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

[unclenunzie]

Happy New Year.

I got home today and my replacement barrel was waiting for me. Looks identical to my original but of course without the flaking nickel spots. It had a small burr on the corner of hood, and when I ran my fingernail across it hard, it went away. I think it was a little extra plating on the corner and it broke away. Seems to fit fine into the slide, though I wish I had a nice closeup photo of a NIB PM9 with barrel in lockup. I expect to run some boxes of ammo this weekend, should be fun!

I sent it on 22-Dec-09 and it was waiting for me today 1-Jan-10. Today is a holiday so at worst it arrived yesterday.

[unclenunzie]

Ran 200 PRVI through my PM9 with replacement barrel (for plating issue). She continues to be 100% reliable, not a single issue now, not a single issue before, or ever. Took her home, field stripped and cleaned. And cleaned and cleaned and cleaned until my fingers were sore. There are a few spots in the rifling that look to my unaided eye as possible plating off. I don't think it's fouling since I used hoppes #9 at least 4 times.

I really don't want to send this brand new replacement barrel back again. I mean I will if I have to but this time it will be on Kahr's dime, and I would like a little consideration for the ammo I am expending re-proofing this weapon. Maybe one reason the plating issue has been termed 'cosmetic', is to leave this exercise as optional. I could be wrong about that

I still love my PM9, works great, I just find it annoying that a high-end carry piece can't be made "perfect" NIB or with a bounce to Worcester.

end of rant.

unclenunzie

[wagon]

Unclenunzie: I feel for you... and I know I'm not the only one.

I really don't want to send this brand new replacement barrel back again. I mean I will if I have to but this time it will be on Kahr's dime, and I would like a little consideration for the ammo I am expending re-proofing this weapon. Maybe one reason the plating issue has been termed 'cosmetic', is to leave this exercise as optional. I could be wrong about that

I still love my PM9, works great, I just find it annoying that a high-end carry piece can't be made "perfect" NIB or with a bounce to Worcester.

[deadhead1971]

I have 360 rounds through my new barrel and no peeling or flaking yet.

[unclenunzie]

I spoke today with customer support. They are to send me a shipping label for fedex. I made a point about the ammo expenditures for proofing the old barrel/gun, new barrel, and another one if I decide to actually ship it back. On this point, I paraphrase them but they said essentially, the plating is for appearance. At my request, they said they would check to see if a new barrel could be shot tested before shipping out to me. I would love to have a barrel with plating that stays plated as deadhead1971 has got.

From talking with the service rep, I got the feeling very few people ask for relacements for plating issues, but when they do ask it gets taken care of. Almost like it's somewhat novel that people ask for them at all...

unclenunzie

[xzhync]

Here are some photos of the nickel coat peeling inside the barrel chamber. I will send to Kahr and see what they say.

It's hard to see but it's right inside the chamber throat.

Ok, I have had my PM9 for approx. 1 week now. It is serial number IB35xx so I am guessing that it was made in late October or Early November of 2009. I don't really understand Kahr's serial number system, but from the chart on Glocktalk I believe the October/November time-frame is close.

Today, I read this entire thread and decided to check my barrel for flaking. I have shot a total of 250 rounds through the pistol so far. During the first session I shot 150 rds. I shot another 100 rounds last Tuesday. I figured if I am going to get any flaking I should notice something by now. I did an inspection with a flash-light. At first I didn't notice anything, but upon closer inspection of the chamber I noticed a couple of very small spots 1/2 to 2/3 of the way into the chamber. There is 1 spot at approx. 12:00 and the other is at approx. 9:00. Again, both spots are pretty deep. They are also very small, each one is less than the size of the head of a pin. I hate to send the barrel in for replacement due to time/cost. Also, I hate to have to spend the money to buy ammo to prove out a new barrel. Anyway, my question (especially to LDM, Deadhead1971 and Singlestack_9mm) is whether or not I can expect the pealing to continue. In other words, in your experience, once it starts is it a foredrawn conclusion that the pealing will continue? I worked with the barrel somewhat tonight. I ran a brass brush through it approx 50 to 75 times and then re-polished the chamber with flitz. I did not notice any change in the two spots. They stayed the same size and shape. Is it possible that the current spots will just stay the same? If they do, then I think it would be ok. I mean, in the first 250 rds. I had no issues at all. Of course, I can go shoot another 50 or 100 rounds and then re-inspect, but I was hoping the folks who have experienced this problem could give me some insight. Currently, my slide is back at Kahr to have night-sights installed, so if I were to send in the barrel now would be a good time.

