look closely at your mags for cracks

[knkali]

just found two cracks at the top of the 6 rnd mag on bothsides where the back of the casing fits against the back plate of the mag. No seams where it is splitting apart. Maybe I have been loading it like a gorilla? Figured it has been loaded approx 140 times with firing and breakin procedures.

[wyntrout]

Pictures?

Email Kahr Customer Service and include a picture. They will replace the magazine.

Do you have other mags, and if so, have you checked them closely? others have had mags fail. I had a real problem with my PM45. On ONE range trip, I had the top rears split on 5 out of 6 mags with 4 different Kahr types and had to send the gun and mags in. Kahr duplicated the mag failures and could only stop it with a new frame. I'm not sure anyone else had this much of a problem. It may just be the mag(s).
Email with a picture of the problem at the front should get quick results. Hopefully, it's just the mag(s), not the gun. Spare magazines are a good thing.

Wynn:)

[knkali]

I have the 7 round mag but never used it. I just ordered a new 6 rnd mag from them. If this one splits any time soon, I'll be calling Kahr. The one that split has 650 rnds fired from it and approx 300+ rnds loaded and ejected breaking in the gun. I am figuring simple metal fatigue is the reason. Now that the gun is broken in and firing good (last 100 rnds) Mabe the mag will last longer in the future. The mag still works surprisingly.

[jocko]

bad metal, Have seen it before, My P380 did that with one of the two magazines.

[wyntrout]

Stop using the mag and let Kahr replace the mag for free. The splits can continue and cause disabling malfunctions. The top sides of the magazine lose rigidity and will fail to feed or seat properly and can jam your gun. Also, pieces can separate and jam up the works.
Kahr routinely replaces the magazines that do that, but I would include a picture and info on how new the gun is. One picture is easily worth a thousand words.
These magazines can last a lifetime with just a new spring every decade or so.

Wynn:)

[G3709]

In my opinion, the location of the joining at the back plate is the weak link. It is very easy for the welding to break due to stress from spring pressure. When I compare the two magazines that came with the K9 and the one (made by Kahr) I bought from the Gun Source, the Gun Source one right side does not flare out as much as the other two. When fully loaded, the top cartridge moves side way much less in the new one. I have shot around 1000 rounds through the two old ones. This observation causes me to rethink about S-Teflon coated the magazines since I might have to exchange the magazines with Kahr if they fail in the future.

[wyntrout]

The weld is okay... haven't seen any of those fail... but have seen the splitting in the top rear corners. My PM45 was an extreme magazine destroyer... needed a new frame.

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=32380&highlight=PM45+magazines#post32380

I sent pictures and asked about the 6 magazines, because ONE hadn't failed, yet, but was probably going to after being weakened.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

the weld if done right is as strong or stronger than the material. I agree the breakage has been in the corner area and I wonder when the bends are made to the magazines to form them if something doesn't weaken them. Course for no more issues than we have had I think I want to chalk it up to bad stainless.

I can't see spring pressure even being considered being a culprit in splitting mag bodies..

[DKD]

Fellas I deal with light gauge architectural sheet metal on a daily basis. As Jocko stated this fracturing can be attributed to impropoer alloy and or metal fatigue again caused by the alloy of the stainless steel. It is normally a malliable metal but can be made brittle if the alloy content isn't correct and is made worse when shaped to form.

[jocko]

nice report DKD, more than likely kahr would not even know which magazines might be bad even until the owner has the issues. another reason why they do not question a busted magazine.

[knkali]

Thanks Wynntrout. I wrote Kahr and sent pix. They said send it to them and they will replace it. Nice!

[garyb]

Good info to be aware of and on the lookout for. Thanks for sharing.

[Joe_Pike]

look closely at your mags for cracks

You had me looking at myself in the mirror there for a minute until I read the post again. :o