CW45 owners

[marcinstl]

hello 45 owners. I was sitting here doing a little Sunday afternoon dry firing and noticed something odd. holding an empty CW45 in one hand, grab the slide in the front using finger and thumb. try to lift the slide up. try to wiggle the slide up and down. mine moves about 1/16th of an inch. is this normal? probably just the first time I noticed this? thank you.

[RRP]

Yes, that seems to be normal with Kahrs. As "tight" as many claim Kahrs to be, the slide-to-frame interface is quite sloppy.

It doesn't seem to affect accuracy at all. My advice is shoot it and forget it.

[tony k]

funny you should mention that, Marc

I was pretty much doing the same thing this after noon with my CW45. I was trying to figure out what was causing the slide to be difficult to rack. I was pulling the front of the slide up and down to try and figure out if pulling up or pushing down causes it to not slide back. like yours, the slide can move up and down at least 1/16 of an inch.

I finally figured out that the slide sticks out farther than the front metal guide rails. In other words the front of the slide is completley unsupported untll it travels back far enough to begin traveling on the rails. Is yours like this Marc?

I have somewhere between 750 and 1000 rounds through mine. What concerns me is that the right front rail is developing a burr, and there is a spot of wear on the slide where said right front rail is making contact. Others have mentioned that their slides are difficult to rack. I wonder if our metal rails are just about .01" too short.

I plan to contact Kahr tomorrow about a different issue (slide stop mag catch still hitting bullets and causing jams even after modification/ replacement of slide stop, as well as frequent light primer strikes). I will mention this as well.

Also, I will post some pictures of the burr on the front rail and associated wear on the slide when I get access to a faster connection.

Oh, and by the way... I'm not talking about anything to do with the plastic "rails" or the proof mark on the left hand rail, or "bowed or bent" rails. I know it's common for newer Kahr owners such as myself to see those and think there is a problem. I've read most of the forum stickys and know the basics.

Anyway Marc, mine is the same with regard to the amount of play at the front of the slide, and I know what is causing it in mine. Maybe yours is the same. I'm calling Kahr tomorrow to find out if it's an issue.

[hardluk1]

You just had me checking mine again. My cw9 slide engaged on the lower metal rails by .115 My tp40 by .145. I do have a little up and down wiggle but only the difference between the slides slot for the rails and the rail . Not a 1/16th but some. Use a fine line marker to mark the end of your slide where it meets the frame then measure back to the rails to be sure you really have an issue.

[gb6491]

I was pretty much doing the same thing this after noon with my CW45. I was trying to figure out what was causing the slide to be difficult to rack. I was pulling the front of the slide up and down to try and figure out if pulling up or pushing down causes it to not slide back. like yours, the slide can move up and down at least 1/16 of an inch.

I finally figured out that the slide sticks out farther than the front metal guide rails. In other words the front of the slide is completley unsupported untll it travels back far enough to begin traveling on the rails. Is yours like this Marc?

I have somewhere between 750 and 1000 rounds through mine. What concerns me is that the right front rail is developing a burr, and there is a spot of wear on the slide where said right front rail is making contact. Others have mentioned that their slides are difficult to rack. I wonder if our metal rails are just about .01" too short.

I plan to contact Kahr tomorrow about a different issue (slide stop mag catch still hitting bullets and causing jams even after modification/ replacement of slide stop, as well as frequent light primer strikes). I will mention this as well.

Also, I will post some pictures of the burr on the front rail and associated wear on the slide when I get access to a faster connection.

Oh, and by the way... I'm not talking about anything to do with the plastic "rails" or the proof mark on the left hand rail, or "bowed or bent" rails. I know it's common for newer Kahr owners such as myself to see those and think there is a problem. I've read most of the forum stickys and know the basics.

Anyway Marc, mine is the same with regard to the amount of play at the front of the slide, and I know what is causing it in mine. Maybe yours is the same. I'm calling Kahr tomorrow to find out if it's an issue.

Well shucks, I just checked this on my CW45 and it's the same way.
My pistol runs fine, but I'm not happy with this discovery (very unsatisfactory).
Thanks for the post and please let us know what Kahr's response is.
Regards,
Greg

FWIW, my CW9 does not not exhibit this (though by not much).

[marcinstl]

I've only got maybe 500 rounds run thru mine and if others have 1000 rounds thru theres then I guess it isn't a problem, I'll keep shooting it. just thought I'd come over here and ask. really glad there is a place like this to ask questions. thanks. this is my first poly gun, hmmm, wonder what a glock is like or a taurus? I figure the CW45, loaded, in a kydex holster is coming up on 30 oz., lots better than trying to carry a 1911. good shooting.

[tony k]

Greg Said:

Well shucks, I just checked this on my CW45 and it's the same way.
My pistol runs fine, but I'm not happy with this discovery (very unsatisfactory).
Thanks for the post and please let us know what Kahr's response is.

I called Kahr this morning at about 0700 pacific. I was speaking with Ian in about 1 minute. I began to explain the issue, and as soon as I began to say, "the slide appears to extend beyond the front rails and there is a burr forming on the front edge on the right frame rail," he stopped my rambling and said "what is your email, phone number, and mailing address, sir?" I gave it to him and he said he'd like to have their gunsmiths look at it.

