New PM9 suffers serious stove piping on first day of shooting

[skytop]

I initiated using my new PM9 yesterday. I used Federal 115 grain FMJ RN ammo.
The PM9 suffered stove piping about 80% of the time. It was very discouraging. Many other times, the slide did not close completely. I removed the slide and carefully lubed the rails and replaced the slide. I reloaded the mag but there was no improvement. I was sure not to fire it limp wristed.

I have read about the need of 200-300 rounds to break in the gun so it becomes reliable. However, after burning through 50 frustrating rounds of almost continuous stovepiping, I decided a call to Kahr on Monday is in order. Occasional problem with a new weapon can be expected but this PM9 is not really operational. Bummer! The look, feel, balance and ergonomics are great but a gun must go bang every time the trigger is pulled or else it is worthless.

I have never experienced such dependable unreliability in over 30 years of shooting. It is going to be very difficult to trust this gun. Hopefully, Kahr will be able to rectify this condition. Anyone have any suggestions or any similar experiences?

[JimBianchi]

With my MK9, my first 60 rounds were so bad I almost sold it.

After a complete cleaning and lube (per directions here on kahrtalk.com) I never had another issue.

In 5yrs, I have 4K down the pipe and last problem was the day I bought it.

[OldLincoln]

Suggestions? Sure... This is a common break in issue, especially when the Proper prep of a new Kahr guide is not followed. Since it's in the Kahr-Tech sub-forum it isn't anybody's fault if they haven't seen it, but once found it needs to be followed. The first post is the basic guide. Also in that forum is the Kahr Lube Diagram which is an essential guide to use with the prep.

Another tip that has been proven is after the gun is clean and properly lubed, to hand rack it a couple hundred times. Don;t need to dry fire it each time, but the racking seems to relieve some of the friction of breakin.

Initially Kahrs like to run pretty wet during break in. Again to reduce friction.
They want a good powerful ammo to overcome friction (124gn round nose if you have it). Target loads and defense ammo have problems initially.

Stove pipes are indicative of the friction slowing down the slide and the above usually takes care of it. Hang in there and you'll see that it becomes the gun you want.

[Bawanna]

Jims experience is quite common. 80% stovepipes sounds like a lot though even prior to break in. Certainly no harm in a call or email to Kahr to see what they say.

While that ammo should work just fine, if they say to go for 200 I'd be tempted to try something else as well.

Being new and tight and all it needs all the gusto you can give it.

Edit to add, Old Lincoln is wicked fast today and spot on. He speaketh the truth.

[jocko]

80%

I initiated using my new PM9 yesterday. I used Federal 115 grain FMJ RN ammo.
The PM9 suffered stove piping about 80% of the time. It was very discouraging. Many other times, the slide did not close completely. I removed the slide and carefully lubed the rails and replaced the slide. I reloaded the mag but there was no improvement. I was sure not to fire it limp wristed.

I have read about the need of 200-300 rounds to break in the gun so it becomes reliable. However, after burning through 50 frustrating rounds of almost continuous stovepiping, I decided a call to Kahr on Monday is in order. Occasional problem with a new weapon can be expected but this PM9 is not really operational. Bummer! The look, feel, balance and ergonomics are great but a gun must go bang every time the trigger is pulled or else it is worthless.

I have never experienced such dependable unreliability in over 30 years of shooting. It is going to be very difficult to trust this gun. Hopefully, Kahr will be able to rectify this condition. Anyone have any suggestions or any similar experiences?

is extremely high, #1 I would ylet another good shooter try the gun to, also u need to take the magazines apart to check to see if by chance they mag springs are in backwards. This has happened and u will get alot of FTF to. What is happening to ur gun is just not the normal break in routine, so something else is wrong. I would follow the lead of what the forum members recommended here before ever calling kahr. #1 IMO u need to eliminate the possabilityes and some are #1 shooter error, i. e. let another shooter try the gun, if he can duplicate then that is one issue out of the way. #2 is everything in the gun put together correctly, i.e. magazines right, recoil spring on correctly. If they are OK that is another possable out of theway, #3 propper lubing of the gun by following the kahr lube chart. if that is done then another issue out of the way. Feed ramp is silky smooth or maybe needs some flitz or 600+ grip paper applied to it to make it shine like a diamond. If that is ok, then another issue is taken care of.

another 100 rounds down range to see if the 80% issues starts to drop drastically, indicating to me anyhow, the gun just needs some more rounds through it, for reasons of maybe ur gun is just very stiff.

