Worn recoil spring maybe?

[ZardozCZ]

I finally got my new to me K9 to the range yesterday and put about 150 rounds through it, all my own reloads. The first box was Hornady XTPs (all 124gr) over ~3.8gr Titegroup, a rather light load. I had some FTE stove pipes that concerned me.

After those rounds were shot the balance were a box of 124gr XTPs and a box of 124gr Barry's RNCBs, over 4.15-4.2gr of Titegroup. These had significantly more recoil, no FTEs, and my groups were tightening considerably, putting what I can do with my CW9 to shame actually.

So my question is this: The force required to rack the slide is considerably less than the CW9. The barrel shows this K9 has been shot, a lot, but it still locks up tight and shoots POA=POI at 25'. Could the light spring and light load be a bad combination that lead to the stovepipes? I'm by no means an expert but that is what I'm guessing. Hoping you can enlighten me.

I already have rubber grips and recoil spring (all springs in fact) on order from Kahr so will soon be able to test the theory against a fresh spring, but thought maybe someone here could say for sure what lead to the FTE stovepipes.

I also noticed on several casings that theres a scuff at the mouth and sometimes a dent 1/3 the way down from the mouth. I'll try the ejector spring too and see if that mark goes away. I save and reload my brass so I want it in good shape. I hope to shoot a few thousand rounds through this one so I can hit what I want without thinking about it. If it performs as well as hoped, it will replace the CW9 as my primary carry tool. I'm already more accurate with it than the CW9, but not as good as with my CZ75s. The trigger takes some getting used to as the break point gives no clue!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[Bawanna]

Spring can never hurt. Kahrs generally don't like light loads much. If yours has been shot a lot it should be a little more lenient towards them though. My first thought was the load was too light and the spring too strong but that theory didn't make it off the launch pad before it failed.

I don't reload 9 so I'm out of touch on the reload 9 menu. I'd try the new spring first then spice up the loads a bit.

Or my old tried and true standard is get a box of name brand factory FMJ and see how it acts. Good place to start.

[ZardozCZ]

Spring can never hurt. Kahrs generally don't like light loads much.... ....Or my old tried and true standard is get a box of name brand factory FMJ and see how it acts. Good place to start.

Thanks Mugsy,

I still have some Federals that I'll bring with next time, and make a couple hundred "max" loads. Ought to be fun way to christen a new recoil spring. I'll try some light loads again too and see what difference the new spring makes. I should bring some 115s and 147s just to see how it feels accellerating different masses. POI ought to change some.

It could have been a light grip too, I'm used to a larger handful with double-stacks. I do shoot the CM9 every 3rd-4th time out, just to keep familiar with it as it's carried daily. Soon to be the K9 I'm thinking.

[Bawanna]

I been called a lot of things in my day, some not printable on this here forum but nobody, I mean nobody ever called me Mugsy before.

I have to dwell on this her situation some.

Vote for Cruz or your a pathetic loser. Now look what yall done.

[OvalNut]

I been called a lot of things in my day, some not printable on this here forum but nobody, I mean nobody ever called me Mugsy before.

I have to dwell on this her situation some.

Vote for Cruz or your a pathetic loser. Now look what yall done.


Haha Bawanna,

In light of this Muggsy mixup and in all good humor, I just gotta go for this:

TRUMP 2016!


Tim

[b4uqzme]

My guess is the combination of light loads and light grip caused the FTE. A new recoil spring is just a good idea. But remember you will need to break that spring in much like you would break in a new pistol. No biggie tho. Shooting is fun. Those dented case mouths are sorta normal. Hopefully you can still use the brass. Enjoy that new pistol. That's the best of the best.

[ZardozCZ]

I been called a lot of things in my day, some not printable on this here forum but nobody, I mean nobody ever called me Mugsy before.

I have to dwell on this her situation some.

Vote for Cruz or your a pathetic loser. Now look what yall done.

Sorry, been seeing that name in other posts and sorta stuck in this feeble mind. I've always been lousy with names but I rarely forget a face. Nothing intended, just hypoglycemic.

Do appreciate the insights all the same. I'm not a regular here so don't know many folks here. Hope it wasn't offending either way.

[ZardozCZ]

My guess is the combination of light loads and light grip caused the FTE. A new recoil spring is just a good idea. But remember you will need to break that spring in much like you would break in a new pistol. No biggie tho. Shooting is fun. Those dented case mouths are sorta normal. Hopefully you can still use the brass. Enjoy that new pistol. That's the best of the best.

I'm looking forward to the weekend, and hundreds of hot reloads. Should be fun.

[Bills1873]

Hard to offend most of these salty dogs around here, most are tough as nails!

[ZardozCZ]

I got the new spring, it has the same wire gage and # of turns as the old, but is nearly 2 inches longer! Much more effort to lock the slide back now too. Can't wait until trying it this weekend.

Oh, it was quite a struggle to get the new spring in the slide.

