Help me diagnose and fix my EDC

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Elkins45

Elkins45

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My Kahr P9 haas been my IWB carry gun for at least 15 years now, and it's always been reliable...until the last two times I've shot it. I attributed the first couple of malfunctions to dust bunnies/grease/cold weather and even started a thread about how often you clean your EDC.

Well, cleaning wash't the problem. I gave it a thorough cleaning and lubrication, then took it out today and shot 50 rounds of American Eagle 115 FMJ with no problems. Unfortunately as soon as I switched to Speed Gold Dot 124 +P it started doing this:

jam kahr - 1.jpg

The extractor seems good. Maybe the issue is a weak recoil spring, since it worked with the standard pressure ammo? I did notice while shooting both that ejection was inconsistent and occasionally a case would fly over the gun to the left. The extractor looks fine, and generally a fixed extractor doesn't go bad IME.

Ideas are welcomed. I've already ordered a new recoil spring but in the meantime I will be carrying another gun.
 
I don’t own a Kahr, but if mememory serves me correctly I think their manuals recommended changing recoil springs after a certain number of rounds. Some guns don’t like certain ammos but if it worked in the past it is probably spring related.
 
Replace all springs, recoil spring for sure, but also the striker spring since it does have some affect on slide velocity since the slide moving to the rear also resets the striker. As mentioned the extractor spring could be suspect. While you have it all apart you can clean it in detail. I would also make sure the ejector is not bent or damaged.

Replace magazine springs and followers, then number your mags. If you only have malfunctions when using one of them then it’s time to retire it if spring and follower replacement doesn’t solve the issue. Most feeding malfunctions are magazine related, and the easy fix is new high quality magazines.
 
Just curious, can you estimate how many rounds through the gun? Looks like a simple recoil spring. I would start with that and then ask you have you keep the magazine loaded? Simple to buy a new mag springs and try that next.
 
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I also vote for recoils spring.

15 years? I would definitely follow Coal Deagger’s advice and just replace all the springs.
 
It also looks like the ejector may not be kicking the ejected cartridge hard enough to clear the slide before the slide begins to chamber the next round.

However, it might be wise to send a picture to the manufacturer and see what they think. You may be suprised at the answer you get
 
Ok...I am a dummy..but how is this problem related to the recoil spring??? The fired case is NOT being firmly held by the extractor so that it will be kicked out sideways when the back of the case hits the ejector. It almost looks as though the extractor is being pulled OVER the rim on the way back and is not being pulled completely into the ejector. I vote for a weak ejector spring OR you need to undercut the ejector hook a little to get better purchase on the case..I have NO experience at all with your gun but this is my two cents worth..Good luck!
 
I agree with the folks who are saying replace the OEM springs...all of them.

You may contact Kahr and see if they are interested in sending you a new set...can’t hurt.
 
Richard Jay King said:
Ok...I am a dummy..but how is this problem related to the recoil spring??? The fired case is NOT being firmly held by the extractor so that it will be kicked out sideways when the back of the case hits the ejector. It almost looks as though the extractor is being pulled OVER the rim on the way back and is not being pulled completely into the ejector. I vote for a weak ejector spring OR you need to undercut the ejector hook a little to get better purchase on the case..I have NO experience at all with your gun but this is my two cents worth..Good luck!
Click to expand...
Possibly from the +P ammo slamming the slide back faster and harder that the empty didn't have time to clear?

Springs are cheap; replace them like changing the oil in your car. Yes, you can stretch it somewhat, but for best performance you change it regularly.
When was the last time you changed the recoil spring?
 
entropy said:
I'd replace the recoil, extractor, and striker springs while you are going over it. It's cheap insurance, especially as this is your EDC.
Click to expand...

Exactly....and for me, magazine springs as well. Quality new OEM or Wolff springs cannot hurt in any way, and if you plan to keep the gun, it just makes sense.
 
I would immediately replace your recoil spring to initiate troubleshooting. But as mentioned, it wouldn't hurt to replace the other springs as well. I can't recall specifically, but when I bought my CM9, it said to replace the recoil spring after X-number of rounds. I thought it was around 1500 or 2000. The smaller pistols are much harder on them.

ROCK6
 
Richard Jay King said:
Ok...I am a dummy..but how is this problem related to the recoil spring??? The fired case is NOT being firmly held by the extractor so that it will be kicked out sideways when the back of the case hits the ejector. It almost looks as though the extractor is being pulled OVER the rim on the way back and is not being pulled completely into the ejector. I vote for a weak ejector spring OR you need to undercut the ejector hook a little to get better purchase on the case..I have NO experience at all with your gun but this is my two cents worth..Good luck!
Click to expand...
You're no dummy, but a weak recoil spring means higher slide speeds. Higher slide speeds means more stress on the extractor. More stress on the extractor will expose a weak extractor spring.

In an AR, this malfunction means it has a weak extractor spring. I don't see why it would e different for a self loading pistol. There may be other issues as well.
 
The magazine springs are relatively new. I replaced them due to some rusting that resulted from a soggy multi-day excursion where everything I was carrying stayed wet for days. The recoil spring has at least 1000 rounds and five years. I have a new one on the way.

I’m going to go ahead and do all the springs but Midway didn’t have the extractor spring in stock. I’ll have to get one from Kahr.
 
Elkins45 said:
shot 50 rounds of American Eagle 115 FMJ with no problems. Unfortunately as soon as I switched to Speed Gold Dot 124 +P it started doing this
Click to expand...
So if gun worked fine with factory ammo, why aren't you looking into the offending ammo that gave you extraction problem?

I would be suspicious of offending ammo and try another factory ammo (FMJ and JHP) and see if problem is replicated. If no, it's not the gun but the ammo.

If the problem is replicated with different factory ammo, then I would be suspicious of the gun.
 
I would think the +p ammo would do the same as weak recoil spring. Both would increase slide speed. I would change recoil spring.
 
bds said:
So if gun worked fine with factory ammo, why aren't you looking into the offending ammo that gave you extraction problem?

I would be suspicious of offending ammo and try another factory ammo (FMJ and JHP) and see if problem is replicated. If no, it's not the gun but the ammo.

If the problem is replicated with different factory ammo, then I would be suspicious of the gun.
Click to expand...

If was all factory ammo, just a different variety. FMJ vs hollow point +P defensive ammo. You would normally expect to see feeding problems if the bullet was the culprit.
 
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