When all of the above and the tips in the propper prepping thread are viewed and verified to be OK, then I would suggest calling kahr and ask for Jay and then u can tell him exactly everything u have done etc to make the gun go bang every time and ur still getting a ????percentage of FTF. Have them issue a prepaid pick up for your gun and I can assure u, they will get it right.

But for me instead of panicking an calling kahr, do alittle homework urself on the gun. To me last resort is to send it back, this forum I think maybe can help u or at least guide u to an extent. What u do with any of the above info or forum suggestions course is ur decision..

I sure in the hell would check those magazines out What to look for???

When u slide the bottom floor pate off the magazine pull everting out, u should have a spring and a polymer follower. the angled up portion of the spring should face the front underside of the follower. They both basically follow the same angle. check to see if that is ok. The propper preping thread discusses this also and what to look for. If u have to send it back, document everything u have done for the gun to make it work so the kahr techs know where to start looking etc. saves alot of time..

Good luck.

[Rio Vista Slim]

I initiated using my new PM9 yesterday. I used Federal 115 grain FMJ RN ammo.

However, after burning through 50 frustrating rounds of almost continuous stovepiping, I decided a call to Kahr on Monday is in order. Anyone have any suggestions or any similar experiences?

You have been given some excellent advice in the previous posts. I AM NOT a Kahr expert, but I do have the benefit of reading those on this forum (and other forums) who have vast experience with malfunctioning handguns.

When I bought my new Kahr CM9, I followed the advice on this forum about the PREP and LUBING of my new gun. I also "broke it in" with 124 gr. and 147 gr. ammunition. Some of that ammo was NATO. The Federal 115 gr. FMJ ammunition is acknowledged to be about the weakest round available, from the standpoint of power to reliably operate a 9 mm pistol.

While a call to Kahr might be in order, I would suggest (as some others have) that you try using some heavier ammunition.

[jocko]

good point on the more powerful roonds to. Although I had to tell a person to buy defense ammo which is normaly +P in power, kahrs should feed ok with good american made ammo but it is just another possability that one could try to see if things dissappear.

[AIRret]

Lots of great advise! Thats one of the reason this forum is so valuable.
When I bought my pm9 the guy at the gun store took it apart cleaned and lubed it. He said; the Karh are notoriously tight and He hoped that his initial attention would help. When I got the gun home I cleaned and Lubed the it, and then racked and racked, and racked it.
First trip to the range I had a few FTF almost every mag for the first 50 rounds but that was with WWB 115. The gun seemed to straighten itself out even without the 124gr rounds.
The 7 round mag took a little longer but that became reliable after about 2 months of leaving it loaded all the time. I never put defensive rounds through it until I had 300rds of FMJ. I can't remember which brands but it didn't like every one I tried. Now I use Federal HST without any problems thus far, and that is has been round 500 to 1,000 plus.

Don't give up on this gun. BUT definitely work with it until your are 110% sure of it. Nothing worse than a gun that won't go bang when the NEED arises.

[Sage]

What you're experiencing seems out of the norm. When I got my PM9 I cleaned, lubed and racked it about 500 times before I took it to the range. If you're still having problems after a few hundred rounds you should definatly call Kahr. Check your magazines for sure. My seven round magazine was shipped with the spring in backwards.

I intentionally limp wrist mine occasionally and have had no problems. If you have to use it in combat you may be injured and not able to concentrate on your grip.

[jocko]

I would like to think of this forum as good surgeons. We think we know the problems, we think we have the answers, so we prescribe medicine and sometimes we do surgery and sometimes the paitient still dies.

I think this forums success of helping patients is far better than our loss ratio: Just sayi.

[Sage]

I would like to think of this forum as good surgeons. We think we know the problems, we think we have the answers, so we prescribe medicine and sometimes we do surgery and sometimes the paitient still dies.

I think this forums success of helping patients is far better than our loss ratio: Just sayi.

That's jocko's way of saying he's killed a few of us.

[Tinman507]

Dr. Moe, Dr. Larry, Dr. Jocko

[jocko]

ur both so so kind; u should respect ur elders, u know: Just sayin.

[Tinman507]

I have the utmost respect for you sir.
Gentle ribbing is a sign of respect.
As I tell my kids, if I didn't love you I wouldn't goof on ya!

[jocko]

oh my u have kids!!! Just sayin