CM9 Front Night Sight Keeps Breaking Off

[Laetus1]

First time poster: I love KahrTalk! My CM9 has been perfect for me--except that the front Trijicon night sight has broken off twice now while firing it at the range. I ordered the front and back sights from Kahr and had a local gunsmith install them the first time. The very first time at the range a few days later the front sight snapped off during firing. The rear post which receives the screw broke off. I contacted Kahr via email and Jay Dandrea was very responsive. I offered to pay for a replacement front sight since it was possible the smith had over tightened it or something, but Jay sent me the sight at no charge. This time I installed it myself doing everything as per instructions. I allowed the loctite to dry for 24 hours before reassembling the gun. After several trips to the range over the last few weeks, I eventually breathed a sigh of relief believing the new sight would be just fine. But today at the range the same thing happened again; the rear post of the front sight snapped off again.
Needless to say, I will contact Jay at Kahr tomorrow. I will send them the CM9 to have them install a new front night sight this time. But I am spooked about the reliability of this sight now. Of course the dovetailed rear sight has had no problems. The gun has not been dropped or abused in any way. I have seen no evidence of a need to countersink the front sight holes as some have reported. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Thanks in advance for any insight on this, and thanks for the great forum.

[jocko]

try oredering a night sight from Dawson sight people. Theirs seems to work great. actualy never heard of the issue ur having either..

[Bawanna]

I've not heard of it either. If you do send off to Kahr to replace, you can just send the slide and save a ton of money. No need for the whole gun.

Dawson makes really good stuff but Jocko already told you that so theres no need for an echo around here.

[bonjorno2]

Interesting.... well if you are worried about carrying it in a SD situation you prob won't be using sights anyways! Keep us posted and also what type of holster if any are you using?

[gb6491]

...I have seen no evidence of a need to countersink the front sight holes as some have reported....

So the head of the screw was flush with or below the surface of the slide when screwed all the way in? How about the other post; was the end of it flush with or below the surface of the slide?
Regards,
Greg

BTW, welcome to the forums

[Laetus1]

Thanks, all, for the speedy replies. In response to questions: I could wish not that I had bought the sights from Dawson, but I want to follow up with Kahr since I've invested the money with them on the sights. I have been using a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. Both the front post and the rear post with the screw in all the way were below the surface of the slide. I am baffled as to what both the gunsmith and I did wrong. I have already sent the email to Jay at Kahr and will report what happens next.

[Cornhusker]

Sorry to hear of your problems. Hope everything works out okay for you. I just installed the Trijicon Night Sights last night on my CM9 & CW9. I used Blue Loctite. Thought about using Red but Blue works good on most of the applications on my Harley and didn't think I wanted it to be such that I would have trouble getting the sights off if I decided to make a change later on. Will know more in a few days when I get to the range.

[Laetus1]

Jay at Kahr emailed me that I can send the slide to them for their installation of the front night sight. I will have to pay for the sight, installation and shipping. I'm not crazy about that. This assumes my gunsmith and I both did something wrong installing the front sight (a screw and loctite!). But Jay says they will stand behind it if something goes wrong again. Now I'll be without my carry for a while. Is this a good excuse to buy another backup?

[TucsonMTB]

Now I'll be without my carry for a while. Is this a good excuse to buy another backup?

I like the way you think!

[Bob G]

I wonder how many others have had this problem?

[jlottmc]

Sounds good to me.

[Thunder71]

Sorry to hear you're having problems with it, I'm sure it will be taken care of.

One of the differences between the CM9 and PM9, hope this isn't a common problem - but it does help justify the extra money for a PM9.

[BEARDOG]

Jay at Kahr emailed me that I can send the slide to them for their installation of the front night sight. I will have to pay for the sight, installation and shipping. I'm not crazy about that. This assumes my gunsmith and I both did something wrong installing the front sight (a screw and loctite!). But Jay says they will stand behind it if something goes wrong again. Now I'll be without my carry for a while. Is this a good excuse to buy another backup?

I have been following your post and I wanted to see if Kahr had or would give up any info on a run of bad sights or something??? I hope not!!! as I just installed two of them on my CM+CW9's.

I can't really come up with a reason that this would have happened 2x??? You say there is clearance right? The screw head is not getting hit by the barrel during recoils correct? Does the sight fit well in the hole spacing?

That said IMO... I would not spend all that $$$ shipping, install labor, and another sight and give up my gun for a week or two to get another one from Kahr. If they won't take care of it for minimal cost, I think a call to Trijicon may be in order to see what they have to say about it. Maybe they would install another new one for you at a reduced or free cost???

If that fails to get a suitable fix then...
I think I would just order a Dawson N.S. and give one of those a try. They attach by peening both post's on the bottom, so It should be a stronger attachment. I was going to get Dawson's for mine but these where so much cheaper I had to go Trijicon.... I hope I did not make a mistake???

[Russ]

I hope I am not making a mistake. Kahr has my cm9 for a look at the slide catching one in 50 rds on a shell and I asked them to install the $80 Trijicon Night Sights they had on their web site.

Please tell me I am not making a mistake. I don't mind the plastic sights I just thought it would be nice to have night sights.

[Laetus1]

I am happy to report that I mailed the slide to Kahr with a letter explaining that twice the rear post (with the screw) on the front night sight I purchased from them had broken off when firing. Just a little over a week after I mailed it to them, I received the slide with a new front night sight. I notice that they also pinned the front post in like the original sight posts. Perhaps this was the problem all along. My gunsmith had installed the first sight without pinning the front post, and I did not have the instructions when I received the second sight and installed it without pinning. Hopefully problem is now solved. And not only did Kahr do a fast job on the turnaround and fedex the slide back to me, I was not charged anything for anything. Kudos to Kahr!