KAHR PM9 loading instructions?

[tonelar]

In the owner's manual, Kahr recommends against manually slingshotting the slide to load one into the chamber. This confuses me as my routine is to pretty much ignore the slide catch on my autos. Basically, the only time I use them is to lock the slide back (ie Sig Pistols) prior to field stripping.

Anyone come across this before?

They say to;

a) insert the loaded mag

b) lock the slide back using the slide catch lever

then

c) thumb down the slide catch lever (chambering the 1st round)

Seems like their order could have been thought out better, to me.

[Spyder]

Huh...that's strange. I'll have to dig up the box for my Elite '03 K40 and see what it says.

[JeffM]

You read the manual!?!


There's a lot of reasons to load guns one way or another, ie single chambering only from a mag for the extractor on a 1911, etc., but I don't see a reason to load a PM9 like that.

[paul0660]

Kahr ramps are very steep. After breaking in, my CW9 would load by forceful racking, not by slingshotting. Using the slide release gives the maximum amount of force from the slide spring. I think this might be a design flaw, but I have learned to accomodate it, and practice reloads using the Kahr directions.

[JeffM]

Kahr ramps are very steep. After breaking in, my CW9 would load by forceful racking, not by slingshotting. Using the slide release gives the maximum amount of force from the slide spring. I think this might be a design flaw, but I have learned to accomodate it, and practice reloads using the Kahr directions.

That makes more sense. I've always wrapped my hand over the top of the slide and punched the gun forward while pulling the slide back. I can see that slingshotting or riding the slide forward might cause a round to hang on the feed ramp.

[tonelar]

You read the manual!?!

I couldn't help it; I was checking to see which end of the recoil spring gets installed towards the base of the guide assy.

Next range session; I'll keep their instructions AND Paul0660's words in mind.
And here I was thinking the slide would start from Farther Back- by slingshotting it.

[redcliff]

This is a known quirk with pm9's; they don't always feed the first round fully if you sling-shot. Just use the slide release when chamberring the first round and you should be fine.

[tonelar]

once again; Calgunners pwn.

Thanks for the advice, I need to get in the practice of using the slide catch more often... I don't want to ever think there's only one way to do something.

[maxicon]

You can also get the same effect by giving the back of the slide a slap after chambering the first round.

I do this anyway, even though I use the slide release, because having that first round fully seated and ready to fly is pretty important.

This should all come out during range use - this is how I found out about these issues with mine. After trying a bunch of different scenarios with different ammo profiles, I got pretty good at predicting when it would chamber reliably.

Anyone who keeps a Kahr without a round chambered really needs to practice this, as chambering a round in the heat of excitement doesn't always go as planned.

[Spyder]

I've never had an issue with the first round chambering, ever. Guess next time I go to the range I'll have to try a few things and see if I can replicate the problem so I can avoid it, if it is a problem!

[tonelar]

went shooting last night...
NEither hand racking nor using the slide catch/ release caused FTFs. However, it is a very short throw on the PM9.

[ifilef]

Follow the manual-use the slide release. Later on you may be able to slingshot, but the manual is very specific about this-use the slide release. IIRC, they even provided a separate note with my gun advising to use the slide release to chamber the first round-otherwise it may not fire or cycle reliably.

[till44]

In the owner's manual, Kahr recommends against manually slingshotting the slide to load one into the chamber.

I contacted Kahr directly about this and they asked me, "Don't you read the manual?" I have never seen another auto that requires the slide to be locked, but straight from Kahr, that is how their pistols were designed. I'll agree with what was already said and it is due to the steep and slightly angled ramp. I guess it needs as much force as possible. If I try to simply rack my CW9 the first round in the mag gets caought on the potruding firiing pin. If I use the slide release I have no problem, or if I rack the slide with no mag in place, then insert a mag and rack it then it will chamber the round without a problem. I think this is why Kahr is intended as a back up/CCW gun and definately not one to be used as a primary weapon.

[JeffM]

You can also get the same effect by giving the back of the slide a slap after chambering the first round.

I do this anyway, even though I use the slide release, because having that first round fully seated and ready to fly is pretty important.

[paul0660]

I think this is why Kahr is intended as a back up/CCW gun and definately not one to be used as a primary weapon.

You mean service weapon. It is my primary weapon. when I can wear a big overshirt.