I am honestly disappointed with my CW45

[MMyers1970]

I put another 50 rounds through my used CW45 yesterday. That brings my round count up to 150. I do not know how many rounds its actually fired, but since it was assembled incorrectly when I bought it, I know it wasn't being used as a range rental.

During the 50 rounds I fired yesterday, I had at least 15 failures to return to battery. Some of them I solved by giving the slide a gentle nudge with my thumb, and some I had to give it a hard whack with the palm of my hand.

I will give it another 50 rounds to see if this problem resolves itself, and if not, I think it's on the chopping block. I find it unpleasant to shoot. There is a good possibility I turn it and my XD-S into a Glock 41, and reserve my .45 shooting to giant full sized pistols.

[187911]

You purchased the gun used correct with zero knowledge of its history or round count? Why not change the recoil and mag springs for starters? I did that for everyone of my used Kahrs I purchased. I change the recoil, mag, and striker spring... Either way, you find it unpleasant to shoot, so I don't see the point in keeping it. List it in the market place setting, and give it a new home.

If you want a, IMHO, soft shooting single stack, try a Shield 45. I've never fired a CW45, bit I have fired a XDS in 45. The difference in recoil is night and day for me at least. The XDS beat up my hands a little, but I could shoot the Shield all day...

[gb6491]

I put another 50 rounds through my used CW45 yesterday. That brings my round count up to 150. I do not know how many rounds its actually fired, but since it was assembled incorrectly when I bought it, I know it wasn't being used as a range rental.

During the 50 rounds I fired yesterday, I had at least 15 failures to return to battery. Some of them I solved by giving the slide a gentle nudge with my thumb, and some I had to give it a hard whack with the palm of my hand.

I will give it another 50 rounds to see if this problem resolves itself, and if not, I think it's on the chopping block. I find it unpleasant to shoot. There is a good possibility I turn it and my XD-S into a Glock 41, and reserve my .45 shooting to giant full sized pistols.


Beyond what 187911 suggests, you might check to see if your barrel has enough free bore. I wrote about this a little bit in this thread (about half way down the page): http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?32227-Moving-on-from-my-CW45

If that checks good, I'd be inclined to make a shorter rear pin for the extractor to remove some tension off the extractor.

One might even check out the
"Found solution to FTF and failure to return to battery on CW 380" sticky at the top of this forum for another possibility.


FWIW, when my CW45 was brand new I would have some failures to return to battery. I'm positive I caused these with a sloppy grip. I'd bear down and not have anymore stoppages.

Regards,
Greg

[Ed M]

Wow Mikey.

That's so unlike my experience with the CW45. I've had zero issues with mine, and it's just a joy to shoot.

With the prior owner having messed with the extractor assembly, I'd be leery that he did some ill advised mods to something, like cut down a spring.

I'd replace the springs with a Wolff kit, and see what that does.

Good luck, buddy.

[ripley16]

Like MMyers, I too had a tough time shooting both the P and TP45. I though I had a fairly solid grip but the two light guns broke my grip and slowed my follow up a great deal. In addition both guns, but especially the P45, had feed problems. I wanted the guns to work but after well over 1000 rounds of trying I gave up.
I've since sold my other .45s as well, even the full size ones, as I just don't enjoy the recoil. Getting older sucks.

[MMyers1970]

Like MMyers, I too had a tough time shooting both the P and TP45. I though I had a fairly solid grip but the two light guns broke my grip and slowed my follow up a great deal. In addition both guns, but especially the P45, had feed problems. I wanted the guns to work but after well over 1000 rounds of trying I gave up.
I've since sold my other .45s as well, even the full size ones, as I just don't enjoy the recoil. Getting older sucks.

I think if Kahr made a K45 or a T45---Commander or Govt' Model sized---recoil wouldn't be an issue. I used to have a Glock 30. Recoil wasn't bad on that one, either. The CW45 is very thin, and I think that's part of the problem. I could try a Pachmayr grip sleeve, but throwing money at a handgun I don't think I like doesn't seem like a good idea.

Bigger and heavier are better in a .45, for me. Getting older does suck, and having numb hands after shooting 50 rounds is no bueno.

