Kahr Review: After 800 Rounds Is the CM9 Reliable Enough to Carry?
An extensive CM9 break-in period and a down-select of defensive ammo requiring five (5) different range trips each firing +/- 150 rounds is now complete. The only objectives were to break-in the gun, determine what ammo would be carried and determine reliability. The Kahr owner’s manual, the information available on Kahr Talk, and all the YouTube videos by Shooting the Bull 410’s Ammo Quest for the best 9mm short barrel ammo were reviewed prior to any range time. No ballistics work was done as that provided on YouTube by Shooting the Bull was accepted as presented.
Following each range trip the CM9 was field stripped and thoroughly cleaned and lubricated in accordance with the owner’s manual and Sticky Post instructions and Lube diagrams on the Kahr Talk site. The two six (6) round magazines used for range work were checked for proper spring insertion (evidently this has been an issue) and then cleaned after each firing and left un-lubricated. The following eight hundred (800) rounds (210 premium defensive rounds) of ammunition were used:
- 450 rounds of Blazer 115 gr. JHP
- 40 rounds Hardball re-loads
- 40 rounds Federal Personal Defense 115 gr. JHP
- 20 rounds Barnes TAC-XPD +P 115 gr.
- 50 rounds Remington Golden Saber 124 Grain JHP
- 50 rounds Winchester 115 gr. JHP (White Box)
- 50 rounds Winchester 147 gr. JHP (White Box)
- 50 rounds Speer LE Gold Dot 124 gr. GDHP
- 50 rounds Federal Premium HST JHP 124 gr.
Reliability Results Following Five (5) Range Visits:
- Two (2) Failures to Feed (FTF) were noted early on within the first 50 rounds fired. No other FTF were experienced during the remaining 750 rounds fired. This was not considered a defect as the gun was new and unbroken. No Failures to Eject (FTE) were observed.
- Seven (7) Failures of the slide locking open with rounds still remaining in the magazine were noted. These failures occurred approximately two (2) times per every 150 rounds fired; five different loads were involved with defectives. All forty (40) re-load FMJ rounds functioned well. The final two (2) failures occurred on the 5th range visit – one in each magazine used.
The following actions were taken to eliminate or at least reduce the occurrences of this slide locking open failure.
- Prior to the five (5) range visits the owner’s manual and this Kahr Forum were thoroughly reviewed for advice on break-in, maintenance and ammo recommendations for the pistol. This advice was followed.
- When the very first “Slide remaining open prematurely” defect first occurred advice from Kahr Talk forum was sought and appropriate action taken as follows - The shooter used a shooting glove with wrist support and paid strict attention not to “limp wrist” the pistol. Using a two handed grip, the right thumb was placed immediately above the magazine release (about ½ inch below the slide lever) and the left thumb was kept aligned on top of the ring finger of the right hand to ensure the thumb did not come in contact with the slide lock. Prior to each magazine firing the grip was checked to ensure proper conformance. Thumb contact with the slide lever was eliminated early on as a potential cause of the problem.
- Every type/brand of round fired was checked by inserting a full magazine and clearance with the slide stop verified to ensure the bullet nose did not contact the lock and raise it.
- The slide stop spring was inspected per multiple Sticky posts numerous times and the spring and its alignment looked fine. The spring was tweaked downward a tad to put more tension on. The spring resting notch on the slide stop was very lightly lubed as recommended.
- The defect persisted.
- Following the last range visit I met with the gunsmith in the range shop to examine the pistol. He cycled the gun, removed and inspected the parts, checked the spring tension and clearance and said everything appeared to be correct. He also said that there have been a number of Kahr 9mm through the shop with the same issue. Of those, some occurrences of the problem were reduced; none to his knowledge were eliminated.
My Ammo Choice
After reviewing the information on Shooting the Bull, I selectively picked a number of the top ammo choices to fire. For me, I found that the Barnes TAC-XPD +P 115 gr. worked the best. I was able to consistently keep a tight grouping around the X ring at 15 feet and the perceived smoothness in the way the gun operated using Barnes Ammo impressed me. Barnes advertises less felt recoil due to the lighter all copper bullets, I found this to definitely be a true statement. Downside is that the stuff is way too pricey to target with.
My Dilemma
I will not carry this gun the way it is and I believe the CM9 should be returned to the Kahr Shop. The local Smith has doubts it will ever perform to my expectations and recommends that I continue my quest for a Pocket Nine rather than devote any more time or energy to the Kahr. I love the way it shoots and the size is perfect but I have serious doubts about reliability.
Can this pistol be made reliable without turning it into a hobby? I would hate to send it back to Kahr only to have just fewer occurrences of the same problem. Does anyone believe it can be permanently fixed or are there lingering doubts out there about the polymer frame and design of the slide lock?
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Originally Posted by TheLastDaze
