PM9 Firing Pin Impression

[ltxi]

I am going to talk with Kahr on Monday. The gun works fine but I agree that the imprint doesn't look right. I have never had a gun that made a firing pin imprint like this one.

It's all fine. Primer swipe is normal for striker fired pistols...Glocks, Kahrs, etc.

[Chippawa]

I just got a call back from Kahr service and they told me that this primer imprint or impression is normal for their gun. Nothing to be concerned about. Apparently this occurs as the casing is being ejected.
Thanks Kahr.

[OldGuyinTN]

Roger That

With a hammer/pin gun, the tip of the firing pin rebounds before the casing is ejected. With the striker, the tip of the pin is still forward of the breech face as the casing leaves the gun. It drags a little on the primer. As long as the original strike mark is near center, you're OK.

[Wayne's World]

Man, you guys are good. I love reading the threads on little probs and how they are solved. You guys bring up things I never thought about and make me a more conscious shooter at the range. Thank you.

[tv_racin_fan]

I noticed this with mine as well, read somewhere that it was a normal thing and more or less forgot about it. Now I don't know exactly how much ammo we have run thru our Kahrs but we have noticed no unusual wear on the firing pin as a result of this phenomenon.

[gunmut]

Here is a picture of what I see on quite a few of my primers.

That is normal per the Kahr manual.

[WMD]

With a hammer/pin gun, the tip of the firing pin rebounds before the casing is ejected. With the striker, the tip of the pin is still forward of the breech face as the casing leaves the gun. It drags a little on the primer. As long as the original strike mark is near center, you're OK.

Hey OldGuyinTN,

Methinks you are right on the money! I believe this occurs because there is no return spring returning the firing pin back into the slide. Hence it sticks out a bit as the case is ejected. Voila!! you get a tear shaped drag mark in the primer.

I could be wrong but I am thinking that is it!

Just my 2 cents.

[DustyJacket]

The firing pin does not retract until the slide finishes it backward movement and goes forward. When the slide goes forward the FP eventually moves to the rear and the firing pin safety engages.

Hense, the firing pin is still "in" the initial dent in the primer when the case is ejected. There is your comma.

You may want to lube the FP and the FP safety.

EDIT: I just saw the post above mine. Two ways of saying the same thing.

[ltxi]

Do not lube the striker.