KAHR CM9 FIRST PURCHASE - a question about reassembly

[balddog05]

Hello Members

Yesterday I picked up my first Kahr firearm, a CM9, and needless to say I'm very excited...of course the first thing I did upon getting home was to field strip the Kahr and do a complete and thorough cleaning...plenty of lube all over the frame and slide that I cleaned up

My question...I noticed when I tried to reassemble the slide that, after inserting the barrel and guide rod, the slide would not fully rack back on the frame...I double checked to insure that I had put both the barrel and guide rod back in correctly and tried again...same result, the slide would not fully rack back on the frame...I decided to try putting the slide release back in, and, after doing that, the slide racked back fully with no issues

I just want to confirm if that is normal, that without the slide release reinserted into the gun, you can't pull the slide all the way back on the frame?

I watched several Kahr disassembly/reassembly videos and in every video I noticed that the maker of the video always inserted the slide release before attempting to fully rack the slide with no mention that it was important to do that first in order to fully rack the slide, but, that is how they addressed reassembling the slide to the frame

If that is how it works, fine by me, I just want to make sure that is the proper way to reassemble the slide to the frame...I have many, many firearms and this is the FIRST that required me to insert the slide release in order to fully rack back the slide and I was hoping to verify that as the correct way to reassemble before racking back

all replies will be much appreciated

thx

[68Firebird]

I consider inserting the slide stop an integral part of reassembly. I've never tried racking the slide prior to that. Seems logical to me that the gun wouldn't function correctly without that part in place.

[Ed M]

When my CM9 was new, I noticed the same thing.

I discovered that the guide rod flange that contacts the barrel "shelf" that it sits on is very particular as to where the flange sits on it.

It's offset a bit, and doesn't like to sit dead center on that shelf.

Once I realized this, it was business as usual.

[Bawanna]

Precisely this.^^^. I always seem to have to finangle the guide rod into just the right position or it's a no go.

Once you figure that out, it's a non issue.

[balddog05]

I consider inserting the slide stop an integral part of reassembly. I've never tried racking the slide prior to that. Seems logical to me that the gun wouldn't function correctly without that part in place.

an example would be my Browning Hi Power - you can't even insert the slide stop without having the slide stop locked all the way back - like i said, if that's what it takes, fine by me

[68Firebird]

Not being argumentative, just curious how the Hi Power works: How do you lock the slide back without the slide stop in place? Or do you just have to hold the slide all the way back to insert the stop?

[topgun1953]

Balddog, yes it’s normal. I think Ed M and Bawanna misunderstood your post . Put the slide on, line up the marks, and put the slide stop in. Now you’re good to go. That’s the correct way to reassemble the Kahr.

[balddog05]

Not being argumentative, just curious how the Hi Power works: How do you lock the slide back without the slide stop in place? Or do you just have to hold the slide all the way back to insert the stop?

yes, there is a 2nd notch in the slide just for locking the slide back with the safety lever - 1st notch is for "Lock and Loaded" during carry

even with the slide stop out you can still manually rack the slide back and forth, mind you without the slide stop in place if you go too far forward you'll pull the slide off again - you can't pin in the slide stop without the slide being back - you can see in the photo i've posted of my Browning, the 1st notch near the safety is to engage while "locked and loaded" - the 2nd notch is for pulling back the slide and locking it back to insert the slide stop

[balddog05]

Balddog, yes it’s normal. I think Ed M and Bawanna misunderstood your post . Put the slide on, line up the marks, and put the slide stop in. Now you’re good to go. That’s the correct way to reassemble the Kahr.

thank you for the reply

im getting used to this firearm - reassembly with that guide rod gets a bit technical, quite a work out for the fingers

[68Firebird]

[QUOTE=balddog05;406751]yes, there is a 2nd notch in the slide just for locking the slide back with the safety lever - 1st notch is for "Lock and Loaded" during carry QUOTE]

Thanks for the explanation and the photo! I'd like to get my hands on a Hi Power.

(I don't know what I did to mess up that quote!)

[Bawanna]

Balddog, yes it’s normal. I think Ed M and Bawanna misunderstood your post . Put the slide on, line up the marks, and put the slide stop in. Now you’re good to go. That’s the correct way to reassemble the Kahr.

I understood the question and your correct in putting the slide stop in when aligned but sometimes if the guide rod isn't aligned perfectly you won't be able to rack the thing or even get it to the alignment marks.

[balddog05]

I understood the question and your correct in putting the slide stop in when aligned but sometimes if the guide rod isn't aligned perfectly you won't be able to rack the thing or even get it to the alignment marks.

i've already experienced that too - one YouTuber suggested that putting the end of the guide rod spring at the bottom of the frame would give it better alignment - so far, that has worked for me

[Mike_usn_ret]

When I first bought my CM9 I had a problem putting the slide back on after disassembly...I was not getting the recoil spring installed in the center of the slide opening and it was jamming preventing me from pulling the slide to the rear to align it to install the lock pin.

[Bawanna]

It's actually offset just a bit, so rather than center you have to make it parallel to the slide. It's just a bit so it's easy to get off just a bit.

No big deal after a time or two, if it don't go, move it a bit and try again.