Please help Identify PM9

[DinoCrayon]

I bought this old VA33## model PM9 and it appears to have some curious features.

I bought some replacement springs from Kahr, not knowing how old my springs are. I assumed the 'old style' guide rod would be appropriate BUT this gun has the wide plunger at the end (isnt this 'new style'?) and the spring that came with the gun is shorter than the 'old style' one I just bought from Kahr and wont fit in the gun.

Also the slide stop has a regular screw (see photo)... has this been modified?

http://oi55.tinypic.com/11vi3uu.jpg

I included a photo of the barrel in case you can tell if it has been modified for the guide rod. Its not flat across but somewhat carved out. Hmm.

[OldLincoln]

Sorry, can't see photos.

[DinoCrayon]

ill attach the photos here

or larger pic here:
http://oi55.tinypic.com/11vi3uu.jpg

or click here

http://oi55.tinypic.com/11vi3uu.jpg

http://oi55.tinypic.com/11vi3uu.jpg

[CJB]

Dunno about the screw, but the springs have very close to the same number of coils, just one more compressed than the other.

[toptog]

Looks like the old style slide. Without the beveled edges along the front of the slide. You could call and ask Kahr for a definite born on date and to insure the proper replacement part.

[jocko]

springs are the same, same amount of coils 13, u have the old style blunt nose pMK9 and earlier model also with the polymer pin in it instead of a screw. the end cap, to my knowledge shoud fit but if it doesn't just put the new outter spring on and forget about the inner one, It is the outter one that takes the brunt of the reecoil.

The polymer pin was an early model and since they have went to a screw,. the barrel looks fine that circular groove on the barrel lug is where the recoil rod plate rests.

I would venture to guess that ur original guide rod that flat portion that rests on that barrel lug , if u measure it will measure 3/8". It has since been replaced with the newer style recoil rod which that back flat portion should measure 1/2". It should fit OK . The springs are the same, one has taken a nice set.

Here is what u should do" Ur PM9 was involved in a barrel recall back around 03+, ur gun was made around Feb. of 03 or close to that birth date. What u need to know is if this gun/barrel was sent back to kahr for any mods done to it. I am under the understanding that mostly it was for a fine repolish of the feed ramp, but again u need to know if this was done. Also have u shot the gun????If so is it flawless in reliability??? If it is, I would then not even worry about calling kahr. As many back then did not send their guns back to kahr in that recall for it was not a safety issue but merely cleanng up some feed ramps etc, so for many the gun was working perfect, so they just ignored the recall and shot it like they stole it. Only the barrel needs to be sent back if u feel u need to do it, as it was for feeding problems only. My bet is that either the barrel was not sent back as the gun was flawless or that it was sent back and kahr has done what they needed to do with it.. I personally wold not send back a perfectly good working barrel....

Kahr will tell u all u need to know about your gun. That recoil assembly in your model is no longer made and the new style they sent u is the proper one. As far as that pin that goes into the left side, I think that is normal for that era to. I think if u try to scratch that screw?pin, u will find that maybe it is polymer, but I could be wrong on that. That is a question u acould ask the kahr people.

I would ask for Jay or eion at kahr to hopefully get the informatioon u need. Thney should be able to tell you if that serial # was returned or not, but I guess If I was u,I would go out and do some shooting with it to see if it is reliable,. Should be nothing wrong with this PM9, because it is 9 years old should mean nadda, the quality is still there, nothng internally has changed to my knowledge.

[DinoCrayon]

I found out the barrel did not go back for the recall (original owner confirmed) but the nature of the guide rod/spring is still a mystery.

The gun shoots great, but sometimes the slide slams shut when inserting a mag. could be several issues. Im not sending back the barrel. Kahr was annoyed that I asked about it and made it sound like it would be a pain in the ass for them to do it. It seems fine anyway.

I bought new springs to ensure everything was as fresh as possible. The new (old style) spring (longer one) BARELY fits with LOTS of force. I dont think it's supposed to go in there.

If I want to get a new recoil spring assembly, what should I do? Buy a 'new style' recoil spring?

