PM9 + Golden Sabers = Fail --- Please Help

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My PM9 is a well broken in, at least 1k rounds through it (all FMJ). Only one out of the 1000 has ever failed to properly cycle and that was like 20th round I ever fired through it.

I took some Golden Sabers to the range yesterday to see if they would run reliably through the gun because I know some PM9's are finicky with HP rounds. This is my carry gun so I need some HP ammo that cycles flawlessly.

Sure enough during the very first magazine, on the 3rd or 4th round, it jammed. Failure to feed. I had a feeling this would happen because it was somewhat tricky to get the first round to feed from the mag in the first place.

Can anyone recommend a solid HP round for SD that will feed reliably in the PM9. Perhaps one with a more conical-shaped bullet that is more similar in shape to FMJ?
 
What works in one might not work well in another. I'd pick up a couple of different brands and do some testing.
 
If you have put 1,000 on the original recoil and magazine springs, you might consider replacing those springs.
Small semi-auto's like the PM9 don't go as many rounds on a set of springs vs a full size pistol before they need replacement.

That being said, I had a PM9 and it always fed Remington 115 gr. JHP and the +P version of same load; as a bonus, that load can be found in 50 round boxes.

I chronographed the +P Remington 115 in the PM9 and got a 5 shot average of 1,098 fps / 307# KE which beat the Remington 124 Golden Saber +P at 985 fps / 267# KE.
 
I use Hornady Critical Defense in my PM9 with no FTE/FTF issues. I've noticed that the Golden Sabre rounds are a bit longer than most other brands which in a gun the size of the PM9 may be what is presenting the problem. Try changing the ammo you use as Steve H suggests.

I haven't tried the Golden Sabres through my PM9.
 
I carried a pf-9 for 2 1/2 years and never had a falure period with 115 and 125gr ammo BUT i never shot a simgle round of remington ammo. I ran many rounds of hornady CD ammo and geogia arms gd and deep curl ammo in it. Also some pmc and fed barnes x loads.

Federal has a newly remaned round out that looks and feeds like a fmj but is a highly expansive defense round. Ferderal Guard dog ammo
 
cbrgator said:
I will look into those.


147
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That's what I was going to guess. The 147 grain bullets are most likely your issue, not the contour of the hollow point. The PF-9 is a compact pistol with a short barrel and needs a lighter weight bullet such as a 115 or 124 grain. The 147 grain bullets are better for a larger pistol with a longer barrel.
 
The Hornady XTP bullet is as conical as they come. Hornady puts this bullet in most of their carry ammo. I am very pleased with the results I saw using the 124 gr. Hornady TAP line. Very reliable, accurate, low flash, and a tried and true bullet.

Bulbous shaped bullets have a history of causing misfeeds in some of the Kahr line. A change of ammo and, as mentioned by CDW4ME, a change of the recoil spring should solve your problem.
 
My PM9 shoots 147 grain hollowpoints exceptionally well.
Although I have not used the Golden Sabers,I have used the 147 gr. Win. PDX1 as well as the Win. Ranger Bonded 147's.
And speaking of bulbous bullets,the PDX1's are just that,a very wide mouthed hollow point.
The Rangers are a lot smaller in that regard.
Next time I buy ammo I will try a box of the 147 grain Sabers.
Order a new recoil spring from Kahr.
 
My old Kimber is just as finicky with Gold Dot HP's, but it handles the Hornady's just fine. But my old CZ 75 B will not cycle the same Hornady in 9mm. I had a lot of problems with my Kahr CW .40, but found out after I traded it at a loss, the problem was with the mags...not the gun.
 
I shoot 147 Grain Golden Saber in my PM9 with no problems. You can try different ammo, of course, but you may need to dig a little deeper.
 
Winchester PDX1 124+P runs perfectly in mine. It seems like the OAL of the golden saber is a little long, maybe that is causing the failure to feed.
 
P9240010-2.jpg

Other than Remington Green box for the range and break in...I got all these to run reliably. I haven't gone back to add anything to the mix. I figured I could always find one of these somewhere.
 
That's what I was going to guess. The 147 grain bullets are most likely your issue, not the contour of the hollow point. The PF-9 is a compact pistol with a short barrel and needs a lighter weight bullet such as a 115 or 124 grain. The 147 grain bullets are better for a larger pistol with a longer barrel.
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:cool:

Simply not the case. It has little to do with the 147 grain bullet. This particular gun does not like the round so move on to another. There is no magic bullet. Most if not all modern 9mm defensive ammo will perform if you do your part.

Also this is about a Kahr PM9 not a PF-9.
 
rellascout said:
:cool:

Simply not the case. It has little to do with the 147 grain bullet. This particular gun does not like the round so move on to another. There is no magic bullet. Most if not all modern 9mm defensive ammo will perform if you do your part.

Also this is about a Kahr PM9 not a PF-9.
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I really didn't know there was a debate that 147 grain bullets aren't the best choice for a short barrel semi-auto. Sure, they might cycle fine, but 115 or 124 grain is certainly more appropriate for a gun with a 3" barrel. Anybody want to back me up here? :)

My recommendation is based on personal experience. I have a PM9, it's my daily carry. I also had the same problem with the 147 grain Golden Saber. I switched to the 124 grain version and the problems went away. While the 124's cycled fine, I ultimately switched to Gold Dots because the Golden Saber's are fairly pricey.

Sorry for the mix-up on the PF-9, I had one of those (sold it) and I always get the two mixed up.
 
The 147 grain is not recommended by many keltec users on their forum. I'll back you up ChazHollywood! :)

Go with 124, and mine likes Golddot.

Also OP, did you do the fluf and buff yet? Some keltecs need them some don't.
 
I am not a caliber war or bullet weight kind of guy but I think that people people consistently have this one backwards. What I was really trying to say is that for any given gun you want to choose a defense round based on reliablity and function not weight or even brand. YMMV

147gr are better for short barreled guns.....

When we redesigned the Ranger T Series of ammunition we widened the velocity window under which the round would expand to allow for the slower velocities that shorter than standard barrels produce. What this means is that if you own a standard or sub compact pistol the round should have adequate expansion. In 9mm I would recommend the 147 grain bullet as it loses a lower velocity percentage than the faster lighter bullet in shorter than normal barrels. This is because the bullet has more dwell time in the bore and has a greater opportunity to burn the powder before the bullet exits the bore. Powder that is burned outside the bore does nothing for velocity. The lighter faster bullets generally have more powder to burn and since the lighter faster bullets have less time in the bore they are not efficient burners of powder in the shorter barrels.

We increased the velocity window under which the round would expand by increasing the size of the hollowpoint, tweaking the jacket thickness and the depth of the cuts on the inside of the jacket petal segments.

Sincerely,

Paul Nowak
Senior Technical Specialist
Winchester Law Enforcement Ammunition
Click to expand...
 
Yo Mama said:
The 147 grain is not recommended by many keltec users on their forum. I'll back you up ChazHollywood! :)

Go with 124, and mine likes Golddot.

Also OP, did you do the fluf and buff yet? Some keltecs need them some don't.
Click to expand...
OP Has a Kahr PM9, not a KelTec. That was my mistake. Either way though, the point of my post applies to either.
 
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