Kahrs Work

[JackLA]

After lurking here awhile, and reading so many posts about Kahr problems, I thought a positive post would be worthwhile.

I bought my CW380 earlier this year following a personal defense course. No LCP’s seemed to be available, so I bought the little Kahr. Good choice. After cleaning the pistol, and lubing it, I went to the range and fired 100 rounds of Remington FMJ. On the first mag, the third case stovepiped, because I loosened my grip. I corrected that and finished the two boxes without any problem. Following week I fired another 100 rounds of the Remington FMJ without any problems. To date the pistol has been fired approximately 600 times, with mostly handloads using the Remington bullet and some Hornady Critical Defense ammo. No problems except for the first magazine.

A couple weeks ago I bought a CW9, mostly because of the positive experience I had with the CW380. I cleaned it, lubed it, took it to the range. 100 rounds of Winchester white box fired without a problem. Following week, same thing. Plus some Hornady Critical Defense ammo. This gun really shoots well. First 50 rounds shot to point of aim and cut out a 3 inch hole in the target at 30 feet. (The 380 also shoots to the point of aim, but I can’t shoot it quite this well.)

I realize that 2 pistols are not statistically representative of Kahr’s production. But I think it suggests that Kahr guns can be expected to run reliably out of the box.

[Bawanna]

It does indeed suggest they run out of the box.
Thanks for a positive post. Don't see nearly enough of them.

I've had very good luck with them myself.

[b4uqzme]

Welcome. Good post. Thanks.

[Bills1873]

I have two of them and they both run good since new. Great little pistols!

[AIRret]

Hey, JackLA,
I'm glad your experience has been so good. It may not sound like it at times, but your experience it the rule not the exception!
I bought my Kahr in 2012 and have never had a malfunction with a 6 round magazine.

[bobandmikako]

The only issue I've ever had with the four Kahrs I've owned (PM9, PM45,CW380, CW9) has been a broken magazine follower on my PM9, which happened just recently after a few thousand rounds. The mag actually continued to feed but just didn't lock the slide back. I just ordered another Kahr, a P40, which should be here in a day or two. This will be my first Kahr in .40 caliber.

[TominCA]

I have a "few" Kahrs - most notably 3 P380's - which is the Kahr that gets most complaints. I had a lot of trouble at first but I learned a few things from my experience. Much of my bad experience was from my ammo selections:

The thing most people having trouble need to pay attention to is ammo - Some of little guns are very ammo sensitive. To make it even worse the Kahrs prefer botique ammo which is usually about a buck a shot. The only ammo that all three of mine will shoot 100% reliably is Ruger ARX. For the first year on my first P380 I screwed around with big box store range ammo - which often is not consistent enough to be reliable in these sensitive little pistols. I blamed it all on the gun (and the gun should shoot more variety than it does - but that's life)

To try and help those who are having trouble, here is my "good" list - even so - not all of my guns will consistently shoot everything on this list 100% except for the Ruger ARX. Here is my list of ammo that at least two of the three will shoot at 100% reliability. If you are having trouble I recommend you try some of these. ARX and Critical Defense are my favorites and I practice with Blazer and PMC.

Ruger ARX
Hornady Critical Defense
Grizzly copper 70 grain +p Extreme (I'm not sure this is still made)
PMC 90 grain FMJ
Blazer Brass 95 grain fmj
Cor Bon 90
Glaser Pow-R-Ball

Don't run out and buy boxes of this stuff, try a box first, and see how it works. I have not tried a lot of high end ammo and I'll bet that there is a lot more that will shoot just fine! You should get an idea of the stuff that is likely to work well from the list.

Some other things I learned:

Hold on tight! Grip counts with these little guns.

Shoot left handed and you may get stovepipes (wierd isn't it!) - I think this is because this gun is so light, with proportionately so much recoil, that your left hand pivitos up and to the right under recoil (most mass is on the left from your left hand.) It can move fast enough that the cartridge case doesn't get out of the way fast enough. I shoot both hands (yeah, I'm weird) and I will only get a stovepipe with the left. Theory only - but I think its true.

Keep thses guns oiled! They like to run wet - and can dry out in your pocket. Break down and relube once a month is probably a good cautionary proceedure for a carry P380.

When the slide stops locking back - its the magazine spring getting weak. Stretch it back out.

Hope this helps!

[Ronni3_J]

Glad to hear about your success! I too have both the CW380 and CW9. Love these things!

[sharpetop]

1. NIB CW9-Light primer strikes in the beginning. A new recoil spring [warranty] from Kahr and issue went away.
2. Used K40-Never an issue.
3. LNIB CW380-Never an issue.
4. LNIB CW45-Never an issue.
5. LNIB PM40-Ammo sensitive at first. Liked 155gr Hydra Shok and 155gr Federal Classic. Getting better with 180gr FMJ, HST and Ranger and 155gr HST. The 155gr HST hollow point opening is a bit different than the Hydra Shok and Classic. Also had broken follower issue with the PM40. Kahr sent new followers and I dremmeled the feed ramp which made contact with the follower upon recoil. So far so good with the broken follower issue.

Some of these little boogers need a bit of fine tuning but there is nothing like them when they run like they should.

[AIRret]

My PM9 runs on any kind of ammo. I've never has a problem.

I do change out my recoil spring every 1,200 rounds as per kahr recommendation. But at the range I'll still put in an old spring (+ 1,800 rounds) and it still does the job. I do shoot a couple of mags with my carry spring, just make sure everything is in working order.

