wyntrout
02-18-2013, 02:49 PM
We still see a slew of people having troubles with their new pistols. I'm convinced that many "malfunctions" are user induced and could be prevented in SEVERAL ways.
There is the manual for all pistols... find the proper section for your pistol and read that. Spring orientation... recoil and magazines are critical. The recoil spring "free end" should be to the front of the pistol's slide... that's the open end of the spring.
All of this is covered in the manual AND in the video, but here are some PHOTOS of the manual.pdf:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7719&d=1361222935http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7720&d=1361222956http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7722&d=1361223304
The magazine spring should have a free end... the one with the tiny loop end... to the front of the magazine so that it LIFTS the follower in the front to help the rounds get to the chamber.
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6686&stc=1&d=1349880031
One place where people screw up is in insertion of the slide lock pin. The slide needs to be in the normal position on the frame, not pushed back any! IF you don't get the pin through the hole in the lug under the barrel, you can lock up the pistol! If you manage to poke the pin into the spring on the left side you can bend it and it may no longer hold the pin in its detent when fully inserted. If you catch the free end on right side of the spring with the actuator, you can bend the spring or get it UNDER the slide lock actuator causing it to push UP instead of down on the actuator! This causes the slide lock to be pushed upwards and engage the slide lock after every shot and may even scratch the slide on that side. The free end of the spring must rest on the little ledge on the inside of the slide lock lever and exert downward force on the slide lock until the magazine follower rises to the top on empty and pushes the slide lock up to engage the slide and lock it back on empty. This is a big deal and requires your attention. See the video!
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7721&d=1361223085http://i47.tinypic.com/25qbyvb.jpg
Another area that seems to be the cause of MANY malfunctions is "limp wristing"... NOT holding the pistol with a FIRM grip during CHAMBERING a round AND FIRING! People think of this when shooting the pistols, but it's VERY IMPORTANT to have a GOOD GRIP on the pistol when you chamber a round. The Kahr pistols are compact and have close tolerances. The slides are short and need stout springs to move the slide with enough force to strip a round from the magazine and whisk it across to the chamber. If you hold the pistol loosely, momentum is transferred to the pistol and moves it instead of transferring all of the energy to chambering the round. This less than full movement of the slide can push the top round with too little momentum and the round can tip over and nosedive against the right side of the feed ramp where it USUALLY jams and usually can't be cleared with just another rack attempt.
The BEST way to chamber a round is to hold the pistol in the gun hand and use your weak hand to rack the slide with an over the slide grip... the fingers over the top of the slide and aft of the ejection port with the thumb along the left side of the slide pointing to the rear. Simultaneously rack the slide while pushing firmly with the gun hand and CLEANLY releasing the slide as it reaches the rearmost position and is ripped from the weak hand. This approximates the rack during firing and offers the best chance of the successful chambering of a round.
The top round should be seated fully to the rear of the magazine and more force can be generated for the rack closer to the body, rather than at arms length. You can also keep your pistol pointed toward the target or the bad guy, which you can't do with the "pinch" method.
The first part of this video could be helpful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hjLbFOw8sow
There is a lot to learn about these great pistols and all of us contribute to each others knowledge here... new members and old members alike!
Wynn:)
There is the manual for all pistols... find the proper section for your pistol and read that. Spring orientation... recoil and magazines are critical. The recoil spring "free end" should be to the front of the pistol's slide... that's the open end of the spring.
All of this is covered in the manual AND in the video, but here are some PHOTOS of the manual.pdf:
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7719&d=1361222935http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7720&d=1361222956http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7722&d=1361223304
The magazine spring should have a free end... the one with the tiny loop end... to the front of the magazine so that it LIFTS the follower in the front to help the rounds get to the chamber.
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6686&stc=1&d=1349880031
One place where people screw up is in insertion of the slide lock pin. The slide needs to be in the normal position on the frame, not pushed back any! IF you don't get the pin through the hole in the lug under the barrel, you can lock up the pistol! If you manage to poke the pin into the spring on the left side you can bend it and it may no longer hold the pin in its detent when fully inserted. If you catch the free end on right side of the spring with the actuator, you can bend the spring or get it UNDER the slide lock actuator causing it to push UP instead of down on the actuator! This causes the slide lock to be pushed upwards and engage the slide lock after every shot and may even scratch the slide on that side. The free end of the spring must rest on the little ledge on the inside of the slide lock lever and exert downward force on the slide lock until the magazine follower rises to the top on empty and pushes the slide lock up to engage the slide and lock it back on empty. This is a big deal and requires your attention. See the video!
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7721&d=1361223085http://i47.tinypic.com/25qbyvb.jpg
Another area that seems to be the cause of MANY malfunctions is "limp wristing"... NOT holding the pistol with a FIRM grip during CHAMBERING a round AND FIRING! People think of this when shooting the pistols, but it's VERY IMPORTANT to have a GOOD GRIP on the pistol when you chamber a round. The Kahr pistols are compact and have close tolerances. The slides are short and need stout springs to move the slide with enough force to strip a round from the magazine and whisk it across to the chamber. If you hold the pistol loosely, momentum is transferred to the pistol and moves it instead of transferring all of the energy to chambering the round. This less than full movement of the slide can push the top round with too little momentum and the round can tip over and nosedive against the right side of the feed ramp where it USUALLY jams and usually can't be cleared with just another rack attempt.
The BEST way to chamber a round is to hold the pistol in the gun hand and use your weak hand to rack the slide with an over the slide grip... the fingers over the top of the slide and aft of the ejection port with the thumb along the left side of the slide pointing to the rear. Simultaneously rack the slide while pushing firmly with the gun hand and CLEANLY releasing the slide as it reaches the rearmost position and is ripped from the weak hand. This approximates the rack during firing and offers the best chance of the successful chambering of a round.
The top round should be seated fully to the rear of the magazine and more force can be generated for the rack closer to the body, rather than at arms length. You can also keep your pistol pointed toward the target or the bad guy, which you can't do with the "pinch" method.
The first part of this video could be helpful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hjLbFOw8sow
There is a lot to learn about these great pistols and all of us contribute to each others knowledge here... new members and old members alike!
Wynn:)