? about plating coming off feed ramp and chamber on PM9.

[jocko]

got this today from kahr from the tech jpeople andnot a sales poerson on the phone.

concerninbg kahrs barrels: should end any debate


QUOTE; Good morning. All of our barrels are completely nickel plated. Hoppes
is fine as a cleaner however we would not recommend letting it sit or
leaving it submerged in the solvent as it can discolor the barrel. I hope
this information helps..

[bfitts1]

Just sent my kahr PM9 to the factory for the same reason.

[wyntrout]

All of their barrels are nickel plated, but some seem to be polished while others are dull and leaden looking, as my newer P380... like lead. It went back for a bad extractor and I mentioned the dull finish... came back with the same dull finish.

Wynn

[Keeper]

Any additional concerns over Hoppe's with using brake cleaner?

[krazman]

Only 500 rounds through my PM9 which is now at the factory for other issues. I have been using brake cleaner and no problem with flaking or discoloration of the barrel finish.

That dull barrel finish when new reminds me of the Cosmoline protective wax that was on my old BMW when it shipped from Germany. Protected the finish from the salt air/water. Dealership used a special solvent on the whole car to remove it prior to delivery. They forgot to detail the engine/engine compartment and now 20+ years later it is impossible to remove. I used a wax solvent on the barrel along with some gentle metal polish for kitchen utensils (Swiss Cleaner by Kuhn Rikon). Cleaned up in seconds to a mirror finish. Very gentle on metal according to manufacturer. I've never had any damage to any metal surface using it.

It's also great for getting off the burned on food from stainless pans!

kraz

[jocko]

the dull finish one sees on the new barrels is merely some finish over the nickel plating. U can polish that finish off i f u so desire. Flitz willd o it fine and 600+ paper will also do the same thing. I used my dremel and a polhsing cotton cone and some flitz. works faster. The feed ramps are highly polished though

[jocko]

how many

Only 500 rounds through my PM9 which is now at the factory for other issues. I have been using brake cleaner and no problem with flaking or discoloration of the barrel finish.

That dull barrel finish when new reminds me of the Cosmoline protective wax that was on my old BMW when it shipped from Germany. Protected the finish from the salt air/water. Dealership used a special solvent on the whole car to remove it prior to delivery. They forgot to detail the engine/engine compartment and now 20+ years later it is impossible to remove. I used a wax solvent on the barrel along with some gentle metal polish for kitchen utensils (Swiss Cleaner by Kuhn Rikon). Cleaned up in seconds to a mirror finish. Very gentle on metal according to manufacturer. I've never had any damage to any metal surface using it.

It's also great for getting off the burned on food from stainless pans!

kraz

years ago was that, as they don't do that anymore,course shipping conrtainers are far better today and most all vehicles are not storedon top anymore either. I bet that was a real mess..

[neveragain]

I have never spoken to a more belligerent or condescending tech/repair department in my life. I have two PM9s with chamber plating loss. They first claimed normal wear and tear. Ridiculous. After being run around their website and phone tree for three separate phone calls I am now told I must ship both complete firearms back to the factory for a quality control/defective part issue. I am told they required 4-6 weeks to deal with their bad plating on a drop in part. It would seem they wish to make it as costly and inconvenient as possible for the customer to get this well documented and prevalent problem solved. IMO a company selling a weapon designed and marketed for carry/self protection should be more concerned with the reliability of said weapon rather than attempt to deny their own quality issues. Failing that, the manufacturer should not then require the customer be separated from this self protection weapon for what could be months at a time. Ludicrous. Its a barrel. Replace it.
I love my PM9. My wife loves hers. I just wish they were manufactured to the same high standards of other firearms manufacturers. Notably the fine and friendly service departments of the companies I passed up to purchase Kahr products. I see now that the 43 was not late to the market, but instead arriving to fill the niche of a quality ultra compact carry piece that the Kahr products are vacating.
Please dont flame me out of brand loyalty, perhaps some advice instead. Is there a quality barrel option in the aftermarket for the PM9? I am not willing to trust my and my family's safety to a defective weapon but am also not crazy about the idea of putting out for two new Glocks at this point. Back to J frames for the time being I suppose.

[Bawanna]

It seems this post would be better spent addressed in it's entirety to Kahr management, perhaps even in a written snail mail letter.
Nobody here can do anything but sympathize with you. Nobody here works for Kahr so we're pretty much helpless.

Not what you want to hear but in the cases I've heard about involving the loss of plating issue on the barrel it did not effect function. I can certainly see where it could but usually doesn't.

That being said, I'd not be happy with plating peeling off any of my guns either.

[neveragain]

Nobody here can do anything but sympathize with you. Nobody here works for Kahr so we're pretty much helpless.

No sympathy sought but I appreciate the comment. I was mostly hoping for some recommendations for an aftermarket alternative so I can feel confident in these weapons again. Reliability tends to be much more difficult to create than a durable plating job so it does cause concern. My plating is peeling across the entire top of the chamber. I can see the potential for feeding issues, potentially at the worst time. Not helping me justify spending the extra on Kahrs. Hate to sell these two at a loss so a couple of acceptable quality aftermarket barrels would be a better course.

[Bawanna]

I'm not aware of any aftermarket barrel. I think the best thing to do despite your negative impression of the Techs response is to politely request a return shipping label.
Painful as it is to have them gone for a spell they will most likely come back with new barrels and ready to make a positive impression once again.

[muggsy]

There isn't a thing wrong with the barrels that you have. It's no different than the wear marks that appear on the barrel hood. The nickle plating is only from .0005 to .0015 thick. It won't impair function in the least. The wear is strictly a cosmetic issue.

[CJB]

+1 for Muggsy

The plating is there for its value in "lubricity", preventing galling and wear.

The plating will be "gone" from the barrel after not too many shots.

The plating on the ramp and chamber is because of the process, not because of intent. Its easier/cheaper just to plate the whole barrel.

And the plating does wear. My old PM9j was flaking at the ramp, and never hiccuped.

My bought new PM45 had what I thought were lead streaks in the barrel, but... this turned out to be nickel plating. I scrubbed it like hell, thinking it was lead, but after a couple of boxes of ammo... I was wrong, it was nickel, and it had been blown out of the barrel from shooting.

I hate to say the plating is "cosmetic", but will say that Kahr has not explained things well enough.

Its a non issue, like Muggsy said.

[muggsy]

Cosmetic as a scratch on he frame that doesn't impair function would be considered cosmetic. A little Flitz and a Dremel will make that ramp look like new.