Kahr PM9 old vs new barrel

[birdog4549]

Because of something I did i found myself needing a new polygonal barrel for my Kahr PM9. I emailed them and asked which barrel was correct even though it looked like there was only one possibility. I ordered the barrel suggested online. I received the barrel and it is about 1/4" longer than the original and has a different shape to the bottom of the locking lug. The barrel fits but I have not shot it as the barrel sticks out of the slide and makes the gun look odd! I called and found that my gun (mfg in 2003) has a barrel they no longer make. I am waiting for a reply to my argument (nicely made) that they should support their guns better.

Has anyone had any experience with this issue and had it resolved or perhaps have any good ideas. I won't know what Kahr will offer to do yet. They said I could buy a new slide but I haven't asked about the frame still being usable but the whole issue is very irritating. To be fair, I haven't heard the end of the matter yet but IMHO they should have had barrels available for their different models

 

[OilyPablo]

Can you post a side view of the barrels so I can see the lug cut outs. I'll see if they match mine. Sorry I can't help more.

I had no idea they made the PM9 in 2003!

 

[gb6491]

Looking at your photo/where the extra lug material is, as long as the barrel fits into your frame, there's clearance for the extra material on the lug (see photo below, my CW45 which has a similar lug), and you can cycle rounds without anything binding up, I think you should be good to go. The extra barrel length can be left as is or removed by a gunsmith/machinist if you can't live with the look.
FWIW, Kahr now only supplies a recoil spring for the newer. longer PM9 slide; you may have to cut the new spring for fit in an older style PM9 slide.

Regards,
Greg

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The barrel fits but I have not shot it as the barrel sticks out of the slide and makes the gun look odd! I called and found that my gun (mfg in 2003) has a barrel they no longer make. I am waiting for a reply to my argument (nicely made) that they should support their guns better. ...

My response probably reads as more "combative" than I intend it, but I couldn't think of a more diplomatic way to write it:

Unless the "upgraded" barrel doesn't work in your gun -- and you wrote that you haven't tried it -- your complaint at the moment seems to be that you don't like the way the new barrel looks in your slide.

I don't know of ANY gunmakers that, when a design is changed, continue to provide older versions of a given part (for a gun still being produced) after the inventory has been used up and new parts are on hand.

And, if the design change is an improvement, they typically just shift to the newer (arguably/hopefully) better part.

 

[birdog4549]

The End Of The Matter

I appreciate all the responses. Forums like this are really a good resource. Kahr responded well to my issue by calling me today and letting me know that, after looking around, they have found a new (old stock correct) replacement. I had to send the first barrel back (which I did a couple of hours ago) and they will send me the right one! This speaks well for Kahr. Again, thank you all for the responses.

I corrected the original post where it originally stated the barrel they sent was "shorter"

 

[wow6599]

FWIW, I had my FFL / holster man make me a nice OWB holster for my PM9. IIRC, it is a 2010 run. When I picked up the holster, the gun stuck out the end about 1/8 of an inch.

After scratching our heads for a while (he uses molds), I found out on the interweb that they changed the length.

Keep this in mind if buying holster for a new or used PM9.......not all fit the same.