Tight mag fit in CW9

[Sweaty Bullitts]

Hey all,

Nice forum!

I just got a new CW9, and I got an additional 8-round mag with grip extension. I have two problems with the 8-rounder.

First, it is wider (.495 at the lips, .483 mid-body) than the included 7-rounder (.480 at the lips, .476 mid-body), and it rubs against the mag catch/release mechanism when being inserted. When I fully depress the mag release button, the 7-rounder slides completely in and out with no rubbing at all. The 8-rounder slides in freely until it gets to the mag catch/release mechanism, and won't go any farther unless I push it in. Once inserted and clicked into place, pressing the mag release button causes the 7-rounder to pop right out, whereas the 8-rounder only pops out a quarter inch (if at all), and I have to manually pull it out from there.

Question: Is there any known fix for this that does not involve modifying the inside of the grip frame? Is the mag catch/release mechanism too narrow, or the 8-round mag too wide? Do I have to replace something?

Second: The grip extension is too tall, and hits the bottom of the grip before it clicks into place, forcing me to "bump" it in. The 7-rounder base pad does not hit the grip, and will click easily into place.

Question: If the fix for the first problem does not involve me getting a new magazine, I assume a simple trim of the top of the grip extension will resolve the issue. Am I missing anything here?

Thanks in advance,

Sweaty Bullitts

[wyntrout]

I'm wondering if you got a .40 S&W mag. I just got a P40 and have compared the two sets of mags. I have one 6-round and 5 7-round mags for the P40 and tried them in the PM9 and K9. They are a bit tighter but SEEM to work.
It's just a thought because I just looked at these mags to see if they are interchangeable. Count the witness holes on the 8-round mag and see if it says 9-8 Kahr on your mag. I guess you would have noticed the 40 Kahr on mag, though.
My 8-round with extended grip mags have been terrific with no problems at all... nice for the range or reloads. At home my K9 is loaded with one and two spares with it. I shoot them in my PM9 and carry one for a spare in a Kydex mag holder.

The .40 7-round extended grip and the 9mm 8-round extended grip look exactly alike, but the .40 has one less round and six witness holes(one less than the 9mm).

I just measured my 9mm mag and it's about what you got mid-body but at the feed lips, yours is .005 0r more thicker than mine. It is closer to the .40 measured at the feed lips.

You could take the innards out and mash the padded magazine body in a vise a TINY bit... or with vise grips... being careful... and make it fit better. Just don't crunch the front an backs!:eek:

Wynn:)

[MW surveyor]

You made me go all the way out to the "man shed" to get my calipers to answer this question.

First - My 8 round mag measures in at a pretty consistent 0.483 for the mid body. It is a bit wider just above the extension at 0.485. Not sure where you measured exactly at the lips but the thickest part of mine is right at 0.491 just where the "folding in starts.

Second - Mine pretty much did the same thing. I took off just a bit at a time from the top of the extension. Also, I'm in the habit of depressing my mag release whenever I'm inserting a mag. Makes entry past the mag release easier and does not put undue wear on the catch.

Third - (I know, you didn't ask a third question) WELCOME to the forum. Now, go out and shoot it!

[wyntrout]

I just checked insertion on the K9 and the 8-round extended mags do fit very closely and require a tiny bit of extra force(heel of my left hand) to seat on a closed slide... like after topping off the mag... normal to me. Open slide is easy, but with a full mag and the top round hitting the underside of the slide, there's more force required.

Wynn:)

[Sweaty Bullitts]

wyntrout

No, it's a 9mm mag - has 9-8 KAHR on the side. I really don't want to tinker with the gun or magazine (warranty implications?) if they are in spec. I thought I read somewhere here about Kahr replacing something to do with the mag catch/release mechanism, but I'm not sure if my problem has anything to do with that...

MW surveyor

So, your 8-round mag has no rubbing problems going in or coming out? (be nice!)

And thanks for the welcome!

Sweaty

[Bawanna]

Doesn't sound to me like your issue has anything to do with the mag catch. Your mag is just to wide at the top. You can easily but carefully squeeze it down a bit in a vise or email Kahr and swap it out. Several here have done the vise squeeze job and I don't recall any catastrophic failures, IE: ruined magazines.

[MW surveyor]

Sweaty - No problems going in or out. It does "hang" a bit if I don't depress the mag catch, but like I said before, I'm in the habit of depressing the mag catch when inserting a mag. See, that was nice. :D

Also what wyn said. The mag is a bit harder to insert when the slide is closed.

My mags have some "drag" marks on them but no real problems with inserting or dropping.

Best thing would be to try the mag out with real bullets at the range. Then if there is a problem you can do something about it. I believe that it will work without having to try to squeeze it down.

[jocko]

wyntrout

No, it's a 9mm mag - has 9-8 KAHR on the side. I really don't want to tinker with the gun or magazine (warranty implications?) if they are in spec. I thought I read somewhere here about Kahr replacing something to do with the mag catch/release mechanism, but I'm not sure if my problem has anything to do with that...

MW surveyor

So, your 8-round mag has no rubbing problems going in or coming out? (be nice!)

And thanks for the welcome!

Sweaty

nor worth trying to send it bac,k cause ur liable to get one just like it. no guarantees on that, so do what the guys here mention. A slight compression at the top of the slide and ur good to go. Not rocket science and ur not gonna ruin anything. Ur only a few thousands over size at the top so a oh so slight compression will take care of it..

[Sweaty Bullitts]

Thanks guys,

I did a little squeeze at the top, and a little trim of the top of the grip extender floor plate, and all seems well. Still not as easy as the 7-rounder, but better than it was. As someone has suggested, shooting 200-300 rounds through her might loosen her up a bit.

Thanks!

Sweaty

[Sweaty Bullitts]

Originally Posted by jocko

nor worth trying to send it bac,k cause ur liable to get one just like it.


I understand the point here is that it is a crap shoot as to what size the new magazine will be. Fortunately, I got lucky...

First, I sent in last week the Kahr internet coupon for a free magazine with a copy of my receipt, showing I bought my CW9 the day before the promotion started (bought on 8/31, and the promo started 9/1), and I received the free 8 round mag today anyway! Way to go Kahr!

And, it is perfect right out of the plastic bag, just like the original 7 round mag was! Interestingly, it does not have any markings on it at all.

As I stated above, the 8 round mag I bought is better now after squeezing it a bit, and sanding down the top of the grip extension, so I guess I'll try squeezing it a bit more, hopefully so it'll spit out that mag just like the other two do...

Sweaty

[Joe L]

There is some additional information in this thread from the PM and CM forum...
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7325&highlight=free+magazine+drop
Joe

[Sweaty Bullitts]

I did the squeeze trick a little more, and now the mag that stuck drops free!

Also, I ran my first 230ish rounds thru her with NO PROBLEMS! I did rack the slide about 500 times over several days before I shot her, so that may have helped.

Thanks Joe L for the link. I never thought about waxing the mag...

Sweaty

[Bawanna]

Good deal, guess the squeeze fix works pretty well.

Now go hit the showers.