CW45 Fell Apart While Shooting

[nmkahrshooter]

Well after talking up my CW45 and how great it was and have never had a problem with it, it finally happened! While shooting at the range I pulled the trigger round went off and so did the slide lock and the whole slide came flying off! This has NEVER happened to me before and I spent 22 years in the military with Uncle Sams equipment! Didn't know what to think at first, made sure I had all my fingers and was still holding the lower half of the pistol in my right hand. Picked up the pieces and when I got home called Kahr customer service and got a RA number to return the gun to the mothership. Will send out monday and I am sure thsy will get it straight. My next thought is can I trust my life with this gun if need be ever again? I will carry my CW9 until the 45 returns but.... do I need to look for another gun. LGS showed me a new Colt and Sig 1911. Both are very nice but also over $1000.00. I guess I will ponder the thought until I can fire this pistol again. If anybody has had this happen to them with a Kahr pistol love to hear about it.

[Longitude Zero]

I have over 2500 trouble free rounds thru my CW45 and I have NEVER heard of this occurring before. I would really like to know what Kahr tells you after you send it in.

I have fired a SIG 1911 adn I am not impressed favorably that it is a good value. Now if they drop the price to $800 or below I might be persuaded.

[nmkahrshooter]

Yeah was really surprised to see the price! Holy moly could buy at least two Karhs at that price. Hopefully they will fix it and I will feel comfortable with it. This is my second CW45 and really liked the first one-- dumb for selling it. Never had a problem with it. Can't wait to see what they find at factory.

[CJB]

So.... you didn't notice that the lock was worming its way out of the frame? Or, did it snap its shaft? Or did the barrel lug fail?

Curious as to exactly what when wrong.

Obviously the slide went FORWARD not backward...

Got pictures?

[LorenzoB]

I'm curious if you have any theory as to why this happened. Was the slide lock still in the frame?

[nmkahrshooter]

Lock was in frame. I did not notice lock loose or sticking out but when I put pistol back together and put in slide lock it would not snap into place and could be pushed out by finger. Really scared the you know what out of me when it came apart. Guess I need to pay more attention before firing but have CW9 for years and have never had a problem. Slide lock was knocked out of the frame and on the ground. Was firing Winchester 230 hollowpoint rounds. LGS saw pistol and just scratched his head. Then he showed me new Colt Agent-- guess whats on his mind!

[JFootin]

Sounds like a problem with the slide lock spring, which serves two functions: keeping the slide lock down until the mag follower pushes it up after the last round, and keeping the slide lock in the gun. If that spring got loose or bent out of shape, that's probably the cause. You don't need to worry about it ever happening again as long as you follow instructions when reinserting it to reassemble the gun: orient the slide stop lever at 4:00 until half way in, then 3:00 and push it the rest of the way in.

[CJB]

Lock was in frame. I did not notice lock loose or sticking out but when I put pistol back together and put in slide lock it would not snap into place and could be pushed out by finger.

Let me see if I've got this properly understood.

The slide lock was in the frame, and when firing you didn't notice it sticking out.

Yet... you had to reassemble the pistol. Did you have to withdraw the slide lock to do so? Or was it already withdrawn... just that hadn't noticed it.

~~

All my curiosity is from the strictly technical perspective. Those pins are very tough - so claims Kahr. The levers, much less so. The barrel underlug is of moderate size...

So... something gave way, or walked out. If the pin didn't break, and the barrel didn't break - then the pin must have walked.

I'd agree - the slide stop spring is the cause.

[nmkahrshooter]

Thats what Kahr service told me also but they wanted me to send the gun back so they could check it out. Already boxed up and will go out monday morning. I have been very happy with Kahr products so far. I am sure they will repair and get it back to me in great shape. I guess s..t happens!

[CJB]

Two things more come to mind -

First, there should be a little "snick or click" as the slide stop is pushed home. There's a little ring cut into the pin, and the spring must engage that ring as a detent, to hold the pin in place. Might be a good general idea to check for that little "click" as engagement feedback, and assurance that things are well with that spring.

Second - I can't help but laugh a little with this. Having the slide shoot off the front of the frame as it tried to return to battery... and like the Energizer Bunny... kept going, and going... The look on your face would have made good You-Tube fodder for the masses. I'm sure you don't think the same way, maybe in time...

[gb6491]

At least it's fortunate that it happened at the the range

[JFootin]

LOL. Greg, have you been watching nmkahrshooter with a spy drone?

[CJB]

I love it~~~

[wyntrout]

All of the take down and re-assembly videos at kahr.com stress the insertion of the slide lock as not to damage the spring.

http://www.kahr.com/Videos.asp

There are several videos under each particular pistol's info page.

Greg's video shows another reason for carrying one in the tube. That's one less thing to worry about "in the heat of battle" with adrenaline rush and tunnel vision, as well as anything else that can go wrong! Murphy's Law doesn't take holidays, and chambering a round is where most FTF's and other possible OOPSIES occur... WITHOUT TIMEOUTS.

Wynn

[Krusty]

I've seen that happened with a Taurus once,looks quiet funny!