New [to me] K40 - normal slide fit?

[muggsy]

All steel guns need a little play in the slide so that when they get hot they don't bind. Something may be preventing the slide from going fully forward. That I'd have checked out. Send your photos to the Kahr Service Department. They'll know for sure.

[Flieger]

I own two K40's and have played with quite a few more. I have never seen that much of a overhang on a K40. If anything, they have a propensity to sit a little forward.

If that is the natural way your gun is sitting at rest, not in battery, it needs to be looked at. I would call Kahr customer service on Tuesday and maybe send them your picture after explaining what it looks like.

[Bongo Boy]

I honestly thought mine was about 1/4 to 1/3 of what I see in your photo, roughly, with a round in the chamber. But when I took a photo, it looks pretty darn flush. Is that photo with an empty chamber? Did you try to push it forward with your hand, with some considerable push or drop the slide shut? I guess the proper way to ask that question is--are you very confident it's really fully in battery?

As for play, I personally would be very happy with a somewhat 'sloppy' K40, given it's meant to carry and work when you need it. Tight-fitting, no rattle, no wobble is, to me, for target, display and feeling good about the $3,000 custom you bought. It might not be too much of a surprise that the Wilson Combats and the Ed Browns and so on are the ones I've seen jam when folks try to actually shoot them at IDPA matches. Pretty embarassing at IDPA, not much fun when in 'combat'. I couldn't care less if it shoots a 1" at 50 yds if it doesn't go 'bang' at 5 filled with pocket fuzz and dog hair.

I'd wonder a lot but not worry too much about the slide not going forward, if it shoots. But I'm just thinking it's the barrel that's maybe out of spec--even if it has no impact on function at all. I don't know.



Both the slide itself and the slide-in retaining block thingie (name escapes me) are replacement parts.

[queevil]

I wouldn't worry about it. My K40 Covert has some slide play at the front and it doesn't affect practical accuracy or function. As a matter of fact, it's one of the more accurate pistols I've owned. If it was a $3000 1911 it would bother me, but my K40 Covert is essentially a very classy belly gun. I don't think about the slide play.

[hasselhoss]

Just a note: I don't think Kahr did itself any favors labeling some of their guns "premium". It's been my experience that they are all of the same quality...just different.

With that said I think it might be a good idea to install a new recoil spring and to make sure it is installed correctly. That might help the slide overhang a bit. What's it look like at the muzzle? Anything sticking out too far?

P.S. How is the recoil? Too harsh? That might be an indicator that it needs a new spring too. Also, it should be a little stiff to rack. If it's pretty easy, that might be telling you that it's time to change.

P.S.S. I too can detect a little slide wobble in my steel Kahrs.

Having owned a K9, CW9, CW45 and now a CM9..... After a few hundred rounds they'll ask shoot the same. Buy the dirtiest steel cased ammo you can find and shoot as much of it as you can afford before carrying it.

[RonW]

All my Kahr's have some play in the slide on a empty magazine ( or no mag inserted). Load up a mag then insert it and I'll bet that slide play is gone. Without knowing the age or round count of the k40, I suggest playing it safe & ordering a complete set of new springs. Firing pin spring, recoil spring, trigger bar spring, trigger spring is what I'd consider replacing. All of these & more can be ordered online here http://www.kahr.com/Parts/Kahr-K40-K4043.asp

[jg rider]

We have two 98 K9 Elites that are a loose slide to frame fit. Being a amateur gunsmith that customizes 1911's, to me slide to frame fit is a must.

So I decided to tighten the lateral play on one of the K9 slides. Big mistake ! The slide cracked at the thin slide groove. Kahr replaced the slide.