Can't release the slide release

[jdr3366]

Has this happened to anyone else?

I just picked up my slightly used Kahr K9. I pulled back the slide, but my thumb isn't strong enough to push down the release.

First time I had to push the release with a screw driver. Ugh! Next time I supported the pistol by pushing down on a towel over the sink while pulling back the slide. Easing some of the tension on the slide let me push down the release.

Any suggestions? Is this common? Is this the reason they say to pull back on the slide 500 times before firing?

The release has been lubed. I can see some oil between it and the frame. Haven't field stripped it yet.

[jocko]

is magazine in the gun or out of the gun. In the gun it is normally harder, out shoud be easeir. either way ur issues seems strange. Ur K9 is more than likely broekn in the 500 times stuff is for new guns .

[wyntrout]

The magazine is designed to push UP on the slide lock and hold the slide back on empty magazines. It is very hard, but not impossible to push down the lever with an empty mag installed. Again, info in the manual, F.A.Q.'s, and the videos available at Kahr.com.

Wynn

[jdr3366]

The mag was in when I had the problem. The person who sold the pistol to me said he put about 300 rounds through it. There was another owner before him, but the pistol looks like new.

Anyway, I started working the slide back and forth. I thought the spring got a little looser, but I still can't release the slide with the empty mag in place. I can release it after removing the mag.

Maybe I can get a lighter spring???

[Krusty]

Your gun is meant to work that way, nothing wrong with it.You'll see how easy it is to close the slide with a full mag.

[jdr3366]

Krusty. I was hoping somebody would say that!

But after my experience I was hesitant to put any rounds in the mag.

I was under the {mistaken} impression that with Kahr pistols the slide stayed back. And in order to chamber a round it was necessary to push the release down to manually move the slide forward into position.

I see now that's not how it works. When I inserted the full mag and pulled back the slide, the slide moved forward on its own and the round chambered automatically without me touching the release.

Thanks

[crazymailman]

Kahr does recommend pushing the release down to engage the slide, but it can be done by hand as you have discovered. The important thing is to avoid riding the slide forward at all. That lightweight slide needs all the speed it can get to chamber a round.

[Krusty]

Slide locked back on empty- insert loaded magazine -push slide release lever to release slide and it will put one up the spout, that's how it should work. I know that HK's slide automatically forward upon loaded mag insertion for combat advantages. I don't think Kahrs are made to do that, but I could be wrong!

[jdr3366]

I realize this is second nature to Kahr pros, but it seems more complicated than chambering a round in my CZ.

OK, I have a K9090. the slide does not stay back if the mag is out of the pistol. That means I have to pull the slide back and set the slide release lever.

Then, after inserting the full mag I have to push down on the slide release, which is still very tight, but barely managable. I sure hope it gets easier over time.

[skiflydive]

Needs to be a sticky... You can't push the slide release lever down if there's an empty mag in a Kahr pistol. either drop the empty mag or insert a full one.

[tv_racin_fan]

Download yourself a manual.

What you experience is something I see as a safety device. The gun always lets you know if the mag you are trying to drop the slide on is loaded or not without looking. Last thing you want during a gun fight is to accidentally drop the slide on an empty mag and need "BANG!!" but get.. click ..instead.

Apparently you have slingshotting the slide down well enough to keep on doing that. Most every Kahr I ever seen do this just fine if the operator doesn't ride it. No need to lock the slide back before loading IF your Kahr will slingshot without issue.

[kerby9mm]

What if 1. Empty gun-mag in -lock slide back. 2. Drop mag-put one round in mag-insert mag-dropslide. 3 Drop mag-loadmag-insert mag. Good to go.

[skiflydive]

What if 1. Empty gun-mag in -lock slide back. 2. Drop mag-put one round in mag-insert mag-dropslide. 3 Drop mag-loadmag-insert mag. Good to go.

Huh? If there's no round in the mag the slide lock doesn't release. If there's a round in the mag it does...

[jdr3366]

I can feel the callus developing on my thumb. I need to go to the range and shoot it a few times.

[muggsy]

Needs to be a sticky... You can't push the slide release lever down if there's an empty mag in a Kahr pistol. either drop the empty mag or insert a full one.

It's printed right in the manual that comes with the gun. The proper way to load the pistol is by using the slide release. Some will work using the slingshot method and some won't, but they all will work using the slide release.