Kahr troubles!!

[Calhoun]

My daily CCW is a P9. I had total faith in this till last Friday. Every mag I shot had at least 1 FTE. The brass would get stuck in the top of the ejection port. The primer end would hang in the notch where the breach face locks into the slide and the front of the brass would be stuck against the breach face. At the same time the slide tries to feed the next round so the casing and the live round are slammed together. The ammo used was WWB, Blazer 115gr. FMJ, and Golden Sabers 124gr. JHP. All 3 caused at least 1 FTE.

Any guesses as to what could cause this? Could limp-wristing cause this (and if so, why has it just started)? Time to replace springs?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Calhoun

PS- Also posting this on GlockTalk. No need to answer to both.

 

[MICHAEL T]

If you shoot a lot might be time for a spring change, Since its doing with all your mags. Besides there cheap. Just my .02 .

 

[strambo]

I'm no gunsmith, but it sounds like the recoil spring. I have a K9 and I believe Kahr recommends recoil spring change at 3000 rounds for the K/P series.

 

[denfoote]

Here is your solution!!!

My MK9 has the exact same problem.
Here is a copy of e-mail from Kahr.

Hi Dennis

It is more a extractor arm problem than a recoil spring
If you forward you address I can send out the needed parts

Thank You
Kahr Arms
----- Original Message -----
From: Dennis Foote
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004 2:41 AM
Subject: MK9 problem.


Dear Sir,
I have an MK9 Elite 98 that has developed a curious problem.
After a shot is fired, the spent case becomes lodged axially between the recoiling slide and the frame.
I have replaced the recoil spring. But that has not cleared up the problem. Any ideas on what is wrong and could you recommend an authorized gunsmith in the Phoenix AZ metro area. I am loath to spend the money that UPS wants, to send the gun back to you, if the problem is a simple spring change out!!

Regards,
Dennis Foote

They have already sent me the parts free of charge!!
All I need to do now is to have my gunsmith install them!!!

 

[Calhoun]

Defnote,
You rock!! I knew that somebody here could help me out. I'll have to call Kahr tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

Calhoun

 

[cliffjr]

It's great that they will send you the parts but what will it cost to have your gunsmith install them? What is Kahr's warranty and will they cover the gunsmith charge?

 

[heathen]

Wow, how strange that I should find this thread. I just recently picked up a used P9 covert for an unbelievable price off of Gunbroker and was literally going nuts over the same problem. I had not yet contacted Kahr. denfoote, can you tell me what parts they sent you as replacement? Thanks very much!!! Heath

 

[denfoote]

It's great that they will send you the parts but what will it cost to have your gunsmith install them? What is Kahr's warranty and will they cover the gunsmith charge?

I called my gunsmith yesterday and it will cost me a whopping $15 to get the pistol up and running!! It also helps that he is also a friend of mine!!

I want to get this gun up and running asap because the Kydex IWB holster for my G26 is also on the fritz!! The G36 is nice, but I only have a belt, ankle, or pocket holster for it and I prefer IWB.

I'm getting tired of hoofing full size guns around. I have IWB holsters up the ying yang for them!!

Lately, I've been carrying Pistolet Makarova, however, I would prefer the added oomph of those 9mm +Ps!!!!!

 

[Calhoun]

Update!

I stopped by a local smith yesterday on the slight chance he would have parts in stock. I know he works on Kahrs, b/c he carries one himself. Told him about my problem and he took the time to pull my extractor out to check it after he noticed that it's movement was a little sluggish.. You would not belive the grunge that came out of it. There was more lint in my extractor than my belly-button . This might be a fix. I'm going to run by the range tonight or tomorrow and check it out. Here's the best part, he spent about 30 min. with me cleanng my extractor, plunger, and spring and when he was done he didn't charge me a dime. I asked him what I owed him and he just kept saying "I'll just over-charge you next time." He will definatly be getting more of my bussiness. In case anyone is interested:

One Shot Gunworks
Indian Trail, NC (Just outside of Charlotte)
(704) 821-4661

I'll post later and let you know if this was a fix.


Calhoun

 

[eyz]

I empathize having owned a k40 and pm9 both jamomatics from the factory. I don't think Kahr has a clue how to make reliable arms (imagine having to replace a recoil spring on a glock 26 every 2-3K rounds). Kahr doesn't sell nothing that a snubnose revolver can't cure. I would love to own a reliable equivalent of a pm9 or pm40 but I would feel better armed with a hammer than a Kahr. Just my opinion, please no one take offense.

 

[saltydog452]

Hammers for sale or swap..

I've got a couple of hammers I'l trade you for the Kahrs.

Kidding aside, I would think that a skinny, light slide with an abbreviated slide travel would tax the capabilities of the recoil spring. I change my recoil springs more often than I change the oil in the cars.

For what its worth, I took a page out of various books from the likes of Skelton, Jordan, Askins, etc., when these gents were touting the SW Mdl 19.
At that time, the SW Mdl 19 was considered a 'light' easy carrying sidearm capable of high intensity loads. The problem was that these 'high intensity' loads would, over a brief time send these K Frame 357s to the parts bin.

The solution was to have more than one. Carry one, and train/practice with the other.

Some sidearms were designed to be carried more than fired. For the most part, the folks who make ' carrying guns' readily admit that their products might handle warp speed ammunition, but won't do so very long.

Although my little light Cobra or 638 will handle '+P' ammo, I don't have any delusions that either will do so and last as long as a Mdl 10.

More than one or two experienced greybeard gunnies will be quick to say that, although they prefer to carry aluminum frame Commanders, the steel frame sidearms last longer.

Thats the way I figure it anyway. I have two Kahrs, One steel frame, the other plastic. Same magazines, ammunition, fire controls, ...I like them.

It could be an ammunition problem also. I dunno. Loaded cartridges that are longer in OAL may not be reliable in short slide guns.

Again, I don't know. I do know that I like the small, light versions but can't expect them to have the longevity of their steel frame longer slide counterparts.

FWIW,
salty.

 

[eyz]

Sorry they're both gone now in somebody elses safe. It wasn't an issue of durability. I expect a kahr that functions to outlast a revolver. It was a functioning issue. Pre break in and post break in didn't change. K40 or PM9 same thing. Fire, thumb slide into battery, fire, thumb slide into battery, repeat until ammo gone. Kahr was also more prone to limp wristing malfunctions than any other autos i've fired. I decided it was a flawed design or manufacturing process. Too bad because I really wanted one enough to buy two over the years. I thought I was unlucky with the first one. Buyer Beware.

 

[jetman]

sorry to hear about your Kahr problems. Mine (PM9) runs like a clock, once it was fully broken in..... LUCKILY

 

[denfoote]

Wow, how strange that I should find this thread. I just recently picked up a used P9 covert for an unbelievable price off of Gunbroker and was literally going nuts over the same problem. I had not yet contacted Kahr. denfoote, can you tell me what parts they sent you as replacement? Thanks very much!!! Heath

It looks like they sent me a new extractor, plunger assy, and a spring.

I had obtained mine from a friend, who had purchased it from his daughter. You know how kids are. Always needing cash!!!
No telling how many rounds have been through it or how well it had been taken care of!! It shot very well for about 300 rounds before it started doing this!!! It may very well just be crud in the works!!