And, I LOVE the new rubber (ok, soft poly) grips! Now it's got the grip I learned to like with the first NYCPD K9 trade-in I got from aimsurplus several years back. Lock up on that one was rattly loose and accuracy suffered so I sold it to a guy that just wanted a small "belly gun". Suits him fine, this one now suits me fine!

Makes me ponder why I wouldn't want to check out a MK9 to maybe take the place of the CM9, but taxes come first!

[jocko]

I got the new spring, it has the same wire gage and # of turns as the old, but is nearly 2 inches longer! Much more effort to lock the slide back now too. Can't wait until trying it this weekend.

Oh, it was quite a struggle to get the new spring in the slide.

And, I LOVE the new rubber (ok, soft poly) grips! Now it's got the grip I learned to like with the first NYCPD K9 trade-in I got from aimsurplus several years back. Lock up on that one was rattly loose and accuracy suffered so I sold it to a guy that just wanted a small "belly gun". Suits him fine, this one now suits me fine!

Makes me ponder why I wouldn't want to check out a MK9 to maybe take the place of the CM9, but taxes come first!

that spring will take a set in 200 rounds and be veryy comfortable. actually because your original spring was two inches shorter is not an indication that the spring is no good either. But never a bad idea to change recoil springs, esecialyt when the gun starts to act up..

[muggsy]

I been called a lot of things in my day, some not printable on this here forum but nobody, I mean nobody ever called me Mugsy before.

I have to dwell on this her situation some.

Vote for Cruz or your a pathetic loser. Now look what yall done.

There are two Gs in Muggsy numb nuts and you should be honored that someone would think that highly of you. :)

[berettabone]

I have many rounds through my MK, and it is STILL difficult to rack, and I am sure that after another thousand rounds, it will STILL be tight and hard to rack. Very tight guns they are.............hotter the ammo, the better. Stronger the grip, the better. They are their own beast............................................. .................................................. ..........

[roadrunner840]

...hotter the ammo, the better...

I just wanted to chime in on the light loads. I've been carrying my MK9 and K9 with Hornady Lites. I've put quite a number through both pistols w/out any failures (probably over 200 in the MK and 100 in the K). They are significantly lighter than even the 115 gr range ammo I shoot. I started using Hornady Lites when I was carrying the Ruger LC9S - a very light polymer pistol. I figured carrying the LC9s with Hornady Lites was still a better option than carrying a 380. They ran fine in that light polymer gun and significantly reduced the recoil. But I really didn't expect them to cycle my MK9 when I purchased it (new). I discovered and was really surprised that they ran flawlessly in the MK. Then, I bought a new K9 and was also thinking they would be too light for the K9. But again they have cycled perfectly. In contrast, they would not cycle my Springfield EMP.

Regarding the springs; I've purchased extra including some Wolffs. I was intending to change springs about every 1,000 rounds. I'm not sure what the Kahr springs are rated for but I'm actually up to about 800 rounds in my MK and so far I can't detect any loss of strength. I've been really impressed with both pistols.

One odd thing I was thinking to post on another thread. Both of the plastic followers on my extended K9 mags broke (I had 2 mags). These are new mags. Oddly my 3 regular (shorter) mags haven't had an issue.

[ZardozCZ]

Ran 150 rds at the range yesterday, all 124gr, 50 of the light target loads, the rest at max charge by the book. Not a single hiccup!

Looks like the spring did the trick.

[RonW]

I just wanted to chime in on the light loads. I've been carrying my MK9 and K9 with Hornady Lites. I've put quite a number through both pistols w/out any failures (probably over 200 in the MK and 100 in the K). They are significantly lighter than even the 115 gr range ammo I shoot. I started using Hornady Lites when I was carrying the Ruger LC9S - a very light polymer pistol.

That's good to know because my LGS had the Hornady lites on sale & I scooped them all up but haven't had the chance to fire them. I bought them intended for my CM9 being such a small pistol.. Lately I've been stocking up on Hornady critical defense 115 gr. FTX for use in all my carry 9's considering they've get very good performance reviews on you tube & they function perfectly thru my pistols... As soon as I get the chance I'm gonna take a few boxes of Hornady critical defense "lite" to the range & try these out...

(P.S. I have around 400 rounds thru my K9 and it's still tight)

[muggsy]

Hey, being mistaken for Bawanna isn't exactly a compliment neither. :)

[muggsy]

that spring will take a set in 200 rounds and be veryy comfortable. actually because your original spring was two inches shorter is not an indication that the spring is no good either. But never a bad idea to change recoil springs, esecialyt when the gun starts to act up..

Does that mean that changing yer recoil spring is in order. You act up all the time.

[gmcjetpilot]

I was talking to Kahr recently via email about some other issue, wear on a part. They threw in their recoil springs lasting some crazy number of cycles without issue.... a life time of shooting. I would not replace springs just to replace them.