CW9 Mag not dropping free

[wyntrout]

You can get a cheap set of picks at Harbor Freight, but a medium flat screwdriver will do the trick once you see how the leaf spring fits in the groove of the magazine catch. You hold the frame with one hand, use the screwdriver to rotate/flip the spring out of the groove and hold it away from the catch, while pushing the catch through and out of the frame with your third hand pushing the release button. Oh! No third hand? You have to hold the frame and push the button through while holding the spring out.
Assembly is somewhat easier... maybe. A head mounted light can really help, since that's where the third hand would be handy... hey! Maybe that's how they came up with "handy"! You'll be pushing the catch, button first from right to left side of the frame, while holding that damn spring away from the area where the catch must pass. A vise with suitable protection would be nice to steady the frame, but light is essential and orienting that dang catch and pushing it under the spring being held away from where the catch needs to pass. After you get that done, make sure the spring gets back in the little groove... piece of cake... after you've done it a few times.
I "scalloped" my catch with a round file and then sandpaper before polishing the catch. Don't mess with the bearing surfaces of the part of the catch that holds the magazine in. You need enough of the catch left so that the magazine wiggling doesn't release it. You can fit the catch to the magazine tube outside the gun and with the magazine innards removed and check for fit.
I looked at the Glock pictures, too.
New catches aren't that expensive, but it might take you a week or two to get another one, should you get too enthusiastic with catch removal.
Wynn

[OldLincoln]

New catches aren't that expensive, but it might take you a week or two to get another one, should you get too enthusiastic with catch removal.
Wynn

That's why god invented duct tape!

[Tim335]

I just picked up a new P380 yesterday and the mags did not drop free at all. I looked in the magwell and found some very obvious left over flashing at the base of the magwell. I made a couple of quick swipes with a pocket knife and the mags shoot out like champs now.

[Bawanna]

I just picked up a new P380 yesterday and the mags did not drop free at all. I looked in the magwell and found some very obvious left over flashing at the base of the magwell. I made a couple of quick swipes with a pocket knife and the mags shoot out like champs now.

Outstanding. Welcome. Your a prime example of what we've been talking about around herre recently regarding new guys with good information. You also confirmed what several have stated, shouldn't take a whole lot of effort to make them mags fly out.
Glad you found us. Enjoy that 380, rumor has it, it's the best of the bunch.

[jlottmc]

I don't know about best of the bunch, but it is a damn fine weapon. Welcome.

[OldLincoln]

I "scalloped" my catch with a round file and then sandpaper before polishing the catch. Don't mess with the bearing surfaces of the part of the catch that holds the magazine in. You need enough of the catch left so that the magazine wiggling doesn't release it. Wynn

Tell me more about the scalloping. You didn't mess with the part with the ramp? But did make the part that rests against the mag body (not in the latch) more curved? Why? I would think that would make the latch sit deeper in the mag and take more effort to release. What I saw looking from the bottom of the well up to the latch, is that the catch slopped part that sticks into the mag has a small part of it still exposed with the button pushed in.

Now that I finally have it out after 2 hours with several sized screwdrivers yesterday, but 5 minutes with a dental pick today, I can see there isn't much to catch the mag. I already filed a bit with it assembled yesterday so it needs touching up anyway, so this is what I'm considering.

The concept is to "move" the latching further down the shaft, something Kahr should look into.

1. Make the scalloped part deeper but shaped the same. This will allow the mag more catch on the slopped part.

2. Shorten the sloped piece just enough to clear the frame when pushed.

I anticipate the result to be when the button is pushed, the mag catch will completely clear the frame inside the mag well.

Now before I rush into this, please give it a Jeopardy minute and let me know if you concur. Any and all comments welcome.

[OldLincoln]

Well I guess it's too late to tell me anything, it's done. I ended up filing the ramp side smoother where I messed it up trying to file it while installed - not a good idea. I then sanded the ramp, used a brass wire wheel with my fancy new $20 Harbor Freight Dremel knockoff - that is until it crapped out in about 5 minutes. Then used my fancy new $13 Harbor Freight 3/8" drill to finish.

I pretty much hand finished the catch testing it along the way. The result is all mags now exit at the push of the button, a much easier push than before. I also "polished" (that's a kinda polished or smoothed out term) the entire mag release except the part that shows. Result is it pushes with about half the effort. I also tried to wiggle each mag out without using the catch but they held firm.

So, I think this little project is complete.

[Bawanna]

Well I guess it's too late to tell me anything, it's done. I ended up filing the ramp side smoother where I messed it up trying to file it while installed - not a good idea. I then sanded the ramp, used a brass wire wheel with my fancy new $20 Harbor Freight Dremel knockoff - that is until it crapped out in about 5 minutes. Then used my fancy new $13 Harbor Freight 3/8" drill to finish.

