New PM9 - About 95%

[2edgesword]

My new PM9 arrived last week. My first impressions in taking it down were it's the tightest pistol I've owned and I figured the 200 round break-in was going to be interesting.

After cleaning (it was soaked in oil when it arrived) I took it to the range and fired the first 100 rounds. I am very much getting use to and becoming to prefer the dot over I sights. At 12 yards just about everything was in an 8" paper plate firing single and double taps. I'm very much like the feel of this gun.

During the first 100 rounds I had 1 FTE and about 5 instances of failure to go fully into battery. The out of battery was about 1/16". This happened on various rounds using both magazines. I could push the slide forward the 1/16" but it would move back out when I let go so I would drop the mag, eject the round and feed the next round to finish out the magazine.

My second trip to the range I fired another 100 rounds. Again I had about 5 instances of failure to go fully into battery by about 1/16". I'd eject and fire a few full magazines with no issue and then it would happen again.

The failure to go into battery happened with mix of Blazer, American Eagle and Sellier & Bellot 115g FMJ ammoIf someone can provide some insight I'd appreciate it. I'm shooting with two hands so I don't think limp wristing is a factor.

[JimC]

It sounds like your off to a good beginning with your new PM9. Good choice BTW.

When breaking in a new pistol, I like to use only one brand of ammo at a time. By doing that it's easier for me to rule out initial problems that may be ammo related.

If it is ammo related, I then move on to something else.

I prefer full power (not necessarily +P) ammo for break in and also, I prefer bullets no lighter than 124 gr.

I've said this many times before here and on other forums, I like the Win. version of their NATO spec 124 gr. FMJ ammo. It's 10% hotter than many rounds but not really in the +P catagory.

I used 100 rds. for my initial PM9 break in and then moved onto some Win. 147 gr. service loads and then to my carry load, 60 rds. of the Speer 124 gr. +P HP short barrel version. All 100%.

425 flawles rds. later, I considered my PM9 "broken in".

[jocko]

give it

My new PM9 arrived last week. My first impressions in taking it down were it's the tightest pistol I've owned and I figured the 200 round break-in was going to be interesting.

After cleaning (it was soaked in oil when it arrived) I took it to the range and fired the first 100 rounds. I am very much getting use to and becoming to prefer the dot over I sights. At 12 yards just about everything was in an 8" paper plate firing single and double taps. I'm very much like the feel of this gun.

During the first 100 rounds I had 1 FTE and about 5 instances of failure to go fully into battery. The out of battery was about 1/16". This happened on various rounds using both magazines. I could push the slide forward the 1/16" but it would move back out when I let go so I would drop the mag, eject the round and feed the next round to finish out the magazine.

My second trip to the range I fired another 100 rounds. Again I had about 5 instances of failure to go fully into battery by about 1/16". I'd eject and fire a few full magazines with no issue and then it would happen again.

The failure to go into battery happened with mix of Blazer, American Eagle and Sellier & Bellot 115g FMJ ammoIf someone can provide some insight I'd appreciate it. I'm shooting with two hands so I don't think limp wristing is a factor.

some more rounds, and if u have a dremel or some 600+ grip paper polish the chamber. takes about 5 minutes. Might help a tad to.

Ur probalby not limping it either but maybe let anutter good shooter try a few dozen rounds to see if he can duplicate the issue. Might just take ur kahr alittle longer to smooth up.and to me it just sounds like that is all it needs. any polishing u can do on moving parts can't hurt. under the feed lips of the magazine even, the breech face, extractor. most all can be done with out tking the slie apart..

[JimC]

Drop the DREMEL...keep it away from your pistol.

Your PM9 will break in just fine without you going to work on it with a Dremel!!!

[2edgesword]

It sounds like your off to a good beginning with your new PM9. Good choice BTW.

When breaking in a new pistol, I like to use only one brand of ammo at a time. By doing that it's easier for me to rule out initial problems that may be ammo related.

If it is ammo related, I then move on to something else.

I prefer full power (not necessarily +P) ammo for break in and also, I prefer bullets no lighter than 124 gr.

I've said this many times before here and on other forums, I like the Win. version of their NATO spec 124 gr. FMJ ammo. It's 10% hotter than many rounds but not really in the +P catagory.

