Karh problems

[markthenewf]

I have a CW45 that is perhaps 6 months old and about 1200 rounds through it. I have had:

1- Feeding problems
2- Ejection problems
3- Light strikes
4- Rear sight marking 'fell off'
5- Front sight is wobbling loose

#1, 2, &3 had me send it back to Kahr. Still get the odd light strike; perhaps 2 in the past 500.

Regarding $4 & 5, I decided to not bother with the original sights. I called Kahr up and ordered the Mepro night sights. I was told that they'd be on the way in a day or less. Three days after order receipt, I get a 'backordered' message.

What the heck is going on down at Kahr? I was under the impression that they were a decent group with a decent product, but I'm beginning to get a sinking feeling on this. Anyone able to make me feel a bit better?!?

[jmra]

My brother had a PM9 whose front sight fell off when it was fairly new. Tried to get it resolved with Karh and finally gave up. Had sights replaced locally.

[rbwhatever1]

Sounds like you should have received an armorers kit with that gun purchase. Kahr hasn't been around long so I don't have a clue about the quality or reliability of their firearms. Others may have a better experience with their products.

[RPBrown]

I have a PM40 that has similar issues. It has been sent back to Kahr several times they return it saying it is fixed but does the same thing when at the range. It has become a bottm shelf safe queen that I won't sell because I won't pass on the problems to someone else.

[Keith B]

Kahr pistols have a very steep feed ramp. They will have a tendency to fail to feed if the ramp is rough, or if the ammo tries to hang on the ramp.

I have a PM9 that will eat most ammo, but does not like the steel cased ammo or ammo that does not have a round smooth nose. I have polished the feed ramp and made sure the spring is in good condition, so it functions well. Also, limp-wristing the gun can cause a failure to eject or feed, so make sure you hold it solid so it had a firm platform for the action to work against when cycling.

[rentz]

Kahr pistols have a very steep feed ramp. They will have a tendency to fail to feed if the ramp is rough, or if the ammo tries to hang on the ramp.

I have a PM9 that will eat most ammo, but does not like the steel cased ammo or ammo that does not have a round smooth nose. I have polished the feed ramp and made sure the spring is in good condition, so it functions well. Also, limp-wristing the gun can cause a failure to eject or feed, so make sure you hold it solid so it had a firm platform for the action to work against when cycling.

i had all these problems for about the first 250rounds during the breaking then it got better, i still get some issues if I use the extended magazine so I basically just tossed that one aside and dont use it.
thankful I havent had to send it back, customer service is always a concern and there are several companies who just don't have a grasp of it.

[markthenewf]

I wasn't worried about anything for the first couple hundred. In fact, I didn't start to get that sinking feeling until I got past 500 rounds. It's not my shooting style doing it either. I know that usually the first suspect, but I've been lobbing 45ACP down range for years. My form may not be competition grade, but I am positive it's not a poor grip problem.

I think that I'll be going to the LGS where I got it and see if they can lean on a supplier for me. They're kinda embarrassed that they sold me a gun on recommendation that is being a bit of a lemon.

The other comments from folks having poor service experiences is becoming more and more common with Kahr. I'd just hoped that I'd not be one of them.

I don't know. There may be a G36 in my future. I can shoot Glocks just fine, I just don't like double-stacks or their sights.

[treadlightly]

My EDC gun, if one can count nine days of recent carry as "every day", is a Kahr PM9. I'm not fast. For some reason "fast" and "me" in the same sentence don't play well together. Taking a little time, i can shoot six inch groups at 25 yards, standing/offhand. A friend with an PM9, much more practiced and experienced than I, can shoot 3 inch groups at 25 from his old guy's Weaver stance.

Mine has malfunctioned three times, none of which were the gun's fault.

Twice, I've had a failure to feed manually when I tried to release the slide by hand. There is a note in the owner's manual advising against that. The way to chamber a round on the PM9 is just hit the slide release and drop the slide. I always look to make sure the striker is fully retracted into the bolt face first, but I have paranoia issues (and no holes in the floor, at least not yet).

