New PM45 Range Test

[wyntrout]

I got up a little late this morning ~ 1030 AM... wifey gone... note says to Avenues Mall... hunting... I mean shopping -- woman thing.

I was going to get my coffee and I see a package on the table... about the right size... "Adult Signature Require". IT's back! Woohoo!

03/15/2010

Problem Reported:
FAILURE TO FEED. 2 MAGS

Action Taken:
INSPECTED GUN. REPLACED EJECTOR, RECOIL SPRING. POLISHED FEED RAMP, EXTRACTOR. LUBED TEST FIRED GOOD.

No warning it was coming as in tracking to make sure I was home. FedEx Priority Overnight. Less than 7x24 hours -- left last Tuesday at 1 PM or so.

It looks good as far as the "Gap" between the rear of the top cartridge of a FULL magazine (5-round) and the "stripper" at the leading bottom edge of the striker housing. I tried both magazines -- the same ones I sent with the gun. Both are okay.
I include a couple of photos of the problem and one of the repaired gun with the correct "Gap" and a couple of photos of a few rounds of my old reloaded ammo -- "flying ashtray-types". The left cavity is really deep -- more than twice the one on the right.
I'll get to the range for a quick test later, maybe 100 rounds of Blazer 230-gr FMJ.

Wynn

[Bawanna]

Looks more promising Mr. Wyn. Can you tell looking at the bottom of the slide if they modified that angle that one of the other guys had changed. Just curious if that's how they obviously changed that gap. Would make sense. Get out and shoot it, I'm anxiously awaiting your report.

[wyntrout]

Good morning Bawanna'. I was thinking of sending you an email. From what I can see, it does look like they may have taken the squared edge off, but that wouldn't leave a gap if that's all they did, the stripper would be rounded enough to push its way past the rear of the cartridge base rim and nestle against the rear. They did something that causes the gap, but I don't know if it was just a different ejector. I'll check that against earlier pictures when I clean it after the next range trip... soon.
Since I joined the range for a year, I can just pop in and out without having to spend hours there getting my money's worth.
I'm going to fire those old rounds I found and see how they shoot. I think that I used to load them to about 950 or so fps instead of 850 fps -- standard.
I can't believe how deep one of those cavities is -- almost to the base!

It is strange that I didn't get an email saying that the gun was on the way. Wifey signed for it, which is fortunate. I stay up late, if you can call snoozing in the TV chair off and on staying up! Then I do my little chores like setting up the coffee pot and putting the dishes into the DW and firing it off, etc.
My wife is usually out on the back porch with her coffee and ciggies after she gets up and wouldn't hear the doorbell, so that's the "fortunate" part.

The ramp ought to be polished enough now. I did it and did it again after I found a tiny sharp catch or burr on the lower right of the feed ramp before I sent it back to Kahr. So they've polished it again and things ought to be fine now. I had tried to make the underside of the ejector more like the one on the PM9 with my "Dremel-like" tool and make a little more clearance so that the ejectjor was not pressing the rear of the cartridge down. I took a bit out of the inside of the frame opposite the ejector!

I hope that ejected cases aren't flying at my forehead anymore. I'm taking a Kahr cap inside this time!
I just put my second attempt at the inner tube grip cover on the grip -- looks good. I had to lengthen it about 3/16" or so. This should continue to cover those sharp nibs and not ride up.
Now I need to assemble a new target. I have one silhouette left. I need to get some more at the next GS. So far, I have only gotten two range trips out of each target because the cardboard gets shot away and the patching tape does not give structure. I'm going to use a bit of that 3M Scotch Strapping tape to reinforce the top of the cardboard, so it will last at least ONE session and not fall off. I use twine to back up the clamp at the top.
Well, I need to get going here with breakfast... or lunch (12:13 PM!) and take my pills, etc.
Later!
Wynn

It's a brighter and sunnier day now... and it's not just because of the beautiful weather!

