stangbangr
New member
My first handgun was a Kahr CW40. I wasted 700 rounds trying to break it in. At least one FTFeed in every mag. Sent it back once, still did it so I sold it. It was a shame as it had a good trigger and concealed so nice.
I bought a Kahr, was it a mistake?
- Thread starter GunLuvr01
- Start date
Roland Thunder
New member
Kahrs seem to have more problems with some calibers than others. 9mm Kahrs seem to report less problems than 40's or 45's
Independent George
New member
There seems to be no middle ground with Kahrs. Between the trigger (which is a thing of beauty), the accuracy, and the best-in-class size/ergonomics, it's a truly outstanding gun... if it works. If it doesn't, it's an expensive paperweight that (rightfully) draws the ire of everyone who wasted their time and money on it.
Most people have great experiences with their Kahrs, but there are just enough credible reports from people with bad experiences that I can't discount it as the typical internet hate. I bought a used PM9 which has run flawlessly through about 400 rounds of mostly Freedom Munitions reloads, but also a dozen rounds each of Critical Defense, Golden Sabers, HST 124 gr, and HST 147 gr. I love it - it was a tough choice between it and the Sig 290, but I think I bought the right gun.
I don't know what to make of it. At the price they charge, particularly for the P-series, they should be close to flawless out of the box. And they are... usually.
Most people have great experiences with their Kahrs, but there are just enough credible reports from people with bad experiences that I can't discount it as the typical internet hate. I bought a used PM9 which has run flawlessly through about 400 rounds of mostly Freedom Munitions reloads, but also a dozen rounds each of Critical Defense, Golden Sabers, HST 124 gr, and HST 147 gr. I love it - it was a tough choice between it and the Sig 290, but I think I bought the right gun.
I don't know what to make of it. At the price they charge, particularly for the P-series, they should be close to flawless out of the box. And they are... usually.
My friend and I bought a PM9 each when they first came out. We each took a week off and ran 500 rounds through them. Mine had one failure a stove pipe in the first 100 rounds his had several. By the time we hit 500 they both ran fine. At the time there was some concern in the gun circles of its reliability. Ours needed some break in I carry mine still. I don't advise shooting 500 rounds of high performance ammo in 5 days though.
Why should a producer of a $500 firearm suggest you fire 500 rounds through it so the pistol will work....maybe. That is an additional $ 150 (ten boxes at $15 box) added to the price of the firearm not counting the frustration of dealing with the malfunctions. There are better products available for the money. I understand many pistols will not need 500 rounds but that is a factory quote for an ailing and twice repaired pistol.
I'm 50/50 with Kahrs. My first, a CW40 was unreliable even after three trips back to the factory. The positives (trigger, fit to my hand, compactness) were so appealing that I gave it another try and bought a K40. Success! The K40 has been 100% reliable. I still wish the CW40 had worked out as it was a delight to carry.
Kahr does not recommend a 500 round break in period. The number is 200.
All mechanical things including guns need some break in - some need more, some less. Some function fine from the getgo, some never do.
A $500 gun is not a "high end" firearm. It can be a very good one though, and most seem to be.
All mechanical things including guns need some break in - some need more, some less. Some function fine from the getgo, some never do.
A $500 gun is not a "high end" firearm. It can be a very good one though, and most seem to be.
Roland Thunder
New member
People seem to have little trouble with the PM9/CM9
The problems with Kahrs, when they occur, tend to be quite minor....and can be fixed with a tiny bit of tweaking. Many people find the concept of "tweaking" a pistol objectionable, let alone the concept of a break-in period. I have never approached things this way, especially regarding a $400 gun. If the Kahrs ran $1000, then I would be much more picky myself. But, they are reasonably priced - so I give a bit of latitude.
Whether one is tolerant of minor issues (and required break-in) or not, is a individual thing. Neither side is "wrong". It is just a matter of personal preference.
With the CM9, with which I am intimately familiar, the issues virtually always center around only two things: 1) smooth feeding from the magazine, especially from a FULL magazine....and 2) magazine followers. Both of these items can be addressed EASILY, provided one understands the causative issues behind the problems....and has a modicum of mechanical aptitude. It seems that many do NOT.
If one has no mechanical aptitude, doesn't understand the ins and outs of these kinds of problems with such a small pistol.... and expects perfection right out of the box, then perhaps the Kahr pistols are not for you. Doesn't mean anyone is wrong or bad for being that way - not at all. Just "different strokes", as they say.
