K40 troubleshooting, fixed, runs great now thanks

[AFCop]

Recently bought a new to me black k40 SN: DL04XX. Cleaned and lubricated it and it appeared to be practically unfired. I love the fit and feel of this little gun and need help to make it work dependably.

I shot 50 rounds of Federal 180 grain HST JHP using both 6 round magazines. Several fail to feed with the round nose diving slightly with the tip of the round in the mag well and the brass head on the breech face. Also a few fail to feed where the gun went into battery without a chambering a round.

I cleaned and lubed and put another 100 rounds of the same ammo through it with similar results.

I read the Kahr prep posts and tested the magazines as directed, they were hanging up, so I polished the right side of the magazine followers, cleaned and lubricated the weapon as indicated and put another 50 rounds down range. Only one FTF with the round hanging up on the feed ramp. However there were numerous failure to feed where the gun cycles and goes into battery without stripping or chambering a round. Click.

I carry an HK P2000 on duty and have shot semi autos for 30 years. I don’t think I am limp wristing. In fact I have intentionally tried to limp wrist during the first 100 rounds and it cycled fine, the FTF were when I maintained a good grip. Also, I am not engaging the slide lock with my off hand, although the nose of the round comes close to the slide lock it isnt touching. Mag springs are in properly, with the coil angled up toward the front of the magazine.

Any other suggestions on what could be the issue. I don’t want to try another brand of ammo. I have access to the 180 grain Federal which is why I bought the .40 in the first place.

Thanks for your help, appreciate this forum.

[RRP]

Cleaned and lubricated it and it appeared to be practically unfired.

If it was mine, I would polish the feed ramp and see if it feeds FMJ. Maybe this gun just needs to be broken in before it will feed JHP reliably.

If that didn't resolve the problem, I would replace the recoil spring. This should resolve failure to return to battery.

I would also inspect the magazines to ensure the springs are installed correctly. You might try stretching the springs a bit to see if that resolves failure to strip the next round. New springs may be in order.

I would also check if the mag follower, or spring coil, is hanging up on the magazine catch. This could contribute to your feeding problem, as well.

[Bawanna]

With it occasionally not picking up a round I'd check the pick up rail and see if it's got a bevel on the front.

For awhile some had no bevel and the round in the magazine would pop up under the rail instead of in front of it.

Just lock the slide back and insert a loaded magazine and see if the case slides up in front of the breech face.

[AFCop]

If it was mine, I would polish the feed ramp and see if it feeds FMJ. Maybe this gun just needs to be broken in before it will feed JHP reliably.

If that didn't resolve the problem, I would replace the recoil spring. This should resolve failure to return to battery.

I would also inspect the magazines to ensure the springs are installed correctly. You might try stretching the springs a bit to see if that resolves failure to strip the next round. New springs may be in order.

I would also check if the mag follower is hanging up on the magazine catch. This could contribute to your feeding problem, as well.

It returns to battery, just doesnt always bring a round with it.

Mag follower was hanging on the mag catch, I believe I fixed that, as now the primary FTF issue is with it going into battery without a round.

[AFCop]

With it occasionally not picking up a round I'd check the pick up rail and see if it's got a bevel on the front.

For awhile some had no bevel and the round in the magazine would pop up under the rail instead of in front of it.

Just lock the slide back and insert a loaded magazine and see if the case slides up in front of the breech face.

Thanks you both for your replies.

The rail does not appear to be beveled, however the rounds sit well forward of the rail/breech face.

[RRP]

...now the primary FTF issue is with it going into battery without a round.

My thought was that if the travel of the mag follower is impeded by the magazine catch, or if a coil of the spring hung up on the mag catch, the next round may not be pushed tightly into the feed lips, where it needs to be to be stripped by the cycle of the slide.

[AFCop]

My thought was that if the travel of the mag follower is impeded by the magazine catch, or if a coil of the spring hung up on the mag catch, the next round may not be pushed tightly into the feed lips, where it needs to be to be stripped by the cycle of the slide.

