Kahr CW 9, any known problems
- Thread starter nathan
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MICHAEL T
Member
My front sight has come loose on mine . I bought used so no ides how many rounds were fired .From condition looked like almost new when I bought . I shot couple 100 rounds and front sight ready to fall off .
Only problem . Nice pistol other wise. Its in safe will fix sight some time.
Only problem . Nice pistol other wise. Its in safe will fix sight some time.
Double_J
Member
I had the same issue with the front sight on mine. I called the shop where I bought mine and they swapped out the sight free of charge. Kahn also is said to have a good customer service department so any problems will be dealt with quickly.
ImperatorGray
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The front sight is plastic, so it will get destroyed with regular use. Kahr sells a steel sight with tritium insert that's easy to install.
Stringfellow
Member
Solid pistol, comfortable to shoot considering its size. Mine has never had a FTF, jam, or hiccup of any kind.
You have got to like a long trigger pull though - it has a very different feel from let's say a Glock.
The only knock I have against it personally is that it is not a Walther PPS...but I am learning to get over that.
You have got to like a long trigger pull though - it has a very different feel from let's say a Glock.
The only knock I have against it personally is that it is not a Walther PPS...but I am learning to get over that.
Does the feed ramp wide enough to allow smooth feeding for wide hollow point ammo like the Gold Dot 124 gr JHP and HST s? Ok with +P rated ammo?
I read many have had complaint s like FTF and FT feed as the bullet nosedive especially magazine loaded to the maximum of seven rounds. I wonder if Kahr had fixed them .
The gun really feels great and smooth on the edges. The asking price , too, is very reasonable.
I read many have had complaint s like FTF and FT feed as the bullet nosedive especially magazine loaded to the maximum of seven rounds. I wonder if Kahr had fixed them .
The gun really feels great and smooth on the edges. The asking price , too, is very reasonable.
red rick
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My brother paid $388.00 for a brand new CW9 about a month ago from a LGS . I have a P9 , but at that price I almost bought a CW9 .
The only knocks I have with my P9 is the long trigger pull and I had the magazine drop a few times while firing . I have since replace the magazine catch ( release ) .
The only knocks I have with my P9 is the long trigger pull and I had the magazine drop a few times while firing . I have since replace the magazine catch ( release ) .
ImperatorGray
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I have had no problems feeding any type of ammo.
Timing is pretty important on small pistols, as the slide doesn't have as far to reciprocate. I've never had a nosedive in live fire, but it's easy enough to induce one by riding the slide forward during hand cycling. (For this reason, Kahr's literature strongly encourages folks to chamber only by locking the slide open and pressing down on the slide stop - they don't want anyone with bad racking form to blame hangups on the machine.)
The one-piece feedramp is so smooth, though, that even if you do purposefully induce a nosedive, a light rap to the back of the slide with the free hand immediately remedies the situation, chambering the stuck round.
Timing is pretty important on small pistols, as the slide doesn't have as far to reciprocate. I've never had a nosedive in live fire, but it's easy enough to induce one by riding the slide forward during hand cycling. (For this reason, Kahr's literature strongly encourages folks to chamber only by locking the slide open and pressing down on the slide stop - they don't want anyone with bad racking form to blame hangups on the machine.)
The one-piece feedramp is so smooth, though, that even if you do purposefully induce a nosedive, a light rap to the back of the slide with the free hand immediately remedies the situation, chambering the stuck round.
cpt-t
Member
nathan: My Wife and I think the CW-9 is the best choice for us and we have carried them for several years now. Neither of us have had any problems what so ever with them, and we shoot them quite often. We both like the long smooth trigger pull and find the CW-9 very eazy to shoot and very acurate, we both think this little gun fits our hands and points well . I put Crimson Traces Lazers on both of them, and we both really like the Lazer sight.
ken
ken
Float Pilot
Member
Bought one for my wife a couple years ago. Got a great price and it is what fit her hands. It now has about 600 rounds through it.
A couple things
I polished the recoil spring guide because it was rough.
Replace sights with steel.
Hers likes Hornady 115 grain critical defense loads with the rubber tip filling the hollow point. This load shoots much tighter groups and recoils less.
A couple things
I polished the recoil spring guide because it was rough.
Replace sights with steel.
