problem with new MK9

[American Chestnut]

In 200 rounds of Winchester white box I had 6 failures to eject and most of those came in the last quarter of the 200 rounds.
I lubed the gun prior to shooting. I am not new to guns, only new to Kahr.
I have never had an issue with my Glock26 (sorry just had to say that) I'm not limp wristing the gun. I got the MK9 because I wanted something thinner. Also ejection when it happens is all over the place. The brass is scattered over a spot of ground much bigger than a king sized bed. Some are to the right where I would expect... some behind me, some straight up in the air and landing on my head,and some right in the forehead. It doesn't hurt and ejecting all over the place is something I can live with but the failures to eject are not acceptable.
Could this problem be coming from a relatively low powered 115 grain cheap round..... or is the MK9 generally reliable with this round?
Or, do any of you think there might be an issue with the extractor?
Should I put another 200 rounds of WWB through it or try something heavier like 124 grain and with a bit more power behind it.
I planned to carry +P PDX1 but don't want to shoot that trying to determine if the gun is working properly. After the gun calms down and works correctly I'll start testing the carry round.
I am happy with the way the gun shoots. Accuracy seems well above average for such a small gun and recoil is very light. My 12 year old son shot the pistol several magazines and liked it.

Thanks for the help in advance.

[Bawanna]

Rounds at the low end of the power spectrum could be a contributor especially early on. As the gun smooths out it should handle that better.

Rounds straight up or to the forehead scream limp wrist. We try not to use that phrase any more than necessary but even the best do it from time to time.

Mine will tap me in the head if I get the least bit sloppy.

Did your son have the same issues as well, more so, or less or not at all?

[sas PM9]

In 200 rounds of Winchester white box I had 6 failures to eject and most of those came in the last quarter of the 200 rounds.
I lubed the gun prior to shooting. I am not new to guns, only new to Kahr.
I have never had an issue with my Glock26 (sorry just had to say that) I'm not limp wristing the gun. I got the MK9 because I wanted something thinner. Also ejection when it happens is all over the place. The brass is scattered over a spot of ground much bigger than a king sized bed. Some are to the right where I would expect... some behind me, some straight up in the air and landing on my head,and some right in the forehead. It doesn't hurt and ejecting all over the place is something I can live with but the failures to eject are not acceptable.
Could this problem be coming from a relatively low powered 115 grain cheap round..... or is the MK9 generally reliable with this round?
Or, do any of you think there might be an issue with the extractor?
Should I put another 200 rounds of WWB through it or try something heavier like 124 grain and with a bit more power behind it.
I planned to carry +P PDX1 but don't want to shoot that trying to determine if the gun is working properly. After the gun calms down and works correctly I'll start testing the carry round.
I am happy with the way the gun shoots. Accuracy seems well above average for such a small gun and recoil is very light. My 12 year old son shot the pistol several magazines and liked it.

Thanks for the help in advance.

AC:

I believe that you answered your own question.

Yes, these pistols are manufactured to very tight tolerances and are tightly sprung, so during the break in process full powered ammunition is beneficial.

It will loosen up after break in and should run with the WWB and other lower powered ammo just fine.

-steve

PS, By the way, welcome to the forum.

[American Chestnut]

Thanks guys!
Actually my son did not have any issues with failure to eject. He did not fire it as often as I did though. He does white knuckle grip the gun as he is not as comfortable as I am shooting. I am shooting with a 2 handed grip and arms fully extended. It is VERY rare that I have any sort of ejection failure with my Seecamps, Sigs, Glocks or other pistols.
I hope this pistol works out as it fills a need for something bigger than a .32 Seecamp but smaller than a Glock 26.

[Bawanna]

Fatigue can be a definite factor and it depends on the day what fatigue really is.

Somedays 5 or 600 rounds is nothing, other days 100 rounds and I might as well take my ball and go home.

It will wear itself in and like the lower powered stuff better and also be a little less unforgiving with regards to the white knuckle grip requirement.

Kudo's to your 12 yoa son for doing well with it.

[b4uqzme]

I had the same issues with my MK9 at first and it WAS limpwristing. YMMV. I can give it to my brother in law and he will get a failure in the first mag. But it runs great for me now (that I've corrected my grip) so I know it's not the pistol.

I do think some 124 or 147gr is a good idea just to eliminate that variable. Other than that, keep breaking her in until she smooths out. It's a great gun.

Welcome.

[berettabone]

Nothing scientific, just my experiences...................I have an older MK9, but with only about 450 rds. through. I always tend to grip my firearms a bit tighter than you should, bad habit. But, it's a habit that keeps me from limp wristing, and I wouldn't really need to do it with any of my other arms. Seems to me that WWB and Blazer Brass are a bit weak for my MK. During my break in, I used 150 rds. of Fiocchi 115 gr. fmj without a hitch, got to some Blazer and had 3 FTE's. In using these different rounds, it's a bit easier to tell in a full size firearm which loads were weaker. It seems that the Fiocchi is a bit stouter than WWB or Blazer. I use Fiocchi in different calibers, and works for me.

[JohnR]

I'm going with fatigue too. 100 to 125 rounds in a short time wears me out and I can lose focus on my grip. Its happened. I prefer to call it Wrist/Time Fatigue or WTF for short.

[American Chestnut]

I put another 70 rounds through the MK9 today. This time I skipped Winchester white box and used a box of commercial reloads that the owner of the shop that sold me the gun gave me, that are loaded hotter than that other stuff, and a box of Winchester PDX1 124 grain +P I had ZERO failures to fire and am happy with the accuracy and ability to fire the little gun quickly. I still get about every 5th piece of brass falling on top of my head. Its not a big deal. Its not straight back in my face. Its more tossed higher in the air and falling on top or my head. The rest are either to my right or behind me. I also noted that the primer strikes are a well centered strike but there is also a smear either downward or upward. I have not way to tell which it is. I have seen this with other semi-autos but I am not sure if its a concern or not? It doesn't seem to effect function. I found a few very tiny brass shavings inside the gun when cleaning it. I checked with a magnet to make sure they were indeed brass.
I'm getting closer to trusting the gun for carry.
Oh.... and am certain I am not limp wristing the gun, erratic brass ejection or not.
I went back and looked at the brass I fired weeks ago and some of the weaker Winchester white box brass did not have the primer smear, some did. All of the hotter ammo fired today and the smeared strike.

[rjt123]

problem with new MK9

I also noted that the primer strikes are a well centered strike but there is also a smear either downward or upward. I have not way to tell which it is. I have seen this with other semi-autos but I am not sure if its a concern or not? It doesn't seem to effect function.

The primer smear is 100% normal. I'm not certain that it's in the manual, but it has been noted and discussed here many times. As Jocko says, "Shoot it like you stole it!".

NRA Life Member

[phil413tx]

Glad to hear this trip was better for you. I love my MK9. The more you shoot it, the better it gets.

[cacacar]

MK's R TIGHT

" I also noted that the primer strikes are a well centered strike but there is also a smear either downward or upward"


Mine does that. It's not a problem. My first 100-200 rounds mine had enough failures to feed and eject that I was on the verge of trading it. I am sooo glad I didn't. Keep shooting it and run some 124+ps and 147 carry ammo through it. The gun needs time to get used to you

[jocko]

prim,er smear is normal on kahrs as they are also normal on glocks. the owners manual addesses this to. Just shoot it like u stole it.