CW45 with a slide lock problem

[items]

I was at the range the other day and the slide lock tried to pop out a couple of times. I read though the "fixes thread" here and about the slide lock spring screw. Sure enough mine is loose enough to move the spring around with my finger - and I can see how it barely holds the slide lock in place when the spring is loose. Of course I don't have a Torx tool that small to try and tighten it a little. I did see where the fix boldly states to be very careful to NOT over tighten the screw because it could strip the threads in the frame. It appears to be an easy fix, just wish that the fix wasn't necessary. If they're that prone to loosening should a drip of lock tight be put in there? I probably am approaching 200 rounds fired about now.

[b4uqzme]

Get yourself a set of gunsmith screw drivers. The one with a bunch a various tips. I use mine all the time. It's magnetized and that really comes in handy mounting scope rings, etc.

Here's the best video ever for adjusting that slide lock spring. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gb6491+kahr+slide+lock+spring&view=detail&mid=6A4AEFFA33EFBB7FA4C36A4AEFFA33EFBB7FA4C3&FORM=VIRE

^^^ credit greg

[gb6491]

It's been my experience, that once adjusted, that screw is not prone to moving.
As there's the off chance that the spring might need to be replaced, I'd advise against using a thread sealer (my guess is that you are as likely to pull the treads out as you are to break the bond). FWIW, Loctite warns against using their red or blue lockers on plastics.
Regards,
Greg

[items]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the tightening after I buy a tool for it (or maybe bring it to the LGS where I purchased it and ask them to do it :) ).
I have a recent acquisition of a CT380 and couldn't believe the difficulty at removing the slide lock the first few times! I looked through the fixes thread and learned about the screw tightening. What a great place this is that folks share so many great tips and suggestions!

[railroader]

If you have a Lowe's nearby they sell a miniature screw driver that has different small torx bits for under $10.

[items]

I found a multi screwdriver that contained the correct Torx head in it. The problem is that i tried to tighten the screw and it just spins. I didn't even use the screwdriver handle - just the little Torx end piece so I absolutely didn't strip it! Damn - that means another trip to the LGS where I bought it and I imagine a replacement frame from Kahr? I still have less that 200 rounds through the CW45...

[wyntrout]

I have many sets of small Torx drivers and use the #6, I believe, for the PM45. I carry a bit with a handle, as well as the extra set of bits in my range box.I use them without a handle, just my fingers and the bit to tighten until there's a lot of resistance... not extra torque after that point. Care must be used to put the slide lock pin in correctly so that the free end of the spring ends up on the ledge to hold the slide lock lever down until the empty magazine follower pushes up the slide lock to lock the slide back properly.

Wynn :)

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I brought it into the LGS where I purchased it new in November. The gunsmith there looked it over and compared it with the new on on the shelf and said that I should call Kahr and ask them how to proceed. He thinks the frame is stripped where the screw goes in. I'm disappointed that I've had problems with an almost new CW45 but I guess that's the luck of the draw. I do love shooting it with the recoil much less than I had anticipated - and it hits where I aim. But I can't trust it for personal protection when the slide lock pops halfway out randomly when I shoot it. I've heard that Kahr customer service is very good and that they back their products up so I guess I'm about to find out.

[items]

I called Kahr customer service today and explained the problem of my slide like partially popping out when at the range. The guy said that it's most likely a slide stop spring and they'd send me one this time free of charge but would be charged if it happened again. I asked "isn't the CW45 covered by a multi-year warranty?" and was told that it sounds like it was caused by improper replacement of the slide lock. I took the CW45 apart 3 times. Once when I first purchased it, then twice after the 2 times I've been to the range with it. The only other time it was taken apart was last week when I took it to the LGS where I purchased it to look at and the gunsmith there said that he felt that the screw wouldn't tighten enough to hold the spring in place.
So I was wondering - can I really ruin the slide stop spring by replacing it 3 times after cleaning? I don't by any means use force to push it into place. I take care actually with all my guns whenever I handle them. I have a CT380 that is MUCH harder to remove the slide stop from than the CW45 ever was and (so far at least) haven't ruined that spring when replacing the slide stop...

[Bawanna]

If the screw holding the spring is stripped in the frame a new spring isn't gonna help you at all.

Did you tell customer service that. Focusing on how you just had to buy a bit to adjust it and found it stripped?

I don't know of any fix other than a new frame if that screw hole is stripped.

[getsome]

Sorry to hear of your problems there items....If that screw is stripped it didn't have anything to do with you taking it apart and the gun needs to go back to Kahr to correct it because if it wont tighten down your going to continue to have the same problem....

[items]

I did tell customer service that the LGS thought it was stripped. He said "this isn't like a wood screw going it's a polymer frame". Whatever that means - I figured a screw has to tighten to a certain degree no matter what the material is. The bit that I bought I never even put it into the screwdriver base - just used the bit with my fingers after reading a post on here stressing not to over-tighten the screw. I'm a very (some say overly) cautious person. I'll try the new spring and see what happens. Maybe what he meant was that the spring pressure back onto the screw is supposed to hold it in place as opposed to tightening it down like a wood screw? I can see that i guess.
The gunsmith at the LGS actually took one out of the display cabinet to compare the screw and the tightness. That's why he felt the screw hole was oversized to hold it in tight enough I guess. He took it aside and I wandered around the shop while he worked on it so can't say 100% what all the steps he took were...

[getsome]

I really think your best bet is to send the gun back to Kahr even if it's on your dime because if that hole is stripped out it's new frame time and I wouldn't mention having a gunsmith look at it or anything else just send it back and let them make a decision...If they do agree to swap out the frame you will have to go through a FFL dealer and fill out another 4473 form because the frame is the part with a serial number and is "The Gun" per the ATF....If all else fails and they refuse to fix it you could try a drop of gel super glue on the threads and when it starts to set up tighten it down to just snug but if you do that the screw wont ever come back out...Good luck and keep us informed...

[CJB]

I had a similar problem with my replacement PM9, that I bought immediately after my PM9j was stolen.

The culprit was the spring on the slide stop mechanism. I needed to "tweak it" a little to hold the slide stop closer to the frame. Took a while to figure out, but, once it was tweaked (just a little), no problem, and the slide stop doesn't want to walk out on its own.

Imagine bending the top "angled loop" just a bit inward, in relation to the rest of the spring which lays flat on the side of the frame. That did it for me, and the spring now fits in the groove in the slide stop very nicely, and holds that groove close to the frame. Maybe it will work for you too.

[items]

I received the replacement slide lock spring from Kahr today. When I removed the old one and laid them side by side the new one had a different shape and bend to it. It went on and tightened down as far as I felt comfortable with - using just the Torx T6 bit without the handle. The slide lock actually seems to have a little snap as it goes into place just as it fully seats. I don't recall it ever doing that. It also takes more than a gentle press to remove it now. Looks like a range trip is in order to see if it holds! I still don't agree with Kahr customer service who said that I had to damage it myself by not inserting the slide lock properly - I've had a lot of guns through the years and never had an issue like this. Hopefully it's all fixed now and that's that.