I would greatly appreciate thoughts and advice on this one.

[jocko]

just keep an eye on those two spots. If they are that small, you are probalby doing the right thing and just leaving it alone. At this time you are also not even sure it is flaking, so just keep an eye on it. kahr will replace your barrel any time down the road if it starts to flake. It will not effect reliability or your accuracy. What flaking we have seen on this forum has come off the feed ramp and inside the chamber more than any other area. try a good paste bore cleaner, you might just suprise yourself and those spots might just dissapear also--and then maybe not but a wire brush sometimes won't touch some fouling...

[ziggygunsmith]

Good morning to everyone, In am new to the forum, but not new to kahr pistols. i own about 25 kahr pistols, they are my favoriT handguns. i have been buying kahr arms pistols and longuns for 20 yrs. plus. I been a gunsmith for almost 50 yrs. Jocko got it rite, polish bbl. and it will be good as new, it may be a bbl. that was added . in any case a highly polished bbl. will do as well as any other process. like any other tool or firearm keep it well cleaned and lubricated. TALK TO YOU MEMBERS SOON. ziggy

[xzhync]

just keep an eye on those two spots. If they are that small, you are probalby doing the right thing and just leaving it alone. At this time you are also not even sure it is flaking, so just keep an eye on it. kahr will replace your barrel any time down the road if it starts to flake. It will not effect reliability or your accuracy. What flaking we have seen on this forum has come off the feed ramp and inside the chamber more than any other area. try a good paste bore cleaner, you might just suprise yourself and those spots might just dissapear also--and then maybe not but a wire brush sometimes won't touch some fouling...

Jocko, can you recommend the brand name of a good paste bore cleaner?

[deadhead1971]

XZ-

I did not notice flaking on the first barrel until around 400 rounds. In my new barrel, there is some noticable discoloration inside the chamber throat. Some areas are dark(black carbon) while other areas are lighter in color (more nickel or silver looking). But I don't see any flaking; it's all smooth.

Are they carbon discoloration spots? With flaking, the top layer of metal comes off, and there is a hole or crater, eventhough it's about a 1/1000 of an inch. I could take a small screwdriver or other piece of metal (threading needle) and run it along the flaking area, and I could feel the difference in surface elevation, for lack of a better word. So the question for you is, can you feel the spots as I described above or are they just color blemishes where there is no flaking?

Will it get worse? Probably. As soon as I noticed it, I sent it in. It was a 2 week turn around. Look at the very first picture on the first page of this thread. Look how bad it is. You have to know that it didn't look like that when it first started to flake.


Flaking will not be circles, dots, or symmetrical shapes. The flaking photos show oblong, unsymmetrical, polygonal jagged ovals shapes.

[jocko]

yup

Jocko, can you recommend the brand name of a good paste bore cleaner?

J.B from brownells is probably the best paste bore cleaner you will ever have. I had never heard of it until about 4 years ago and a old time "good" smitty told me one day looking down the bore of one of my guns that the barrel needed some tending to. I told him I use Hoppe's #9 all the time. His comment was that is good stuff, but not good enough. I bought some J.B and it cleaned stuff out of my barrel that I just thought was supposed to be in there. My barrels to me always looked good but with J. B. it certainly made them better looking.

I do not use it every time I clean my guns and when u put J.B inside the barrel it needs to sit alittle to work right and I get in a hurry to often and #9 it and it keeps it clean but whej I realy do a detail cleaning, it is J. B. all the way for me.