[Bawanna]

I dont think the ejector would have any effect on that gap. Putting an angle on that guide on the bottom of the slide would push the cartridge forward as you insert the mag creating the gap. (I think). The gap is there that's the main thing. Hopefully the new ejector will redirect the spent cases in a direction other than your forehead. I did kind of like that fella's suggestion about the maxi pads. I'd put a big red star on the front sort of like a samurai warrior head band. Or you could just wear the hat if you want to remain low key.
I just got my fingers crossed that she runs like a swiss ???? car? Seriously we're all routin for ya. One trip back to the mother ship should be enough, she should run although them homemade flying ashtrays may not like the trip up that feed ramp much. I'd sure try em but not be dissapointed if they hang up.

[wyntrout]

M'aidez! M'aidez! Je suis blessé -- un coup de papier!

Dang! I sustained a grievous injury while constructing my paper opponent! He got in the first lick -- a cruel paper cut! I'll have my revenge, though. No doubt he sought to incapacitate my shooting hand with this cowardly act, but I'll persevere and have my duel with him... if a bit one-sided... wounded as I am.
Pix include Mr. Silhouette and the cruel and unjust wound he delivered me before the formal hostilities had commenced:

Wynn:33:

[getsome]

Hi Wynn, hope you teach that BG target a thing or two about messing with a Kahr owner....Hope your PM45 runs like a top now....You know what bothers me is how industry in general has placed so much emphasis on production that quality control is taking a back seat (Toyota)...In my company in years past we took great pride in being the best and doing it right the first time every time Sure every now and then something would get through but now it seems that a 35% defect rate is ok...Sell it now and we will fix is later.....I went to Micky D's for lunch the other day and when I got back to the office I opened my Big Mac and found it had no buns just meat, pickles and sauce...Now how did that happen I wonder?....I know that Kahr is taking care of customers problem guns but I hope they will see the light and maybe slow down and get it right the first time, they know how to make a quality product but are making so many pistols so fast that things are getting out of the factory with problems that should have been spotted by QC...IMHO with CNC machining and modern automated assembly lines there is no excuse for a barrel to leave final production out of spec unless all of them are out of spec....Oh well I'll shut up now....Good luck Wynn...Shoot um up !!!!:86:

[Bawanna]

I agree with Mr. Getsome. I'd give that silohette a little what for and couple more for good measure. I'm sorry but based on the photo's the comittee doesn't feel that even though you were grievously wounded in battle it does not merit a purple heart. We'll gladly supply a small quantity of neosporin and several tootsie roll pops for your comfort. AFTER we see some after range photos. Man up, swallow the discomfort and get out on the battlefield. We're counting on you.
I also agree once again with Mr. Getsome on todays quality control issues. There is absolutely no excuse for some of the stuff that gets out to consumers. The prices astronomical, the quality dismal at best. I think alot of it as you said worker pride. Even a lifetime warranty isn't worth beans if your product spends more time getting repaired than doing what you bought it for. How do we fix it? Make workers ride for the brand again and take pride in their product.
A Big Mac without a bun? That's gotta be close to the top of the heap in poor quality. Hope you went back and complained immensely.

[getsome]

I felt like it but I no Habla Espanol, know what I mean? Oh and here is another great deal I ran into from Poop Boys Auto Parts...I bought lifetime warranty brake pads for my truck the last time, paid extra for the best pads they sell....So last fall they needed replacement before winter so I took the old pads back to the store to exchange for new ones....Get this, the manager said that lifetime warranty means the lifetime of the pad not the lifetime that you own the vehicle....So in reality they guarantee that the pads will wear out....Again there will be icebergs in he!! before I ever spend another dime with Poop Boys....

