PM9 Locked Slide Problem -- pics of why

[Speedy]

Shuckin Fhit!

The brilliant people at Kahr sent me the WRONG Spring!

I said MK9! MK9! HOW DOES THAT SOUND LIKE P9??:31:

Well Jocko, looks like imma have to wait another week to re-test the mk

[CarlCyrus]

With a new slide-lock on the way, I decided to take a bit off the nub of the old one and then test fire. Guess I was too timid, because the problem remains with the 124gr PD rounds. Ran 100 rds of 115gr ball flawlessly, but the PD rounds occassionally locked the slide to the rear with ammo remaining in the mag.

Went after it a bit more aggressively tonight. Even after going at it again, there is still a lot of over-hang to engage the mag follower. Once I get my hands on more 124gr PD rounds, I'll test again.

Carl

[Bill K]

With a new slide-lock on the way, I decided to take a bit off the nub of the old one and then test fire. Guess I was too timid, because the problem remains with the 124gr PD rounds. Ran 100 rds of 115gr ball flawlessly, but the PD rounds occassionally locked the slide to the rear with ammo remaining in the mag.

Went after it a bit more aggressively tonight. Even after going at it again, there is still a lot of over-hang to engage the mag follower. Once I get my hands on more 124gr PD rounds, I'll test again.

Carl

Having the very same issue with my new PM9 so I'm particularly interested in following this thread. Is was told not to use Black Hills ammo (124 +P HP), no mention was made that perhaps the slide lock could be the real culprit. 115 grain break-in ammo cycled without causing the problem.

Good luck,
Bill K.

[OldLincoln]

Curious why no Black Hills ammo. I haven't heard anything bad about them and their videos show a thoughtful well organized operation. So what's up? I hope Kahr isn't simply black listing ammo because they aren't familiar with it.

[CarlCyrus]

With a new slide-lock on the way, I decided to take a bit off the nub of the old one and then test fire. Guess I was too timid, because the problem remains with the 124gr PD rounds. Ran 100 rds of 115gr ball flawlessly, but the PD rounds occassionally locked the slide to the rear with ammo remaining in the mag.

Went after it a bit more aggressively tonight. Even after going at it again, there is still a lot of over-hang to engage the mag follower. Once I get my hands on more 124gr PD rounds, I'll test again.

Carl

Couldn't stand it. Went to the range and paid Waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money for 124gr HP Gold Dots.

Guess my definition of aggressive wasn't as aggresive as I first thought.

Ran 100 rds of Rem Grn Box 115 ball flawlessly. That brings me to 400 rds of 115gr ball...all flawless.

Of the 40 rds of Gold Dots, had one premature slide-lock. Better than last time. Closer to what I want, but still needs a tweak. I'm definately on the right track. Just have to keep tweaking and shooting, tweaking and shooting, until it is flawless.

I won't pay highway robbery for PD ammo again. Will have to wait until I order some at a better price.

Carl

[jocko]

well we know one thing: the gun is reliable with ammo that is not hitting the slide lock lever, so your on your way to solving your issues. I would tweek that slide lock again, as long as it is being raised by the metal tab inn the magazine follower, then you have not taken off to much. again though do what your doing, go slowly. and just load a magazine with those gold dots and test with the slide off the gun and the slide lock lever back in., You should be able to tweek it without the boom thing happening..

but I think your gonna master this thing, and certainly your gettng much better acquainted with your gun to.

[CarlCyrus]

I'm going to keep tweaking and shooting and tweaking and shooting until it is perfect.

Carl

[CarlCyrus]

SOLVED

Just kept triming/polishing then shooting and doing it over again until the new PM9 shoots the 124gr Golden Saber and 124gr Gold Dot rounds.

At the range today, I shot 100 rds of Rem Grn Bx 115gr ball, followed by 25 rds of Rem Golden Saber 124gr, followed by 20 rds of Speer Gold Dot. All were flawles in the PM9. Ran the same test with my older MK9...also flawless.

The Gold Dot seems to have a bullet shape that stays further away from the slide-stop nub than the Golden Saber, so those will probably be my PD round of choice.

Other lesson I learned in this entire test is that the rounds and the mag lips must not have any lubricant on them. Otherwise the 2nd round down in the mag moves forward under recoil and gets under the nub of the slide-stop. So...when the guidance here on KahrTalk says to ensure there is no lub/oil on the mag lips, LISTEN, there is a GOOD reason for it.

