Kahr magazines - Source of many malfunctions??

10036 Views 11 Replies 9 Participants Last post by BillACP, Feb 19, 2016

wyntrout

Discussion Starter · Dec 5, 2009

Hi everyone.
I don't have a P380 yet, but I've had a K9-NS since March 1998 and I've noticed that all of my factory magazines have this "defect" or weakness -- the ease with which the top rounds in a magazine can "rock" up and down and work themselves out of the magazine with loose carry in the pocket... or a gun pouch!
I ran across this topic and a couple of videos on YouTube concerning one model in particular, but it seems applicable to all Kahr magazines. There are two videos in particular by

http://www.youtube.com/user/RightQuiteNot

I believe that every Kahr owner should view these two videos and see if the discussion might help you solve some of your pistols malfunctions or problems... or just something to be aware of.
Don't just watch the video, but read the comments below or after each video, especially the replies, explanations, and "excuses" from Kahr. The YouTube links for cut and paste or links, if allowed, follow.
Wyntrout

Video one -- the problem:

and the "work-around" in video two:

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Ljutic

· #2 · Dec 5, 2009

Thanks for posting this. I've not had this problem and probably won't since I'm loading the chamber from slide lock and then topping up the mag. My spare mag is carried in a holster with top round protected so it doesn't get wiggled.

It did make me go check and it appears that the P380 doesn't have the same round wiggle issue that the 9mm's have. You can depress the nose of the top round, but it pops right back up.

So the solution is good old Pro-mag. Supplier of mags for Kel Tec. Go figure.

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jocko

· #3 · Dec 6, 2009

wyntrout. I have never had an issue with my PM9 or K9. I do not carry a spare magazine but if I did, it owuldbe in a pouch which I do have but neve ruse. Those rounds don't move in the nylon pouch that I have either. To carry loosley, no doubt your gonna get what u are describing. It is a kahr designed magazine so they are aware of what u are stating but once again I have never had that issue wityh my PM9 or K9 and I have 25,000 rounds out of my PM9.

I just don't know any people around my area that carry a spare magazine that is not in some type of magazine pouch either. I have no issues witht he 6 or 7 round magazines in my PM9 either, although I hardly everuse the 7 round magazine.

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jocko

· #4 · Dec 6, 2009

jocko said:
wyntrout. I have never had an issue with my PM9 or K9. I do not carry a spare magazine but if I did, it owuldbe in a pouch which I do have but neve ruse. Those rounds don't move in the nylon pouch that I have either. To carry loosley, no doubt your gonna get what u are describing. It is a kahr designed magazine so they are aware of what u are stating but once again I have never had that issue wityh my PM9 or K9 and I have 25,000 rounds out of my PM9.

I just don't know any people around my area that carry a spare magazine that is not in some type of magazine pouch either. I have no issues witht he 6 or 7 round magazines in my PM9 either, although I hardly everuse the 7 round magazine.

I started to view the first video and got as far as when he said I don't like to carry with a round in the chamber. I for me anyways didn't want to hear his "authoratative" discussion of the faults of kahrs. He lost all crediability with me YMMV

