Ammunition feed problems on almost new PM9

[Tartansailor]

Hello All! I am new to Kahr after many years with Beretta and S&W. Bought a new "old stock" PM9 (on the shelf for 2 years) three months ago and did all the 200 round break in...actually did 400...with lots of feed problems, field stripping issues, as I have read here are common. I bought the PM9 for daily carry, now that my state IL permits it, and thought all was well until last week. Trying to use some 10 year old Golden Sabre 124 gr. JHP+P brought many FTF with the nose of the rounds caught under the leading edge of the feed ramp..which I have now polished but not yet tested. Of all places, I found a well done post on a Glock forum from another PM9 owner who convincingly explained that this is issue is a design defect in which the next round to be chambered moves forward in the magazine as the round above is stripped. That does happen..try it. Then the tilting barrel does not tilt high enough to permit the feed ramp to drop low enough to smoothly engage the forward positioned round. The poster attributed the failure of the ramp to fully drop to excess material on the polymer frame which will eventually wear down with use and may solve the problem. He sanded his frame down a bit and also suggested using a shorter length round so my Kahr is currently carrying Hornady FTX which are somewhat shorter than a Golden Sabre. However, I am back to carrying a really too big Storm PX4 Subcompact as I do not trust the Kahr until I can get to the range for a test.
Your thoughts and experience please.
Tartansailor

[Scarywoody]

Sometimes if you reshape the follower it improves. Here's a previous post http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...llower+reshape

[kwh]

Should run well with Hornady FTX. Send range report when tested. Should run well with 124 gr. FMJ. Individual pistols can be picky with certain H.P. The FTX will be good for carry, FMJ for practice.
Problems get back to us.

[Tilos]

Sometimes if you reshape the follower it improves. Here's a previous post http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...llower+reshape

Yes This ^
You can buy an extra follower or 2 before doing the mod, allowing you to return to the original if the mod doesn't work out....it will though, and has for many
Here's more info on the mod and how to do it, for 9mm, look around, it's a LONG thread, lots to read and pics:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...2881#post72881


Edit: there is a member who sells followers built via a 3D printer, I don't recall his name though

[AnthonyC]

Sometimes if you reshape the follower it improves. Here's a previous post http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...llower+reshape

I have to agree with the above posts that it is probably the follower. Now whenever I get a new magazine for my CM9 I do a little prep work by stripping the magazine and sanding some its edges and the follower. Then no problems running my range ammo or self defense ammo, which is Federal HST 124gr. Give it a try.

[muggsy]

There are literally thousands of Kahr pistols with stock followers that function perfectly. I own two of them. I consider modifying the followers a Band-Aid fix at best. You can make the gun feed by modifying the follower, but the follower probably isn't the cause of the problem. If I were you I'd contact Kahr and explain the problem that you are experiencing and give them an opportunity to make your gun function properly.

[gb6491]

It's great to live in a country where folks can freely express their opinions

Here's mine: the "Band-Aid fix" is to tell folks to chamber the first round from slide lock via the slide stop or to download the magazine one round.
Are there "literally thousands of Kahr pistols with stock followers that function perfectly"? I'd guess that's probably true if you limit your methods to chamber the first round to Kahr's fixes or perfectly (some will say properly) execute the "slingshot method".
The slingshot mod linked above was intended to make chambering the first round from a full magazine less technique sensitive when using that method (it doesn't hurt chambering from slide lock either).

The follower that Tilos mentioned being sold by a member here is made from machined aluminum: https://lakelinellc.com/product/meta...-for-9mm-kahr/
My 2 cents(an opinion worth about that much..or less): it's a much better, though more expensive, follower than the plastic OEM product. It's skirt is not going to break if the feed ramp hits it and as to feed...well, I figured I'd just do a quick vid this morning:


Regards,
Greg

[Tilos]

It's great to live in a country where folks can freely express their opinions

Here's mine: the "Band-Aid fix" is to tell folks to chamber the first round from slide lock via the slide stop or to download the magazine one round.
Are there "literally thousands of Kahr pistols with stock followers that function perfectly"? I'd guess that's probably true if you limit your methods to chamber the first round to Kahr's fixes or perfectly (some will say properly) execute the "slingshot method".
The slingshot mod linked above was intended to make chambering the first round from a full magazine less technique sensitive when using that method (it doesn't hurt chambering from slide lock either).

The follower that Tilos mentioned being sold by a member here is made from machined aluminum: https://lakelinellc.com/product/meta...-for-9mm-kahr/
My 2 cents(an opinion worth about that much..or less): it's a much better, though more expensive, follower than the plastic OEM product. It's skirt is not going to break if the feed ramp hits it and as to feed...well, I figured I'd just do a quick vid this morning:


Regards,
Greg

Greg
Thanks for jumping in here to straightening me out on that follower...it's the base plates that are 3D printed, and adding that vid
I've found all your posts to contain spot-on info, and having an after market follower available is a big plus, after all, by modifying we can only remove material

You forgot the "it's the ammo" double speak used to justify poor feeding, yet your vid shows feeding a flying ashtray hollow point

and thanks for responding to the scenter, maybe someone pissed in his corflakes...back on my ignore list for him

[yqtszhj]

Greg, great post and video as always. Thanks.

[Alfonse]

Thanks Greg! Great video.

[muggsy]

It's great to live in a country where folks can freely express their opinions

Here's mine: the "Band-Aid fix" is to tell folks to chamber the first round from slide lock via the slide stop or to download the magazine one round.
Are there "literally thousands of Kahr pistols with stock followers that function perfectly"? I'd guess that's probably true if you limit your methods to chamber the first round to Kahr's fixes or perfectly (some will say properly) execute the "slingshot method".
The slingshot mod linked above was intended to make chambering the first round from a full magazine less technique sensitive when using that method (it doesn't hurt chambering from slide lock either).

The follower that Tilos mentioned being sold by a member here is made from machined aluminum: https://lakelinellc.com/product/meta...-for-9mm-kahr/
My 2 cents(an opinion worth about that much..or less): it's a much better, though more expensive, follower than the plastic OEM product. It's skirt is not going to break if the feed ramp hits it and as to feed...well, I figured I'd just do a quick vid this morning:


Regards,
Greg

Greg,
My comment wasn't intended to offend you, so I hope that you didn't take it that way. I was just stating a fact. I never said that you couldn't build a better mouse trap, but Kahr ain't bad at building them either. Hope were still friends.
Muggsy

[gb6491]

Greg,
My comment wasn't intended to offend you, so I hope that you didn't take it that way. I was just stating a fact. I never said that you couldn't build a better mouse trap, but Kahr ain't bad at building them either. Hope were still friends.
Muggsy

It's all good bro
Regards,
Greg

[SmokyT]

... many FTF with the nose of the rounds caught under the leading edge of the feed ramp.. ... issue is a design defect in which the next round to be chambered moves forward in the magazine as the round above is stripped. That does happen.. Then the tilting barrel does not tilt high enough to permit the feed ramp to drop low enough to smoothly engage the forward positioned round....

I too had experienced the same issue a couple of times with each of my two PM9s (only with FMJ rounds with pointy tip, though). But the problem disappeared after I performed a minor rampectomy to remedy the breakage of the front skirt of the factory follower (which I also had experienced a couple of times with my first PM9). Trimming the tip of the tounge of the feed ramp by 1/16" or so fixed both problems with no ill effects.

[marshal kane]

Check your fired cases for scratches on the sides. If you find them, the feed lips in your magazine(s) need to be de-burred. The burrs create drag on the cases preventing the slide from chambering the ammo properly. De-burring the feed lips on my P9 magazines cured my feed problems.