As others have probably already said, the smaller the pistol, the greater the likelihood of feeding issues. Really small 45 ACP pistols are a classic case of this. Not much linear distance available to feed those fat, squat 45's....vs. a full size pistol, such as a 5" 1911. 9mm's tend to not be so bad, as the round is pretty small anyway.
For myself, I have never found the Kahr "problems" daunting. When I got my first CM9 (bought new), I simply made a study of the way it worked and the possible issues. I did, in fact have mag feed issues, especially from a full magazine. It literally took me 20 minutes to figure out what to do about it. After that and with a suitable amount of break-in - NO problems. Now that I have a second CM9 (I sold the first one but always regretted it - so I finally got another)....I have experienced the same minor mag issue, even though this CM9 is used (and partially broken in). I applied the same "fixes" (all of about 10 minutes work). Now, the gun runs perfectly - I have put more than 500 rounds through it, with ZERO problems.
My advice to the new Kahr owner is always the same. Forget the hype and the blathering of those who've never had one and talk to someone who has experience with them. Then, follow the suggested protocols and 99 % of the time, you'll have no problems.
Whether one is tolerant of minor issues (and required break-in) or not, is a individual thing. Neither side is "wrong". It is just a matter of personal preference.
With the CM9, with which I am intimately familiar, the issues virtually always center around only two things: 1) smooth feeding from the magazine, especially from a FULL magazine....and 2) magazine followers. Both of these items can be addressed EASILY, provided one understands the causative issues behind the problems....and has a modicum of mechanical aptitude. It seems that many do NOT.
If one has no mechanical aptitude, doesn't understand the ins and outs of these kinds of problems with such a small pistol.... and expects perfection right out of the box, then perhaps the Kahr pistols are not for you. Doesn't mean anyone is wrong or bad for being that way - not at all. Just "different strokes", as they say.
As others have probably already said, the smaller the pistol, the greater the likelihood of feeding issues. Really small 45 ACP pistols are a classic case of this. Not much linear distance available to feed those fat, squat 45's....vs. a full size pistol, such as a 5" 1911. 9mm's tend to not be so bad, as the round is pretty small anyway.
For myself, I have never found the Kahr "problems" daunting. When I got my first CM9 (bought new), I simply made a study of the way it worked and the possible issues. I did, in fact have mag feed issues, especially from a full magazine. It literally took me 20 minutes to figure out what to do about it. After that and with a suitable amount of break-in - NO problems. Now that I have a second CM9 (I sold the first one but always regretted it - so I finally got another)....I have experienced the same minor mag issue, even though this CM9 is used (and partially broken in). I applied the same "fixes" (all of about 10 minutes work). Now, the gun runs perfectly - I have put more than 500 rounds through it, with ZERO problems.
My advice to the new Kahr owner is always the same. Forget the hype and the blathering of those who've never had one and talk to someone who has experience with them. Then, follow the suggested protocols and 99 % of the time, you'll have no problems.
Independent George
New member
I have to disagree to an extent. I've got no problems with a break-in period - any mechanical device, particularly one with tight tolerances, will benefit from a break-in
But something like mag feed issues, especially if they're consistent, shouldn't happen. The fact that it's easy to fix actually makes it worse, because it means it's just as easily diagnosed and fixed by the manufacturer. If it's that endemic to the gun or the mag, then it just shouldn't leave the factory in that condition, even with at $300 gun (let alone the $600-$700 P-series).
Like I said, I've had no problems with my PM9, and love the gun, but I totally understand why people would be angry about the problems I've seen reported.
Army, i was refering to the Kahr service center who on the return of the pistol a second time gave the 500 round figure. I guess i am old fashioned in thinking the weapon should work out of the box, not knocking Kahr all weapons should work without a necessary round count to make them perform.
I don't disagree with anyone that they SHOULD work perfectly, right out of the box. Of course ! But, there's how it should be....and there's how it IS.
I choose to focus on how it is - and move on.
I can only speak for myself. For myself, knowing the limitations and potential problems of such a small pistol design....and being aware (through personal experience) of the positive aspects of the Kahrs....I choose to let minor issues, which I can easily correct myself, not be overwhelming.
However anyone else chooses to handle the same issues is entirely his/ her business.
I choose to focus on how it is - and move on.
I can only speak for myself. For myself, knowing the limitations and potential problems of such a small pistol design....and being aware (through personal experience) of the positive aspects of the Kahrs....I choose to let minor issues, which I can easily correct myself, not be overwhelming.
However anyone else chooses to handle the same issues is entirely his/ her business.