CW45 (and other poly Kahr pistols): issues and fixes

[gb6491]

These methods and solutions might not be best for everyone and as such are not intended to be “how to” articles. Proceed at your own risk!
If in doubt, let Kahr do the work.

BTW: If anyone else has some tips, fixes, upgrades please feel free to post them here

Index: (some posts have multiple subjects in them, so please scroll to find the issue you are interested in):

Very useful links:
How To "Detail Strip" the Kahr's Upper!
also: http://naws.com/Kahr_Slide.pdf
Kahr Polymer Frame Disassembly (Tutorial)
Disassembly/Reassembly Of the Kahr P45 Pistol
Kahr Trigger Install

BARREL
Chamber too tight/...maybe not: see post#77
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...745#post354745

Mangled barrel hood: See Post# 58 and 12
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...4757#post24757
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...8830#post88830

FRAME
Ejector differences: see post# 24
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...4742#post44742

Grip too rough: see post#79
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...219#post357219

Magazine latch spring installation: see post# 2
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5667#post15667

Short Front Rails (Excessive front end play when the slide is in "battery"/forward): see post# 72
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...968#post306968

GUIDE ROD
Difficulty with recoil spring/guide rod installation (aka guide rod bevel issue): see post# 22
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0427#post40427

Protruding/sticking out from front of slide: see post# 22
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0427#post40427

MAGAZINE
Difficulty inserting magazine or stripping first round: see post#4
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5671#post15671

Drops prematurely: see post# 42 & 80
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...7289#post67289
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...130#post360130

Flush fit: see post# 6 (or go directly to this thread: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5674#post15674 ) also see post#43
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5674#post15674
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...7816#post67816

Nose dives: see post# 19
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0416#post40416

Spring installation: see post# 19
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0416#post40416

OPERATIONAL ISSUES (Not covered otherwise, with a few possible repeats )
Failure to return to battery, failure to chamber: see post#77
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...745#post354745

Failure to chamber or RTB, possible extractor issue: see post# 78 (especially for .380 pistols, see tigman250's fix )
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...748#post354748

First round not feeding: see post#4
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5671#post15671

Jamming: failure to feed, slide hard to rack with trigger held back: see post#76
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...743#post354743

Last round jams: see post# 3
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5669#post15669

Light strikes: see post# 26
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...9101#post49101

Problems with " failure to feed, failure to eject and failure to go fully into battery, not to mention no trigger reset.": see post# 75
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...740#post354740

Slide stuck with live round: see post#77 (this describes a potential cause. Here's a method to clear it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZdyPdlzEPs )
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...745#post354745

RECOIL SPRING
Installation: see post# 22
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0427#post40427

SIGHTS
Front sight installation: see post# 27
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...4961#post54961

Night sights: Kahr has Trijicon night sights for the CW45. More options from Dawson Precision & XS Sights (call for option that doesn't require cutting a dovetail)

Installation of the Trijicon sights: see post #74 and 63
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...738#post354738
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0890#post90890

Trijicon front sight not flush or sight broke off: see post #63
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0890#post90890

SLIDE
Installation: see post# 6
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5674#post15674

Notch or damage to front of slide between barrel and recoil spring openings: see post#9, 11, 12
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5790#post15790
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5876#post15876
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...4757#post24757

Pickup/stripper rail bevel (difficulty inserting magazine or stripping first round): see post#4
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5671#post15671

Slide locking back prematurely (locking back with rounds still in the magazine): see post#5
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5672#post15672

Slide not locking back: see post# 19 (magazine spring orientation)
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...0416#post40416

SLIDE STOP
Popping out: see post# 5 (or 26, both concern adjustment of the slide stop spring), 18, 72
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5672#post15672
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...9101#post49101
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...6297#post26297
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...968#post306968

Reduced profile: see post# 5
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...5672#post15672

SLIDE STOP SPRING
Installation/replacement: see post# 25
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...4744#post44744

Adjustment: see post# 26
http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...9101#post49101

continued below...