Questions on FTF

[jgedmond]

I bought a used MK-9 which looks to be in excellent condition and lightly used. After 2 range sessions, I have had several failures to feed. In one case, I noticed that the slide was locked back even though there were still cartridges in the magazine. This was the only time I noticed that, usually the round just hung on the feed ramp.

I am shooting mostly reloads and load to an OAL of 1.150" based on good functioning in my other pistols, all of which have the more traditional centered (and not so steep) feed ramps

Is 1.150" OAL too long for the MK-9? If others reload for the MK-9, what OAL do you use?

Any thoughts on the premature slide lockback?

Thanks in advance for any help with these questions.

[Bawanna]

I bought a used MK-9 which looks to be in excellent condition and lightly used. After 2 range sessions, I have had several failures to feed. In one case, I noticed that the slide was locked back even though there were still cartridges in the magazine. This was the only time I noticed that, usually the round just hung on the feed ramp.

I am shooting mostly reloads and load to an OAL of 1.150" based on good functioning in my other pistols, all of which have the more traditional centered (and not so steep) feed ramps

Is 1.150" OAL too long for the MK-9? If others reload for the MK-9, what OAL do you use?

Any thoughts on the premature slide lockback?

Thanks in advance for any help with these questions.

The slide lock with bullets left is quite commonly caused by the shooter inadvertantly hitting the lever with his thumb. You won't even know it and you might not even believe it but many here, myself included can attest to it happening. I'd try left handing it or have another shooter try it or have them watch you while you shoot. It could be the slide lock lever spring but on the MK's and most of the steel models the spring is pretty scoocum and seldom causes issues.
As far as the feed issues I'd probably try some factory ammo or match the factory overall length. Kahrs generally are not fussy and will digest most anything you throw at them within reason although they may indeed favor one over the other. I'd check the feed ramp for roughness and try different mags if available. A follower or weak mag spring can sometimes contribute to the maladies you refer to.
Stay with it, the MK9 is a great gun without question. Stick with us and we'll all work on it together till she runs for ya.

[jgedmond]

Bawanna, thanks for the advice, I'll check into each point that you mentioned. I did not state it, but I shoot left-handed and was testing brand new Kahr branded mags, so I will check the length on some commercial ammo and look carefully at and, possibly, polish the feed ramp.

I love this little gun. It's my wife's primary EDC and I want it to function as close to 100% as possible. She's pretty savvy, but no need to deal with malfunction drills in the middle of a fight if we can avoid it.

[jocko]

u can go to this forum and look up ther serial numbers of your MK9 and find out just how old or how new it is. It might surprise you. Kahrs don't show wear , so ur guessing at this time. Go to kahr tech section and hit on the very first sticky. that will tellyou alot. What Bawanna said is correct IMO. #1 get away from the reloads, eliminate any possable issues first before panicking. Your thumb is probalbly hitting the slide lock lever and ur not knowing it, so jsut beware. These smallguns are very prone to that. Another thing to look up is in the kahr tech section. PROPPER PREPPING OF YOUR NEW KAHR. rthere are some tips in there to look for also, such as rounds hitting the inside of the slide stop etc. That thread will serve you well.

Your MK9 has a captive recoil system (two springs). Make sure the outter one is on correctly with the open end of the recol spring towards the front of the slide. If the gun has some age on it after you check it out with the serial numbers, I would call kahr and order an entire new recoil assembly.

Also on the back of that recoil assembly, that flat washer type thing that goes against the barrel lug. Measure across it. It should be 1/2". If you have the 3/8", u have the older style which indicates older gun that you thought. Order a new style, as that is all that kahr sells anymore.

I do think your gun is OK. Also be very aware of your grip etc, The MK being all steel is not prone to limpwristing but it can be done. Propper grip. again you want to eliminate all the possable before getting to excited. The gun could also be so new that it has now went through it propper break in rounds.

Keep us informed.

P.S. Put the reloads on the back shelf until you get to the bottom of the issues...an out of spec length reload can indeed engage the slide lock lever prematurely...

P. S.I just noticed your shoot left handed, so skip the thumb thing. that ain't the issue..

Pretty close to 100% is ok in horse shoes and hand grenadea but not with a gun that you might need to save your life.

[Bawanna]

Bawanna, thanks for the advice, I'll check into each point that you mentioned. I did not state it, but I shoot left-handed and was testing brand new Kahr branded mags, so I will check the length on some commercial ammo and look carefully at and, possibly, polish the feed ramp.

I love this little gun. It's my wife's primary EDC and I want it to function as close to 100% as possible. She's pretty savvy, but no need to deal with malfunction drills in the middle of a fight if we can avoid it.

Well that eliminates the user error theory completely. I'd just check for good down tension on that take down lever. If it only happened the one time could just be a fluke deal.

[jgedmond]

Thanks guys, great info. I check the sticky, the points that you raised, and report back.

[jgedmond]

OK, here's what I found out so far:

• serial number GC34xx places manufacture between Jan 2006 (GC33xx) and Aug 2007 (GC38xx)

• flat on back end of recoil assembly is 1/2" diameter

• the open end of recoil assembly is to the front of the slide

• when I inserted the slide locking pin with the slide removed and inserted a full mag, the slide lock moved upward as the round passed it, but returned to the down position when the mag was fully seated. Is this normal? FYI, an empty mag moved the slide lock up and it stayed up after full insertion.

