Cold weather PM9 issue

[Diggerdawg]

I've had my PM9 for about 8 months and love it. I've probably got around 600 rounds through it with no failures until today.

Today was the first time I was shooting in cold weather - outdoors at about 33 degrees farenheit. Shot about 75 rounds and 3 times I experienced what seemed like a slide lock back on the second round. The slide didn't actually lock back - all I had to do was tap it and it went into battery and then rest of the mag shot fine.

Any suggestions as to what this might have been? Could it simply be due to the cold weather? The gun was cleaned and lubed since last time shot but has not been lubed in about 2 months. Should I be oiling it on a regular basis even if not shooting it (I carry it a reasonable amount but not all the time). Also would be interested in advice on whether I should be using grease rather than oil.

Is it possible I was unintentionally hitting the slide lock lever? But as I said, the slide wasn't actually locked back, just needed a nudge to make it go forward.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

[jocko]

change ur outter recoil spring to the wolffs. 20.5# spring and this sh-t will stop. also what az478*** stated to, should do the trick.. Cold weather should not have any effect on operation of the gun but it can have an effect on the shooter...

[Diggerdawg]

Jocko - it seems like a spring issue with the current spring just not having enough umph to retun the slide to battery. I assume the wolffs 20.5# spring is slightly stronger than the stock spring?

Thanks

[jocko]

Jocko - it seems like a spring issue with the current spring just not having enough umph to retun the slide to battery. I assume the wolffs 20.5# spring is slightly stronger than the stock spring?

Thanks

recoil springs are 18#. I have been using the 20.5 from wolffs for over 3 years. wolffs makes all of kahrs springs by the way.

gunsprings.com

[Diggerdawg]

Just ordered the 20.5 wolffs spring. I have a feeling that it will solve my problem! Many thanks.

[jocko]

Just ordered the 20.5 wolffs spring. I have a feeling that it will solve my problem! Many thanks.

I was just going to suggest while your at it to order a 3 pak of their 5% extra strength magazine springs for yor PM9. they are awesome . I bet you might be able to intercept that order being it is sunday and have them all shipped at once and save a few bucks on postage.

remember the open end of the recoil springs goes towards the front of the slide.

Look up this webb site: Mil-comm.com for TW 25 grease, rea d up on it and if you order it get the syringe applicator for I think $8.95, u can lay a line of grease right inside the slide rails and never miss a beat...

[jocko]

Just ordered the 20.5 wolffs spring. I have a feeling that it will solve my problem! Many thanks.

ur waiting on teh new springs, give that PM9 the PROPPER PREPPING OF YOUR NEW KAHR in the kahr tech section along with the kahr lube chart. Both are awesome. Both will make the PM9 a bettergun without allthe "bang" noise to break it in also..

Best thing one can do for most all kahrs is just get out and shoot it like u stole it and the gun gets smoother every time it goes "bang". IT REALLY DOES.

[mr surveyor]

Since I don't own a PM series pistol, I won't even attempt any suggestions that ar4e4 model specific, but regular, periodic maintenence on ANY firearm you intend to use at a moment's notice should be mandatory. I don't care what kind of lube is used, if a firearm is intended for immediate use, it should be inspected and re-lubed at least monthly. If you carry like I do, in often nasty conditions, it may need weekly, or bi-weekly attention. I do a visual every night to make sure I don't have a chunk of mud, leaves or other garbage in the holster, and my IWB guns get checked for dust bunnies after every carry. I wouldn't consider taking a gun from the safe after an extended period of time (over a month or so) without a quick field strip and a few drops or dabs of lube on the rails..... particularly guns with a tight build.


surv (who is practicing to be a grumpy old man:D)

[Diggerdawg]

I ordered 2 of the 3 paks of the mag springs (and asked them to ship together with earlier order) - appreciate the advice.

I had already done the prepping. I must have racked the slide at least 300 times before I ever shot it. Will look at the TW 25 grease.

Thanks again.

[bigmacque]

I went to the range today, and it was so cold -- indoors -- that I could see my breath. Not 33 degrees, but cold enough to see your breath is cold enough for me.

I had no problems shooting, and in fact learned something today: I shoot this PM9 better with one hand than I do with two hands.

I do like the wolf 20.5 spring suggestion though, and will probably go ahead and do that just because so many have suggested it.

[mr surveyor]

I am a believer in using the heaviest recoil springs a pistol will reliably cycle with. I have 22# spring in my Kimber Stainless Compact. 100% reliable.

[MikeyKahr]

You Floridians have got it too good. Come up north a ways and see what seeing your breath at the range really means!! :target:


I went to the range today, and it was so cold -- indoors -- that I could see my breath. Not 33 degrees, but cold enough to see your breath is cold enough for me.

I had no problems shooting, and in fact learned something today: I shoot this PM9 better with one hand than I do with two hands.

I do like the wolf 20.5 spring suggestion though, and will probably go ahead and do that just because so many have suggested it.

[jocko]

Mikey Karh

Indiana boy here. and amen to that statement. It is cold here 6 degrees thismorning..

[Bawanna]

These fellas are all giving you solid good information. The only thing I do differently on my CCW guns is I purposely don't do anything special prior to a range session.
As they said, I clean and inspect periodically. If it's been in the safe for awhile it gets a cleaning and lube prior to service.
My thinking on the CCW's is I want to know if I have issues that may require me to lube or clean more frequently than I am. Heaven forbid you ever need to deploy your CCW your not gonna have the luxury of cleaning and lubing before hand. It will be just another day and you don't get to pick the day.

[MikeyKahr]

Mikey Karh

Indiana boy here. and amen to that statement. It is cold here 6 degrees thismorning..

Hey jocko, we're next door neighbors. Not 6 degrees here, but just about.

Bawanna45cal, good advice on how to treat a CCW shoot on a range visit. I'm still quite new to a lot of this, but that is very sound advice. Great way to test how things would go should the need arise. And test again.

[tomwalshco]

Agree with jocko. Even if you left the thing in the fridge the night before... You didn't mention if you were wearing gloves or not. Shooting in colder weather hurts. Probably L-wristed it. No biggie.