YMMV

[jocko]

welcome

Good morning to everyone, In am new to the forum, but not new to kahr pistols. i own about 25 kahr pistols, they are my favoriT handguns. i have been buying kahr arms pistols and longuns for 20 yrs. plus. I been a gunsmith for almost 50 yrs. Jocko got it rite, polish bbl. and it will be good as new, it may be a bbl. that was added . in any case a highly polished bbl. will do as well as any other process. like any other tool or firearm keep it well cleaned and lubricated. TALK TO YOU MEMBERS SOON. ziggy

wow this is a guy we need to keep . 25 kahrs, you have to have a wealth of knowledge on kahrs, so stay with us and add to the excitement of this great forum. again welcome aboard...

[jocko]

great comment

XZ-

I did not notice flaking on the first barrel until around 400 rounds. In my new barrel, there is some noticable discoloration inside the chamber throat. Some areas are dark(black carbon) while other areas are lighter in color (more nickel or silver looking). But I don't see any flaking; it's all smooth.

Are they carbon discoloration spots? With flaking, the top layer of metal comes off, and there is a hole or crater, eventhough it's about a 1/1000 of an inch. I could take a small screwdriver or other piece of metal (threading needle) and run it along the flaking area, and I could feel the difference in surface elevation, for lack of a better word. So the question for you is, can you feel the spots as I described above or are they just color blemishes where there is no flaking?

Will it get worse? Probably. As soon as I noticed it, I sent it in. It was a 2 week turn around. Look at the very first picture on the first page of this thread. Look how bad it is. You have to know that it didn't look like that when it first started to flake.


Flaking will not be circles, dots, or symmetrical shapes. The flaking photos show oblong, unsymmetrical, polygonal jagged ovals shapes.

about what flaking will look like, Never thought of it that way..

[xzhync]

XZ-

I did not notice flaking on the first barrel until around 400 rounds. In my new barrel, there is some noticable discoloration inside the chamber throat. Some areas are dark(black carbon) while other areas are lighter in color (more nickel or silver looking). But I don't see any flaking; it's all smooth.

Are they carbon discoloration spots? With flaking, the top layer of metal comes off, and there is a hole or crater, eventhough it's about a 1/1000 of an inch. I could take a small screwdriver or other piece of metal (threading needle) and run it along the flaking area, and I could feel the difference in surface elevation, for lack of a better word. So the question for you is, can you feel the spots as I described above or are they just color blemishes where there is no flaking?

Will it get worse? Probably. As soon as I noticed it, I sent it in. It was a 2 week turn around. Look at the very first picture on the first page of this thread. Look how bad it is. You have to know that it didn't look like that when it first started to flake.


Flaking will not be circles, dots, or symmetrical shapes. The flaking photos show oblong, unsymmetrical, polygonal jagged ovals shapes.

Yes, I can feel the difference. I feel a "rough spot" and a small amount of resistance when I run an object over the area. Also, the spots are not circular. I just used the "head of a pin" comparison because I couldn't think of anything else that small. One of the spots is sort of like the number '8'. I studied your photo's and even though my flaking is smaller, it is definitely flaking of the nickel coating.

I appreciate your feedback. Even though I am hoping it won't continue, I am sort of expecting that it will. I know Kahr says it is cosmetic, but I can't help by think that the increased resistance is not good. After a number of rounds, I would think that particles could accumulate in the divots and that can't be any good. I may check with Kahr. Since my slide is already in there for night sights, this may be a good time to go ahead and switch the barrels.

Thanks again for your help!!!!!!

[mx5fan]

Good morning to everyone, In am new to the forum, but not new to kahr pistols. i own about 25 kahr pistols, they are my favoriT handguns. i have been buying kahr arms pistols and longuns for 20 yrs. plus. I been a gunsmith for almost 50 yrs. Jocko got it rite, polish bbl. and it will be good as new, it may be a bbl. that was added . in any case a highly polished bbl. will do as well as any other process. like any other tool or firearm keep it well cleaned and lubricated. TALK TO YOU MEMBERS SOON. ziggy

Welcome Ziggy, we are certainly glad to have you here and look forward to your knowledge on these fine pistols.