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View Full Version : The PM9 & me vs The Range



O'Dell
05-04-2011, 02:21 PM
First the perimeters: the target is 7 1/4 inches across. The 8 ring is 3 inches in diameter. I shot 100 rounds of 10 year old Stone Hart NATO, 50 rounds of fresh WM Federal ball. and 36 rounds of HST 124 gr HP for a total of 186 rounds. I used Three 6 round mags. I shot at 7 yards rather than my usual 10 because of the small pistol.

Now for my excuses: Other than a few rounds through the LCP and 100 or so with the abortive trigger on the 4043 [sold BTW], I haven't shot a DAO in a year. I have never shot a PM9 before today.

The target represents my first 18 rounds. The group, if you can call it that, is almost 2 1/2 inches top to bottom. I would call it a gaggle since I rarely go outside the 9 ring at 10 yards. The Gwinnett cop in the next lane who knows me was laughing. I was not happy.

On the plus side I had no feeding problems, but I did have two issues with the PM9. First, 2 mags refused to lock back the slide and the 3rd did part of the time, and no, I wasn't touching anything. This was consistent through 150 rounds and only corrected itself when I switched to HST's. Judging from the flash the HST's were hotter rounds. Some of you guys know a lot more than I do, but this leads me to believe that it may be corrected when the gun loosens up.

The second issue was that the rear sight fell off, or would have if I hadn't caught it. I suddenly started shooting 6 inches to the right, and when I examined the gun, the sight had moved 1/8 inch to the right. I had to tap it back in place for the rest of the day or I would have lost it.

For the summary:

The good: The gun fed and ejected perfectly. The recoil was very mild, and I could easily handle a 40 the same size and weight.

The bad: The failure to lock back the slide about 80% of the time and the sight falling off!

The ugly: As usual, me!

Bawanna
05-04-2011, 02:32 PM
I don't think that target is anything to laugh at. Looks darn fine to me especially since your out of practice on that trigger and stuff.

I'd someday like to shoot the PM40 beside a 9 or my 45 but I gotta believe it would not be near as easy or fun to shoot. Several claim it's no big deal at all but I'm sticking with my 45.

What do you figure on that rear sight? It's actually lose in the dovetail. That sounds like it might require a trip back which totally sucks.
The slide locking back could very well get better with time since the hotter rounds are cycling it hard enough to make it work.

I'm kind of bummed about that dang sight being loose, never seen that one before that I recall.

O'Dell
05-04-2011, 05:45 PM
Both issues worry me, but the loose sight the most because the slide lock back problem may cure itself with use. I'd just stick some super glue on it but it might need adjustment. It looks OK, although a bit high. That could be me. I've never had an issue with three previous Kahrs, but this one seems to be making up the difference.

This group was about the same as the rest, so I didn't get better with practice. In fact I got worse when I started experimenting with left and right hand only and rapid fire.

jocko
05-04-2011, 05:52 PM
why not ask kahr to send yoiu a new rear site as more than likely it willneed to have some fitting toit and it should hold alot better to. Very stragne as most kahrs sites won't budge PERIOD. I think the sldie lock thing will shoot itself in, unless that little springy is damaged. My PM9 after over 31,000 started tonot lock open and I really couldnt see that my springhy was damaged but I replced it anyway and all went away. GB6491 has a nice photo tutorial in his cw45 fixes thread in the kahr tech section. It might be of some assistance..

myname
05-04-2011, 06:32 PM
Why not ask Kahr to spring for shipping and have both problems fixed at the same time and be done with it. ;)

MW surveyor
05-04-2011, 10:33 PM
Hey, your shots are minute of bad guy anyway. It's a small gun with a pretty short sight radius. It does take awhile to get back into shooting DA.

I thought the PM's rear sight had a set screw?

O'Dell
05-04-2011, 11:13 PM
No set screw on the rear sight, not on mine anyway. I think I'll just drive it in hard and maybe it'll hold. It shouldn't move enough to pull my impact point left by much.

I hand racked each mag 6 times tonight - the slide locked back every time. I think the gun is still very stiff and tight, so marginal ammo doesn't have the recoil to push the slide far enough back. As it wears in and the spring relaxes some, that problem should go away. I still wish I could shoot it better.

gb6491
05-05-2011, 12:47 AM
Nice report O'Dell! Put some Loctite on that loose sight before you tap it in place and it will stay there (especially if you use the red version).
Regards,
Greg

Willieboy
05-05-2011, 12:15 PM
Hi O'Dell. I would certainly be pleased with the group you shot. For a little defensive gun, I would feel well protected indeed if I could shoot that well.

As for the problems with the slide lock back, hopefully that will work itself out. As for the sight falling off, in my mind, there is no excuse for such shoddy manufacturing/quality control.

TucsonMTB
05-05-2011, 12:31 PM
Are you sure they weren't just trying to help by making it easy to remove in case you want to install night sights? ;)

O'Dell
05-05-2011, 01:05 PM
Are you sure they weren't just trying to help by making it easy to remove in case you want to install night sights? ;)

You caught me! No, seriously. I not a big fan of night sights, although five of my pistols came with them.