Is There Something Wrong w/ my Khar??

[glockfu]

I've had this Khar PM9 for a few years now but haven't gotten around to shooting it that much. I've put about 400 rounds or so through it and then noticed this (pics below). It is on the front portion of the plastic rail on the lower. It looks like it got scratched up or maybe even melted a little? Is this normal break in or is it something I should be worried about and possibly send back?

[eccvets]

oi, that dont look like normal anything!

[comandante costello]

I'm no expert, but that don't look too good.

[glockfu]

damn it... guess I now have to cough up shipping charges to send it back. Can I send it myself or do I have to bring it to an FFL?

[RANDO]

maybe it just needs some lube

[The SoCal Gunner]

How's the other side look?

That forward piece doesn't look like it has a full rail on it from the second picture but what is there is only about half as thick as the rail on the rear of the gun. I can't tell if it is missing or if it is just scratched up.

[D53]

IMHO I think you probably recieved a defected pistol, since its taken you a while to go through 400 rounds were most people go through 500 rounds just "breaking in " a gun. I would see if Kahr will replace it ( just the lower portion that is damaged.

[code33]

You can send it yourself but it'll cost you because it has to go overnight by UPS or FedEx.
Check with a local FFL. It may be cheaper because FFL's can use the USPS. So your FFL may charge a fee plus shipping and it'll still be cheaper than overnight.

damn it... guess I now have to cough up shipping charges to send it back. Can I send it myself or do I have to bring it to an FFL?

[paul0660]

Go to Kahrs website and fill out a RMA form. They will probably send you a fedex account number......they did when I sent my CW9 back last year.

[will227457]

yeah bro that gun is messed up send it back...call KAHR they may cover shipping

[jmf_tracy]

contact kahr and send it back. i am sure they will make it right. if not then let us know.

[glockfu]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll go to their site and fill out the form. I hate paying for things that weren't my fault. The other side looks perfectly fine.

Seems like I have bad luck purchasing these small handguns. The other one I had was a Tomcat that I ended up sending back 2 or 3 times!

[glockfu]

So I contacted Khar last night through their Website on the RA form sheet. I got an email back this morning saying that if you hand rack the slide it can cause failures to go into battery ... even halfway through your mag . He said their pistols were not designed to be hand racked... this alone sounds wierd. Isnt that usually how you get the first round into the chamber? Who stores their guns with a mag in and the slide locked back? Isn't that a pain in the *** to have to drop your mag, lock the slide back, put your mag back in and then release the slide everytime you dont have a round in the chamber already???

Second, I sent the pics and he said that it looks like normal wear. I half way thought that in the begining until "The SoCal Gunner" pointed out that the rail is only half as thick as the others. I just replied asking why that rail is half as thick and why all the others look perfectly fine. I'm now waiting for their response but I'm not getting warm fuzzy feelings...

[JeffM]

I just took a look at my PM9 and the rails look very similar to the pics you posted, exept for the goopy looking stuff in your pics.

Is that grease or melted plastic?

If it's grease I'd say it looks normal. Just keep an eye on the rails to make sure they're not getting worse over time.

If it's melted plastic on/around the rail in the pic, I'd say email them again explaining that. Melting is never a good sign on a plastic gun.

I hand chamber my PM9 *briskly* and it's never given me a problem. I don't slingshot, but wrap my hand over the top of the slide and punch the gun forward while pulling the slide back.

I would guess that Khar just doesn't want guns coming back without needing to, just because people are riding the slide forward causing the failures.

There was a separate thread about it a while ago that a few people chimed in on. I'm not sure if there was ever a consensus reached.

[paul0660]

Kahr says to use the slide release to chamber #1. It is a self defense pistol made to be carried with one in the chamber, like all guns except the ones in movies, and shotguns, which really can scare the bad buys when you work the slide. I don't see what their explanation of racking problems has to do with anything. If it is melted, get a fedex number and send it back. If it is grease, clean it and try again. I would not hesitate at all to get snippy with them. It's $600/lb, it damn well better work right.