Apr 11, 2012 Pay no attention to those little alignment marks on the slide and frame. As you slowly pull the slide back with your right hand watch that little half-moon cut out in the slide, when you see the silver of the slide pin inside line up with the half-moon push on that pin from the other side.
Wondering if anyone else has a similar problem. I have a Kahr PM9 that's less than a year old. Since day one, if you load the magazine to it's max and rack the slide, the 1st round jams in the magazine and never feeds into the chamber, essentially keeping the slide open and a round stuck.According to their manual, Kahr insists that you're supposed to chamber the 1st round by locking the slide back, insert the magazine and then release the slide lock. When following their instruction, my problem happens 50% of the time, when I chamber the 1st round like all my other guns, it's 90% of the time.
Problem with hollow points is worse. Removing the 1st round (-1 in the magazine) the problem generally goes away).Any ideas? I contacted Kahr and they sent me a new slide spring and lectured me on the type of ammo I was using, insisting the ammo must be 'US made' which all my ammo is (mostly Winchester White box stuff from Walmart and high-performance personal protection rounds that I typically don't shoot). I have a Kimber and a Sig and have never seen a problem like this. No improvement with the new slide spring BTW.Thanks in advance for any advice.
I could never trust a handgun to defend hearth, home and family that had an American-only ammo stipulation or required that the slide had to be locked back and released home to chamber the first round.I truly am not trying to start an argument here. I am trying to understand. Perhaps, this the trade off for such a good feeling, thin pistol. They look great, feel good and I have always like the triggers.I say send it back to Kahr with a detailed letter telling them what is happening and what you expect and let them 'work it over'. What does the jam look like?
What does the round look like in the mag. I have noticed that sometimes the first round, last round loaded, has a tendency to stick up a bit. This might be your issue which is causing the round to hit the ramp at an odd angle.Using the slide lock it recommended because of the size of the pistol. Too often people ride the slide when racking by hand and Kahrs light weight and small slide with little mass does not always slam home.
Using the slide release I have never had a feeding issue. It is a drawback to Kahrs but one I can live with. Quote:I could never trust a handgun to defend hearth, home and family that had an American-only ammo stipulation or required that the slide had to be locked back and released home to chamber the first round.The ammo stipulation wouldn't effect me ever as all my defensive ammo is American made.The fisrt round chamber issue is yet another 'who cares' point. So you have to load from slide lock.big deal. If you shoot your gun empty your slide is locked already.so no issue. If you perform a tactical reload you don't have to chamber a round so its not an issue.
It only becomes an issue if you carry chamber empty.My PM9 has been 100 percent reliable so far. Thanks for responses. Few more details:1. I am using the two original factor magazines that came with the PM9.2. One of them does have the pinky extension, but my problem occurs with the other factory extended magazine and it happened before I put on the pinky extension3. It does seem that the jammed round is not 'pointing up' properly when feeding.
The round never leaves the magazine. Strange how it happens on both magazines so I'm hesitant to blame it on the magazine, unless I have two crap magazines.As for the Kahr debate, I love the pistol. It's very small, relatively comfortable to shoot considering it's size and other than this issue, I've had no problems. Put over 700 rounds through it so far and it's a fine shooter and super comfortable to carry IWB. On the other hand, it's an expensive pistol and considering the cost and other options out there, I feel I may have made the wrong choice, especially in the face of quite a few new entries such as the Kimber Solo and the Sig 290.I'll check to see how others have fixed it and get in touch with Kahr again, maybe they'll be willing to take the gun in and 'work it over' as someone said.
I'll report in on my experience with their customer service.Thanks again! Quote:I guess I am closed minded. It is a big deal to me if I pay $500.00 to $700.00 and I am not allowed to chamber the first round in any other manner than releasing a retracted slide on that first round. All right, I have said enough. Peace out.No not close minded just a personal choice. I have chosen to deal with this issue since it doesn't effect me and I love the size vs power.
![Pm9 slide sticks for women Pm9 slide sticks for women](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125391867/707136066.jpeg)
Accuracy is excellent and so far reliability has been perfect.Money isn't a concern as it relates to a firearms limitations for me. If I can afford it and it offers me and advantage (in this case its a small powerful package that shoots straight) and I can live with the limitations then its mine.For you the limitation is to much to bear. +20 on Threegun's post.
