PM9 Ammo Feed Issue

[Hank Hill]

Just fired my new PM9 for the first time today, using American Eagle 115 grain ball ammo. About 50% of the time the first round fails to feed when I start a fresh magazine. I called Kahr and they explained that I need to use the slide lock, then the release to load the first round. I assume this will solve the problem but that sure seems to be a time-consuming method if I need the gun in a hurry.

I guess that begs the question: Do you feel safe carrying with a round chambered?

[Popeye]

Just fired my new PM9 for the first time today, using American Eagle 115 grain ball ammo. About 50% of the time the first round fails to feed when I start a fresh magazine. I called Kahr and they explained that I need to use the slide lock, then the release to load the first round. I assume this will solve the problem but that sure seems to be a time-consuming method if I need the gun in a hurry.

I guess that begs the question: Do you feel safe carrying with a round chambered?

Of course in a proper holster that covers the trigger why wouldn't you ???

[Bawanna]

Just fired my new PM9 for the first time today, using American Eagle 115 grain ball ammo. About 50% of the time the first round fails to feed when I start a fresh magazine. I called Kahr and they explained that I need to use the slide lock, then the release to load the first round. I assume this will solve the problem but that sure seems to be a time-consuming method if I need the gun in a hurry.

I guess that begs the question: Do you feel safe carrying with a round chambered?

Usually after some break in this issue cures itself and you can load with the slingshot method or whatever. Some work fine out of the box. You just can't let that slide down at all, rip it back all the way and let it fly, almost abusively and it will probably work. It still perplexes me also the slide lock release but it works and has come up numerous times.
Absolutely safe to carry with a round chambered. If not comfy carrying with a round in the chamber you might as well leave it at home. First time you try to chamber around with 20 gallons of adrenaline coursing thru your veins it will jam for sure. The long trigger pull and built in safeties make it all good.

[deadhead1971]

Yes, you should slingshot the first round with the slide lock (the Kahr owner's manual says this). And I do keep one in the pipe--no problems or concerns. I keep it in a pocket holster, and the trigger is covered. Plus the long trigger pull is nice too for safety. A glock-like trigger would worry me a little.

If you hand rack it, the bullet will nose dive on the feed ramp, and that's what happened to you it sounds like. A glock is much easier to hand rack.

[Hank Hill]

Yes, you should slingshot the first round with the slide lock (the Kahr owner's manual says this). And I do keep one in the pipe--no problems or concerns. I keep it in a pocket holster, and the trigger is covered. Plus the long trigger pull is nice too for safety. A glock-like trigger would worry me a little.

If you hand rack it, the bullet will nose dive on the feed ramp, and that's what happened to you it sounds like. A glock is much easier to hand rack.

Reading instructions is for beginners. Oh wait, that's me.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

[deadhead1971]

It's just a Kahr quirk. There is nothing wrong. Since I keep one in the pipe all the time, the only time I sling shot rounds is at the range.

[Bawanna]

Reading instructions is for beginners. Oh wait, that's me.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

Kahrs are one of the few guns where it really and truely pays to read all that paperwork in the box. I usually don't waste alot of time reading that stuff but alot of issues brought up here are addressed in that little booklet. Not always accurately and some changes have been made like pulling the trigger a bit to replace the slide rather than just to take it off but it's an ever changing world.

We're all beginners in the game of life, about the time you got it figured out, everything changes and your a beginner again.

[jocko]

Most

Reading instructions is for beginners. Oh wait, that's me.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

don't ever read instrucftions, u know a macho thing for us guys. Once you get some rounds down range and the gun and YOU mate up better, you will be able to hand rack with ease, but for awhile do use the slide lock lever, it will not let you down and kahr does recommend it also in the MANUAL.

I had troulbe at the beginning hand racking but now it is easy and when I bought my P380, kahr, I just couldnot hand rack it at all, but after about 1500 roun ds the gun and me mated up and I canhand rck it also now with ease. Gotta realize, just not alot of gun to get a hand around and we tend to ride the slide back to battery and this will just not work wellin kahrs. they are tight and they will stay tight also.

Nice gun u have, for me the best of the best..

[Hank Hill]

Thanks, I enjoyed shooting it for the first time and with its Crimson Trace -- man, I was shooting much much tighter groups with my PM9 than I do even with my Sig P239 without laser sites. Never imagined how much difference a laser would make.

Hafta say though that my Sig is hard to beat for pure smoothness...it's just too big to carry in summertime.

[jocko]

ur dead right

Thanks, I enjoyed shooting it for the first time and with its Crimson Trace -- man, I was shooting much much tighter groups with my PM9 than I do even with my Sig P239 without laser sites. Never imagined how much difference a laser would make.

Hafta say though that my Sig is hard to beat for pure smoothness...it's just too big to carry in summertime.

CT will make you a better shooter. I had a smith model 342 that I could not shoot worth a damn, I put a set of Ct grips on the gun and my groups were outstanding at 10 yards, totally unbelievable. I stillhave a 40 shoot group in my garage to show people. It was all CT that made me shoot that great group. that little dot just doesnt lie, if it is floating all over the place then one should realize where his shots are going to be also...

[OldLincoln]

The secret to slingshot a Kahr is to use the weak hand to pull back the slide and the strong to shove the gun out of the weak hands grip. That somewhat mimics the firing action and the slide has a good run at the next cartridge. Just make sure you keep it pointed downrange.

[kahrseye]

First off, I always carry one in the chamber. I've never felt uneasy about that. I figure if I need the gun I don't want to have to worry about using precious time that I may not have to rack the slide.

Second, whenever I load or reload the magazine, I always use the slide stop. At first it was very tight but since I've run off several hundred rounds I have no problem using the slide stop. Also, I think it's faster to reload using the slide stop...just my opinion.

[Shawn Dodson]

I had the same problem when chambering the first cartridge in a fully loaded magazine. Kahr's recommendation to always release the slide lock on a fully retracted and locked open slide is faulty, and possibly fatal advice. It's a cheap, bean-counter "fix" to an expensive hardware problem. The PM-9 is life-saving equipment.

A palm strike to the rear of the slide put mine in battery every time.

I refuse to operate the slide lock for anything other than to lock open the slide to unload or to clear a doublefeed stoppage. The reason? It adds complexity when clearing stoppages (tap-roll-rack, and combat reloads, for example).

That said, after breaking in my PM-9 it now reliably feeds the first cartridge in a fully loaded magazine when I roll & rack the slide.

I use the overhand method to operate the slide because it integrates well when I roll the pistol in the direction of the ejection port to use centrifugal force and gravity to help clear a fouled action.

Good luck.

[Hank Hill]

A palm strike to the rear of the slide put mine in battery every time.

Thanks, I'll try that technique.

[Bawanna]

I'd try it at the range and following the palm strike I'd eject without firing a couple to make sure your not driving the bullet down into the case causing a high pressure situation. It's all in how it's jammed. Most likely if the palm strike is successful the bullet and /or case is slipping past and all will be fine. It could be pushing the bullet down in the case though and thats not a good thing, while usually not catastrophic it can cause bad things if it gets driven deep enough.