Moving on from my CW45

[gb6491]

Well, I've decided it's time to move on from my CW45. It's night sights are starting to dim and my eyesight isn't what it used to be either.
https://i.postimg.cc/MpqccJZ9/cw45-copy.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/Vs9mJrSc/b85pj7.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/t4KMdkfv/sights.jpg[/url

So rather than look at just replacing the Trijicons that are on my CW45, I wanted something with a bit more visibility. Now, it' true I could have sent my CW45 off to have Big Dot or other sights installed on it (and that might have been a slightly cheaper route), but a listing on Ebay caught my eye. The listing was for some Kahr 45 parts that included a P45 slide and barrel. I made an offer and the seller accepted :)
[URL="https://postimages.org/"]https://i.postimg.cc/3NzXMS2P/ebay.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The parts arrived in good order and, more importantly, in good condition.
https://i.postimg.cc/K80nx87P/p45-2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I decided to go with Truglo Tritium Pro sight and Lakeline LLC shipped them to me quickly (outstanding service!)
https://i.postimg.cc/QCgfbZ2f/p45-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[gb6491]

The OEM sights came off using a brass punch and hammer. There was a little stubborness from the front sight, but some heat persuaded it to get with the program.
https://i.postimg.cc/NfHsQJ1p/p45-7.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The new sights needed a bit of fitting, but I'm pleased with the fit. I now need to cover what I'm shooting at with the front sight. I guess folks are calling that a combat sight picture and I can live with it.
https://i.postimg.cc/hGbwsxVL/p45-9.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/cL1XWj3n/p45-8.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

The internals for the slide go in without issue, but I discover the P45 barrel doesn't have sufficient free bore for some types of bullet profiles.
https://i.postimg.cc/QNyXcG8X/p45-10-copy.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
http://i42.tinypic.com/10fnptx.jpg
Normally, I'd just cut more free bore into the barrel.
http://i63.tinypic.com/2ug2fbo.jpg

[gb6491]

However, I found that the P45 barrel has a bore diameter smaller than the pilot on my cutting tool. Fortunately, with a little pressure I was able to get the pilot to cut, just enough that I could finish the job with a homemade tool and some lapping compound.
https://i.postimg.cc/qBFxSLXk/lapped.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Now, for a guide rod. The P45 barrel and slide are shorter than the CW45. A CW45 guide rod will work with the P45 slide, but sticks out a bit (ditto the CW45 barrel).
https://i.postimg.cc/CMDLjM1w/stickout.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I have extra 45 parts and thought about cutting down an extra CW45 guide rod, but decided to buy a stainless one. While the rod I bought was supposed to fit K40 or P45 pistols, I found it a little short in my P45 slide. However, it fits great in my P40 Covert and the Covert's guide rod is a fine fit for the P45
https://i.postimg.cc/yd2GnzLR/p45-5.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/MpsddSTG/p45-6.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I'm still not out of the woods with the recoil spring system. Several trips to the range result in some stoppages where the slide is overrunning the round feeding from the magazine. Knowing this could be grip issue, I try to make sure to eliminate that variable, but the stoppages persist. I decide to check the recoil springs and find that the one that came with the P45 parts has the same number of coils as my CW45 springs.
https://i.postimg.cc/tJKYX72g/945-3.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

As the P45 slide, barrel, and guide rod are shorter, I cut a coil (maybe 3/4 of a coil) off the P45 spring. Problem solved!

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Here's my Premium CW45.
https://i.postimg.cc/L8BrRXT6/cwp45-copy4.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

BTW, for any that might be interested, here's what my P45 barrel looks like in my CW45 slide.
https://i.postimg.cc/SsrsMkky/p45-4a.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Bawanna]

You are the grand wizard for figuring stuff out.

I recently replaced all the night sights on the dept Glocks. They went with Trijicon HD with an orange front. It's a very similar sight picture as you have.
I put a 10-8 rear sight on my Cbob which has that same rounded slightly wider notch and like it very much.

Thank goodness for a good quality sight pusher, swapping out 35 sight sets was a job. After the first 2 or 3 I pretty much had it down.

Well done on the P45. You kind of scared me at first, thought you were parting with the CW and I know that was always one of your favorites.

[gb6491]

You are the grand wizard for figuring stuff out.

