slackwolf
02-10-2016, 12:08 PM
So I personally have 2 Kahr firearms, a newer CM9 (250-300rd count) for my wife and an older style PM40 (450-550rd count) that is mine.
The CM9 I am having issues with the finger extension 9-7rd magazine with nose dive failure to feeds on 2-3rds down from full mag as well as 1-2 remaining in mag it seemed. Tried Speer Lawman 115, 124, and 147 as well as Federal HST 147. No problems until recently and no issues with the 6rd flush magazine. I have taken apart the mag and can't find anywhere the follower may be snagging unless it is catching the magazine catch somehow. The 7rd magazine nose dives are happening with 3 different shooters. I know in the Kahr fixes page there is mention about shaving the follower. I was thinking possibly this or just not enough spring tension, only due to it happening at several points through the mag. Anyone with a CM9 and 7rd mag know if this is the case on this one or if something else to be checking? Cleaned and lubed with Weapon Shield CLP and not able to replicate issues on 6rd mag. I've had to swap followers and springs on my PM40 extended mags once before due to follower tilt and it eating followers, so I'm wondering if this may be the start of similar issues in the CM9. Kahr isn't exactly helpful on the issue since it is with a mag not included with the firearm.....
The PM40 issues are not so much function anymore as a WTF and ruining brass that I would normally reload. I'm leaning towards weak extractor spring on this one but wanted to see if anyone else had this issue before I start breaking down the slide and ordering springs. Extractor feels fine, fairly solid, and isn't locked up so I'm just guessing here based on how often I need to replace various springs in this thing..... About 1 out of 5 pieces of ejected brass will have the case mouth crushed. I haven't found any brass marks yet on the slide where it may be crushing the brass so I'm still hunting. Ejection pattern is pretty random as well with a few coming out slow and low 12 o'clock. This has been running Blazer Brass 165 and 180, Win USA 165, and Federal HST 180. Tried with a few different shooters as well, same issues.
The PM40 has been a working progress for a while.... Replaced mag springs and followers twice now over past 5-6 years (low rd count years) due to above mentioned issues, recoil assembly three times due to problems completely returning to battery on a fairly clean chamber even after 250rds+, and a few areas needing polishing to function reliably. This gun is very lube sensitive as well when it starts getting cold. Runs reliably on Weapon Shield CLP but it's picky if I forget mine and need to clean and relube at the range. When I've borrowed a buddies lube of choice, I would have issues returning to battery again. Learned to always remember my own. I'm thinking about the Wolff XP recoil springs for this one as I was told by Jay with Kahr the recoil assemblies between the PM9 and PM40 were the same strength springs. Out of warranty on this one.
Outside the CM/PM realm (I know another section for the CW, but easy to just lump it here), my dad also has a CW45 that has recently been getting light primer strikes on anything with CCI nickel plated primers. Firing pin protrusion looks good, just not enough to fire off the harder primer cups. Maybe 3 years old and been back to homeland a few times with no success. Anyone seen an extra power firing pin spring for the CW45 and if so, how much it ends up raising the trigger pull weight? None of this ammo has issues running in an S&W M&P45 full size. Kahr just says not to run reloads or factory ammunition with those primers.....
Lets just say the last few weekends at the range haven't been good for the Kahrs..... All 3 of these were at one time carry weapons when they proved to be reliable, but have been sidelined until they can prove reliability again or I replace them. Looking at a Sig P938 or Sig P290RS for a CM9 replacement (pocket carry) but unfortunately a G26 will be filling the void temporarily until can get another single stack proven, PM40 place is taken by an M&P40C (IWB carry), and the CW45 most likely will be replaced by an M&P45C.
The CM9 I am having issues with the finger extension 9-7rd magazine with nose dive failure to feeds on 2-3rds down from full mag as well as 1-2 remaining in mag it seemed. Tried Speer Lawman 115, 124, and 147 as well as Federal HST 147. No problems until recently and no issues with the 6rd flush magazine. I have taken apart the mag and can't find anywhere the follower may be snagging unless it is catching the magazine catch somehow. The 7rd magazine nose dives are happening with 3 different shooters. I know in the Kahr fixes page there is mention about shaving the follower. I was thinking possibly this or just not enough spring tension, only due to it happening at several points through the mag. Anyone with a CM9 and 7rd mag know if this is the case on this one or if something else to be checking? Cleaned and lubed with Weapon Shield CLP and not able to replicate issues on 6rd mag. I've had to swap followers and springs on my PM40 extended mags once before due to follower tilt and it eating followers, so I'm wondering if this may be the start of similar issues in the CM9. Kahr isn't exactly helpful on the issue since it is with a mag not included with the firearm.....
The PM40 issues are not so much function anymore as a WTF and ruining brass that I would normally reload. I'm leaning towards weak extractor spring on this one but wanted to see if anyone else had this issue before I start breaking down the slide and ordering springs. Extractor feels fine, fairly solid, and isn't locked up so I'm just guessing here based on how often I need to replace various springs in this thing..... About 1 out of 5 pieces of ejected brass will have the case mouth crushed. I haven't found any brass marks yet on the slide where it may be crushing the brass so I'm still hunting. Ejection pattern is pretty random as well with a few coming out slow and low 12 o'clock. This has been running Blazer Brass 165 and 180, Win USA 165, and Federal HST 180. Tried with a few different shooters as well, same issues.
The PM40 has been a working progress for a while.... Replaced mag springs and followers twice now over past 5-6 years (low rd count years) due to above mentioned issues, recoil assembly three times due to problems completely returning to battery on a fairly clean chamber even after 250rds+, and a few areas needing polishing to function reliably. This gun is very lube sensitive as well when it starts getting cold. Runs reliably on Weapon Shield CLP but it's picky if I forget mine and need to clean and relube at the range. When I've borrowed a buddies lube of choice, I would have issues returning to battery again. Learned to always remember my own. I'm thinking about the Wolff XP recoil springs for this one as I was told by Jay with Kahr the recoil assemblies between the PM9 and PM40 were the same strength springs. Out of warranty on this one.
Outside the CM/PM realm (I know another section for the CW, but easy to just lump it here), my dad also has a CW45 that has recently been getting light primer strikes on anything with CCI nickel plated primers. Firing pin protrusion looks good, just not enough to fire off the harder primer cups. Maybe 3 years old and been back to homeland a few times with no success. Anyone seen an extra power firing pin spring for the CW45 and if so, how much it ends up raising the trigger pull weight? None of this ammo has issues running in an S&W M&P45 full size. Kahr just says not to run reloads or factory ammunition with those primers.....
Lets just say the last few weekends at the range haven't been good for the Kahrs..... All 3 of these were at one time carry weapons when they proved to be reliable, but have been sidelined until they can prove reliability again or I replace them. Looking at a Sig P938 or Sig P290RS for a CM9 replacement (pocket carry) but unfortunately a G26 will be filling the void temporarily until can get another single stack proven, PM40 place is taken by an M&P40C (IWB carry), and the CW45 most likely will be replaced by an M&P45C.