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wyntrout

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 6, 2009

Yeah, Jocko. That was my thought, too. All of my guns are always loaded and there's one in the tube ready to fire. The only exception is my Walther TPH .22 because it COULD fire if dropped with the safety off and a round in the chamber. The manual tells you that there's no inertial firing pin safety. So, I have the safety on a lot of the time, but do take it off when there's the remotest chance that I could encounter trouble... which just about all the time.
There is some merit to his complaint, though. Kahr has been making these magazines for a long time. ProMag can get it right -- why not Kahr? I only have to push the top round a few times for it to be half way out of the magazine. If you stuck a magazine into your gun like that you could have FTFs. I always put a full mag in with the slide locked back and use the slide release to chamber a round, and then top off the mag, of course.
I've watched a lot of those YouTube videos while researching the P380, and I see a lot of guys pulling the slide back to chamber a round, but NOT letting go of the slide. Quite often, they have an FTF, DUH! Nothing like publishing your video to the world showing your poor gun handling.
Anyhow, with all of the FTFs being discussed on this and the Kahr site, I thought maybe some could check and see if this might be THE problem or part of the problem. The second clip with the workaround is much better, information-wise. He shows that the ProMag magazines don't have that "problem." If I had a problem kind of like that, I would try a ProMag, though there's not much choice in magazines. Having a few of those coated like you did would make durable, attractive magazines.
I try to keep things as simple as possible -- KISS! If I need to draw my gun, I only have to aim or point and pull the trigger. I don't have kids about, my wife is retired Air Force as well, and she knows how to handle firearms. I tell her all the time what she ought to do if the need arises and she knows all she has to do is pull the trigger. All of the guns are ready to go and only the TPH is safetied. I don't think that would be anyone's first choice, though.
Well, I don't think that this horse is dead, but I'll stop flogging it.
I need to eat and get back to trying to re-assemble my darn big screen TV... if I can figure out how to put it back together. I need to do that tonight before I forget too much. I did download the service manuals and took some digital pictures of everything as I went, but there are so damn many screws and panels and guard shields! I will probably have parts left over, but I replaced a bunch of faulty capacitors with help from the Internet. If I get it back together, maybe it will work... IF I don't have some cold solder joints... or fried something!
Cheers for now.
Wynn

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gknola

· #6 · Dec 6, 2009

I too load from slide lock & top the mag off. My feeling is that it's the way the P380 works and I have no trouble adapting.

I really can't understand how someone can carry loose mags in their pocket. You're abusing and 'contaminating' the top round through constant contact with foreign objects, lint and who knows what else. You're also allowing dirt, lint etc. to get into the mag. My DeSantis Pro Stealth (for IWB) has provisions for carrying a mag and when I use my DeSantis Super Fly in either a pocket or fanny pack (velcroed in place I use a DeSantis Mag-Packer to carry a spare mag in another pocket or also velcroed in the fanny pack.

Why screw around with something that your life could depend upon?

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jocko

· #7 · Dec 6, 2009

I was never a fan of Pro mags, so I guess I will stick with those looseie goosie kahr mags that do work..

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Wrongwaybear

· #8 · Feb 19, 2016

jocko said:
I started to view the first video and got as far as when he said I don't like to carry with a round in the chamber. I for me anyways didn't want to hear his "authoratative" discussion of the faults of kahrs. He lost all crediability with me YMMV

Yeah, Jocko, I always carry a gun with no round in the chamber, and I also carry a ball point with the refill in another pocket, a dull pocketknife and a sharpener...I'm with ya, guy. In my military mind, if you are going to carry a handgun, it needs to be ready to use. otherwise...

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ron54

· #9 · Feb 19, 2016

Revived an old thread here...........but the premise is still the same .........if your gonna carry.........the weapon should be ready without any gyrations on your part to simply draw and fire.....

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Garysco

· #10 · Feb 19, 2016 (Edited)

No 380 or PM in my stable, only P45, Colt 1911, Sig .22 mosquito and a 9mm P239. Pro Mags have never impressed me. If Kahr could improve anything it would be their mag springs and design. The word clunky comes to mind. I don't know why, but they do not seem to care all that much about it. If I could influence the Gun Gods it would be for Wilson Combat to design and build some for us Kahr people.

Totally off topic, but here is your right wing best entertainment for today: The fun begins at 1:38

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lefty60

· #11 · Feb 19, 2016

Garysco said:
No 380 or PM in my stable, only P45, Colt 1911, Sig .22 mosquito and a 9mm P239. Pro Mags have never impressed me. If Kahr could improve anything it would be their mag springs and design. The word clunky comes to mind. I don't know why, but they do not seem to care all that much about it. If I could influence the Gun Gods it would be for Wilson Combat to design and build some for us Kahr people.

Totally off topic, but here is your right wing best entertainment for today: The fun begins at 1:38

I've got close to 20 Kahr .40 cal. mags, get'em from various sources and all Kahr factory parts. 7 or 8 years now and broken one follower useing a substandard mag loader. No other problems!

Lucky that I didn't have a mouth full of coffee when I started watching the video, I think maybe I hurt myself laughing!!!

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BillACP

· #12 · Feb 19, 2016

Heh...& a Hillary voter that was more than overmatched!

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