Next I will get some polishing compound for my Dremel and polish the feed ramp, under the mag lips, and the chamber. Then retry with commercial ammo on next range trip.

By the way, I measured the OAL of Speer GDHP 124+P that is our PD ammo and it is 1.120" versus my reloads at 1.150". Does that length difference seem significant to you?

[Bawanna]

OK, here's what I found out so far:

• serial number GC34xx places manufacture between Jan 2006 (GC33xx) and Aug 2007 (GC38xx)

• flat on back end of recoil assembly is 1/2" diameter

• the open end of recoil assembly is to the front of the slide

• when I inserted the slide locking pin with the slide removed and inserted a full mag, the slide lock moved upward as the round passed it, but returned to the down position when the mag was fully seated. Is this normal? FYI, an empty mag moved the slide lock up and it stayed up after full insertion.

Next I will get some polishing compound for my Dremel and polish the feed ramp, under the mag lips, and the chamber. Then retry with commercial ammo on next range trip.

By the way, I measured the OAL of Speer GDHP 124+P that is our PD ammo and it is 1.120" versus my reloads at 1.150". Does that length difference seem significant to you?

The slide lock staying up on the empty mag is normal and a good thing. I'm not certain on the loaded rounds pushing it up and then popping down. Don't seem right. The overall length could be enough to cause issues. What type of bullet are your reloads. If they are ball the extra length may or may not be significant. It's not alot but could be just over the line. Gotta break out the loading manual.

[jocko]

No rounds shold ever move that slide stop lever PERIOD. They should never touch it. Your rounds are bad,. Get rid of those reloads and get some decent ammo. I would suggest WWB from wal mart. 100 pak for around $23. it is good ammo and if those rounds move that slide lock lever, then call Kahr and talk to IAN and he will more than likely just send you a new lever..

The length difference is significiant enough to be causing pre mature slide lock and it will also cause feeding issues as it is knocking the round off course, for lack of better words... The MK 9 is really a trouble free gun, eaks in quality. I still feel your issues are ammo related..

[at_liberty]

I disagree with some of the advice. Used on similar incidents, it did not prove practical.

First I would validate that the problem occurs with factory new ammo. If so, try a couple different brands to be sure.

If the problem does not seem to be ammo related, don't order parts but rather send the whole gun back to Kahr. Let them figure it out and do the repair work. I have a similar action in the PM40 and have parts that don't fit and I can't use. Just skip that step and send the gun back. I think we do too much amateur tinkering and guesswork in attempting to avoid shipping a gun.

[jgedmond]

No rounds shold ever move that slide stop lever PERIOD. They should never touch it. Your rounds are bad,. Get rid of those reloads and get some decent ammo. I would suggest WWB from wal mart. 100 pak for around $23. it is good ammo and if those rounds move that slide lock lever, then call Kahr and talk to IAN and he will more than likely just send you a new lever..

The length difference is significiant enough to be causing pre mature slide lock and it will also cause feeding issues as it is knocking the round off course, for lack of better words... The MK 9 is really a trouble free gun, eaks in quality. I still feel your issues are ammo related..

jocko, the slide lock movement test was done with the Speer GDHP 124+P, not the reloads. Those commercial rounds measure 1.120" in OAL.

[jgedmond]

OK, I finally got to the range with WWB and about the 3rd shot, the slide locked back with rounds still in the mag. It happened multiple additional times with different mags. Then, the mag release sheared off where the slot is machined for the hold down screw!

In case y'all don,t recall, this is the gun where I had the mags failing to drop. It seems all of the problem started when I squeezed the top of the mags to get them to stop sticking and drop freely. Prior to that, I had shot 110 rounds in a range session with reloads and had no premature slide lock back or FTF problems.

I just ordered 2 new mags and will call Kahr for a new mag release on Monday. I will not do anything to these mags and see if the problem is solved. If so, the gun is going back to Kahr to fix the mag nor dropping issue the right way.

[jocko]

very very strange for a steel kahr to not drop mags freely. Maybe these new mags will solve that also. I am trying to visulize the slide lever sheering off and can't figure out the slot for the hold down screw.

[jgedmond]

very very strange for a steel kahr to not drop mags freely. Maybe these new mags will solve that also. I am trying to visulize the slide lever sheering off and can't figure out the slot for the hold down screw.

jocko, it was the mag release that sheared off at the slot where the spring retaining screw locks the mag release into the frame.

I have the 2 original mags (6 & 7 rounds) and bought 2 more 6 rounds (Kahr brand) and none dropped freely, so I squeezed them to allow free drop. I don't hold out much hope for the next set of new mags to drop free, I just hope that they solve the premature slide lock back issue.

[Bawanna]

"In case y'all don,t recall, this is the gun where I had the mags failing to drop."

Did you happen to see if the grip screws were too tight? That will prevent the mags from dropping also or slow them down. Should be tell tale signs of the grip screws dragging on the mags.