Kahr CW45: First 214 rounds

[Tony k]

Got out of work early yesterday and took my new Kahr CW45 to the range to test it out/ break it in. Here's how it went:

First 100 rounds:
230grain Silver State LRN over 6 grains of unique OAL 1.265." Failure to feed about every third round. Failure to go into battery about every other round.

Second 100 rounds:
230 grain Xtreme plated RN over 5 grains 700x. OAL 1.260." One failure to feed in 100 rounds.

Seven rounds of Federal 230grain hydrashok personal defense: First two rounds did not fully cycle the action and I had to manually eject the rounds. Last five functioned fine.

Seven rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 185 grain: Flawless function.

The poor performance of the first 100 rounds is probably my fault. I attribute the constant failures to feed with the LRNs to the OAL being too long. The cartridges barely fit in the magazines, and the failure to feeds were always because the bullet did a nose dive. I attribute the failure to go in to battery to insufficient crimp. I'd give the back of the slide a little bump and it would go in to battery and fire just fine.

I thought I'd like the trigger more, but it's so much different than a 1911 trigger. The verdict is still out. I was not quite as accurate with the Kahr as I am with my PT1911. I think it's me not being used to the trigger.

I like the sights and target acquisition is fast. It seems to shoot a little high (an inch or so at 15 yards).

BTW: 1911 magazines do not work in this gun. I mention this because several reviewers on Youtube said they do. Yes, they will fit, but the lips have a slightly different profile, causing the lips of the 1911 mags to drag on the slide. Bummer...

The felt recoil is significanly greater than with a full size 1911 and the texture is rougher. My wrist is a little stiff today, and the skin between my thumb and forefinger is sore.

Overall, I guess the gun meets my expectations. I did my research and I knew the potential pitfalls with Kahrs. My initial impression is that I like it, but I'm not overly impressed by anything about it. It'll be an easier EDC than the PT1911 because its smaller and lighter. I hope to iron out the feed issues. If I can't, that would be a deal breaker.

I hope this helps anyone considering a Kahr.

 

[Armybrat]

You might want to get some advice from the guys on Kahrtalk.com on resolving any persistent problems the pistol has. They can really be helpful.

My CW45 had one stovepipe in the first 50 rounds, but it has run flawlessly in the last 300 downrange. Using The UMC fmj 230gr range ammo. Have shot any SD stuff yet.

Excellent & well made little guns, IMO.

The recoil isn't that bad, but I do use a shooting glove to lessen the harshness of the grip checkering.

 

[hardluk1]

Get you some 1.75" bike inner tube , free used at bike shops. Cut a piece to cover the 75%+ of the grip area to use as a control aid. Works well and the price is right. Then know when to stop shooting. You may only be able to control 100 rounds ,or less !!
Inner tube photo-


The trick with some 1911 mags is the area around the nose , not the feed lips but forward and lower is what will hit the under side of the slide and needs a little bit filed off. Does not effect the mags from still working in 1911's .

This may show up but it shows where the 1911 mags can hit and what to do to make them work well.
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22560&highlight=1911+mag

 

[Tony k]

Thanks Armybrat and Hardluk1.

I just reread my first post and I make it sound like I'm not happy with the kahr. To clarify, I think it's a good gun that I just need to become more familiar with.

I might check out Kahrtalk.com and see what other people are loading. Pretty sure the problems with the lead bullets were my fault, not the gun's fault.

I'm glad to hear that I can modify 1911 mags to work better. The possibility of using 1911 mags was one of the selling points for me. I probaly won't fiddle with my kimber or Chip McCormik mags, but I;ve got some clunker mags to play with.

Yep, 200 rounds was too much for me. I should have been wearing gloves considering it was only about 15 degrees out anyway. I usually only shoot 50to 100 rounds per week.

I ride bicycles, so I've got plenty of old inner tubes laying around. I'm always looking for ways to reuse them. Thanks for the idea Hardluk1

 

[jj1962hemi]

I just picked up a CW9 and have yet to fire it. The dealer told me that it (and all Kahr semi autos) needs 200 rounds through it before I would think about relying on it, then to be careful to test specific SD ammo. It's really tight right now and I can see it needs a few workouts before it will loosen up. It feels great and has a nice balance, but I have to get it to the range before passing final judgment.

