Big problem with new CW40-won't fire!

[copterdrvr]

OK, finally got to take my new CW40 to the range today-not so good.

The problem wasn't loading live rounds or extracting them after they fired-it was getting them to fire!

On more than a few occasions, when I pulled the trigger, there was a "click" that felt strange and there was no impact of the firing pin on the primer. If I continued to pull the trigger, there was that same kinda strange click with nothing happening.

Also, when cycling the slide to remove the unfired shell and recock the pistol, it almost felt as if the pistol was "hung up" in some way as the slide felt as if it was hanging up on something and was kinda difficult to retract.

As an example, when I cycle the pistol with my Azoom snap caps, it is very easy and smooth to cycle whether I've dropped the "hammer" or not. When the gun didn't fire at the range, it was pretty darned hard to get the slide back to eject the unfired round.

I have a CW9, PM9 and P380 that are flawless.

Any ideas?

[wyntrout]

I would take it apart... remove the slide, and using the CW9 as a guide to what looks correct, see if anything is out of place or not functioning when you pull the trigger. I would check that the striker assembly in the slide is in place, too. Watch the trigger bar on the right inside of the frame and see if it's working like the CW9. Oh, make sure the recoil spring assembly is correctly installed... the closed end to the rear, open end of the spring to the front.

I would try to find something out of place and if I couldn't easily fix it, email and talk to Kahr customer service. Pictures!

Good luck.

Wynn :)

[jocko]

check to see if any rounds are sticking in the barrel/chamber. If a rounds is to long, too tight, it will keep the gun from dong its complete timing thing to allow it to fire. You didn't say but did you try another brand of ammo. A way to test is to take the barrel off and with those rounds insert one in the barrel and kinda give it a push forward, now tip the barrel downard, that round should come out on its own. Also if you have this hapen witht hegun alltotegher, eject ahtt round and look the bullet over.There should be no marks on that bullet. not saying thtis the issue but u need to eliminate the possables before thinking of sending it back. Certainly what wyn stated is needed to be done, The fact tha tyou have a few kahrs, tells me you know what the heh is going on to.

You might also have an out of spec trigger bar which willgive you light, or not strkes also. In that case sad to say it need to go back. Did you do ay of the Propper prepping of your new kahr before hand??? Who knows, it just might help..

keepus posted, we can try to help ..

[copterdrvr]

Wyntrout-all you mentioned is good.

Jocko, chamber is super smooth and rounds fall out like moving on glass. Did my usual "prep" of this pistol and it will cycle like nothing else. Been doing pistol stuff since the 80's-mostly semi's but also revolvers. Strange thing is that when I cycle my Azooms through it, it is so smooth I can follow the slide forward with my hand and it will STILL cycle the rounds!!!

Compared the inards of my CW9 (never missed a bit from day one-didn't shoot it until I did my "fluff and buff") and the only thing I see is that the transfer bar is not as flush as my CW9 is. Don't see that as an issue.

What I did notice is that the forward rim of the Azoom has the finish worn off of it and when I insert a live round, there is a "crimp" mark on the rim of the round as if the cartridge is hitting the edge of the chamber pretty hard. I'm wondering if the chamber isn't quite deep enough. The weird thing was the heavy "clicking" of the trigger and the fact that it was a heck of a lot harder to cycle the slide to clear the weapon after it failed to fire. Almost felt like something was hanging up-don't think that's the case but that's what it felt like.

It either felt and fired perfectly, or it didn't fire at all. I did try three different types of ammo and if I remember correctly, one of them wouldn't work-ever!

[mr surveyor]

check the striker channel for tooling residue...shavings, chips, etc.

It has been known to happen!

