Took the CM9 out today to break it in. Now i know there are a lot of reported issues within the 200 round break in period that Kahr advises.

 

I had a FTE with EACH AND EVERY shot. Out of the box the slide was extremely hard to rack. After about 10 rounds it seemed to get a little smoother but eventually seemed to get harder then when i first pulled it out of the box. After 50 frustrating rounds (my plan was to go out and put AT LEAST 200 rounds down range), i thought there was something wrong. I look down and see THIS

the recoil spring is literally popping out. So i tried to break down the gun to see if i could figure out what the issue is, and i couldnt even field strip it, its stuck like THIS

 

Im going to call Kahr tomorrow to see if i can ship it back to them...

 

Anyone else seen anything like this before? Makes me wish i got the PPS...

Wow. Looks like I'll stay away from them!

The Kahr is a great gun, your problems notwithstanding. I hope they make it right. I know this sounds dumb, but did you make sure that your magazine is out of the gun. Glocks would get hung up on takedown exactly like that if you left the mag in.

Also, you probably can't rack the slide because the rod is hitting the spring in the picture. Can you use a screwdriver to hold down the end of the spring so that the recoil rod can slide past it?

Kahr claims the CM9 is basically the same gun as the PM9, different barrel, some different minor parts. All the reading I have done at Kahrtalk seems to tell a different story though. The CM9 seems to have alot more problems. I had narrowed my choice down to the CM9, PPS, and the PM9. I went with the PM9 because of the size difference with the PPS and I wanted all black as opposed to the two tone CM9. I'm sure Kahr will make it right though. They do have a good rep for customer service.

 

Where is your slide release?

This is a brand new gun? Have you dropped it numerous times? B/c that plastic is chewed to crap! Both at the muzzle end and at the back of the slide area.

The Kahr is a great gun, your problems notwithstanding. I hope they make it right. I know this sounds dumb, but did you make sure that your magazine is out of the gun. Glocks would get hung up on takedown exactly like that if you left the mag in.

Also, you probably can't rack the slide because the rod is hitting the spring in the picture. Can you use a screwdriver to hold down the end of the spring so that the recoil rod can slide past it?

I figured thats why i couldnt rack it, but didnt want to do any more dmg by trying to use a screwdriver to it. Maybe ill give that a shot when i get home..

 

 

Kahr claims the CM9 is basically the same gun as the PM9, different barrel, some different minor parts. All the reading I have done at Kahrtalk seems to tell a different story though. The CM9 seems to have alot more problems. I had narrowed my choice down to the CM9, PPS, and the PM9. I went with the PM9 because of the size difference with the PPS and I wanted all black as opposed to the two tone CM9. I'm sure Kahr will make it right though. They do have a good rep for customer service.

 

Where is your slide release?

to field strip it, you have to push out the slide release. i was in the process of stripping it, to check on that spring, and now its stuck exactly how it shows in the picture.. cant rack the slide back and its slightly forward but wont go the rest of the way...

 

 

 

This is a brand new gun? Have you dropped it numerous times? B/c that plastic is chewed to crap! Both at the muzzle end and at the back of the slide area.

BRAND new gun, picture was taken post 50 rounds of dirty speer FMJ.

wow I am looking into getting this gun. I was picking it over the p290 from kahr so your input will prove to be very useful too me

 

to field strip it, you have to push out the slide release. i was in the process of stripping it, to check on that spring, and now its stuck exactly how it shows in the picture.. cant rack the slide back and its slightly forward but wont go the rest of the way...

 

 

I realized that after I asked. I don't know if I would take a screwdriver to it. Don't want to do anything to void the warranty. Get on the phone with Kahr.

I realized that after I asked. I don't know if I would take a screwdriver to it. Don't want to do anything to void the warranty. Get on the phone with Kahr.

 

 

How are they going to know you used a screw driver?? All you need to do is push the slid forward a little if you can, push down on the spring a little to clear the guide rod so you can field strip the gun, should not do any damage unless you handle it like a gorilla.

 

Also I have to double check, I know there are a few makes and models that the guide rod spring is larger on one end then the other and not sure if your is like that but if it is. Is there any chance that when you field striped it, did your initial checks and cleaning prior to shooting it was put back together wrong?

 

Harry

How are they going to know you used a screw driver?? All you need to do is push the slid forward a little if you can, push down on the spring a little to clear the guide rod so you can field strip the gun, should not do any damage unless you handle it like a gorilla.

 

Also I have to double check, I know there are a few makes and models that the guide rod spring is larger on one end then the other and not sure if your is like that but if it is. Is there any chance that when you field striped it, did your initial checks and cleaning prior to shooting it was put back together wrong?

