Gunfighter

Tac · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Arizona

Any of you distingished gents have any experience with the Kahr line of pistols?

I picked up a Kahr CW .45 pistol today, mostly because I like the size and the weight. The store I purchased it at has an indoor range, and guns for rent, but no Karh's in inventory, so I could not shoot one before I laid down the plastic. Once I got done with the forms and the cashier, I went to the range and put about 100 rounds through it. I can say that it is accurate and shoots well for it's size, but it's reliability leaves me with questions.

About every 2nd or 3rd round (using several magazines and two different makes of ammo), it would have a failure to go into battery malfunction where the slide would not completely close on a chambered round. It would bind up so tight that I could not complete a standard malfunction clearance drill on it, as I could not retract the slide. I was forced to strike the rear of the slide with the heel of my hand to get it into battery, and on a couple of occasions had to tap the slide on the bench to get it to close.
Once closed, it shot fine.... This happened about 20-25 times during the first 100 rounds.

I am aware that every gun is somewhat unique and will require a "break in period" and for most this equates to about 200-250 rounds before the gun can be considered "reliable". I am not ready to give up on this little shooter yet, and don't plan on getting overly concerned about it until I have passed the 250 round mark.

When I took the gun apart to clean and re-lube it, I could not find anything that stood out as a possible cause for this problem.

Anyone out there with simular experience or words of advise?

This is my first Karh pistol, and I have heard / read good things about them in the past.

Any help would be appreciated.
-Tac

Semper_Fi

Tac,
Experiment with different types of carry and practice ammunition to determine which feeds best. I experienced the same situation with a .45 a couple of years ago and Rico helped me find the best practice and carry ammunitions.

Rico - Your thoughts please...

Tac · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Arizona

Thanks.
I plan on shooting it with several different loads. It wasn't so much a feeding issue as it was a chambering issue. If I find this problem continuing, the only thing I can think of is it might have an overly tight chamber. (Had a "match grade" 1911 that did the same thing and it ended up needing a new barrel)

Anyone else out there got any suggestions?
-Tac

Tac · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Arizona

Well, heres an update on my Kahr CW45... I took it to the range and shoot about 100 rounds of various makes of ammo (Federal ball, Winchester ball, Winchester SXT, Ultra max reloaded ball) and did not experience one failure.... I cleaned an re-lubed the gun and shot my department qualification course with it using Winchester 230 grain SXT duty ammuntion (a 50 round course of fire) and shot a PERFECT score with it (Longest distance is the 25 yard line).

Guess it just needed to "break in"... Smile

I now pronounce it a "keeper" and "carry worthy".

-Tac

Semper_Fi

Excellent news. Great score and thank you for your service!