Carl

[jocko]

SOLVED

Just kept triming/polishing then shooting and doing it over again until the new PM9 shoots the 124gr Golden Saber and 124gr Gold Dot rounds.

At the range today, I shot 100 rds of Rem Grn Bx 115gr ball, followed by 25 rds of Rem Golden Saber 124gr, followed by 20 rds of Speer Gold Dot. All were flawles in the PM9. Ran the same test with my older MK9...also flawless.

The Gold Dot seems to have a bullet shape that stays further away from the slide-stop nub than the Golden Saber, so those will probably be my PD round of choice.

Other lesson I learned in this entire test is that the rounds and the mag lips must not have any lubricant on them. Otherwise the 2nd round down in the mag moves forward under recoil and gets under the nub of the slide-stop. So...when the guidance here on KahrTalk says to ensure there is no lub/oil on the mag lips, LISTEN, there is a GOOD reason for it.

Carl

great, u did it all perfecrt. now just shoot it like you stole it.. nice work by the way

[Rainman48314]

Seems like we're running at least part of this conversation in two threads. The other conversation is here http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6047&page=3

I emailed my picture and explanation to Kahr and had a response back in only a matter of minutes. Jay understood my description of the problem and offered to send a new slide stop or stated I could send the entire pistol back for them to correct the situation. I took the first option, new slide stop, as a starting point. I did indicate to Jay that there were a couple of threads on this forum with other users having the issue. Very quick and professional response that addressed the issue and did not attempt to lay blame on a certain brand of ammo...just what I expect from a top notch company.

This is all fine and well, but, did you ask why a known problem is not rectified at the source before it's sold. Doesn't sound top notch to me.

[zx5go]

This is all fine and well, but, did you ask why a known problem is not rectified at the source before it's sold. Doesn't sound top notch to me.

Actually, I packed it up and sent it back to them on their dime. Seems too many of us are having this issue and Kahr needs to be taking a deeper look at what's going on.

[CarlCyrus]

Seems to me to be two issues:
1. Many of the slide-locks in the PM9 are about 25 thousands of an inch too long. They engage the pin in the mag follower by a lot.
2. If there is any oil/lube present on the rounds or the lips of the magazine, the second round down in the mag will slide forward when the top round is chambered. That puts the nose of the bullet beneath the slide-stop. The further the round slides forward, the wider the bullet is at that point, and the higher the chances of the nub being lifted.

I personally don't like the long feed ramp and low-cut magazine design. The old John Browning design in the M1911 has worked well for over a hundred years.

Having said that, I will keep and use my PM9 for SD. It just takes extra caution to ensure that the rounds are absolutely devoid of any trace of oil...same for the mag.

Carl

[jocko]

it is not a pandemic thing, we have just seen this in the last month pop up and it is not in all models even. They just got some out of spec slide stop levers. They will take care of it, if u have an issue, Why make more out of it than what it is. Sure if it happens to you , it is never a nice thing . I would be surpised even if kahr even makes that slide stop in the first place. Probalby comes to them in the thousands at least.

It is not an across the board issue either..

[CarlCyrus]

jocko,

I think you are mis-reading me.

I come from an IT background where problems are surfaced, discussed in the open, and lots of solutions are provided. When you have a computer problem, a quick web search will take you to someone who had the same problem and one/more solutions are to be found.

I was taking the same approach here. I had a PM9 that ran 300 115gr ball rounds flawlessly (and accurately), but I had a premature slide-lock problem with 124gr PD rounds. I see that I'm not the only one, so I roll up my sleeves, go to work, take pictures, and finally resolve the problem.

Per the custom in the IT realm, it is appropriate to post a final message tagged with "SOLVED" whereby the solution is discussed.

If that is not appropriate here on KahrTalk, I'll crawl back into my hole and the next time I encounter a problem and I solve it, I'll keep quiet.

Fair enough?

I will go back and edit the previous post so it doesn't seem like a pandemic thing.

Carl

[jocko]

no one is asking you to do anything, that is ur call. I understand your point and you indeed fixed your problems. I see no reason for u to edit anything you said, nor crawl back into your hole . That is ridicolus IMO.. We have discussed ths slide stop fix many times when it has popped up. I recommend the owner getting a new one first then playing aorund with the old one to see if that fix works.
We have posters here all the time commenting on their issues and their fixes. Again sorry if u took my comments as telling u to go back into your hole. ( Truthfully though u need to get out of that hole and maybe live in a home or apartment). (just joking with u now)..