New to forum, P45 has misfires

[Clark]

I got a P45 used with night sights and 3 mags for $575 3 days ago.

I tried to shoot it, but 4 of 8 tries resulted in light strikes total to date.

I took all the parts out of the slide.

I cleaned all the brass shavings and dirt out.

It still had light strikes.

I took it apart again.

I can't see what is wrong with it.

If I put a .338" pin gauge down the striker hole, I can verify there is no blockage when the trigger is pulled. The striker is .329", so there is .009" clearance.

Any suggestions?

[JCP281]

Handloads or factory ammunition? In the pic you posted there is a WAY off center primer strike. That tells me something is for sure off with the striker assembly. I would contact Kahr and have them take a look at it. Could be a bad machining of the striker channel.

[ripley16]

You are able to take precise measurements, so I'd suggest you measure how far the striker protrudes. Perhaps the striker is shorter than it should be.

Does the extractor hold the case tight to the breech or is there slack?

Replacing either or both of these parts may solve the problem. The one part I would not suspect is the striker spring, but it may be a good idea to replace it as you bought a used gun with unknown usage.

Try a change of factory ammo.

Other than that, the only other solution I see is a return to Kahr.

[jocko]

ur barking in the wrong building. nothing wrong in the striker area. The gun is out of time, either a bad trigger bar or possable even a bad slide causing it. The gun might look like it is in full battery but it is not.

Call kahr, ask for Ian, explain it to him, they will issue a pre paid picku p. sent it back, I think your wasting time now, as you did allyou can do.I seriously doubt if itis the striker pin being to short also. It could be slide related but that is something kahr has to work with and replace.

IMO the gun needs to go back PRONTO.

truth be know, that was why it was traded... Kahr need not know it was bought used..

[Clark]

A) Kahr P45
185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 1.2" OAL
Had to make a die to bell the mouth.
1) 7 gr miss fire. Tried again. Still no fire.
2) primed case. fired
3) 7 gr. fired ok, feeds next dummy round
4) 5 gr fired ok, failed to eject
5) 9 gr. miss fire. reset trigger and pulled again. Fired ok. recoil hurts via checkering on back of frame.

Resolved to take firing pin out.
Took out striker and cleaned out a lot of brass shavings.

6) 6 gr miss fire
7) primed case with noted orientation, fires hits high on the primer, meaning case is sitting low.

I joined and started a thread at the Kahr forum
I stretched the striker spring from a relaxed 2.225" to 2.675"

8) primed case.. heavy strike
9) primed case.. heavy strike
10) primed case.. heavy strike
11) primed case.. heavy strike
12) primed case.. heavy strike
13) retried old round 6 gr 3N37 185 gr Sierra 1.21" .. light strike
14) primed case.. heavy strike

[JCP281]

Those strikes are certainly more normal with respect to center.

On a side note:
What are you using to measure? Vernier caliper, or micrometer?

[Bawanna]

I'd go buy a box of factory ball ammo of reputable reputation and shoot that and see what results you get.

It sounds like your tweaking the striker spring made a notable improvement.

If it works ok with factory stuff, you know you need to tweek your reloads.

Take them out of the equation and see what happens.

[Bawanna]

The one with the double strike makes me scratch my head. The lack of any striker smear is notable as well, they seem like deep solid hits without the usual tell tale Kahr smear.

[Clark]

None of those pictured sent a bullet down the bore, so no recoil, so no energy to smear.

[Bawanna]

Well that answers that question. That mystery is solved.

[jocko]

order a new striker spring, stretching is not the thing to do. Hopefully a new striker spring and perfectley cleaned channel will help you out. In my mind I stillthink the gun is out of time andyour masking over the issue..

[Clark]

16) primer case 185 gr JHP no powder 2.1"..... heavy strike.
Bullet stuck bad. 27/32" center punch and machine oil between the punch and bullet and hit the punch with a hammer. It came out and made a mess.
17) primed case 185 gr cast bullet 2.250" no powder will not chamber, seated to 2.14" .... bullet out the bore light looking strike, but it went off.

I am suspicious that there may be a short chamber that pushes back on the bullet that pushes the case back on the breech that PUSHES the slide out of time.

Need more data.

[gman]

measure how much the striker pin extends past the breech face during a dry practice. This gun is demonstrating some of the characteristics mine did, it was completely unreliable using my reloads. I found reloads have a very slight crimp that provides additional headspace that with short striker protrusion won't reliably light off. Typically striker/firing pins need to get a 0.025 hit to make the primer go. Kahr's are bit stingy. It also helps to use Federal 150 primers since they are bit softer than CCI etc. Yes the gun may not be fully in battery, but that wasn't the case for me. After a little relieving my gun is running consistently my reloads. well this is my 2cents worth of experience with my P45

[pappy42]

If there is any question of the pistol not being totally in battery; wouldn't it be worth the time and expense to have it checked by a professional?

[tconroy]

If there is any question of the pistol not being totally in battery; wouldn't it be worth the time and expense to have it checked by a professional?

Pappy, are you on the Kawasaki forum also???? there is a guy with the same name, just wondering. he has a bike just like mine only more stuff on it.

[TominCA]

I had a similar problem with my P380 - (also other problems) and finally sent it back to the factory where they discovered the frame was cracked at the hammer pin. Check for cracks and then call Kahr - they actually will talk to you on the phone.

[Clark]

18) 185 gr cast 5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
19) 185 gr cast 5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
20) 185 gr cast 5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
21) 185 gr cast 5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
22) 185 gr cast 5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires

It seems to work with a short Over All Length
It does not want the case pushing against the breech.

[Clark]

I have known girls that said, "Don't touch me!" but this is the first
semi auto pistol breech face that ever said that to me.

23) 185 gr cast 6.5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
24) 185 gr cast 6.5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
25) 185 gr cast 6.5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
26) 185 gr cast 6.5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires
27) 185 gr cast 6.5 gr 3N37 1.110" fires

[pappy42]

Pappy, are you on the Kawasaki forum also???? there is a guy with the same name, just wondering. he has a bike just like mine only more stuff on it.

Lots of forums with the same handle as here; but no Kawasaki

[gb6491]

Any indication that the previous owner may have fired some un-jacketed rounds and leaded the chamber throat?
Regards,
Greg

[Clark]

The throat looks clean.

28) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL fires ok:)
29) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL fires ok:)
30) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL lite strike:mad:
31) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL fires ok:)
32) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL fires ok:)
33) 185 gr Sierra JHP #8800, 6.5 gr 3N37, 1.12" OAL [re try of shot #30, fires ok:)

[500KV]

Just out of curiosity, what brand of primers are you using?
I've found Federal primers, being softer, function 100% in my striker fired guns.

[Clark]

I got a paper bag of 200 primed pieces of RP brass with a dateless handwritten sales receipt from Kesselring Gun Shop.

They have the same red sealer around the primer that RP still put on at the factory.