[TominCA]

I also have two PM9's and they are a very different animal than the P380. I've only had 2 problems in 1000's of rounds. One brand of 147 graing hp had a tendency to magazine hang up on the second round by nosediving - (I can't remember the brand as I write this) My second "malfunction" is more of an endorsement than a complaint. At the range I inserted a magazine of 115 grain fmj but did not lock it in. In other words, the magazine was not fully inserted. The little PM9 went 3 rounds before it hung up! I can't think of another pistol that would be that forgiving! Both of mine will shoot (with the above 147 grain exception) virtually anything I can get into the magazine with 100% reliability. Not bad for a gun that will fit in your pocket!

[Papersniper]

After lurking here awhile, and reading so many posts about Kahr problems, I thought a positive post would be worthwhile.

I bought my CW380 earlier this year following a personal defense course. No LCP’s seemed to be available, so I bought the little Kahr. Good choice. After cleaning the pistol, and lubing it, I went to the range and fired 100 rounds of Remington FMJ. On the first mag, the third case stovepiped, because I loosened my grip. I corrected that and finished the two boxes without any problem. Following week I fired another 100 rounds of the Remington FMJ without any problems. To date the pistol has been fired approximately 600 times, with mostly handloads using the Remington bullet and some Hornady Critical Defense ammo. No problems except for the first magazine.

A couple weeks ago I bought a CW9, mostly because of the positive experience I had with the CW380. I cleaned it, lubed it, took it to the range. 100 rounds of Winchester white box fired without a problem. Following week, same thing. Plus some Hornady Critical Defense ammo. This gun really shoots well. First 50 rounds shot to point of aim and cut out a 3 inch hole in the target at 30 feet. (The 380 also shoots to the point of aim, but I can’t shoot it quite this well.)

I realize that 2 pistols are not statistically representative of Kahr’s production. But I think it suggests that Kahr guns can be expected to run reliably out of the box.

What's your experience level? Sounds like it's extensive? I've got a CW380 and a CM9, and have a lot of experience shooting pistols, especially larger models. My two Kahrs are running well, although the 380 doesn't like a few brands of ammo. But, its initial wear in is not complete yet, I have only about 150 rounds through it. It's always good to hear positive reviews on the Kahrs. They are nice pistol, especially for the price. IMO they are a bit difficult to field strip, especially compared to larger pistols like the FNs, Sigs and Walthers. But then small pistols will be more difficult than larger ones.

I do disagree with your statement about Kahr pistols running reliably out of the box; I don't feel that way about any pistol, especially one used for SD. I use a 100-200 wear in process for all my pistols before I carry them. In my experience, the Kahrs needed around 50-100 rounds before they started being reliable, where my larger pistols (Walther PPS, PPX, PPW; S&W Shield, Sig P228/220/250) felt reliable after only a magazine or two. But that's not a complaint against the Kahrs - I don't think it's reasonable for a small, light pistol to function 100% straight from the box.

[CJB]

Four Kahr Pistols - 2 PM9's 2 PM45's

One issue - one of the PM45's chewed its front frame rail early on and Kahr replaced the frame. Even when it was all mangled up front, it still ran and fed everything I stuffed into it (after a few boxes of WWB as break in ammo).

The other PM45 was bought used, pre-broken in, and it runs GREAT.

PM9j - ran great (it was stolen)

PM9 replacement for the PM9j - never once failed, even from shot #1

So I don't have any issue at all with Kahr. Literally, the PM45 rides in my pocket and get abused regularly. Has been in the sea at Daytona Beach, and has never failed to fire, eject, re-chamber... And yah, it got a rinse off in a bucket of fresh water, cleaned and lubed after swimmin' in the sea.

[Papersniper]

Four Kahr Pistols - 2 PM9's 2 PM45's

One issue - one of the PM45's chewed its front frame rail early on and Kahr replaced the frame. Even when it was all mangled up front, it still ran and fed everything I stuffed into it (after a few boxes of WWB as break in ammo).

The other PM45 was bought used, pre-broken in, and it runs GREAT.

PM9j - ran great (it was stolen)

PM9 replacement for the PM9j - never once failed, even from shot #1

So I don't have any issue at all with Kahr. Literally, the PM45 rides in my pocket and get abused regularly. Has been in the sea at Daytona Beach, and has never failed to fire, eject, re-chamber... And yah, it got a rinse off in a bucket of fresh water, cleaned and lubed after swimmin' in the sea.

I'm probably more of a collector than a shooter, but I do visit the range about three times a month on average. I also EDC with a variety of pistols. Probably have 30 pistols in my collection now! Some get fired very little, like a Jim Clark 45 ACP "Bulls eye" I had built about 15-20 years ago. I carry only DAO or striker fired pistols, but I own other action types like the Colt and several DA/SA. The latter two action types are range only guns.

I do really like the two Kahrs I own (CW380, CM9), but they were both bought for carry when I tour on my motorcycles. However, both have been used more often than I thought for off the bike carry also. I don't prefer pocket carry normally, but I usually must resort to that on the bike, and those two pistols are perfect for that duty. When not on the bike I IWB carry about 90% of the time.

I have found that my Kahrs are a bit more difficult to field strip than most of my other pistols, in general can be more picky with ammo, but are on average more accurate than most of my other EDC pistols (at 7 yds). Hard to believe with those short barrels, but they are. It can't be ME!

I keep thinking about a CW45 or maybe a CW9 to add to the collection. Neither would fill a need as an EDC pistol, as I have several variations in both calibers that are more appropriate for carry, but then......why use logic?

[CJB]

I think you'll find that the "pull back the slide and push the pin out" gets easier with more shooting. The hole in the polymer is notoriously tight when new, but tends to loosen up a bit after a decent amount of use (not 200 rounds, more like a 500 or more).

Same thing for ammo pickiness - except (and I don't fault the pistols since the shorties were my reloads), they tend to prefer the longest ammo that will fit in the magazine, as opposed to say, a Colt .45 Auto which tends to like the shorter side of things.