will wear on each other until the friction pretty much disappears. The problem arises in the second picture where you see this "band" just past the barrel hood and an obvious point of contact with the slide. I believe that this spot is getting wedged in the slide under recoil of firing. I was planning on calling Kahr to see if they would allow me to smooth out this small spot with some sand paper without voiding my warranty, but I couldn't imagine them knowing that this was something I did if I didn't tell them in the future if I encountered a different problem.

Another issue I'm having is that the trigger is extremely gritty feeling. I had a look inside the firearm when I pull the trigger and narrowed it down to the trigger bar spring. It's almost as if the trigger bar spring is "jumping" along the trigger bar as it's being pulled because every time I see that spring jump, that's when I notice that little bit of grit. I figured that I would remove the side panel and use a dremel, polishing wheel, and some flitz to smooth out the bottom of the trigger bar and the trigger bar spring to see if I could get it to move smoothly along the bar as the trigger is pulled rather than "jumping" along like it does.

Do you think it's a good idea to avoid having to wait 3 weeks to get this pistol back for a quick 20 minutes worth of minor work or having to go through the entire return procedure to fix something so simple? I really just don't want to risk voiding my warranty.

[exile0514]

Ooops, posted in the wrong sub-forum. Can a mod move this to Kahr-Tech? Thanks.

[DubDubU]

Comparing the barrel on my cm9 to you pictures, the first picture with the slide back looks the same with the wear on the side. The second picture is different. In the picture your barrel appears have three bands around the barrel. Mine looks like the bands have been machined off. I have measured the width of the barrel at the point where yours has the bands and it measures about .003 of an inch narrower than measuring just in front of the bands. Sorry,but I'm digitally challenged or I would post a picture of mine. Hope this is of some help.

[exile0514]

Yea, mine is about .003-.004" wider at that area. Does your barrel have a significant wear mark at that point where the bands are in my picture? You can see that dark grey area where you can tell the barrel is rubbing against the slide.

[Ikeo74]

Did you clean the gun good before the range trip? I haven't had that same exact problem but I did have some other issues that may be related. The recoil springs when new have excess friction between the inner spring and the outer spring. I took some auto chassis grease and lubed the springs with it making sure to get some grease inside the springs and on the guide rod. Try that and see if it limbers up before grinding and polishing other parts. These springs may be binding on each other.

[exile0514]

Yea, I cleaned the recoil system both extended and retracted, put in a generous amount of oil, and cycled the action by hand about a 100 times before going to the range. I'm almost 100% certain it has nothing to do with the recoil springs. One way I can tell is that when the pistol is locked up, the barrel cannot wiggle AT all (up, down, left, right) but it can when the slide is locked and held back by the stop pin. The problem is certainly related to the barrel binding with the slide.

[DubDubU]

The only wear is the fine line down the length of the barrel like you see in the first picture and it stops right where your bands start. I do not see any wear on the slide to match that line. If it were mine I would probably try to file it a tiny bit, but the right thing to do is send it home to mama.

[exile0514]

The wear on the slide is on the inside near the front of the slide. You can't see it from the pictures.

As far as the wear on the barrel, it actually extends about half way to the center of those bands. I took a black dry-erase marker and marked the inside slot where the slide stop pin rides. The slide doesn't actually make it far enough back for the slide stop pin to hit the most rearward part of the slot the pin rides in, so the barrel/slide are seizing before the slide gets all the way rearward. I think I'm going to get a file and very carefully try to remove about .001-.002" from the band area and see where that gets me. If nothing results from that, I'm sending it back.

[Bawanna]

I think it's fine to leave this in the CM / PM arena.

I'd send those pictures to Kahr and see what they have to say. I think your mostly on the right track but I'd want to hear from them.
It could be that the barrel is just not right more than we know and should be replaced.
Maybe not, maybe just a little sanding would do it but should be their call.

We want to get it 100% right and reliable.

[RRP]

I agree. Contact Kahr.

If this is a QC issue, they would want to know about it.

[exile0514]

So, I took a file to the area in the second picture and the pistol is no longer binding when i rack the gun extremely hard (to stimulate gunfire). I don't have a torx screwdriver small enough to get to the trigger bar, but once i do I'll leave an update. I'll also update after i go to the range tomorrow.

[muggsy]

The wear on the barrel hood is normal. The bands at the rear of the barrel aren't. Kahr would have replaced or machined the barrel for you had you sent it in. Some 600 grit sand paper used to polish the top edge of the trigger bar should get rid of that gritty feeling. A drop of oil on the trigger return spring may help, too. Try the oil before you sand the trigger bar.

[exile0514]

I know Kahr would have made it right, but I really hate waiting 3 weeks to have a functioning pistol, especially when I knew with 99% certainty what the issue was. I tried oiling the trigger spring and the place where the trigger bar spring rides along the trigger bar already and none have made it any better. Looks like I'm going to have to do a little light sanding.

[hps]

Mine was the same way, I used some 400/600 grit and polished the side of my barrel and it cured the slide sticking in the open position. Love the CM9!!

[exile0514]

So, after removing some material from the barrel where it was rubbing on the slide, the gun is no longer binding and functioning 100%. I also lightly sanded the trigger bar and trigger bar spring and now there is no more creep in the trigger. Yay for saving 3 weeks of waiting.

[gb6491]

So, after removing some material from the barrel where it was rubbing on the slide, the gun is no longer binding and functioning 100%. I also lightly sanded the trigger bar and trigger bar spring and now there is no more creep in the trigger. Yay for saving 3 weeks of waiting.
Well done!

[muggsy]

I love it when a plan comes together.

[Scarywoody]

I picked up a Torx/ Screwdriver set from Harbor Freight, $6. I use it for my pistols and rifles. I did a "fluff and buff" on my CM9 before going to the range. The result was a pretty flawless outing. Buying a Kahr is like buying a take home course on being a gunsmith.