Is this typical for a new Kahr?

[Dollar An Hour]

I cleaned / lubed my new PM9 and visited the range today. Put 100 rounds of the warm-ish Fiocchi FMJ through it. No problems for 70 rounds, then between rounds 70-100 the pistol had two failures to return to battery. The slide stopped about 5mm short of fully forward. Even the Kahr manual states you shouldn't consider the pistol broken in before 200 rounds, so I'm thinking no need to panic yet. Obviously, a defensive pistol needs to be 100%, so I'll put another couple hundred through it, and see how it goes.

Other thoughts on the pistol: It's quite a bit more comfortable to fire than a .38 Spl Airweight or Air Lite such as my 442 or M&P 340, and the sights are better than a J-Frame. Also 7 rounds > the 5 rounds found in a snubby, and I think 9mm has the edge in power over .38 too.

The PM9, for me, is easier to shoot accurately than a J-Frame in my opinion too.

I really hope I get to trust this pistol 100% because I think it's a superb carry piece. I'm semi-wondering if the all-stainless MK9 would have been a better choice as they seem to have a better reputation on the forums, but I think it's too early to tell. I have read on various forums that Kahrs are very tight from the factory, and need to wear in. Sound about right?

I'd appreciate feedback from Kahr owners on how their break-in period went.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Other thoughts on the pistol: It's quite a bit more comfortable to fire than a .38 Spl Airweight or Air Lite such as my 442 or M&P 340, and the sights are better than a J-Frame. Also 7 rounds > the 5 rounds found in a snubby, and I think 9mm has the edge in power over .38 too.

The PM9, for me, is easier to shoot accurately than a J-Frame in my opinion too.

I've written the exact same thing many times. What are the odds?

I would give it another stripping and cleaning and some more trigger time. I find this gun likes to be run "wet" with lube. I use Tetra or TW25B grease on the slide/frame rails and an oil with good "staying power" like Break-Free on the outside front of the barrel, the barrel camming cutout and the front edge of the ejection port, which is a barrel lockup surface. Not so much that it sprays or flings everywhere, but a visible film.

 

[38snapcaps]

Don't worry, it's very common for the poly framed Kahrs to behave this way when brand new. They are built very tight and demand being clean and well oiled. Have you been using the slide release to chamber the first round, or chambering manually? You must use the slide release as instructed in your owner's manual, especially for the first 400-500 rnds, until things bed in and loosen up a bit. The book says 200 but I think you'll need a couple hundred more beyond that.

My CW9 would start to hang up like you described after I had fired about 45 rnds or so, it does not like being dirty! I'd clean it up and it would go another 45 rnds. At the 600 point it stopped being sticky. Now at 1,600 I can chamber the first round any way I want, the cartridge always goes right in.

By the way, I have a 642 that after a box of shooting I'm done. In comparison I can shoot three boxes with my CW9 with no discomfort. The little Kahr is my favorite shooter. I've previously owned a half dozen "nines" and sold them all. I've had my CW9 for almost two years and it's still my favorite. Amazing accuracy, easy to carry, and fun to shoot.

Give your PM9 some time, you'll be saying the same things.

 

[possum]

what kind of ammo were you using?

i wouldn't worry either though the manual makes it clear that there neds to be 200rds fired before it is ready to go, i normally put more rds than that through a gun before i trust it. like 400rds in one range trip 2 at most. with that said i have a k-40 and i have had no issues with it or the other kahrs i have shot,which have been steel framed and polymer. mine was great out of the box and there was no need for the "200rds" it is still running good.

 

[h0ss]

Like stated above, kahrs like lube. Also, i noticed both of my kahrs (steel and polymer) will start to act up when they get kinda dirty (100-200 rounds continuous use). Maybe the combination of conservative lubrication and the ammo making the gun dirty made it jam up. Just clean it up, oil it up and take it back out for another 100 rounds or so.

 

[RNB65]

Keep shooting and see if it gets better. If you're still having problem after 200 rounds, send it to Kahr for repair. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon with new Kahrs.

I put 500 rounds thru my P9 and it was still jamming. Had to send it to Kahr. It works now.
.

 

[beachjumper]

I field strip and clean my Pm9 at the the range after 53 rounds; 14 carry rounds and 39 practice rounds. I do this twice and if I have no problems, I feel I'm at 100%. Why 52 rounds? Because I have 8 magazines; 4 six rounders and 4 seven rounders. If I'm at 100% with 53 rounds then I feel safe because I don't believe I'll get into a gunfight that will last more than 14 rounds which is what I carry.

 

[Hawaiian]

My son has this problem with my PM9 more than I do. He is not locking his wrist properly and that also causes this problem in the Kahr's and other small lightweight pistols.

 

[barbart]

Our Kahr would drop the magazine very 10-20 rounds in addition to jamming from time to time. Way too much $$$ for that kind of trouble - especially in a carry gun. Sold it, bought an XD-40 subcompact and never looked back. Easy to conceal, NEVER jams...

 

[Tribal]

The PM series seem especially vulnerable to limp-wristing, even when the same amount wouldn't challenge other guns. Mine's never failed to return to battery on JHPs (except on the initial rack), but if I'm being inattentive it happens occasionally. For me, I was overestimating the recoil, and even subconsciously trying to get the kind of recoil I thought it should have.

Basically, the break-in period isn't just for the parts, it's for we the owners, too!

 

[Hawaiian]

I added Agrips to my PM9. It is amazing how something so thin can make such a huge difference in felt recoil. Actually, it recoils the same, but you don't feel the bite.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

The recoil doesn't bother me at all after practicing with and carrying Airweight J-Frames for years.

I cleaned and lubed the PM9 today and will take it out again for more fun next week.

The long (but smooth) DAO trigger isn't ideal for target shooting, but I like it in a carry role for the same reason I like my DAO Centennial J-Frames.

I figure it's not a range gun in the first place, and under no defensive shooting scenario am I shooting 50 rounds anyway, but I want the PM9 to be flawless for 100 rounds at a time, and I think with a little more wear it will be.

I will focus on keeping the wrist locked too. It's possible I got lax on two shots out of 100.

Still hoping this turns out to be a good alternative to a J-Frame.