New PM9 slide is sticking

[TriggerMan]

9mm Luger Union Metallic Cartridge Company

Sarah, UMC ammo, usually sold in bulk in a yellow box, is stuff that ought to work but is occasionally a problem in a tight gun because UMC is low powered. Try American Eagle or Lawman. You might even shoot one box of some SD rounds and see if problems persist.

[sarah000]

normal?

Ok I attached a picture of how my pm9 looks after the slide lock is released. Is this how it should look or should the slide be "flush"?

[sarah000]

The picture was taken with nothing in the chamber. I haven't taken it back out to the range yet to see if the problem has been fixed.

[sarah000]

Just took a look at a PM40 from the same angle. It looks about the same, so . . . no worries!

ok good- I guess I'll just have to wait until i can take it to the range again to make sure it's working right.

[sarah000]

Yep! And, if it does not return to battery properly, whack the slide closed with the heal of your hand (finger off the trigger of course) and keep shooting until you have enough rounds through the gun to wear the rough spots smooth enough for it and behave properly. It will fine once you get past that point. Uhm, I think they call it "break in". Kahr has lots of company in this. You should hear the whining from the Kimber guys who just spent over a grand for a fancy 1911 and then are expected to put 500 round through their range toy before Kimber will even talk about helping with warranty issues.

Keep the faith. You can do it. It just takes patience and ammo.

Ahh I don't have much patience, but I do have ammo!

[kerby9mm]

I have never had a gun that failure to return to battery. They all worked correctly from the beginning. My Kimber 5inch has never malfunctioned including the first day with hollow points. Does breakin me "might not be made quite right go shoot it with your ammo and hope for the best”. Its a shame what the consumer has to put up with.

[CJB]

Ok I attached a picture of how my pm9 looks after the slide lock is released. Is this how it should look or should the slide be "flush"?

The Kahr design, will sometimes leave the slide just a little bit back like that when cocked. Just a little wee bit... not any more than shown in that picture. The reason is - the striker spring is being tensioned and its working against the recoil spring, and may overcome it just enough to force the slide back ever so slightly.

The tell-tale of that happening is... with an unloaded pistol... Cycle the pistol's slide manually. Now push the slide forward with your free hand thumb while holding the pistol, and observe the slide moving rearward slightly when thumb pressure is no longer applied.

The "fix" - new recoil spring, but honestly, they do that sometimes brand new, and/or the lighter striker spring from Wolff, which cures the problem perfectly. If using the latter, please test thoroughly, as there is a small chance of light hits from the striker - very rare to happen though.

Will also say... its generally not a problem in shooting because... when you release the tensioned striker (after even more tension being applied via trigger), it has nothing to push against on the frame, and the slide will move forward that last little bit, during the time in which the striker is flying forward through its channel toward the primer. Or... at least in theory... (ahem). Could be the source reported light hits too, if all the stars line up in an awkward juxtaposition with each other.

[OldLincoln]

Kahrs are built tight and the slide action generates a lot of friction during break in. Once the parts wear together all is normally fine, however they do need to run pretty wet (greased) during breakin. The Fail to return to battery can easily be the slide just running out of energy due to friction.

I recommend using grease on the rubbing parts (where the Lube Chart says "coat") until worn in. Also, look for wear on Lube Point 6 and the corresponding top front edge of the barrel hood. Take a look at the Kahr Mechanics Video to see what goes on when shooting.

I really don't think you have anything to be concerned about. Just needs more rounds. It's a very good gun.

[jocko]

hand racking is good but othing works as good as the bangthing and the slide cycling like it is designed to do. IN my little mind I think ur gun just needs a couple hujndred rounmds down range and where these high spots are that is slowing downt he slide from going back into full battery mightindeedjust take care of itself.

Maybe a callt o kahr and asking fgor anew reoul assembly and emailing that photo to Jay at kahr can show what ishappening. U might indeed have a new not so good working recoil spring.