Hers likes Hornady 115 grain critical defense loads with the rubber tip filling the hollow point. This load shoots much tighter groups and recoils less.
wally
Member
My front frame rail broke after some 5000+ rounds in ~2.5 years. Customer support is not there for me. It was great until it wasn't
I've moved to S&W Shield. With the amount of practice time and practice ammo costs I incur, I'll restrict my choices to companies that are ready, willing, and able to fix these kind of "shouldn't happen" breakages without weasel words about a warranty.
I've moved to S&W Shield. With the amount of practice time and practice ammo costs I incur, I'll restrict my choices to companies that are ready, willing, and able to fix these kind of "shouldn't happen" breakages without weasel words about a warranty.
silicosys4
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Known problems for the kahr polymer pistols include;
Miscut feed ramps that are too long, impacting and breaking magazine followers
Poor magazine design and construction
Abyssmal quality control resulting in a high level of returns and warranty claims
Slide stop spring poorly designed, making it very easy to reassemble incorrectly, and rendering it inoperable when assembled incorrectly and very difficult to disassemble again
Plastic on high wear and crucial parts such as the front sight and magazine catch
Magazine catch has tendency to fail
Unnecessarily tight chambers that lead to function issues
Terrible customer service
Mind you, these are just the most commonly reported problems...then you have issues like wally's too.
It's a crap shoot with those guns some people are happy with theirs. I had three polymer kahrs and each one was a lemon.
Miscut feed ramps that are too long, impacting and breaking magazine followers
Poor magazine design and construction
Abyssmal quality control resulting in a high level of returns and warranty claims
Slide stop spring poorly designed, making it very easy to reassemble incorrectly, and rendering it inoperable when assembled incorrectly and very difficult to disassemble again
Plastic on high wear and crucial parts such as the front sight and magazine catch
Magazine catch has tendency to fail
Unnecessarily tight chambers that lead to function issues
Terrible customer service
Mind you, these are just the most commonly reported problems...then you have issues like wally's too.
It's a crap shoot with those guns some people are happy with theirs. I had three polymer kahrs and each one was a lemon.
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orionengnr
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Funny, I've had four so far and have never encountered any of the so-called "common problems".
--One PM9 (owned since 2006 or so, carried daily and shot regularly)
--One P45 (owned since 2008 or so, carried occasionally and shot regularly)
--One PM45 (owned for a while and subsequently sold; a friend still owns and carries it daily, and I have told him that when/if he gets tired of it, I'll buy it back)
--One CW380 (owned for about a year)
Have some people had problems? Sure...just like any other manufacturer.
Are they all crap? Not hardly.
Methinks someone has an axe to grind.
--One PM9 (owned since 2006 or so, carried daily and shot regularly)
--One P45 (owned since 2008 or so, carried occasionally and shot regularly)
--One PM45 (owned for a while and subsequently sold; a friend still owns and carries it daily, and I have told him that when/if he gets tired of it, I'll buy it back)
--One CW380 (owned for about a year)
Have some people had problems? Sure...just like any other manufacturer.
Are they all crap? Not hardly.
Methinks someone has an axe to grind.
hardknocks!
Member
kahr
CW 9 800 rounds no problem.
K9 bought used no problem.
PM 9 bought used breaks follower so I shorten feed ramp now no problem. Never did jam with broken follower.
Lots of problems to read about with 380.
Not many reported problems with the K9 and it's my favorite kahr.
CW 9 800 rounds no problem.
K9 bought used no problem.
PM 9 bought used breaks follower so I shorten feed ramp now no problem. Never did jam with broken follower.
Lots of problems to read about with 380.
Not many reported problems with the K9 and it's my favorite kahr.
utbrowningman
Member
No problems with mine. I did had add a Hogue Hand-All Jr. grip sleeve. Hate the feel of polymer in my hands.
bdb benzino
Member
I have a CW9 that I have owned for several years. It has been flawless and is super accurate considering for the size. I have owned 2 CW45's that were also flawless in function, and i still own one. Kahr makes great pistols if you like the trigger pull, and to me it seems the 9mm's and the midsize models run especially well.
My CW9 has never jammed, but the magazines are junk! The steel button has fallen out of two followers, and even with new followers, I'd guess the hold open on empty feature works 50% of the time, very accurate guns! The triggers are buttery smooth, and when your used to it, double taps are no problem. Love the bar dot sights too...
buckfynn
Member
I have a CW9. It is by far the most problematic firearm that I have ever owned. Some of the problems are listed below.