Oh, I see.

I 600 grit sanded/polished the mag follower until the nose dives in the magazine stopped. It still hangs when the follower is inserted in a disassembled mag in the well, just not as bad. I thought it was enough for the spring to overcome.

I was worried about taking too much material off the mag follower, I could take more off and see if that helps the fail to strip.

[RRP]

Oh, I see.

I 600 grit sanded/polished the mag follower until the nose dives in the magazine stopped. It still hangs when the follower is inserted in a disassembled mag in the well, just not as bad. I thought it was enough for the spring to overcome.

I was worried about taking too much material off the mag follower, I could take more off and see if that helps the fail to strip.

One of my Kahrs had a burr on the tip of the magazine catch. I first noticed it because the mag was difficult to drop. I had to push the mag release with more force than normal. I corrected it in minutes with a few strokes of a file.

If your mag catch has a similar burr, it may be impeding the travel of the magazine follower.

[sas PM9]

If it was mine, I would polish the feed ramp and see if it feeds FMJ. Maybe this gun just needs to be broken in before it will feed JHP reliably.

If that didn't resolve the problem, I would replace the recoil spring. This should resolve failure to return to battery.

I would also inspect the magazines to ensure the springs are installed correctly. You might try stretching the springs a bit to see if that resolves failure to strip the next round. New springs may be in order.

I would also check if the mag follower, or spring coil, is hanging up on the magazine catch. This could contribute to your feeding problem, as well.

AFC:

/\ /\ /\ this!

I would only add that magazine springs are available from wolff gunsprings and due to it being a used weapon replacing them might not hurt.

Be sure that the inside of the feed lips are nice and smooth.

HTH.

-steve

[AFCop]

One of my Kahrs had a burr on the tip of the magazine catch. I first noticed it because the mag was difficult to drop. I had to push the mag release with more force than normal. I corrected it in minutes with a few strokes of a file.

If your mag catch has a similar burr, it may be impeding the travel of the magazine follower.

I pulled the grips and there is no burr. With a disassembled mag in the well the follower does hang a little but the spring passes through smooth. I will tune the followers and see if that helps though the fail to feed is happening consistently not only on the 2nd or 3rd rounds.

[kahrnut1]

with these small guns timing is critical. make sure ur recoil spring is installed with open end to front of gun. a sleight bevel on front of rail is a must. there are pics of bevel on this site.

[AFCop]

with these small guns timing is critical. make sure ur recoil spring is installed with open end to front of gun. a sleight bevel on front of rail is a must. there are pics of bevel on this site.

The recoil spring was/is intalled with open coils toward the muzzle.

My feed rail may be slightly beveled, is it supposed to be an obvious bevel?
I cant find any pictures and dont have a straight edge.

[AFCop]

I appreciate all of your input. I traded my black K40 for a stainless K40 and it shoots great. My first one had a very long, uneven trigger pull with a definate hitch at the end right before breaking. This newer gun has the smooth crisp trigger that I have been reading about. It makes for an accurate shooter since the trigger break is so smooth and unexpected. This new gun doesnt have any of the Fail To Feed issues of the original. I really love this pistol.

The only issue now is the 180 grain Federal rounds are hitting the slide lock as they move up in the magazine causing the slide to lock back. I will contact Jay at Kahr and see about getting a new slide lock.

[rjt123]

K40 FTF after breakin, looking for help.

Mmmmm, K40 (bad Homer Simpson impression).

After getting my K9 and finding out that the metal Kahrs are, IMHO, just *better*, the K40 is definitely on my want list.

NRA Life Member

[Barth]

Mmmmm, K40 (bad Homer Simpson impression).

After getting my K9 and finding out that the metal Kahrs are, IMHO, just *better*, the K40 is definitely on my want list.

NRA Life Member

My MK40 Elite took 200 rounds just to start to loosen up.
And a second 200 before it became 100% reliable.
But after that the all stainless micro has been nothing short of amazing.
I'm a big fan of the all stainless Kahr autos.