[wyntrout]

I just got back from the range and don't have time for photos, but I shot 50 Blazer 230-gr FMJ, 4 miscellaneous old reloads, 6 Rem. 230-gr GS BJHP, and 50 Wolf 230-gr FMJ, steel-cased for a total of 110 rounds. I only had one failure to feed and that was at round 100 with the Wolf ammo. I used a Q-tip to swab at the feed and ramp and finished up with no problem.
I also fired 6 of my Double Tap 124-Gr JHP +P for flash test of my 9mm. I didn't get a video of that the other day.
Again... the PM45 is a joy to shoot and I can keep the hits on the head at 7 yards without too much trouble -- so much easier to shoot than my PM9! The 6 rounds of 9mm I fired -- one hit the head and the rest were out in the 8 o'clock area!
I know which one I ought to be carrying now! Anyhow, the PM45 is CCW ready!
Blazers okay. GS okay... just a bit more recoil. Wolf -- stinky and smoky and dirty! Yech! I still have two or three hundred (250?) rounds of that stuff to shoot up. It will have to be last -- it sure ain't SMOKELESS!
Got to do some chores and then cook supper. Will try to get the photos later, but great trip to the range.
Wynn

[getsome]

Happy for you Wyn, Glad your baby is doing its thing now!!!...

[In-Yo-Grill]

Just another testimony that shows that Kahr stands behind their product. Especially when the range is hot...lol

Glad to see it all worked out for you.

[Vinikahr]

Great to hear!

[Bawanna]

Outstanding MR. Wyn. I'm filled with joy for you. I never had any use for that Wolf ammo. People use it, people are ok with it but the steel case stuff just doesn't blow my dress up even a little. I'm not sure you put enough defense ammo thru to give it the CCW approval but if you think your there, your there.
Kahr has managed to keep me on the want list. My issue is I want a running PM45 from the get go or without going back to the mother ship. I'll accept the breakin period, no problem but not going back for a tweak.
And Mr. Getsome, I feel your pain on those brake pads. You see this stuff even more with auto stuff. It just never ends. I went thru a similar deal with Firestone many years ago, ruined my brakes during turning, wanted me to pay to replace. A note to Firestone headquarters along with copies of 25 years worth of buying their tires netted me a free complete brake job at another shop plus the dismissal of the store manager. The big guys cared, the indians didn't.

[wyntrout]

Thanks, guys. I'm sure glad to have the .45 back. I kind of feel guilty about shooting it better than the PM9. I don't know why, but it just seems easier to shoot and hit where I want with the .45!

I used a 1.75" bike tube and cut it a bit longer than the first try. It's perfect now. I wore my glove for most of the shooting because of my "wound." The tube doesn't clash with my sense of aesthetics or whatever.

Did any of you guys that sent in your guns for repair get a notice that it was being shipped back? I expected notice and tracking info since an adult signature was needed for delivery. I was lucky that my wife was in the house and signed for me. I guess they would have let me sign for it, had I been awake and answered the door. I kind of LOOK like an adult. Not everybody is retired and at home most of the time, though.

I'll check out the "stripper" to see if they beveled that a bit... it could be, but it's hard to tell until I strip it and clean it. That Wolf ammo is nasty stuff. I think that I had put the camera away before I started shooting that. I can't wait to get the stink of that stuff off my gun, but I have to start cooking soon and I need to clean off my desk/work table and turn it into the dining table again. Prime rib tonight for my wife and corned beef tomorrow night -- St. Patty's Day.
I only cook real meals when she's off. She's gonna have five days off soon and I'll be busy -- got to go out some!
Hasta la vista, amigos.
Wynn

[Bawanna]

I trust your last shooting adventure didn't cause complications with that edged weapon trauma? I suppose we could reconsider the purple heart deal if need be. Need we send plasma? How did the culprit who inflicted that wound come out in the end anyhow. I assume he hurts much worse than you although those nasty paper cuts can hurt like a beach.
I just had a tooth yanked about an hour ago, face it still numb and drooling, just like home for this derelict. Just have to empty the drool cup more often. Don't effect my shooting none. Dentist didnt even make me take off my gun. Said if I reached for it, he'd know he was hurting me and would stop. Worked out real well. I'm scart of dentist real bad.