 

[mnhntr]

My mother, a 60yr old 110lb small framed woman, purchased one as her daily carry. It has run flawless for over 500 rounds. I shot about 50 through it and she has shot the rest and loves this little pistol. She manages the recoil well and enjoys shooting it. The majority of the rounds have been Missouri Bullet Company 200gr FPRN over A#5 that I loaded for her CW45 and my wife's XDS 45. I also loaded Hornady 200gr XTPs over A#5 that ran great through both. About 100 of the 500 were factory FMJ 230gr rounds.

 

[Lennyjoe]

My CW 45 has gone through over 1500 rounds without issue. Shooting 230gr round nose plated bullets over 5.5 gr of W231. Also loaded some 200 gr Spper Gold Dot bullets and W231 and they fed fine as well. Haven't tried any other type of bullets yet.

My girlfriends CW9 feeds 124 gr FMJ's and Gold dots also without issue. We both carry them with confidence.

 

[chris in va]

BTW: 1911 magazines do not work in this gun. I mention this because several reviewers on Youtube said they do. Yes, they will fit, but the lips have a slightly different profile, causing the lips of the 1911 mags to drag on the slide. Bummer...

Actually the feed lips can be altered slightly for reliable function. An article I read detailed the spots to be rounded off.

 

[ClemsonAl]

My CW45 with 230gn plated bullets likes a COL of 1.240. On Accurate Powders website, they show a COL of 1.237 for Berrys 230gn RN. My CW45 likes 230gn bulets, but doesn't do well with the lighter ones.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm not sure I'd bother Kahr yet. Run several boxes of factory rounds through the pistol, picking a few different brands and loads.

The vast majority of ammunition you've run through it in your OP were your reloads, which you've already admitted some problems are very likely due to your own workmanship.

Of the factory rounds you've put through the pistol, you've only used 14, with one failure.

Not every pistol will eat whatever you feed it, so it's not a bad idea at all to run several boxes of several different kinds of ammunition through it to see how it performs. And if you don't do this, I can imagine that the Kahr people will feel as if they don't have much information to go on should you contact them...likely you'll get a response along the lines that you have an ammunition problem.

And if you didn't already do so before you shot your pistol the first time, thoroughly clean and lube it. Factory grease jobs are meant for storing/shipping and are not necessarily conducive to proper function. At any rate, you'll eliminate the possibility that it's someone else's cleaning/lubing that's contributing to these issues.

 

[Tony k]

Yep Chief, contacting Kahr would be premature and most likely unwarranted. My problems were with the ammo, not the gun.

I'll take clemsonal's advise and try a shorter OAL. 1.265 didn't seem to work, 1.260worked 99 out of 100 times (I know...different bullet, different powder...yeah, yeah). I'll try 1.25 oal.

Hey Chris in va: I disasembled the gun and studied how a Kahr mag seats compared to a 1911 mag. The 1911 mag extends slightly above the height of the frame, with the nose of the follower sitting pretty high. The Kahr mag, on the other hand, comes just to the top of the frame, and the nose of the follower is "clipped" so that it too doesn't go above the frame. I also looked at http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...light=1911+mag suggested by hardluk1. I'm gonna try filing a 1911 mag so that nothing (except the follower) sits above the height of the frame. If that isn't enough, I'll try the more agressive cutting shown over on Kahrtalk.

Hmmm...I wonder if I can put a Kahr follower in a 1911 mag? They sell them for like $4 on the Kahr website.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear so many people have confidence in their Kahrs. Before friday, my shooting experience with handguns was limited to 1911s and M9s. THis is my first polymer framed handgun. I just need to learn the platform and all will be good.

 

[gb6491]

Hmmm...I wonder if I can put a Kahr follower in a 1911 mag? They sell them for like $4 on the Kahr website.

Kahr followers and springs in modified Officer's/compact 1911 magazine tubes is the combination I've run in my CW45 the past three years (with nary an issue ).
Regards,
Greg

 

[Tony k]

^^^this is awesome news^^^

How did the mag run before you changed the follower?

Also, I think I figured out what was causing my failure to go in to battery issues. Answer= short throat. I'm gonna post in the reload section.

 

[dbracin]

I use kahr followers in 1911 mags. The big difference is the location of the slide stop shelf on the follower.

 

[dbracin]

Let me add that I use Metalform mags. I also have Wilson plastic followers that give me 7 rounds in flush fitting mag. They will lock the slide back but do not push the lever quit as high.