[BirdsThaWord]

Like MMyers, I too had a tough time shooting both the P and TP45. I though I had a fairly solid grip but the two light guns broke my grip and slowed my follow up a great deal. In addition both guns, but especially the P45, had feed problems. I wanted the guns to work but after well over 1000 rounds of trying I gave up.
I've since sold my other .45s as well, even the full size ones, as I just don't enjoy the recoil. Getting older sucks.

I hope I never get older. Most of what I own are .45’s. Sorry to hear that man!

[DavidR]

And all this time I thought you were born in 1970.

[BirdsThaWord]

And all this time I thought you were born in 1970.
Me? Close to it. Not old, but not young. ; )

[DavidR]

Me? Close to it. Not old, but not young. ; )

Was actually thinking MMyers1970 but this is your thread so sorry for hijacking it.

Or maybe it’s Mike’s thread and I’m just old and confused.

[BirdsThaWord]

Was actually thinking MMyers1970 but this is your thread so sorry for hijacking it.

Or maybe it’s Mike’s thread and I’m just old and confused.
Lol! 10-4! Your response was so close to mine, so thought you meant me. : )

[MMyers1970]

Was actually thinking MMyers1970 but this is your thread so sorry for hijacking it.

Or maybe it’s Mike’s thread and I’m just old and confused.

It's my thread. My hands are paying the price for decades of repetitive stress. Before long I'm going to be down to shooting only .22. LOL

[Bawanna]

Decades can be hard on working folks. I see the writing on the wall and have bought a couple.......9's just in case but so far (knock on wood) I'm still getting along fine with the 45's.
Still need to find a .......9mm 1911 for the future.

Some mornings, might depend on the weather I almost gotta run my hands under hot water to get the fingers working but then we're in business. Sometimes aches and pains of course but guess that goes along with the decades.

[MMyers1970]

Was actually thinking MMyers1970 but this is your thread so sorry for hijacking it.

Or maybe it’s Mike’s thread and I’m just old and confused.

I was born in 1970. My hands have taken a beating from decades of repetitive stress---work related, lifting weights, racing road bicycles, etc. I've had bouts of carpal tunnel, "trigger finger", numbness----and now arthritis. At 48. WTF?

[BirdsThaWord]

Well dang fellas! Sorry to hear about that stuff! Not giving me a bright picture of my shooting future. : (

On a related note, about 4 yrs ago neuropathy started in on me. Got so (foot/hand pain) bad I really thought I was going to be in a wheelchair soon. I was told/read that all that could be done was to manage the pain. Well I could go on and on about what I've learned about the medical "proffesion". I went vegan, supplemented like crazy...took about 2 years, but 98% healed/pain free/functioning. If I get off track for just a few days it starts creeping back up. Incredible what diet and supplementation can do. (It also got rid of my diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic sinusitis and chronic gout). Zero meds ever, other than an occasional NSAID from over doing it at yard work.

[yqtszhj]

Still need to find a .......9mm 1911 for the future.
.

You can start saving for this one.....

https://www.wilsoncombat.com/edc-x9/

Something about it appeals to me but I could never see myself having one. Now a nice 9mm Dan Wesson, maybe. :confused:

[Bawanna]

Even the lowliest Wilson exudes quality. One officer here has one, held it once, it's bottom of the line Wilson but it felt like a Lincoln in hand. Just NICE!

Alas as you suggest I'll most likely never call one my own but I've always felt every man should own one Wilson in his life time, ain't over yet.

I'm actually looking at Rock Islands and lower ends. Usually they run just fine and many have good luck with them.

A Dan Wesson would be sweet but I think the one I got will probably be the only one. At least I got that checked off the list.

[Bawanna]

Well dang fellas! Sorry to hear about that stuff! Not giving me a bright picture of my shooting future. : (

On a related note, about 4 yrs ago neuropathy started in on me. Got so (foot/hand pain) bad I really thought I was going to be in a wheelchair soon. I was told/read that all that could be done was to manage the pain. Well I could go on and on about what I've learned about the medical "proffesion". I went vegan, supplemented like crazy...took about 2 years, but 98% healed/pain free/functioning. If I get off track for just a few days it starts creeping back up. Incredible what diet and supplementation can do. (It also got rid of my diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic sinusitis and chronic gout). Zero meds ever, other than an occasional NSAID from over doing it at yard work.

