CM 9 Frame Spreading

[antares]

I recently reached 2000 rounds through me CM 9 . I noticed when I was cleaning it that both sides of my front frame were twisted outward . This was allowing my slide to move from side to side about a 1/16 an inch. I contacted tech support and was told to send a picture and a video of the problem . It was also discussed that I was experiencing some abnormal barrel wear.
2 business days after I sent the requested information I received a reply that my barrel wear was probably caused by a weak recoil spring (according to KAHR is to be replaced after 2-3 K rounds) and the frame spread is normal and the play in the slide will not effect it . Pulled out the owners manual and no mention of recoil spring recommendation . Gun is 6 months old and I am calling BS on the frame issue. I did a search and did not find a mention of anyone else experiencing similar issues, and no reference to the recoil spring recommendation. What are your thoughts ?

Jeff

[Bawanna]

If the frame spread you mention is what I think it is, it is normal. The frame just in front of about the trigger guard does bow out symmetrically on both sides, many before you have been concerned about that.
I personally don't think the recoil spring needs to be replaced that often but I got nothing solid to back that up other than I don't do it.
1/16th inch is a lot, a whole lot of side play.
What kind of barrel wear are we talking about? Where, the barrel hood or elsewhere?

Some pictures would be right handy. You can use a image host to post one or you have to wait till 30 post.

There's a bunch of folks here to help you figure this out.

[gb6491]

Antares,
Welcome to the forums :)
Bawanna is spot on with his reply (as usual :yo:)

Please post some photos of your CM9's frame. FWIW, all the polymer frame Kahr pistols I own have some spread or bulge in the dust cover area (front of the frame).
For example:
https://i.postimg.cc/2y3FD636/dc.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bSc20qxc)
While I'll only speak to the guns I have in hand, I believe this will be found (in varying degrees) on of all the poly frame guns Kahr make.

1/16 of an inch play side to side might be excessive (IMO). How are you measuring it?

My 45 has no to very little play. The CW9 a slight bit. My P40 Covert has the most. I think the play is more rocking then side to side.
None of it seems to affect the accuracy or reliability of the pistols.
Here are some photos showing the engagement of the front rails on the 45 and the 40:
https://i.postimg.cc/qMd41MMc/mr1k-copy.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://i.postimg.cc/LXBNRTL8/mr11k-copy.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7GhgnSKF)
https://i.postimg.cc/vH1fthTx/mr21k-copy.jpg (https://postimg.cc/vcs4QWWG)
Notice in the last photo, that the one rail on the P40, while having adequate engagement, doesn't engage quiet as fully as the same rail in the 45 (see middle photo).

How does your CM9
compare?

Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Someday if there are enough days I hope to learn how to take gooder pictures and make little arrows and stuff like Greg.
Your truly a wizard when it comes to showing stuff so challenged folks like myself who require pictures to understand stuff can get it.

I remember in my construction days, looking at blueprints and stuff and telling them, don't ya just have a picture of what you want it to look like.

Well done once again.

[Mike_usn_ret]

Fit and finish....words that Kahr has never heard of for their poly firearms.....even the P series has not ever reached outstanding quality.

[JohnR]

...don't ya just have a picture of what you want it to look like.

That could be done, but the set of drawings would be so expensive the owner couldn't afford to pay you to build it.

I agree with the OP on the recoil spring thing - if it's not in the manual it's BS.

[oldtimer]

This is no way criticizing the OP, I really enjoy shooting my cm9 prefect little carry gun however I consider it a carry weapon not a range gun, any auto pistol under 17-20 oz has a shorter life in my opinion. I really doubt my cm9 will see a maximum round count of 4k.

[Bawanna]

I have to respectfully disagree on this one. Jocko has well over 40,000 through his PM9, I believe close to 60, 000 last time we got a report.
Looks like new. He still claims he's a lousy shot with it and always was but feels good enough about it that he still pocket carries it for all these many years.

I don't know how often he replaces a spring, have to ask him that next time I chat with him.

[oldtimer]

No problem colonel, I'm sure many would disagree with me. I've seen full size autos give up after 40k rounds, but my point was you give up durability for the light weight of a carry gun, personally I would not carry a cm9 with more ten 10k down the barrel, I would however buy a second one for range use and keep the other
for carry. I believe the people who build 15 oz guns see them as carry only but of course it is left to the consumer to decide it's life.

[Mike_usn_ret]

When I go to the range I usually take my CZ or Springfield for my 9mm shooting. Last few months been .22 SA revolvers that I have gone head over heels for. I only fire probably 25 rds a month out of my CM9 rotating my SD ammo. Just to keep the feel of the gun and to keep down the wear and tear on it.

[antares]

If forum rules permit here is a link to the video I sent KAHR showing play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h6Iwqy6K08
I do have the normal bowing I just believe it has become larger. Concerning the 2k rounds I had an issue feeling comfortable with the trigger control and was unable to reliably hit where I wanted . I am at the point now where I would be comfortable using it as my carry weapon.

Jeff

[68Firebird]

For me, that link shows "Video unavailable."

[Armybrat]

My CW9 slide wiggles side to side about like antares’ video, but not my CW45. Never noticed it before. However the Gun still shoots just fine.

[ct9kahrtoter]

Mine bow out like that. I don't quite get the bow, because the metal rails don't seem to bow out.

[Armybrat]

Mine bow too, but maybe it is due to embedding the rail into the plastic?

[dustnchips]

It could be that the plastic shrinks when cooling and the metal rails hold the middle out while the ends get smaller. They aren't just rails, they wrap right under and are all one piece.