Something tocheck is tha toutter spring and that open coil that goes towards the front ofthe slide. Take it off the recoil tube and reverse it and see if it slides up and down on that outter tube with ease. If it doesnot then take a pair of pliers and open up that outter coil end enough so that it rides up and down with no restriction. I use remington spray dryt lube on that outter tube but a light finger of gun grease won't harm anthing either. Right nw we are just rrying tosee where the hang up is on the gun.

[sas PM9]

The Kahr design, will sometimes leave the slide just a little bit back like that when cocked. Just a little wee bit... not any more than shown in that picture. The reason is - the striker spring is being tensioned and its working against the recoil spring, and may overcome it just enough to force the slide back ever so slightly.

The tell-tale of that happening is... with an unloaded pistol... Cycle the pistol's slide manually. Now push the slide forward with your free hand thumb while holding the pistol, and observe the slide moving rearward slightly when thumb pressure is no longer applied.

The "fix" - new recoil spring, but honestly, they do that sometimes brand new, and/or the lighter striker spring from Wolff, which cures the problem perfectly. If using the latter, please test thoroughly, as there is a small chance of light hits from the striker - very rare to happen though.

Will also say... its generally not a problem in shooting because... when you release the tensioned striker (after even more tension being applied via trigger), it has nothing to push against on the frame, and the slide will move forward that last little bit, during the time in which the striker is flying forward through its channel toward the primer. Or... at least in theory... (ahem). Could be the source reported light hits too, if all the stars line up in an awkward juxtaposition with each other.

CJB Et.Al:

Concerning Sarah's problem with the pistol not going into battery completely; from the picture it sure looks like it should be 1/16 inch or so more forward.

Could this be caused by the recoil spring being installed backwards?
Or, could a little bit of the open end of the spring be preventing the slide from going completely forward?

-steve

[sarah000]

CJB Et.Al:

Concerning Sarah's problem with the pistol not going into battery completely; from the picture it sure looks like it should be 1/16 inch or so more forward.

Could this be caused by the recoil spring being installed backwards?
Or, could a little bit of the open end of the spring be preventing the slide from going completely forward?

-steve

I'll have to wait till I can get back out to the range to see if it's working better now. side note- got a new box of hollow points

[sas PM9]

I'll have to wait till I can get back out to the range to see if it's working better now. side note- got a new box of hollow points

s:

keep us updated.

-steve

[sarah000]

s:

keep us updated.

-steve

We moved into our new place near houston this weekend. My dad decided to take the PM9 and give me the LCP until he can get it fixed. Man that LCP is small! I kinda like it I feel better having a gun that I know will work. I'll probably also eventually get the SP101 to keep in the apartment.

[sarah000]

What-a-guy! Dads are like that. Glad you are in good hands!

Of course I am! No matter how old I get, I'll always be his "little girl"

[sas PM9]

The Kahr design, will sometimes leave the slide just a little bit back like that when cocked. Just a little wee bit... not any more than shown in that picture. The reason is - the striker spring is being tensioned and its working against the recoil spring, and may overcome it just enough to force the slide back ever so slightly.

The tell-tale of that happening is... with an unloaded pistol... Cycle the pistol's slide manually. Now push the slide forward with your free hand thumb while holding the pistol, and observe the slide moving rearward slightly when thumb pressure is no longer applied.

The "fix" - new recoil spring, but honestly, they do that sometimes brand new, and/or the lighter striker spring from Wolff, which cures the problem perfectly. If using the latter, please test thoroughly, as there is a small chance of light hits from the striker - very rare to happen though.

Will also say... its generally not a problem in shooting because... when you release the tensioned striker (after even more tension being applied via trigger), it has nothing to push against on the frame, and the slide will move forward that last little bit, during the time in which the striker is flying forward through its channel toward the primer. Or... at least in theory... (ahem). Could be the source reported light hits too, if all the stars line up in an awkward juxtaposition with each other.

CJB:

It looks as if the spring is too short, or perhaps weak.
Sarah000 mentioned she bought it new and was breaking it in, so it shouldn't be weak. I wonder if the old style (blunt nose) spring got put into a new style (tapered front) gun?

-steve