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Football_Bill
12-10-2011, 09:00 PM
I just picked up my first Kahr this week, a CW45. It had been a while since I purchased a firearm, and until now have only owned Hi-Point's. I wanted a good CCW, my Hi-Point C-9, no matter how reliable it is, is just too heavy. Many people recommend the Glocks, and after first thinking of getting a CM9, I was set to get a G27 just based on all the Glock hype and parts available. The idea of being able to convert it to a .22 or 9mm was appealing. I then talked to an FFL that I met while looking to get a purchase on-line shipped. He didn't have anything bad to say about Glocks per-se, but was adamant I wouldn't like th G27 without a grip extender due to being such a big guy. Long story short, rented a G27, hated it, held a CW40, loved it. To top it off, right when I left the range I talked to a State Police Sergeant friend of mine and mentioned I was thinking of a Kahr, he lit up, loves them, carries one on duty, has 3. I asked his professional opinion on caliber, he recommended .45 and reiterated what I have read about the Kahr's, the .45 has less kick than the .40. I was sold, same FFL happened to have a CW45 in stock, so I jumped right on it, $379 plus tax minus my .40 trade in.

One of my biggest things with anything I buy is to see if they have a forum like this before I go ahead an get it, having a good support group is key. I prepped my CW45 as prescribed (racked 200 times, sprayed with air, then Gun Scrubber, oiled per diagram, then racked another 200) and took her to the range today. Went through 100 rounds of American Eagle 230 grain FMJ, had 2 FTE's. I would have to say I limp wrist-ed those, they were at 3 and 5 mags into one handed shooting. After that 100, I tried some Homeland Defender Fear No Evil 230 grain hollow points. Guy at the counter said they are +p and very hot. In 20 rounds I had 2 FTF's and the 19th round as an FTE. The gun was hot, so hot that the polymer at the tip was turning white. Sounds like a good trip to me, going to put another 100 AE's through next weekend and stick with just a clip of the hollow points at the end of each session (first clip ran fine, that is all I need for personal defense). Any feed back about the hollow's, etc?

PS, I did take my mag apart as part of the initial cleaning, spring was in wrong!!!!!!! One final question, do you spray the polymer handle with cleaner, or just the slide half, I did first for the initial? (I am going to be using the 3M brake cleaner from now one)

Thank you, this site is awesome so far, next plan, trade my C-9 in to get my wife a CW9, the CW45 fits great in her hand too, and she wants a Crimson Trace. (ordered mine today, want an AGrip next, but I had no "cheese grater" issues through 120 round today!) Any experiences with the LaserLyte, like the design, leaves more options for holsters, but still takes that split second to turn it on? Maybe when I get a full size Kahr 45 for the bedside!

TheTman
12-10-2011, 09:40 PM
Good choice on the CW45. That's what I carry about 75% of the time. I have the Crimson Trace laser on mine, so it lights up as soon as I grip the gun. I have the CW40 too, and I think the recoil is about the same, with the 40 being a harsher, while the .45 seems to spread out the recoil for a microsecond or 2 longer. If I do anything to the handles, I usually just use a little degreaser and some water to rinse it off well. I wear padded shorty gloves to avoid the "cheese grater" as I did experience some discomfort when breaking in the CW40 (that's the one I bought first). A lot of folks take a bicycle innertube and cut it so it covers up the checkering on the backstrap to avoid hands rubbed raw. I hope your Kahr continues running well for you. If not, Kahr customer service is pretty good. I had to send my CW45 in, and they had it back in my hands exactly one week after sending it in.
Emjoy your Kahr, I think you'll find it a much more precision piece of equipment than the Hi-points.
Oh, and welcome to Kahrtalk by the way!

OldLincoln
12-10-2011, 11:45 PM
Welcome to the forum Bill! Glad you like your CW45.

Bawanna
12-11-2011, 12:36 AM
Glad ya found us football. Can't have too many 45 fans around here.

joe d
12-11-2011, 03:43 AM
Welcome...CW45 fan here as well..You'll love this forum...Serious Kahr knowledge here...Awesome people as well...

cw45fan
12-11-2011, 01:42 PM
CW9 for wifey sounds like a great idea... I have both and find I CARRY the CW9... just slightly smaller and lighter enough to give it the edge for me. But I like BOTH of my CW's a LOT... Pic is for you, Bill... These old guys on here have already seen it too much already:
http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab293/tel_meagain/SNV32538.jpg

jocko
12-11-2011, 01:49 PM
old guys????

cw45fan
12-11-2011, 01:52 PM
Well, yeah, old in the sense of being on this forum for awhile and subjected to all my pics...

Bill K
12-11-2011, 02:07 PM
Welcome to KahrTalk!

Don't have one now but a Kahr in .45 ACP might interest me someday.

JFootin
12-11-2011, 02:46 PM
Welcome to KahrTalk!

Don't have one now but a Kahr in .45 ACP might interest me someday.

Well, with these quality guns going for $350 or less shipped, I am getting very interested! :tongue:

TheTman
12-11-2011, 03:01 PM
My only complaint with the CW45 is that mine won't feed from the 7 round magazines. Kahr wants to swap them out, or have me send them the gun. I just find it hard to believe I'd have received 3 bad mags, from 2 different sources. I really can't find the difference between them and the 6 round mags, as to why they won't feed, but they usually end up with the nose of the cartridge wedged against the top of the chamber. They seem to sit in the right place when I put them in with the slide off, and the bullet is pointed at the same angle and everything looks normal. Must be something miniscule that I can't see.
I find it very comforting to have 7 rounds of .45 on my hip, and another 6 rounds in my mag carrier.

jocko
12-11-2011, 03:08 PM
u might try this with no waste of part etc. Take the 6 round mag spring out and put it in ur 7 round magazine and retest.

Football_Bill
12-21-2011, 11:04 AM
Second range trip didn't go quite so well, but not bad. Used Lawman 230 gr FMJ ammo and had about 7 total FTF's and 3 FTE's through 100 rounds. Then I tried those hollow points again, seemed like very third was an FTF after the first mag goes flawlessly. My personal feeling, I still love this gun, but I may have over lubed it. First cleaning I follow lube chart to a T, cleaning after first range trip I may have lubed too much, too many places. CT came in yesterday, I have it on, but am having the slgiht moving out of line. I am known for over tightening screws, so I was very careful with these and may need to tighten more. Not sure I like the CT as it takes away from the stealth this little CW45 had. Before I could put in my leather jacket with no print, but with the CT and pocket holster (holster moslty the issue) it does print a little. Smartcarry on the way, with the laser option, so the CT stays. Some day I want a full size Kahr 45.