The other failure was due to a factory load 9mm case that was about 17 thousandths too long. It wouldn't feed in my HK p30, either - neither gun would go into battery, and the base of the round stood out past the breech when I dropped the round into the barrel. The case was just too long. (Winchester sent me a fedex label to ship the bullet back, thanked me for reporting the issue, and sent a check for $35 so I could buy a box of ammo of my choice. With customer support like that, I like Winchester.)

I think I'm about 400 rounds into my little Kahr. Except for those three non-Kahr issues, no problems.

My experience has been zero burps, except for using out-of-tolerance ammo and fudging the manufacturer's recommendations for charging the gun. It feeds FMJ from several manufacturers just fine, and one magazine of Remington Ultimate Defense worked well, too.

I really like my little "noisy cricket". If it gave me anywhere near the grief you've seen, I'd pursue remedies. My guess is that they are all fixable. The basic design of the gun isn't bad. It pays to be careful when holstering, but that is true of any gun.

And the HK P30, that one's going to get sold. If it had the Kahr's trigger I'd be happy. It doesn't. Very well made gun, but my model 1911 trigger finger just can't do what that gun needs.

[bmwrdr]

I wasn't worried about anything for the first couple hundred. In fact, I didn't start to get that sinking feeling until I got past 500 rounds. It's not my shooting style doing it either. I know that usually the first suspect, but I've been lobbing 45ACP down range for years. My form may not be competition grade, but I am positive it's not a poor grip problem.

I think that I'll be going to the LGS where I got it and see if they can lean on a supplier for me. They're kinda embarrassed that they sold me a gun on recommendation that is being a bit of a lemon.

The other comments from folks having poor service experiences is becoming more and more common with Kahr. I'd just hoped that I'd not be one of them.

I don't know. There may be a G36 in my future. I can shoot Glocks just fine, I just don't like double-stacks or their sights.

Thanks for sharing. I am currently looking out for a compact .45 but will look at HK or maybe Glock. Good luck with your warranty issue.

[The Annoyed Man]

I used to have a CW45...... fairly decent pistol. Kahr recommends a 200 round breakin for the CW45. Mine took exactly 200 rounds to break in and stop jamming, after which it was as reliable as a top.

[rentz]

I used to have a CW45...... fairly decent pistol. Kahr recommends a 200 round breakin for the CW45. Mine took exactly 200 rounds to break in and stop jamming, after which it was as reliable as a top.

same with my pm9, i questioned my purchase those first 200-250 rounds, could barely get through a magazine without a jam. then suddenly it was all smooth as butter (except the extended mag)

one thing i have noticed on kahr's is the top round in the magazine sits kind of awkwardly which might cause some issues. I usually load one in the chamber then pull the mag and reseat the top round. Not necessary just being OCD i suppose.

[CC Italian]

Hope it works out for you. I am a glock lover but I wouldn't go with the 36. I would get a xds 4.0 but that's just me.

[markthenewf]

The big problem now is that Kahr seems to be the only source for OEM replacement sights (standard and night sights) and they are not responding to my requests as to the state of their backorder status. Even the LGS where I got the gun says the same thing: they can't get them and would not expect anything but a tardy response from Kahr.

The only option I've managed to find is by Dawson Precision. They make the sights separately, BUT they say a couple weeks to ship. If Kahr doesn't provide some sort of answer in a couple of days, I'll be ordering the Dawson sight(s) and blacklisting them where ever I go in whatever I do.

[markthenewf]

Hope it works out for you. I am a glock lover but I wouldn't go with the 36. I would get a xds 4.0 but that's just me.

Any particular reason why?

[PBR]

If your serious about a 36 I have one I would consider selling or trading for something else. I don't carry it or really even shoot it cause little small for my hands so my 30 just feels better to me. The 36 has factory box and everything it came with, two mags one with extension.