I recently replaced all the night sights on the dept Glocks. They went with Trijicon HD with an orange front. It's a very similar sight picture as you have.
I put a 10-8 rear sight on my Cbob which has that same rounded slightly wider notch and like it very much.

Thank goodness for a good quality sight pusher, swapping out 35 sight sets was a job. After the first 2 or 3 I pretty much had it down.

Well done on the P45. You kind of scared me at first, thought you were parting with the CW and I know that was always one of your favorites.
Thanks Boss! The CW45 remains a favorite and is only a top end swap away, but I am digging the P45 and new sights.

It's good reading that you like the 10-8 rear sight on your CBOB. I'm thinking about putting one on my TRP along with a standard XS Express Dot on the front.

As to the Glock sights, I'm glad to hear you had the right tool for the job. I'm not fond of changing out sights (even with the right tools).

Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Wow, I fully intend to do just that myself with the XS Express Dot. I was leaning towards the Big Dot, main reason I haven't acted yet. I modified my current front sight and put in a brass bead. Couldn't afford Gold. It works fairly well, I take a brass brush from time to time and polish it up.
Still while pretty good, just doesn't pick up with me old eyes like the XS sights.

XS sent me a response once and I think it's even on their website that the standard dot was offered for those that haven't figured out how to use the big dot properly. I know it's definitely a cover what you want to hit application and many don't like that, but it works for me.

I'm not certain how well a big dot would fit in that rear notch though, like a little space. Guess I could always widen the notch a bit, done that before for some of the guys here.

Changing sights is scary for me. As you say even with the right tools it can be risky. Hammer and punch is of course even more scary which is what I usually have to do. Not my favorite thing to do in the least.

[68Firebird]

Nice upgrade! Way to figure things out (as usual).

[gb6491]

Nice upgrade! Way to figure things out (as usual).
Thanks :)
It's more the case of that even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while..
Regards,
Greg

[Armybrat]

Interesting conversion. Thanks.

[DavidR]

Really awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[DougGuy]

Thanks for sharing this Greg, it helps a great deal for folks to see the "plunk" issue in photos.

I just got done throating a P45 barrel for a customer, the lands in the polygonal rifling are very tight. Most 45 barrels run anywhere from .4415" to .443" bore diameter, but the polygonal barrels will run down in the .436" to .439" range. I had to machine a pilot bushing specifically for this barrel. Took me longer to machine the bushing than it did to do the throat, crown & polish package. I should have taken pics but I was trying to make the USPS collection to return the barrel.

Throating these is the bee's knees. I like a semi-long freebore before the leade ins start so it is able to let the bullet exit the case and be held in freebore which is a lot tighter and much more concentric alignment with the rifling than just the expanded case mouth when it is fired.

I had a couple of the Hornady JHPs fail to fire in my CW45, I think when the striker hit the primer, it pushed the round farther into the chamber instead of firing it. This must have been some interference in the throat, same as the OP posted in his photo of the case rim sitting proud of the barrel hood. Throating the barrel would have prevented this as the rounds would have chambered correctly.

This is a previous P45 barrel I had worked over, it got the package. I do recommend the 20 degree crown as I am not a fan of the 45 degree countersink that Kahr sends them out with.


https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04932%20Custom_zpsx2zh6d8z.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04932%20Custom_zpsx2zh6d8z.jpg.html)

After throating it would happily plunk all of the dummies in the photo:

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04944%20Custom_zpslhvxyabt.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04944%20Custom_zpslhvxyabt.jpg.html)

And the finishing touch, the 20 degree crown:

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04938%20Custom_zpslsjiqo33.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Cylinder%20Services/Kahr%20P45%20polygonal/DSC04938%20Custom_zpslsjiqo33.jpg.html)

The rounds that I carry daily are Speer Gold Dot, this JHP profile will plunk in stock Kahr barrels for the most part, I was most impressed with this bullet's performance having dug this sample out of 9" of North Carolina red clay. Couldn't ask for better out of a compact carry gun..

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Kahr%20CW45/SpeerGoldDotSoilTest7-4-2015_zpsyf4bj0w4.jpg
(http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Kahr%20CW45/SpeerGoldDotSoilTest7-4-2015_zpsyf4bj0w4.jpg.html)

[wyntrout]

Good work and congratulations on your upgrade. Thanks for the post :)

[BirdsThaWord]

Thanks for this write up Greg! I learn from you all the time. Now I just have to apply some of that knowledge!