I pretty much hand finished the catch testing it along the way. The result is all mags now exit at the push of the button, a much easier push than before. I also "polished" (that's a kinda polished or smoothed out term) the entire mag release except the part that shows. Result is it pushes with about half the effort. I also tried to wiggle each mag out without using the catch but they held firm.

So, I think this little project is complete.

Mission accomplished. Did you have any issues putting it back in. I know it's very similar to the Glock but I've never had mine out. Seems like you get the little spring lined up with the slot and it will naturally try and drop into place? I seem to want to prematurely sometimes drop the mag so I may have the opposite issue or perhaps they put the bad one Wynn sent back in my gun although I'm sure it's me. My son had zero issues with it, I must be hitting the button somehow.

[OldLincoln]

Putting it back was easy. Just use the pick to hold it away from the wall and slide the release in. Once there let it lay on top of the release and slide it to the right and into the slot it falls.

I really like my Kahr and I don't mean to sound otherwise, but the mods I've made were necessary to have a top notch handgun. There was removing the sharp front edge of the barrel block where it was gouging the inside slide top and polishing both places.

Then polishing the barrel itself where it was dragging on the front support bushing as evidenced by the scratching rings around the barrel. Then this mag release thing.

I can add removing the very sharp edges on the outside slide groves and the slide lock. I can't do this on mine as it is a black finish and don't want to mess that up.

I wouldn't be willing to pay more than i did for my Kahr, but it would be helpful if they shipped their guns to a finishing business that did this stuff and actually ran a quite a few rounds through it making sure it was right before final release.

Conversely, I inherited my dad's Colt Commander 45 that has never been touched except to shoot and clean. He got it late in life and didn't put over 100 rounds through it. It shoots perfectly every time and is my all time favorite gun. My sons Glock 40 is the same way and he's shot over a thousand rounds in academy and practice. Point is I know it can be done and done well by volume manufacturers.

So why did I get the PM9? I wanted a pocketable carry gun that was very capable for defense and could be concealed easily. Although I have a Nemisis pocket holster I carry IWB in my Silent Thunder - much more comfortable than pocket. The PM9 fits the bill and except for the sharp slide grooves and slide lock is ready for use.

[OldLincoln]

Another thought re mags hanging. After I removed the mag catch, I slid mags into the mag well. Although hanging with mag release installed, mine were completely free when removed. I think that tells the story right there. I suggest that anybody serious about freeing up mag drop AND comfortable removing the catch do this before any work on the mag rails inside the well. I found that no matter how much sanding, the mags were not free until I modded the catch. I now wonder if sanding was needed at all.

Also, I encourage those who will do this to first get a dental pick (the metal thing with a sharp hook that the dentist uses to hurt you). Walmart and Walgreens carry them.

It would be really nice if Kahr would clean up some catches and make them available to those who consider this a problem. Who knows they might even mod them for all gun assemblies.

I'm pleased with the results of my project. I'll go shooting Tuesday to try it out after all my mods. Now with the insides polished up, I can slowly let the slide forward and watch the cartridge slip into the breech. It always hung before the polishing.

Speaking of polishing, I told my wife about the Home Depot rotary tool dying after 5 minutes and she said why not get a good one, you know our son will get it and use it for many years. Now is she sweet or what? I think like a Kahr, we've worn the rough spots off after 43 years.

[jlottmc]

Well I'm glad the Kahr came out well. I have another project for my Northern Tools rotary tool now that is engraving and roughing up the finish so that I can re-paint my new appliance dolly. I hear Northern Tools has a decent tool for not too much money....

[jlottmc]

I'm gonna get kicked in the head for that one aren't I??

[Armson-OEG]

Mine did the same, not dropping free. By accident i found that if i was carrying the CW9 on my hip on a Don Hume 721 OT that the warm CW9 would drop free, but if left out at room temp they would not.. Tested 6-7 times this way and everytime warm would drop cool not. I wound up using vise grips to carefully squeeze the sides of the mags about 1/2 inch below the feedlips. after carefull adjusting of the vice grips i was able to narrow the mags and they drop free now.

GMan

[Swat_dude]

Mine did the same, not dropping free. By accident i found that if i was carrying the CW9 on my hip on a Don Hume 721 OT that the warm CW9 would drop free, but if left out at room temp they would not.. Tested 6-7 times this way and everytime warm would drop cool not. I wound up using vise grips to carefully squeeze the sides of the mags about 1/2 inch below the feedlips. after carefull adjusting of the vice grips i was able to narrow the mags and they drop free now.

GMan

My 6 round mag will not drop free but my 7 round will. Upon close inspection, I saw that my 6 round was somewhat "double-stacking" ammo, indicating it is somewhat expanded. Maybe the Vicegrip squeeze is the cure??

Has anyone else noticed this with their small mag?