Set me straight on the CW9 mag release

[Charlie98]

Help me out here, guys...

My CW9 has a plastic magazine release? The guy who sold it to me (my FFL) said the plastic ones would sometimes drop the mag on firing and that there is a metal retrofit item available. I have also seen other posts (not here) that claim the mag drop issue... :blah: but you know how Internet Lore goes...

Because I carry this thing everyday, I'm just trying to have the most dependable pistol I can. Is mag drop related to the plastic mag release? Is it even plastic? (It's hard to tell with MIM sometimes...)

I don't have that many rounds on my CW9 yet and have not experienced any problems, but I believe preparation is one of the keys to success... my drill sergeant told me that back in 1986 and he was right.

[Bill K]

I would think that metal on plastic would over time wear down the mag catch, it did on my Kel-Tek P3AT. I put a metal mag catch on my carry P3AT for added peace of mind. My Glock is plastic on plastic which does not disturb me.

[JFootin]

We have seen zero issues with mag catches breaking or wearing out here on the forum (that I know of). IMO, you're worrying about nothing. Heck, if it ever stopped working, a new one is a only few dollars. There is a 5 year warranty on the gun, and Kahr have a tendency to go beyond that if a gun needs attention.

[gb6491]

Charlie98,
Unintentional magazine drops were (have not seen much about it of late) pretty much a CW45 issue. Kahr's fix for those guns was to replace the metal latch in them with another metal latch that had some machining done to it. (see note below).
Unintentional drops do not seem an issue with rest of the line up. That's not to say there hasn't been any problems, but we seen very, very few (I'd even say rarely) and I can't remember if the latch was the problem in those or not. BTW, if the latch in your gun is plastic, it most likely has a metal insert that serves as the self to hold the magazine in the gun; no need to worry about metal on plastic wear or the latch surfaces outside the frame rusting. A magnet will be strongly attracted to an all metal latch; less so to one with the insert (which can be seen looking into the mag well from the top).
http://i52.tinypic.com/25803zd.jpg
Note: Personally, while the machined latch fixed the problem in my CW45, I think the mag follower contributes/causes the problem in the CW45. I modify all my followers (45 and 9mm) to preclude this. http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=15667&postcount=2
Regards,
Greg

[Charlie98]

Greg... you are correct, it is with the CW45. I read so much stuff on the Kahrs before pulling the trigger on one, I'm getting my facts mixed up... although if this CW9 works out like I think it will, a CW45 or P45 will be in my future.

Not really concerned/worried about it, I figured it has a logical answer if it, indeed, is an issue. As I say, no problems so far... I just don't want any surprises!

[jocko]

if u have the polymer catch in your cw45, it is an older model for sure. they have not had that polymer catch in the guns for a few years. Personally my polymer catch worked fine, most owners never knew that the catch actualy had a metal insert in it, most thought the polymer catch would just wear out which was not so. My bet was that kahr went to the MIM metal catch due to lower costs involved. The polymer catch is a two part operation and IMO there is a better chance of an out of spec polymer catch over the MIM one peace catch. and yes Bill K, kel tecs was a one peace all polymer mag catch and they did wear, expecially if u slammed them in alot.:blah: I don't think kahr took the cheap route with their polymer catch like kel tec did but I do think the MIM part is better over all, course we have had some say they will rust in some condtions where as the polymer catch would not do that, so who really gives a rats ass:blah:

[Tilos]

From what I know about polymer frames, mag catches or anything with metal inserts, is the metal can be MUCH harder because it does not require machining/fitting.

I have never heard of the metal slide rail inserts, in a polymer frame, wearing out and a file will slide over them without removing any material.
This is proof the inserts are as hard or harder than a file.
YMMV,
Tilos