[jocko]

did they just senbd u a new outter spirng?? that is strange as theynow only show the complete assembly. If u have the3/8" flat part on the back of the recoil rod,I think I wuld call kahr and order the entire assembly and specify for the old style slides, they will then know.

The reason isis slammibg **** could be two reasons. #1 u could be slamming the magazine into the gun and causing it and that little spring ontheleft side bytrhe slide stop lever coulduse some tweeking. Ifyou go to the kahr tech section and hit on two sticky's they will help u alot. #1 propper prepping of ur new kahr, there are sometips for tweeking that little spring. #2 cw45 fixes by gb6491. He shows a very nice photo tutorial of what that little spring should look like, It might just need alittle tweeking on that end tip and it can be done while on the gun to.

The recoil sirng should fit OK kand it it goes in that tight, then after once in thegun just rack it a few hundred times and leave it with the slide locked open all night. That will tend to give that spring some pre set without shooting it. Then go out and shoot it to see how it functions. At the worst which I don't recommend dong but some have done it, u can cut a half coil at a time off that outter spring and retest.

[Rainman48314]

I found out the barrel did not go back for the recall (original owner confirmed) but the nature of the guide rod/spring is still a mystery.

The gun shoots great, but sometimes the slide slams shut when inserting a mag. could be several issues. Im not sending back the barrel. Kahr was annoyed that I asked about it and made it sound like it would be a pain in the ass for them to do it. It seems fine anyway.

I bought new springs to ensure everything was as fresh as possible. The new (old style) spring (longer one) BARELY fits with LOTS of force. I dont think it's supposed to go in there.

If I want to get a new recoil spring assembly, what should I do? Buy a 'new style' recoil spring?Slide slamming shut when a mag is inserted aggressively is a good thing and not a problem.

I just put a new recoil assembly in and it looked longer and was hard to install. We can expect that the spring will compress and take a set. It will be easier to install when you clean it after 150 rounds.

Your screw does not match my Torx one, but my PM9 is only a month old.

[jocko]

prior to the torx screw kahr used a polymer push type pin, his phot looks like a screw but I am guessing it is a polymer4 type pin/screw, that shouold not be messed with unless totally necessary....

[DinoCrayon]

ok I just discovered the rod that Kahr sent is a LITTLE shorter than the one I originally had. It makes it a little easier to get that new spring in there..

Its impossible to lock the slide open (by lifting the catch).

It does lock open when racking on an empty mag so I guess thats all thats needed :)

[DinoCrayon]

Soo will it be possible to switch to a Torx screw or just send it in if I ever need to replace the slide stop spring?

[jocko]

ok I just discovered the rod that Kahr sent is a LITTLE shorter than the one I originally had. It makes it a little easier to get that new spring in there..

Its impossible to lock the slide open (by lifting the catch).

It does lock open when racking on an empty mag so I guess thats all thats needed :)

100 rounds down range and u willbe able to lock it open manually. Your new recoil assembly is indeed strong.

[Rainman48314]

prior to the torx screw kahr used a polymer push type pin, his phot looks like a screw but I am guessing it is a polymer4 type pin/screw, that shouold not be messed with unless totally necessary....
I'm all about not messing with it if it ain't broke.

[Rainman48314]

Soo will it be possible to switch to a Torx screw or just send it in if I ever need to replace the slide stop spring?Per Jocko (who has a multi year history with these guns), that "screw" may be correct. I would not send any job back to Kahr unless I was unable to install the part myself. There is no 100% certainty that they will pickup shipping and that could run $50-90 RT.

[Lulu]

I would find the serial number and call up Kahr to see when it was made and see if it is new or old. They cannot always tell by the serial number itself but by the year it was made is sometimes helpful.

[jocko]

it ain't new, u can go to the glock talk site and hit on the kahr serial number thread and it will get u very close to when ithe gun was made, I am guessing over 8 years ago at least. If the gun is working great, THEN JUST SHOOT IT LIKE U STOLE IT AND QUITE WORRYING ABOUT IT. You have no warranty left in the gun, so unless something is dead wrong with the gun working right, put ur apprehensions behind you and just shoot the gun.