So if I go vegan and do this supplement thing I can throw my wheelchair in the river???? Wait.....vegan, that's no meat right? I'll have to reponder this here situation. Can't imagine no beef or chicken now and then.

[oldtimer]

Mid 70's here but will never give up my 1911, simply a joy to shoot, however I do believe any pistol under 20 ounces would be a bit too much for 45acp. Side note
as I've aged I begin using batting gloves at the range big help for old hands. I've used regular shooting gloves but find them too thick.

[DougGuy]

The CW45 barrels are made by Walther as far as I know, the chambers and the throats in all of them are tight. You basically have no freebore, and what little there is, is a very stingy .451" at the most, so anything but factory jacketed ammo will produce the same failure to go into battery because the bullet is jammed into the freebore and the freebore is not big enough to let the loaded round seat fully.

This can be very dangerous if you are carrying the CW45 for defense, I had some Hornady 250gr +P loads fail to fire, apparently mine were "plunking" enough to get the gun back into battery, but the striker instead of breaking the priming compound and firing the round, only pushed the round farther into the chamber and barely dented the primer.

The CW45 barrel responds wonderfully to being throated, this is the only real alteration that needs to be done to the CW45, not only will it permit using handloads with the most common .452" cast bullets, but it will be more reliable with all factory loads as well, not to mention that it usually makes a noticeable improvement in groups fired. There is less resistance to bullet movement, which translates to less felt recoil but the effect may be quite minimal. I have throated a good number of these barrels and they all were improved. There are threads in this forum by our moderator and myself detailing the differences in stock barrels and throated barrels, the pics illustrate it perfectly.

[MMyers1970]

I am no longer the owner of a CW45. I traded it and now own a 3rd Generation S&W 4516. Not a huge pistol, but all steel and Commander sized. It weighs a ton and has Hogue rubber grips, so I figure that should be pretty comfortable to shoot. It's like I've come full circle--my first carry pistol was a S&W 3913. The 3rd Gen Smiths are great pistols, they just fell victim to the polymer handgun wave that ran through the 2000s. I'm looking forward to shooting it.

If Kahr made a T45, I imagine it would be about this size.

[Bawanna]

I carried a 3rd Generation 4516 for many years. First auto was a Smith 59, then went to the 45. They are great guns. One of several I wish I still had.
Went to an Officers Model Colt and been on the 1911 band wagon ever since.

[BirdsThaWord]

Lol! It was tough for sure. I missed cheese and ice cream more than anything. Not for everyone, but drastic measures were needed. I’m now about 80% vegan, with weekends being pretty much what I want I eat. It’s easier in the week as work keeps my mind occupied.

[Bawanna]

Cheese and ice cream are a no go for vegans? I don't eat cheese hardly at all and not much ice cream. If it weren't for steaks, and ham, etc I'd be a vegan.

I like fish, I guess vegans probably don't eat them neither?

[kenemoore]

I am about 71.4% teetotaler, I only drink whiskey on the weekends. :cool:

[Bawanna]

Vegans don't drink whiskey neither?????? Might be a deal breaker right there. I don't drink much, not even on weekends but now and then it's not a bad thing.

[BirdsThaWord]

Cheese and ice cream are a no go for vegans? I don't eat cheese hardly at all and not much ice cream. If it weren't for steaks, and ham, etc I'd be a vegan.

I like fish, I guess vegans probably don't eat them neither?
I forget what its called when fish is the only meat you eat. Maybe pescatarian or something like that. It’s a shame we can’t eat fish as clean as our forefathers had!
I read something the other day about how fresh water fish are now showing up with blood pressure meds, anti depressants, libido drugs and all kinds of other stuff as so many people pop prescriptions these days and it all makes it into our lakes and streams. Freaking gross when you think about it.
I love me some teryaki glazed salmon!!!

[BirdsThaWord]

Hmm...not sure about the whiskey part. That would be a life not much worth living if I could never have whiskey again!!!