Kahr CM9 Issues

[Jlr2267]

Anyone else have issues with their new Kahr pistols? Into it for about 500 rounds so far and I've had issues with:

1. Slide edges are very sharp at the grip...thumb bled today after an hour of shooting
2. Slide ejection cutout is RAZOR SHARP (don't ask)
3. Recoil spring is the stiffest I have ever felt on a 9mm pistol
4. Bad jams (i mean the scary kind)
5. Magazine won't release easily, and I literally have to hold the gun in both hands, push the release with all my strength, pull on the magazine
6. Magazine lips are narrow and each round has to be forced to seat (painful with a bloody thumb)
7. Already found a crack in the mag seam weld
8. The slide lock failed to engage about 1 of every 3 times after firing the last round

I was hoping this gun could replace an LC9 because, for me, the trigger is better and I can shoot it much more accurately, but the issues are troubling, to say the least. Never had a single issue with the LC9, other than the fact that the long trigger pull makes it more inaccurate in my hands.

 

[Hypnogator]

I had a PM-45, and noticed the same sharp edges and "unfinished" look you describe. In addition, mine had literally hundreds of metal shavings inside left over from the machining -- some as large as the head of a pin! Had to send it back to the factory to get it to feed a full magazine (only 5 rds) without jamming, sold it after it was returned much improved -- only jammed about every third magazine!

My Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro was a much better finished weapon and after about 200 rds of break-in, functions flawlessly, all for a fraction of the Kahr's price.

 

[Dean1818]

I have a CM9 that is a reliable gun.

The jams would be what I would be alarmed about

I would be on the phone with kahr tommorow to get it fixed

If the edges arebtoo sharp, it is stainless and can be worked on, and polished
Back

 

[Skylerbone]

I've never experienced a poorly finished Kahr and while I would take corrective measures I agree it's not up to par if that is the case.

Apart from being sharp, problems #4-8 are likely all traceable to your cracked magazine, something that should be remedied by Kahr as well. As for the recoil spring well, the smaller the pistol the stiffer they tend to be by design.

My experience with Kahrs is limited to two, both flawless thus far. I would recommend a Kahl for Kustomer service, yours seems to have (literally) fallen through the cracks. Don't give up yet.

 

[bannockburn]

My CM9 also came with some sharp edges on the slide but I fixed that by giving them a slight bevel with one of my Swiss files. Similar kind of problem with the cutout on the magazine which engaged the mag release. Other than that the gun has been fine.

 

[fxstchewy]

Mine has been fine, stiff recoil spring but no biggie.

 

[ctaylor]

I had to send mine back after the first 300 rounds. They fixed it, but it was still a PIA, and I'm not a subscriber to the theory that "alls well that ends well".

Ask Ian (CSR at Kahr) for a shipping label. If you don't ask, they might stick you with the shipping ($100 or so total).

I don't doubt they'll exchange your mag for you. They would probably do this through the mail, but if your gun has to go back, it'll save $ to just send it along. Seems that is a common issue. Both my mags (one came with the pistol, one from Midway) have a small gap at the top of the back weld. I don't know why. So far they function OK.

Unlike most gun owners, I don't hesitate to take a file/abrasives/etc. to a pistol to take off the sharp edges, re-contour a plastic frame, etc. (Ask my NIB HK P30, which has had grip panels sanded and trigger guard re-contoured this week.) A pistol that "won't fit" or cuts you when you shoot it is worse than useless, and I try to fix this whenever possible, and if it's not over my pay grade. It is relatively easy to break those sharp edges on the slide serrations and around the ejection port without making a mess of it. If you've never tried it, you might be surprised. A "right sized" round file, for example, would be good to lay on top of the serrations and just take a couple of light hits on it and see if it gets better. Just go SLOW. You can't put it back if you take off too much, and you will reduce the value if you break out the file. Do not use tools that plug in and start with "D"...they remove metal faster than humans can pull them off.

Or, you can have Kahr fix it and then sell it. These little guns can be very cranky, which is frustrating to a new owner. I'm not much of a brand-loyal kind of guy, and I'm not a Kahr fan boy. If you get a good one, they seem to shoot lights out. If you get one that's not so good, IMO, you might be better off dumping it...with the appropriate disclosures, of course.

 

[Jlr2267]

Well I shot another 200 rounds today and not a single jam, or slide lock failure. Not sure if it was bad ammo yesterday, but I was mostly shooting WWB bulk from Wmart and Monarch from Academy. Today, it was Federal bulk from Wmart.

Mag is still a problem (loading and release), but the bigger problem is gone, for now. Guess I need to put some HP's thru it and see how it cycles.

Its definitely a nice shooter. I can shoot it as well as my Glock 19, which I think is very good for a pocket pistol.

 

[wally]

Magazine lips are narrow and each round has to be forced to seat (painful with a bloody thumb)

Easily fixed with an UpLULA "universial" pistol magazine loader, or an HKS #451 loader. The UpLULA costs a bit more but works for both single and double stack mags, the various HKS models each only load a few mag variations.

 

[hardluk1]

jlr2267 Glad you found out that ammo can screw how well a firearm fuctions. Some of use will not shoot wwb or a few others. Now all you need is some tougher finger tips. I you have a diamond stone or diamond file, use it to soft'n the sharp edges so now more cuts.

If you have a gun show near you that Georgia Arms sells at there new ammo use's Speer GD bullets and starline brass and runs very well in mine with there 124gr +P ammo. Price is right too at 24 dollars for 50 rounds. Some times there pistol also will not run well with 115gr ammo till it gets a few hundred rounds shot. It does not have enought mass to push the slide back when brand new. Now mine runs fine with 115gr GA canned heat .

 

[chris in va]

My black slide K9 had sharp edges too, web of my hand and trigger guard. A bit of Dremel work rounded them off.

I think Kahr cuts too many corners lately. Few people wanted to spend $700 on a small carry single stack in a minor caliber, so they were forced to field the C-line of guns that could really use a bit more engineering and finishing.

 

[vba]

My CM9 has been fine. On the slide not locking back, make sure your right hand thumb (if you are right handed) is not interferring with the slide lock. This happened to me and now I curl my shooting hand thumb down to avoid the lock.