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Kahr makes an excellent pocket 9 in the PM series. By the R9 with a higher sticker price.You are experiencing a failure to feed because you blatantly had a failure to read the instruction manual first.Plus once you break the gun in, mine was flawless since day one.
But they loosen up nice, and then you ARE able to feed from racking the slide.However as Threegun said. Its really a non issue UNLESS your too afraid to carry with a round in the chamber. In which case this is not the firearms fault. Or as I'd like to say. Condition worthless. Is an unsafe practice in my eyes. And just shows that basically someone is not experienced enough with a firearm to feel safe with a DAO with a live round.Personally if you dont have the experience to carry this way.
I really do think its a lack of training, and a lack of understanding. In which case I would recomend your not ready to carry a firearm. In a life and death situation where you are LEGALLY going to defend yourself using a firearm. The person in already attacking.
Do you REALLY think you will have time to draw. Rack a round into the chamber. SAFELY, and then be able to defend your life. Real life isn't a movie. Being that your a law abiding citizen. Your only going to be reaching for that firearm.
After something has happened. So your already late in nature.As for the American Machoism as I like to call it. I don't really care where a gun was made. It is pretty well debated that guns are usually made better in Europe anyways. And Americans went from being producers to consumers long ago.
I bet the TV in your house isn't made in America. Or the electronic devise your using to type on this forum isn't made in America either. I'd say a 50/50 chance your car is made in America. Keep in mind a lot of American car companies are producing certain models over seas!Last edited by HKFan9; March 15, 2011 at 08:47 AM.
In regards to Will Beararms being against any gun that you have to lock the slide back and use the slide release to chamber first round. If you take the time to read through most any firearms manual, they will either recommend this method or starting with the slide closed to slingshot the slide (for guns were it is an actual 'slide stop' not a 'slide release'). This is in there because with almost any ammo there is a chance that your first round won't feed where people baby the slide back forward to chamber the first round vs letting the recoil spring hammer it home.To the OP, if it hasn't been mentioned - I would disassembled your mags, check to make sure your springs look ok & clean your mags while you are at it.
You might also want to inspect the top of the chamber of the barrel to see if there are any burrs or rough spots that the round could be catching on.To be honest, I am surprised kahr sent you a new recoil spring vs new mags. If the issue is ONLY happening on the first round, and only when the mag is completely full - that would indicate a mag issue, correct? I suppose it's possible if the spring is too weak, the first round in the mag having a little more tension on it, this could cause the problem.Anyways, keep us up to date. Quote:As for the Kahr debate, I love the pistol. It's very small, relatively comfortable to shoot considering it's size and other than this issue, I've had no problems. Put over 700 rounds through it so far and it's a fine shooter and super comfortable to carry IWB.
On the other hand, it's an expensive pistol and considering the cost and other options out there, I feel I may have made the wrong choice, especially in the face of quite a few new entries such as the Kimber Solo and the Sig 290.Its a wonderful firearm. If you love it send it in for service. You seem to have a half lemon LOL. Most folks including myself are reporting great reliability. So yours is probably an anomaly. The Kimber SOLO is nice. We got one in our shop.
It was sold 3 hours after it was put in the case.HOWEVER! Two days later it came back to us with reports of FTF, FTE, mags falling out of the gun.So I PERSONALLY packed it up. And sent it to Kimber.
Still waiting to see how Kimber takes care of it.Now don't get me wrong, I like Kimber, I did like the SOLO, but I would be warry right now since it is a new production. I can personally say however the SOLO is larger and heavier than the Kahr PM-9, and cost about the same. How many rounds have you put through your PM9?
Mine has had no issues since I purchased it, but Kahr has a recommended break in period. The pistol has some tight tolerances. Work with Kahr until you get it right. It's still one of the best subcompact 9s on the market. As for personal defense ammo mine seems to like 124 grain Golden Saber. I've run Blazer Brass and WWB through it at the range without issues.
It does like to be well lubricated. When I'm carrying it I take it down, clean and lube it every few weeks even if it hasn't been fired. Does the problem occur with the extended mag, the flush mag, or both? I have heard of some owners having issues with the extended mags yet mine has functioned fine and I like having all my fingers gripping the gun when firing. I always carry with one in the chamber. The little pistol is not the easiest to 'slingshot' a round into IMHO.Last edited by NWCP; March 15, 2011 at 08:58 PM.
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