Chambering first round in a CM9

[ctb1]

I have a CM9 and, for the most part, I love it. The only issue that concerns me is not being able to reliably chamber the first round by slingshotting the slide. The manual says to lock the slide back and chamber the first round by pushing down on the slide lock to release the slide. "Do not chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and letting go of the slide. This may cause the slide to not go fully into battery."

I've got 300 rounds through the gun so far with zero problems (if you don't count not being able to slingshot the slide). My experience with trying to slingshot the slide is sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Two questions. Why exactly doesn't the slingshot method work with the Kahr's? And how are you supposed to clear a malfunction? If you can't slingshot the slide, you can't tap, rack, bang, can you? (ok that's three questions)

 

[Excalibur]

If it doesn't go into battery, tap the slide forward with your hand to send it home...or get a different gun that works the first time

 

[Dewidmt]

All Kahr's seem to work like this...I had a PM9 that could only be "slingshot" after I had about 1,000 rounds through it! They are just a bit tight when newish.....

 

[K_W]

I have a CM9 and, for the most part, I love it. The only issue that concerns me is not being able to reliably chamber the first round by slingshotting the slide. The manual says to lock the slide back and chamber the first round by pushing down on the slide lock to release the slide. "Do not chamber a round by pulling back on the slide and letting go of the slide. This may cause the slide to not go fully into battery."

I've got 300 rounds through the gun so far with zero problems (if you don't count not being able to slingshot the slide). My experience with trying to slingshot the slide is sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Two questions. Why exactly doesn't the slingshot method work with the Kahr's? And how are you supposed to clear a malfunction? If you can't slingshot the slide, you can't tap, rack, bang, can you? (ok that's three questions)

Doesn't make much sense... the slide is a bit further forward when on the slide stop than when held fully rearward, therefore it has less potential energy.

 

[Dewidmt]

Slide stop is pushing down on the mag follower when you depress it. If you slingshot, you have to overcome the pressure of the lower rounds pushing the follower UP....

 

[Slow Hand]

The follower only pushes up on the slide stop when the mags empty. The rounds coming up do not push on the slide stop.

 

[Dewidmt]

I stand corrected..the mag spring is pushing the follower up, and you still have pressure...LOL

 

[Aaron1776]

I stand corrected..the mag spring is pushing the follower up, and you still have pressure...LOL

If this were true your gun would go into slide lock every time you fired. The pressure upwards from the rounds/ mag spring is negligible.

The most likely reason is energy lost due to your hand being on the slide when you "sling shot" the gun and the slide begins to move back into battery.

Power stroking the slide backward, hard, and letting go instantly (before the slide begins to return to battery) works better. I taught my mother do to this on her Kahr PM9 and she's never had this problem.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

^^^

I agree with the above. Make sure you "slingshot" correctly and you'll rarely have issues, even with a Kahr.

Firm hold on slide with off hand and then drive the gun forward with the strong hand. Keep your off hand still and let the slide be literally ripped out of your grasp.

This ensures you're not accidentally interfering with the slide travel.

 

[ctb1]

Aaron and Indy Guy: Your advice makes sense to me. I can't see why the slingshot would be any different than dropping the slide lock unless you are somehow slowing the start of the forward movement. I'm going to work on this some more paying close attention to the release. And as I said before, this is the only concern I have with the CM9. It feels good, shoots good, looks good and has been completely reliable as long as I drop the slide lock on the first round.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Aaron and Indy Guy: Your advice makes sense to me. I can't see why the slingshot would be any different than dropping the slide lock unless you are somehow slowing the start of the forward movement. I'm going to work on this some more paying close attention to the release. And as I said before, this is the only concern I have with the CM9. It feels good, shoots good, looks good and has been completely reliable as long as I drop the slide lock on the first round.

And there's the rub!

All said and done, your gun just might not do it until it's well "broken in". but it's a good technique to learn/use anyhow.

-J-

 

[mbaza3]

I have a PM9 and it took about 500 flawless rounds before I could slingshot it. You can save some ammo and rack it a bunch of times without any ammo in it to speed up the break-in process.

 

[AD Marc]

The problem people have using the slingshot method on the kahr is that they tend to ride the slide forward a bit rather than retracting it fully due to the very strong recoil springs in that tiny pistol. Proper technique is paramount. Here's Jeff teaching the proper loading technique on The Armory Channel. I linked to the segment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlpO2ZGaQ70#t=7m10s

 

[Mudcat]

My CM 9 works fine with using the overhand method. Never had a problem with it not going into battery.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

My experience mirrors Mudcat and others. Kahr's are tightly sprung, but reliable as the day is long. I've not had any trouble overhand.

 

[GIJEW]

My experience is like mudcat's and armedprogrammer. I've never had a problem chambering a round by racking the slide. I did have a couple FTF during the first 200 rnd break-in.