 

Harry

 

Good point. And, the spring is larger on one end.

How are they going to know you used a screw driver?? All you need to do is push the slid forward a little if you can, push down on the spring a little to clear the guide rod so you can field strip the gun, should not do any damage unless you handle it like a gorilla.

 

Also I have to double check, I know there are a few makes and models that the guide rod spring is larger on one end then the other and not sure if your is like that but if it is. Is there any chance that when you field striped it, did your initial checks and cleaning prior to shooting it was put back together wrong?

 

Harry

 

one end is open, the other isnt. the open end is supposed to go that direction. I followed them to a T.

Spoke to Kahr. They will take it back to take a look at it. He asked me if i am allowed to ship it directly back to them or if i have to use an FFL.. I said, Ummmm, im not sure, ill have to call back i guess.

 

so whats the word? we allowed to ship pistols back or only long guns?

You can ship any firearm as long as it goes overnight.

 

$$$$$$$$$

Spoke to Kahr. They will take it back to take a look at it. He asked me if i am allowed to ship it directly back to them or if i have to use an FFL.. I said, Ummmm, im not sure, ill have to call back i guess.

 

so whats the word? we allowed to ship pistols back or only long guns?

 

Before you ship it, is the gun still loaded, I don't mean a mag in the gun, I'm taking about an unfired round in the chamber.

 

Harry

Spoke to Kahr. They will take it back to take a look at it. He asked me if i am allowed to ship it directly back to them or if i have to use an FFL.. I said, Ummmm, im not sure, ill have to call back i guess.

 

so whats the word? we allowed to ship pistols back or only long guns?

 

You should be able to send it back directly. Here's another topic asking the same general question.

 

Kel-Tec warranty return question

You can ship any firearm as long as it goes overnight.

 

$$$$$$$$$

 

thanks

 

Before you ship it, is the gun still loaded, I don't mean a mag in the gun, I'm taking about an unfired round in the chamber.

 

Harry

 

unloaded, checked and re-checked

 

 

You should be able to send it back directly. Here's another topic asking the same general question.

 

Kel-Tec warranty return question

 

 

thanks Mike!

I purchased a CM9 through Paul a couple months back and have had 500 trouble free rounds though it. No one single issue. Using various brass cased 9mm ammo from 115gr-124gr.

 

 

Is it possible that you disassembled the gun and then reassembled it incorrectly?

 

 

 

I'm sorry yours isn't working for you.

one end is open, the other isnt. the open end is supposed to go that direction. I followed them to a T.

 

The recoil spring if one end was closed would have to be permanently installed on the guide rod and I just can't picture that. For the spring to go over the guide-rod it would have to be open on both ends, right??

 

Ok, now there is a difference on one end of the spring, on end is flanged, take a look at this video and it's 2:50 into it when it mentions this.

 

 

By the way, I like the web site, I like the breakdown of the gun into sections and then the list of the parts in each section, would be nice if some of the other manufactures would do this.

 

Harry

The recoil spring if one end was closed would have to be permanently installed on the guide rod and I just can't picture that. For the spring to go over the guide-rod it would have to be open on both ends, right??

 

Ok, now there is a difference on one end of the spring, on end is flanged, take a look at this video and it's 2:50 into it when it mentions this.

 

 

By the way, I like the web site, I like the breakdown of the gun into sections and then the list of the parts in each section, would be nice if some of the other manufactures would do this.

 

Harry

 

 

Used a key this morning to push the spring out of the way and was able to fully field strip the pistol. It does seem like the spring is perm attached to the rod or pretty damn tight on it, so much that i cannot pull it off. Therefore i was able to confirm that i reassembled it correctly as there is no other way to do it as far as putting the spring on backwards..

 

SO after reassembly again, i notice that when the spring isnt popping out, the guide rod is actually rubbing on the slide in the same spot.

 

When i get home tonight, im going to look at it more, then call Kahr back so i can send this thing out..

Used a key this morning to push the spring out of the way and was able to fully field strip the pistol. It does seem like the spring is perm attached to the rod or pretty damn tight on it, so much that i cannot pull it off. Therefore i was able to confirm that i reassembled it correctly as there is no other way to do it as far as putting the spring on backwards..

 

SO after reassembly again, i notice that when the spring isnt popping out, the guide rod is actually rubbing on the slide in the same spot.

 

When i get home tonight, im going to look at it more, then call Kahr back so i can send this thing out..

 

 

Cool, let us know what you find out, would be really nice if there was just an issue with the guide rod and spring assembly and they could just send you a new one and forget the whole shipping the gun back and forth.

 

Harry

yeah im hoping the same. would really suck to have to ship this damn thing out..

