New PM9 suffers serious stove piping on first day of shooting

[Tinman507]

Yeah, both have thick hides too

[Polymerbuff]

Sky top , read my thread! -pm9 sent back for service-

[warbird1]

Last month I bought a PM9 also. 295 rounds so far with 37 failures to fire on first trigger pull. Pull back slide just enough to reset striker. Fires 2nd trigger pull. Unless it's Golden Saber which will not fire at all. Beats anything I have ever seen.

[Planedude]

I would never break in a Kahr with bullits at the light end of the spectrum.
I use 100grn in .380 at target loading. (when I can find it)
I would use at least 124grn. in 9mm.
I use 180grn. in 40 S&W.
I would only use 230Grn. in a .45acp.
Just me. New autos like heavy buillits on new springs. Later most autos will eat anything you feed it...

[OldLincoln]

Last month I bought a PM9 also. 295 rounds so far with 37 failures to fire on first trigger pull. Pull back slide just enough to reset striker. Fires 2nd trigger pull. Unless it's Golden Saber which will not fire at all. Beats anything I have ever seen.

Is the gun factory new? Do primer strikes show at all?

Since it is releasing the striker my first action would be to detail strip the upper following instructions in the Kahr-Tech sub forum. There's even a video and posts about a tool you make from a wire coat hanger and cautions about unauthorized launches of parts into deep space.

At the very least do the striker channel clean out with brake cleaner. Instructions for that are there also. Stuff gets in thee that can interfere with the striker and cause what you are experiencing. See this thread for more.

This is what that gunk looks like:

[Bronco4me]

Wow, hope the OP gets things figured out. I took my brand new PM9 out to the range today, and was expecting several FTFs after reading some of the posts on this board. Used WWB and can happily report the nighr my son or myself experienced a single failure. We used brand new 6rd and 7 rd magazines without failure. Followed the break-in procedures posted on the site and the results were absolutely flawless. I'm all smiles and wish the OP the best of luck.

[pitandkahr]

Wow, hope the OP gets things figured out. I took my brand new PM9 out to the range today, and was expecting several FTFs after reading some of the posts on this board. Used WWB and can happily report the nighr my son or myself experienced a single failure. We used brand new 6rd and 7 rd magazines without failure. Followed the break-in procedures posted on the site and the results were absolutely flawless. I'm all smiles and wish the OP the best of luck.

x2. I snuck out and ran 100 rounds of WWB through mine. I followed the sticky tips and she performed flawlessly. *knock on wood* :-)


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[jocko]

naw don't knock on wood, kahrs are just that good. Hell go into any car dealer and they always have their service bays full. I don't knock on wood when I turn the key. U gotta have trust and like car dealers, that is what service is for to. It will happen to some but by and large kahrs are grea to go right out of the box. the prepo thread IMO just asssures u that the you have done allyou can to make it right before that first bang thing. happens.

[jg rider]

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?

IMO, first the stove pipes are partially caused by the stiff recoil spring needing to take a set, and the polymer frame causing friction. All this will go away. Do you see any whiskers showing up on the frame rails yet?

IMO the not going into battery is partially the above friction, but also caused by the extractor. This isn't a controlled feed system. As the slide comes forward the extractor has to force it's way around the case rim, against spring pressure. So the extractor outside edge needs to round itself off, and the extractor spring needs to take a set.
Many people have sent their Kahrs back to the mother ship for not going into battery and I think they polish the extractor face. Or cut a coil or two off of the extractor spring. I've seen that done by the factory

[gb6491]

...
IMO the not going into battery is partially the above friction, but also caused by the extractor. This isn't a controlled feed system. As the slide comes forward the extractor has to force it's way around the case rim, against spring pressure. So the extractor outside edge needs to round itself off, and the extractor spring needs to take a set....

That's new to me or perhaps I'm reading it wrong. Are you saying the extractor pushes over the rim once the round is in the chamber (like some push feed rifles do)?
I don't own a PM, CM, or MK series pistol, but my CW45 and CW9 feed with the round sliding up the breech face and under the extractor before the round is chambered.
Regards,
Greg

[skytop]

Stove pipe and feed problem

Thank everyone for their helpful replies.
I removed the slide and followed the guidelines illustration for lubrication. I used TW25 grease and breakfree lubricant. I also cycled the slide manually about 30 times. The movement became noticeably smoother. I was getting hopeful!
Today I put 5 rounds of 115 gr. FMJ into the factory mag. I fired the gun and bingo...stove pipe! Cleared the weapon and put it into battery with a fresh round. Fired and ....feed problem! Bullet jammed. All this after the lubrication job.
Guess the gun is just too "tight".

This weekend I will go to the range with two new brands of ammo and put as many rounds through the gun until my fingers start bleeding from clearing the chamber. Hopefully it will start behaving properly when I reach that magic 200 round threshold.
Update: Just spoke with helpful tech at Kahr. Bottom line is do not load first round by manually pulling and releasing slide (by hand). Pull back slide till it locks and then use slide release lever to release slide and load first bullet. He states to "let the slide to all the work to charge the weapon." He also states I will notice a cessation of feeding problems and stove piping around 100 rounds but continue to at least 200 rounds to get everything to mate properly. It was worth calling Kahr.

[jocko]

I never read where u were having stove pipes loading the first round but after the bang thing happened. He is right about the slide releaselever but from what I read in ur psts this wasnot the issues.

Give it a try,

[jocko]

GB is right about how the kahr extractor works. It doe snot jump over the brass rim. No kahr does that

[warbird1]

As far as my PM9 is concerned I fired another 50 rds today of Federal 147 gr with 20 % failure rate. Then 10 rds of Remington Shurshot 115 gr with 60 % failure rate. Feeds and ejects with zero problems. Flushed the striker channel 3 times so far. I believe the problem to be light strikes....caused by either a defective striker or weak striker spring with the latter most likely. Frustrated and disappointed but have not given up on it as I like the trigger, accuracy and dimensions. Trying to decide whether to send back for repair or attempt repair myself.

[Tinman507]

Contact Kahr CS. Describe the problem fully. Let them mess with it if need be.