Kahr .45s

[rnpollard]

About 18 months ago I bought a Kahr P45 and a few weeks later a PM 45. Both were second hand so I took them home and cleaned, inspected and lubed them. No issues.

I did the 200 rounds of reliability that I do with all my guns and all was going well.

I was carrying the PM on a road trip to Colorado with my mother to visit my brother. While there we went shooting and with both of these guns I started to have problems with the slide locking back in the middle of the magazine.

I took them home and cleaned them and checked the slide lock spring and all appeared to be in order. I was really bummed that after months of reliable functioning I started having problems.

So I went back to carrying my PM9 which has been flawless since day one. I also started carrying in addition to the PM9 either a Glock 26 or a 1911.

I definitely carry two guns now whenever possible.

Is it possible that the .45 is just too much for the Kahr's slide lock spring? I shoot either .45 DPX or ball ammo.

After doing the post malfunction maintenance the P45 has been 100%. I love this gun. It is really accurate and the extra length helps with the recoil.

I am having a hard time finding a warm spot in my heart for the PM however, I paid a lot for this gun and don't feel like I want to start sending it back to the factory.

What would your advice be at this point. Will it make a difference to Kahr that I didn't buy these guns new?

I am considering replacing the recoil springs on both and getting a couple of slide lock springs. I am a little bit hesitant because of the warnings about stripping the slide lock spring screw.

Give me some advice!

Thanks,

Rick

[onegun]

About 18 months ago I bought a Kahr P45 and a few weeks later a PM 45. Both were second hand so I took them home and cleaned, inspected and lubed them. No issues.

I did the 200 rounds of reliability that I do with all my guns and all was going well.

I was carrying the PM on a road trip to Colorado with my mother to visit my brother. While there we went shooting and with both of these guns I started to have problems with the slide locking back in the middle of the magazine.

I took them home and cleaned them and checked the slide lock spring and all appeared to be in order. I was really bummed that after months of reliable functioning I started having problems.

So I went back to carrying my PM9 which has been flawless since day one. I also started carrying in addition to the PM9 either a Glock 26 or a 1911.

I definitely carry two guns now whenever possible.

Is it possible that the .45 is just too much for the Kahr's slide lock spring? I shoot either .45 DPX or ball ammo.

After doing the post malfunction maintenance the P45 has been 100%. I love this gun. It is really accurate and the extra length helps with the recoil.

I am having a hard time finding a warm spot in my heart for the PM however, I paid a lot for this gun and don't feel like I want to start sending it back to the factory.

What would your advice be at this point. Will it make a difference to Kahr that I didn't buy these guns new?

I am considering replacing the recoil springs on both and getting a couple of slide lock springs. I am a little bit hesitant because of the warnings about stripping the slide lock spring screw.

Give me some advice!

Thanks,

Rick

That's why onegun always carries two guns. Since Vietnam!

[Bawanna]

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1612

Take a look at this thread Mr. Pollard. Its a fountain of good stuff dealing with these polymer wonders.
Theres a section there that talks about replaceing that slide lock spring if it comes to that and you don't need to remove the screw all the way.

GB really put some good effort and wisdom into this thread.

I think it's possible you just bent that little spring, cleaning or replaceing the stop, it's easy to do. A little tweak and you should be in good shape.

[wyntrout]

You can just use a Torx bit by itself to keep from having too much torque and strip the plastic. Kahr CS told me to just tighten until I felt resistance.

I had to replace mine... the screw, washer, and spring. The original was bent several different ways and couldn't retain the slide lock pin OR hold the slide stop down to preclude early slide lock... before empty magazine. Your slide lock pin can ease out a bit and give the same problems.

If there's a Harbor Freight Tools in your area, they have inexpensive small bit sets with Torx and hex bits for under $10.:)

Wynn:)

[rnpollard]

I will spend some time with the Kahr Tech threads this evening.

R

[jlottmc]

What they said. My P45 did that to me, and the only thing I could figure was I had screwed up during reassembly. I slowed down and have not had a problem since. Give it a little love, and remember that spring needs to be able to move, and you'll be right as rain.

[CJB]

Before I started bending springs, I'd make dang sure my thumb wasn't accidentally hitting the slide lock during recoil, try alternate ammo, make sure that the rounds weren't hitting the slide lock during rise in the magazine, and let another shooter test fire the gun.