Kahr K40 + Winchester white box = 2 piece barrel

[eaglemike]

It would be interesting to know if the design has changed. that blown barrel looks like a 2-piece to me.....but I've made a mistake or three in my life....

all the best,

Mike

[Trader Jack]

Buyer Beware

You bought the gun used. It's simple. You buy used it is buyer beware
Why should Karr be expected to replace or fix at no charge?
The important thing is that you where not injured.
Now write it off as a bad experience and let life go on.

[adamsreeftank]

I think the barrel is a one-piece but the sharp shoulder creates a point for stress cracks to propagate through the metal. If the proper steel is used and it is treated correctly, this should not ever happen. The bore should wear out to a smooth tube before there is a catastrophic failure of the barrel.

I would call back and speak to the manager. Have him check this website and I think they would see it is in their best interest to provide you a new barrel, if not a new gun.

When I had an issue with reliability of my PM40, they sent me a bunch of replacement parts no charge.

[Nick5811]

I read up on the peening issues between the front of the square metal portion of the barrel and the rear portion of the slide. I noticed I have a sharp edge of worn down steel on the slide right where it meets the shiny and kind of flattened corner of the barrel (which I believe indicates the peening). I sent pics of that circled in orange photoshop-marker to the people at Kahr.

Before I order any parts or anything I'm going to await a return email from 'service@kahr.com'. I sent one about 10 days ago (before this happened) requesting some information about detailed stripping of the firearm for periodic maintanence. If I don't hear something within the week I'll make some more phone calls.

[Paratus et Vigilans]

You bought the gun used. It's simple. You buy used it is buyer beware
Why should Karr be expected to replace or fix at no charge?

Because Kahr has potential products liability exposure for a design or manufacturing defect that does not depend upon the owner of the gun having bought it new, that's why.

[Paratus et Vigilans]

I think the barrel is a one-piece but the sharp shoulder creates a point for stress cracks to propagate through the metal. If the proper steel is used and it is treated correctly, this should not ever happen. The bore should wear out to a smooth tube before there is a catastrophic failure of the barrel.

I would call back and speak to the manager. Have him check this website and I think they would see it is in their best interest to provide you a new barrel, if not a new gun.

When I had an issue with reliability of my PM40, they sent me a bunch of replacement parts no charge.

+1 That's your solution right there.

[saki302]

Used has NOTHING to do with it. If you buy a used car, still under warranty, will the dealer fix it? OF COURSE.
Kel-Tec covers their pistols without question (unless you obviously blew it up using relaods). And they are considered cheap guns by many.


The barrel failed using commercial ammo. It is clearly not an overpressure or stuck round condition (no bulge). Damn right they are liable for it.

-Dave

[Spyder]

Any updates on this? What did Kahr say? I use an Elite '03 in .40 for my daily carry so I wonder...

[Spaceghost]

I hope a Kahr rep reads this. After seeing pics of what is a barrel failure that could of maimed a person and giving them the cold shoulder when they customer called customer service, I will never consider purchasing one of your ****ty handguns.
I am in the market for a sub-compact handgun, and just crossed Kahr off my short list. I guess it's either a Glock or XD for me. I have a memory like an elephant and will be sure to let ALL of the shooters I know and people considering getting into shooting know about this one. Great job Kahr. Now, every time I see your add in a magazine, I will be reminded of this "incident".
I don't care if Kahr sends him two new guns after this incident, it will be a reaction to the bad PR and not sincere customer service.

[Kelvrick]

^^ I'm of mind to agree. I was eyeing a used P9, but maybe I should go back to my initial plan of getting a Smith and Wesson MP compact. They've always taken care of me.

[joe4702]

I have 2 9mm Kahrs that I've been pleased with, but the CS response to the OP is disappointing. I would have expected a more proactive response, especially given that Kahr touts it self as a "premium" self-defense gun maker.

[Joel]

Hope I can jump in and offer some advice from an 8 year K40 Covert owner with over 3000 rounds through the original barrel.

First off, the drag marks on the primers are normal. It happened on my original top-end and it happens on my new top end.

Customer support: In 2003 Kahr changed from a lifetime warranty to a 3 year warranty. Fortunatly, I still have a lifetime warranty. I just started shooting IDPA and found that although I could adjust the POA when slow-fire practicing, I was unable to do the same with rapid-fire IDPA practicing. The gun was shooting 3" low at 5 yards shooting from the bench. Filled out a return request online, received a RMA number, sent the entire gun in on a Monday and received it back on Tuesday of the next week. The service sheet states that the barrel was replaced and the recoil spring was replaced. In reality, the entire top end was swapped (slide finish has a different texture than the frame, different extractor, no wear in the slide channels, etc.). Also sent along a ported barrel with sever peening (the little I see in your pictures is nothing - this was fully rounded!) Replaced - no questions asked.

Now, my original barrel had no peening after over 3000 rounds and a few VERY hot reloads. The new barrel is already starting to peen after 200 rounds (150 Winchester White box: 100 165gr, 50 180 gr; 50 Remmington 180gr - Winchester is noticeably hotter than the Remmington). My guess is the new steel being used is softer that the original - surface finish is wearing quickly and much differently that the original. Haven't fired the ported barrel yet so I don't know if it will end up peening again.

Joel

[Rugerman]

I have never been a fan of two-piece barrels. It's one of those, "I have a friend" story. Back in the mid 90s, I've seen a Springfield Armory 1911 that a friend owned that had the barrel coming apart, we were lucky we noticed it after it started malfunctioning, from 100% reliable to down right miserable. SA replaced the barrel after it was sent in and they even gave him two extra mags and some other goodies.

jtroks

Thats SA for you, they take CS very seriously.