I had a Fedex return label in my email by 1300. I wrote a nice note explaining the issue and a few other issues i'd like them to look at. I plan to put the note in with the gun. I'll pack it up tomorrow and get it out asap.

I definitely can't complain about that type of customer service. This is the second time I've spoken with Ian and, while some might be put off by his impersonal approach and direct manner, I think it's his way of being prompt, professional, and to the point. in fact, I get a little sick of the mealy-mouthed and disingenuous fluff from other customer service reps at other companies, but I digress...

I think I saw on The High Road where someone had a CM9 or P9 break the right front rail. I wonder if it didn't start out as this same slide overtravel/short front frame rail we're noticing on our guns. Anyone else seeing a burr form on the front of the rail like mine has?

Kinda bummed I'm not gonna have my Kahr around for a while. When it shoots well, it shoots really well. It's also my girlfriend's new favorite because it's so light and has such a sweet trigger. She can shoot fist-sized groups at 15 yards standing, but again, I digress...

I'll post more as things develop.

[marcinstl]

here's a totally rumor based reply. there was a youtube video of a guy with an early poly Kahr, the poly around the rails looked like his dog had been chewing on it. he was bummed, but admitted the gun ran just fine. the comments said-- early poly, they changed the plastics formula, new ones are ok. the only thing to really worry about is the metal to metal parts. hope I never have to talk to Ian, but glad to know he's there. please post results of trip to factory. thanks.

[tony k]

not to be repetitive, but I've spoken with Ian twice in the past few months and I'm totally satisfied with his customer service approach. I state the facts; he addresses the issues according to the warranty. No insincere attempts to make me "feel" better by saying B.S. like "oh, I understand sir. I'm so sorry to hear you are having problems...blah, blah..."

We're dealing with firearms issues, not issues with chafing underwear. If I need emotional coddling I'll call my mom, not Kahr customer service. Ian should stick to the no BS approach, IMO. I find it refreshing.

I'm guessing my gun has arrived at Kahr by now. I'll post when I hear more.

Hey, marcinstl. I've kinda hijacked your thread, but I'd rather keep posting it here than start a new one. You ok with that?

[tony k]

Re: CW45 owners

I was just over at the hardware store. They had a cm9 ($459), and a cw380 ($399). Neither gun had a slide that over shot the front rails. Way less slop and no binding while racking the slide.

Do those prices seem a little high?

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[DavidR]

CW45 owners

Prices are at least $50 high.


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[marcinstl]

Tony

check the prices at Davidson's "gun genie" and Bud's gun's. ask the hardware guy if he does FFL transfers because you found a gun online and need an FFL to receive it. he'll ask you what gun and you show him the printout of the pages with prices. (actually gun genie will let you look at the pricing at shops near you. ) your the customer and the customer is always right, so have fun with your local merchants, make them work for a sale.
to review-- hold your safety checked gun in one hand and with the thumb and finger of the other hand get a hold of the slide on each side of the front sight, see if it wiggles up and down. I originally said a 1/16th of and inch, well maybe 1/32nd is more like it. I'll check back and see if you heard anything from Kahr.
(when your shopping for a semi-auto, try to find one in the weight and caliber that you want, in your price range, read and watch the video reviews to see whats said about the trigger. if you can rent one, shot a box thru it. oh, and get online and see if you can buy magazines, in stock not back ordered. I did all of this and Kahr was the last gun standing.) (sorry M&P, Glock, etc.)

[tony k]

David R Said:

Prices are at least $50 high.

That's what I though too. In fact, I bought my cw45 from these guys in feb. CW45 + 2 boxes of plinking ammo was less than $400 dollars. Not sure why they are so proud of their cm9 and cw380s.

Marcinstl Said:

hold your safety checked gun in one hand and with the thumb and finger of the other hand get a hold of the slide on each side of the front sight, see if it wiggles up and down. I originally said a 1/16th of and inch, well maybe 1/32nd is more like it.

That's exactly what I did, and mine was definitely at least 1/16th of an inch.

Also thanks for the gun buying tips. The hardware store does ffl transfers, and they've done it for me in the past. They charge $25, so it would be pretty easy to beat their prices even with the $25 fee. I'm not Nostradamus, but I predict a CM9 in my future.

I hope to hear from Kahr this week about the CW45. Will post here.

[marcinstl]

I started carrying last Nov., first in an outside belt holster and then a homeade pocket holster(kydex, fashioned after the Alabama Holster Co. pocket model). the CW45 in my pocket is pushing 30 oz. (chubby guys need a chubby gun, huh?) for summer time I'm looking for something lighter and reliable and decent price and made in US and something that fully fits in my hand and I can shoot--- see how I quickly worked to a CW9? CW9 loaded is about 21 oz. no cross training on a different gun type.
(if I find a CW9 in a gun store, I'll wiggle the slide and see if I can get another $50 off, hehehehehe.)

[smokersteve]

I was just over at the hardware store. They had a cm9 ($459), and a cw380 ($399). Neither gun had a slide that over shot the front rails. Way less slop and no binding while racking the slide.

Do those prices seem a little high?

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Paid $389 for nib CM9 couple weeks ago from LGS
Paid $317 for nib CW380 few months ago from LGS