1) Trigger reset issues. After firing the pistol the trigger will not reset for the next round at random times. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
2) Failure to feed problems. The pistol will jam at random times while firing and locking it up tight.
3) The slide is chewing up the frame in front very badly so that shavings of plastic are falling into the trigger bar assembly area.
4) A hairline crack has developed in the polymer frame 3/16 of an inch long behind where the slide stops.
5) Something has fallen apart inside the frame and it is impossible for me to remove the slide and perform a field strip.
I have fought 600 factory rounds from a variety of different ammo manufactures through this miserable firearm so no one can come along and say it isn't broken in properly. I bought the CW9 new, cleaned it, and followed the lube chart listed on kahrtalk.
And I haven't contacted Kahr CS yet. But with all the problems that I have had with this CW9, it would be hard pressed to convince me to trust even a brand spanking new Kahr to replace the one I presently own.
1) Trigger reset issues. After firing the pistol the trigger will not reset for the next round at random times. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
2) Failure to feed problems. The pistol will jam at random times while firing and locking it up tight.
3) The slide is chewing up the frame in front very badly so that shavings of plastic are falling into the trigger bar assembly area.
4) A hairline crack has developed in the polymer frame 3/16 of an inch long behind where the slide stops.
5) Something has fallen apart inside the frame and it is impossible for me to remove the slide and perform a field strip.
I have fought 600 factory rounds from a variety of different ammo manufactures through this miserable firearm so no one can come along and say it isn't broken in properly. I bought the CW9 new, cleaned it, and followed the lube chart listed on kahrtalk.
And I haven't contacted Kahr CS yet. But with all the problems that I have had with this CW9, it would be hard pressed to convince me to trust even a brand spanking new Kahr to replace the one I presently own.
buckfynn
Member
Where did I say I wouldn't contact Kahr. I am in the process of attempting to deal with Kahr via Sportsman Warehouse in Meridian, Idaho where I purchased this handgun. I am betting the firearm needs a new frame so I will have to go through an FFL.
At the time when I purchased the firearm the salesman requested I come back to him and give him a range report. So after I had all these problems I got back to him and let him know all the issues I had with the gun. The Sportsmans Warehouse response was, "Sounds to me like you need to sell the gun to someone you hate." The comment was highly inappropriate and am filing a complaint with the store manager and corporate office.
Ya think?!
I guess you consider my disclosure about the problems I am having with my Kahr bitching. However the nature of this thread by the OP was asking what problems people were having with their Kahr CW9's which I accommodated him.
saltydog452
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- Aug 1, 2004
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Dawson Precision makes a dandy front sight for the Kahr dovetail. Old style or New style.
The front is steel and is a tritium vial insert surrounded by a white circular ring. Easily seen in dim as well as bright light contrast. Waaay better and more versatile (read visible), at least for me, than tritium alone.
Another member suggested that I have a look at Dawson Precision for replacing a now dim factory tritium vial. . If I could remember the name, I'd gladly offer credit where its due, and my thanks.
I am well pleased with my Kahrs.
I have this front sight on carry Commanders and on backorder to be installed on the Micro blaster and the std K-9.
salty
The front is steel and is a tritium vial insert surrounded by a white circular ring. Easily seen in dim as well as bright light contrast. Waaay better and more versatile (read visible), at least for me, than tritium alone.
Another member suggested that I have a look at Dawson Precision for replacing a now dim factory tritium vial. . If I could remember the name, I'd gladly offer credit where its due, and my thanks.
I am well pleased with my Kahrs.
I have this front sight on carry Commanders and on backorder to be installed on the Micro blaster and the std K-9.
salty
You have so many issues with your gun, that a call to the manufacturer would have been the first call I would have made. They should send you a prepaid shipping label, and fix the damn thing, at no cost. Your example is far from what most CW9 owners experience, and not even a fair depiction of the gun...
wally
Member
They would not do this for me when my front frame rail broke. Further Emails have been ignored.
orionengnr
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Yeah, well, you did not disclose that particular piece of information.
If you are "going though your FFL" then it is not appropriate to hammer Kahr's CS at this point. Your FFL may have made no contact at this point, and you (and we) don't know the difference.
At this point, your FFL is the weak link in the chain. Get back to us after you have a substantaited response from Kahr.
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