Kahr CW380 and CT9 both jamming... no surprise... anyone ever get these running?

[taymag]

I got a new CW380 and CT9 in a trade and even after 200+ rounds through each they are still cycling like hot garbage.

I am not a huge Kahr fan but I carried a CW9 for years and it ran like a top. Yes I have tried several types of ammo and yes I've cleaned them well.

Does Kahr offer a service to tunes these up or will they just try and give me replacements?

 

[bannockburn]

taymag

I had a CW40 that had occasional feeding problems even after the 200 round break-in period. I also have a CM9 that has been perfect with no problems to report. I would say contact Kahr and see what they can offer you in the way of customer service.

 

[Tirod]

"Hot garbage" and "no surprise" indicate the best course of action is to put them up for sale. Discerning the real issue seems to be precluded in order to justify a forgone conclusion.

BTW mine runs fine, FWIW.

 

[jdc1244]

"Does Kahr offer a service to tunes these up or will they just try and give me replacements?"

Neither.

 

[wally]

I've several Kahr pistols that have been reliable, but one had to go back under warranty, but it seems to them after two years you don't exist.

My practice CW9 which sees about 2K rounds per year broke off one of the front metal rails embedded in the plastic at the front of the frame. I sent them photos of the damage and they said if I sent it in they would look at it, but they wouldn't send me a pre-paid return label. Since that would cost me about $60 out of pocket with no idea if that would be the end of it I figured, F 'it and just kept shooting it figuring maybe I could get some photos of a more embarrassing to them failure to perhaps better motivate them to support their product in the future.

That was over two years ago and the gun continues to run fine, although the extractor wore out and stopped extracting reliably and the nose of the striker wore and caused unreliable ignition, so these have been replaced, along with the striker spring and recoil spring a couple of times. Brownells and Midway usually have the replacements a price not worth hassling with Kahr's weak customer service.

 

[bgw45]

My two year old CW380 runs. No issues. Replaced a LCP with it, couldn't be happier.

 

[likesguns]

My CW380 wouldn't go fully into battery when new,I sent it back to Khar and they made it work proper,they replaced the springs and reworked the extractor.

 

[Seven High]

IMO new Kahrs have over sprung springs, especially the recoil spring. Dry firing multiple times with hand cycling the slide helps. Also leaving the slide locked back for extended periods helps. Target type ammunition does not run very well when the weapons are new.

 

[redneck]

I have a P380 that was a nightmare to break in, a used K9 that has been perfect. Brother in law has a CT9 that has been great. It's frustrating to get a new gun that won't run at all, but I wouldn't give up on them yet.

If you aren't aware, kahr have tapered recoil springs that have to be oriented the right direction. You can easily put the gun together with the spring backwards. You might check and make sure they are put together right if you haven't already.

 

[cc-hangfire]

Short answer - no similar problems. With any semiauto, my first suspicion on FTF/FTE issues - assuming that is the problem - is to check the magazine springs and feed lips. Since mine haven't malfunctioned, I can't offer other suggestions.

And I have two CT9's, a CW9, & a CM9. The "platform" has replaced the Shield (& some other single stack 9's) for home, vehicle, & carry (OWB, IWB, pocket) handguns. I like it that the mags interchange (well, not quite given mag well length, but you get the idea).

I do see on the web that a noticeable percentage of Kahr handguns have reliability issues. And I do note that the plastic base plates on some of my mags don't seem like the most robust design - I'll replace them with metal base plates eventually.

I almost always buy used guns, & therefore don't worry about the break in period. I did run a couple of boxes of ammo through each to verify function before they went into rotation.

With all that rambling, not every handgun suits everybody - best of luck to you in fixing them or replacing them.