Striker spring guide

[Kahrcarrier]

I was doing a complete slide take down and cleaning this weekend on my new PM40. when I was finished and started to put everything back together I noticed that the striker spring guide looked kinda odd to me. What I mean by odd is, instead of having a complete round base on it, it has a shape of something like a half moon, like part of it has been broken off. After checking the Kahr site I could easily tell that somehow it had a portion broken off of the guide at the base. During my last range session with it, nothing seemed outa the ordinary, the pistol ran perfectly.

My question; I placed an order at the Kahr site for a couple replacements, but am wondering if the one that's still in place could compromise the function of my carry piece. I've cycled several times and dry fired it with no apparent problems, but until I can replace the part, I have a slight confidence problem with it. I just wanted to get some opinions from you folks and see what you think.

A final thought on Kahrs choice for using a plastic piece as part of their internal firing mechanism, even one with such a limited role. I'm a little disappointed that they wouldn't use a stronger more reliable option there. :mad:

Thanks for any advice given.

KC

[ripley16]

It is a part that is not under any kind of titanic force. It's purpose and placement make plastic a suitable material. The base probably broke while pushing the guide and spring forward when relieving the pressure on the back plate.

If it were me, I'd wait for a new guide, just to err on the side of caution. The only problem I foresee is a kinked spring, should the rod wriggle out of position. Then you'd have two parts to replace.

Did your guide have the thin disc between the rod and the back plate? I've wondered at it's purpose. Some guns have had it, some haven't.

[jocko]

ripley 16 is probably right. that is the first I have ever heard of a broken striker spring guide. It just doesn't happen,but it did with yours. The fact that it is a new gun tells me that it was broken when it was put together. Get a new one and installait correctly and shoot it like you stoleit. That is no more of a weaker area than the polymer grip it self..

[Kahrcarrier]

It is a part that is not under any kind of titanic force. It's purpose and placement make plastic a suitable material. The base probably broke while pushing the guide and spring forward when relieving the pressure on the back plate.

If it were me, I'd wait for a new guide, just to err on the side of caution. The only problem I foresee is a kinked spring, should the rod wriggle out of position. Then you'd have two parts to replace.

Did your guide have the thin disc between the rod and the back plate? I've wondered at it's purpose. Some guns have had it, some haven't.

Yes, that's the part that has part of the disk missing at the back end where it meets the slide backplate. I'll include a pic of the part as it's displayed on the Kahr site.3309

Don't get me wrong, I'm trying to be overly hard on the Kahr design, I mean heck, I really like both of my Kahrs, but JMO, a MIM part would be a better option for such a small part; especially one that seats into the back of the slide backplate for stability. I guess my main problem with it is, it's only a three dollar part, but it cost me something like nine dollars for the shipping. I ordered two of um just incase I need another in the future for what ever reason. I can agree with ya regarding the item breaking when I was taking the slide down, but I have a CW9 that I've done the same thing to and never had an issue with it; plus, I didn't notice anything on my table, or stuck in the pistol when I broke it down.

Anyway, I know anything is possible and with my luck it's more than likely the case. :D

Thanks for the help and advice gents.

KC

[ripley16]

Yes, that's the part that has part of the disk missing at the back end where it meets the slide backplate. I'll include a pic of the part as it's displayed on the Kahr site.3309

KC

I was refering to a thin, rubber like spacer, cut to the round shape of the guide rod that is found between the guide rod and the back plate. I guess your CW40 didn't have one. :confused:

Plastic versus MIM...probably a lot cheaper to use a plastic piece. Sometimes a guide rod just needs to "guide" and doesn't need a great deal of strength, for example the Beretta M9 recoil spring guide rod.

[jocko]

neither does my PM9 or K9. Is there a part # for that spacer thing. I just don't se it listed in the kahr parts manual ..

[ripley16]

No, there is no part number. My T9 and P9 had the spacer but my other Kahrs do not.

[jocko]

very strange indeed

[Kahrcarrier]

Well I took my PM40 to the range today and it ran without any problems. I was curious to see if the broken spring guide would have any adverse effects on the performance, so far so good. Like I said in my earlier post; got a couple of replacements on the way, but my confidence is pretty much restored as is by todays range session. Once the new striker guide gets here and I install it, my confidence will be back to 100%.:)

[jocko]

bronze that broken one, as that is the first I have ever heard of that. It had to leave the factory that way, Hell who knows might have been that way fromt he git go and some brialliant kahr tech person still installed it in the gun..

[pappy42]

No, there is no part number. My T9 and P9 had the spacer but my other Kahrs do not.

Just curious; did your pistols come new or used with those spacers?

[rmm911]

I just received my PM9 yesterday and I was not aware that the striker spring guide was made of plastic. It is useful to know this because Break Free Powder Blast can cause damage to plastic parts and I was thinking about using it to clean/blow out out the striker channel. I was under the impression that everything in the PM9 striker channel was stainless steel.

I wonder if plastic is just a cost savings thing or if there is a good reason why both the recoil spring guide rod and the striker spring guide rod are both plastic.
I have read some negatives about using non-chlorinated brake cleaner to clean firearms so now I am wondering what I should use to blast/clean out the striker channel without doing a complete tear down.

[RRP]

FWIW, I have used brake cleaner to flush the striker channel, with each range visit.