Hi. I was looking for other shooter's impressions of the Kahr CM9 and I landed on this forum. I joined mostly to tell my story about this gun which has frustrated me to no end. When I took it home, I wanted to like it because it was so small and light and great to shoot (when it fired) but it just kept giving me reasons to hate it. I won't list all the problems here. I had no idea it was an unfinished copy of a more expensive model, somehow, unfinished, unpolished, etc. I would have spent more for the better model had I known. As a dentist who polishes metals all day, the roughness of the slide's indentations made me crazy. I guess I was used to my well polished Sigs and Glock, so when my palms ended up blistered from racking the CM9 slide, I just took it into the dental office and polished it. Then I noticed the problems taking it apart and it was obvious that the plastic was unfinished and chopped up. The slide was so hard to move at first that it must have looked like a comedy, with me in all kinds of contortions on the floor. Then the muzzle grabbed the skin of my palm and refused to let it go, leaving me with a giant wound on my palm. Shooting the gun was all right but there were lots of jams. I know I replaced the slide with the spring in the right place but the slide kept doing bizarre things, staying open when it should be closed and closed when it should be open. I never felt I could trust it with my life. I knew I had voided that warranty anyway and while cleaning it, I just got so irritated trying to remove the slide that I ended up bashing it on a vice in my basement. I fantasized about whacking it with a hammer but restrained myself. (Yes, I did follow directions carefully but I feel sure that problem was the unfinished plastic since sandpaper later helped that problem.) I never felt this animosity about a gun!

 

At one point I noticed that the plastic holding the slide rails had actually bowed out towards the front of the gun. The metal slide guides worked fine but, really, distorted plastic in a new gun? There were also little spurs on the plastic surface that needed to be smoothed.

 

Anyway, here is my feeling about this gun: It was/is sold unfinished. Kahr wants the buyer to finish the gun with those first few hundred frustrating rounds and the first difficult take downs. This is like putting a cast crown in a patient's mouth and telling him or her to go home and chew a few hundred times until they grind in the bite! The manufacturer risks it's reputation by selling a product that is just poor quality. Yes, it is priced a couple hundred dollars lower than the PM9 but where is this manufacturer's pride? Yes, they offer a 'package' that includes some finishing for a couple hundred extra. The saddest thing is that the the design is great and it could have been executed well. But this gun will probably just sit in my gun safe for eternity because I can't trust it, have no pride of ownership in it and wouldn't sell it to my worst enemy. I have read great reviews, and it seems many shooters like this model. But it's hard to imagine that my experience was that unique.

I really am torn now. I am about to purchase this gun. I have read nothing but positive reviews until this thread. I am a little skeptical now.

Dakini, Thanks for your input. As far as take down from what i have noticed, holding the trigger in then slowly releasing as you move the slide forward should release it free with no issues. I was having that problem at 1st myself. Yes there are many "unfinished" or less then desirable finishes on many of the surfaces.. It does seem however that MANY people LOVE the gun and have no issues at all WHAT-SO-EVER. Im going to see how this works out when i get it back from the factory. I have my fingers crossed as this was my "planned" CCW when I am out of state with my Florida CCW. Welcome to the forum BTW!

 

And FYI, the Walther PPS is a wonderful pistol going by the 2 different times i have fired one at the range and may have to pony up seven bills for it if the Kahr doesnt work out..

 

I also added a mini hogue grip and love the way it feels in my had, too bad it doesnt perform so well

 

I am now also worried that since the Kahr rep said this is a "major issue" (obviously) they will replace the pistol all together, new serial number and all and ill have to get another PP JUST TO GET MY DAMN PISTOL BACK. That will be a nightmare!!!

I just ordered mine today. Will have it Tuesday. This will be my summer off duty carry as well as my on duty backup. So you had better believe I will believe I will thoroughly put it through its paces when I get it.

let me know how it works out! where do you shoot?

I sometimes shoot in bayonne. It has been really crowded lately. I will shoot anywhere close if it isn't busy

I am now also worried that since the Kahr rep said this is a "major issue" (obviously) they will replace the pistol all together, new serial number and all and ill have to get another PP JUST TO GET MY DAMN PISTOL BACK. That will be a nightmare!!!

 

Don't wait. Put in for three permits Monday. There is no reason not to always have several on hand.

I just got 3 permits as well. I was glad it only took me a week to get them.

Don't wait. Put in for three permits Monday. There is no reason not to always have several on hand.

 

i guess you are right, but neptune makes it hard, they are only there 2 days a week between like 8 an 11am, so ill have to take off of work just for the permits. Not to mention i just got a permit and change of address done 3 months ago, hopefully when i come back so soon they dont look at me sideways wondering whats going on...