Use the disassembly instructions for detail stripping the slide and thoroughly examine the striker channel and striker.... just be sure and follow the intstructions to the letter...particularly the "warnings"

[copterdrvr]

Nope, absolutely not. As mentioned above, the pistol will cycle both Azoom dummys and live rounds smooth as glass. I can actually hold the slide in my hand and SLOWLY follow it forward and it will cycle all of the different bullet styles I have available in 40, and I have them all. I did the exact same thing I've done to all of my previous semi's and it's only made them better. Did have some issues with my P380 when I first got it but after my work, I shot it today and fired 200 rounds of both hollowpoints and fmj's with not a single hangup and some of the rounds were really dirty!!!

[copterdrvr]

Striker channel is clear-checked that before I went to the range. Again, the weird thing is that the trigger would pull through after failing to fire but it felt "weird". Second thing is that it was alot harder than normal to "clear" the weapon after the failure to fire as if something was hanging up somewhere.

[copterdrvr]

Another thing I forgot to mention-every empty case that was ejected from the pistol after it actually went off had a dent on one side of the case rim. Anyone see that while firing a CW40? None of my other Kahrs do that...

[deadhead1971]

Have you fired anything at all?

With the slide off and turned up side down and pressing down on that metal "thing" which keeps the striker from moving forward, press that down and then see if the striker pin moves forward and sticks out the hole.

is this hornady critical defense ammo?

[copterdrvr]

And with regard to the Dremel tool-the only thing I did to my CW40 was use polishing rouge and a felt wheel, and of course I cleaned the barrel with solvent and a brush before I took it to the range. It was spotlessly shiny before I took it to the range.

[copterdrvr]

Yep, the part you're referring to is the striker block and it has the same tension and moves as freely as it does on all of my other Kahrs.

[copterdrvr]

To be clear, yes, it did fire and fired on occasion 3 or 4 times in a row. I didn't fire any Hornady Critical Defense ammo which is in fact, what I carry in my P380. Works great in all of the guns I've fired it in. The rounds that did not fire had absolutely NO evidence of a firing pin strike. It's obvious that the firing pin never went forward.

I have a call into Kahr, just waiting for them to call back. Hopefully, it'll be today!!!

[copterdrvr]

Just got a call back from Kahr-they're sending me a return authorization number and a free trip to Kahr for my CW40. When I explained what it was doing it was clear that it was one of those "what the X@#%$" kinda things. He couldn't even give a hint as to what the heck the problem was.

[jocko]

they will get it right. It could be alot of things tht we jsut can trouble shoot ourselves. Heh the slide itslef could be out of spec, that happens. I seriously doubt if it is the trigger bar out of spec but again it might be part of the issue. Your barrel could be out of spec also. 3 things that we just cannot trouble shoot ourselves. Kahr will get it right and you willhave it back in a week also. They won't stall u around.

[copterdrvr]

Yes sir, Mr. Jocko, I have no doubts. When she comes back I'm going to send it to MagnaPort to have them work their magic on it.

I shoot sporting clays competitively and my sporting clays shotguns (and my duck hunting guns) all are MagnaPorted. I have tested the results photographically against a visual reference and the difference in shotguns anyway, is dramatic. Can't imagine that pistols would be less as the pressures are much greater in pistols than shotguns.....

[jocko]

Yes sir, Mr. Jocko, I have no doubts. When she comes back I'm going to send it to MagnaPort to have them work their magic on it.

I shoot sporting clays competitively and my sporting clays shotguns (and my duck hunting guns) all are MagnaPorted. I have tested the results photographically against a visual reference and the difference in shotguns anyway, is dramatic. Can't imagine that pistols would be less as the pressures are much greater in pistols than shotguns.....

who shoots alot of sporting clays with a kreigoff O/U and they are ported. He is one hell of a shooter. My Ithaca Mag 10 was magna ported.. HellI just sent my new Halrey pipes into magna port. bet that will blow their minds. My push mower muffler was magna ported.

course jocko is fibbing about a couple of these mods..

just make sure when you get it back your run a few 100 rouonds throgh it to prove to your self it is good to go. Don't rush into the porting until you feel totally confident with the gun and its reliability. As u know porting won't make it run better..

[copterdrvr]

Yeah, I ain't spending any more money on this pistol until it's functioning 100%.