New CW40 dropping the mag on last shot

[walnutred]

I just bought the pistol this weekend and have NOT finished the 200 round break-in. First few magazines were fine, then all of a sudden it started dropping the magazine on the last shot. The fired casing does not eject either. If I load one cartridge in the magazine the problem occurs. IF I load from 2-6 in the magazine all fire and eject fine until the last shot. I've even tried three different brands of ammo with two different bullet weights. Some problem.

I'm at a loss here on what is causing this problem. Plan on contacting KAHR Monday but was wondering if anyone has suggestions.

[jocko]

shoot it left handed to see if that happens. The magazine just cannot drop unless the mag catch isnot fully engaging the magazine cutout OR onews thumb is hitting the release button. The actial bang thing has nothing to do with reelaeasing the magazine, but certainly recoil can be a part of ones thumb hitting the release button, and on the last round there is less magazine spring pressure with rounds still in the magazine that might be holding the magazine in place. My thoughts are it is the THUMB. shootng left handed will eliminate that possable. If u can still duplicate it, I would suggest first calling kahr and asking for a new mag release button and spring. It will takle u 5 minute sto install and there is a nice poto tutorial on the kahr tech section. I believe kahr will send u a new buttopn and spring asap to. U could have an out of spec mag release button/spring, but left handed will prove that out...

[TucsonMTB]

Recently, I had what sounds like the same experience at the range with one of my PM40's. The session started without incident. But, then one of the two 5-round magazines that I had with me started unexpectedly dropping while failing to feed the last round. It took me a few magazine loads to be certain it was always the last round, was happening consistently with only one of the magazines, and that I was not hitting the catch with my hand. Yeah, I was worried.

Looking in the grip from the top of gun with the slide locked back, I thought I saw a little crud on the shelf of the magazine catch, but it didn't appear to be enough to cause a problem.

Still, I tried to clean and lubricate the area of the frame where the catch is inserted, including the area where the mag catch spring sits. I also exercised the mag catch vigorously trying to make certain the catch spring was seated in it's vertical slot and the catch was popping out fully when finger pressure was released.

At the time, I suspected that a particle of something might have found its way into the mechanism, most likely in the area where the short, rod-like mag catch spring sits in the frame.

Happily, in the several hundred additional rounds fired after cleaning and vigorously exercising the catch, the problem has never returned with any of my magazines.

Here's hoping you have similar good luck!

[jocko]

u have a point there and sometimes there could be a slight burr on the mag catch that is not allowing the catvh to fully seat i the magazner cut oout . This with use will take care of itself. One shold be able to see some of this, if it is happening by looking at the magazine wheninserted to see if the right side of the magazine is flush wityh the grip as it should be. If it is ot, then soemthing is not right with the catch itself, but doing it only on the last round tells me something else is causng it.

[walnutred]

I took the pistol down for cleaning including blowing the insides out with Dust Off. The last shot problem is puzzling me. Like I mentioned, when I was at the range I would single load and also count my shots. On multiple ctg loading I'd count the shots and double check my grip before the last shot.

Tomorrow I'll try left handed and see what happens. I did a lot of web searching before I made the purchase and not of the usual quirks have surfaced. No FTF when slingshoting the slide on the first round. Not FTF anytime so far. IF I rest the palm of my left hand under the pistol supporting the magazine on the last shot the slide locks back.

I expect to get his resolved but it is a little disturbing right now.

[TucsonMTB]

Tomorrow I'll try left handed and see what happens.

Glad to hear that you are experiencing good results in general.

Please humor me by taking some light lubricant with you to the range. If the problem is still present, lubricate the catch lightly and then depress the catch button and slide your finger off causing it to "snap" outward briskly (no magazine in the gun, of course). If yours is anything like mine was, that brisk exercising of the catch will restore the normal behavior you were enjoying previously.

Fortunately, this is a no cost experiment, so if I am wrong . . . no big deal.

Best of luck!

[walnutred]

I tried all suggestions and no joy. Cleaned and lubed the mag release and the pistol still ejected the magazine on the last shot. I fired left handed, two handed, right handed using my left thumb to hold my right thumb away from the mag release and right handed sticking my pinky straight out like holding a teacup to make sure I was not putting too much pressure on the bottom of the magazine. Last shot still caused the mag to drop.

The LGS said they would take it back but they do not have another CW40 in stock to exchange. Hopefully Kahr Customer Service will have a simple solution because everything else about this pistol I like.

[TucsonMTB]

I tried all suggestions and no joy. Cleaned and lubed the mag release and the pistol still ejected the magazine on the last shot. I fired left handed, two handed, right handed using my left thumb to hold my right thumb away from the mag release and right handed sticking my pinky straight out like holding a teacup to make sure I was not putting too much pressure on the bottom of the magazine. Last shot still caused the mag to drop.

The LGS said they would take it back but they do not have another CW40 in stock to exchange. Hopefully Kahr Customer Service will have a simple solution because everything else about this pistol I like.

Have you sent Kahr an email? service@kahr.com is the general address that will be read most quickly. Or, if you prefer, give them a phone call at 508-795-3919. They should volunteer to provide a prepaid label for the return. If not, ask for one.

Best of luck!

[jocko]

It needs to go back, call kahr and ask for Jay and fully explain all u have done. If I remember right I seenthis one time on this forum and the owner did allu did and no luck and it ha dto go back and they replaced the upper slide. How that effected it, I cannot tellyou but it cured the issue. If It was my gun I wouldlet kahr take it back instead of trying to find another one. Let them fix it right and it will come back right. Turn around time willbe fast, ut ask jAY THAT TO.

KEEP US POSTED AND THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST GIVING IT THE "OL COLLEGE TRY". tucson has provided u with the proper phone number, so fgive um a call.

[walnutred]

I've sent an e-mail but since you've all been kind enough to provide a name and phone number I'll call the factory today. Obviously I bought this pistol for CCW and I really like everything about the pistol except this odd quirk. Well, I don't really like shoving the recoil spring and guide rod back into the slide after cleaning but you know what I mean . I carried it all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday and it's easy to ALMOST forget it's there.

[gb6491]

Hmm, as this is a .40 and the issue is only occurring on the last round, I wonder if the feed ramp is hitting the magazine follower and doing so hard enough/at the right spot to cause the mag drops.
Regards,
Greg

[Planedude]

Just wondering, what ammo was being used here? Were you shooting FMJ Ball or a defensive HP ammo?
I ask relating to gb6491's feed ramp question.

[walnutred]

I was shooting Federal 180 FMJ and WWB 165gn FMJ. The first three or four magazines I fired seemed to function normally. When I switched from two handed shooting to single handed shooting the problem became apparent. At first I thought my thumb was slipping and hitting the mag eject button. It is possible that the problem existed from the beginning because my first shots were with the cup and saucer hold and my left hand may have held the magazine in place. If I fire the pistol with the pinky finger of my right hand under the magazine everything works as it should.

I belong to a shooting club and on the 4th Tuesday of every month we have a competition with only CCW type handguns. If the pistol has not been sent back to Kahr by April 24th I’ll pass it around at the shoot to see if others have the same problem I’ve been having.