I used 100 rds. for my initial PM9 break in and then moved onto some Win. 147 gr. service loads and then to my carry load, 60 rds. of the Speer 124 gr. +P HP short barrel version. All 100%.

425 flawles rds. later, I considered my PM9 "broken in".

Thanks for the advise JimC.

Given the frequency of the issue (more accurately infrequency) and the random nature (not always the first round, last round, 2nd round, etc.) my sense is that the issue is more than likely related to "underpowered" and/or slightly out of spec ammo rather than the firearm. I'm going to pick-up a couple of boxes of +P ammo to run through it and report back.

Beyond that the fit, finish, easy of shooting and feel are excellent.

[jocko]

unless one is a total clown a dremel with a polishing cotton cotton will do no harm.

[2edgesword]

unless one is a total clown a dremel with a polishing cotton cotton will do no harm.

Have you been talking to my wife?

[jocko]

u might also check to see if by any chance ur magazine followers are grabbing the mag release button to. It is allabout perfec timein in a semi and all things need to work as designed. Some of the kahr polymer followers tend to grabon the mag rleease btton around round 2/3 and this upsets timing and can cause feed ittuse. Takes 5 minutes to check it out to and 5 minuts to fix it to. U can find that info on the kahr tech section under propper prepping of ur kahr. It never hurts to check some things out that fellow members here have found through trial and error to..

I just realized ur from komi new york, so the "clown" statement was a joke but in ur case--humm

[Flincher]

I followed all the cleaning and prepping advice here, the owners manual, lube chart, polished the chamber as jocko suggests, and ran the slide about a hundred times before ever taking my little P380 out. Now 400 rounds (ball ammo by the way) later, she runs along smooth as silk, and I've never had an issue.

[2edgesword]

Did a thorough cleaning and inspection last night and all seemed to be in order.

Hit the range this morning and the first four magazines were flawless. On the fifth magazine there was a slight hesitation as the slide went forward but it went into battery and fired. That hesitation repeated two more times and then I had a failure to feed with slide partically opened about 1". I cleared that round and the rest of the magazine fed and fired normally.

On the next magazine I had a failure to go into battery. The slide was out of battery about 1/16". I could push the slide forward that 1/16" but it would spring back. I pressed the mag release, let the mag drop half an inch or so, pushed the slide forward into battery where it remained. I then fully inserted the mag and shot the rest of the magazine without an issue. The next three magazines fed and fired flawlessly.

Given the above, especially the spring back of the slided when it is out of battery, having that spring back relieved when I drop the magazine and the slide now can be push into battery, I'm think the random out of battery has something to do with the magazines. I'd appreciate the insight of those knowledgable about how everything is suppose to cycle normally and what might be causing the occassional hang-up.

[2edgesword]

Headed back to the range this morning after a thorough cleaning, taking the time to hand buff the ramp (although it looking almost like a mirror to begin with) and being a little more liberal with the lube job. Put 50 rounds through the PM9 with no malfunctions .

I think the break-in period and my aversion to oil (typically using it very sparingly on my Glocks) may have been part of the issue with the earlier hiccups.

Having now put 350 rounds through it I'm finding the size, weight, accuracy, sights, trigger and controllability are elevating it to becoming my first choice among the handguns I own.

Size & weight: very good fit for my small hands

Accuracy: making fairly rapid shots and getting everything on target at 12 yards

Sights: I'm not sure what it is about the dot of bar but I'm finding it easier to get a good sight picture quickly versus three dot.

Trigger: Very smooth, the pull pull/reset is not as long as my CW-45, so not as much of a transition from my Glocks.

Controllability: Doesn't have as much snap as my G27 (40) or P3AT (380), and I find it easier to get set-up the next shot.

Beyond this the fit and finish are excellent.

Now if I can have some confidence that this ammo situation was going to clear up soon I have another report on durability once I got a couple of thousand rounds through it .

[Sage]

After you get 500 rounds downrange you won't believe it's the same gun. It's almost magic how the feel of my PM9 changed after it was broken in. During the break in period I shot nothing but 147gr Lawman and American Eagle. I have over 3K rounds through it now and not a single failure.