K9 failure to feed/eject

[Joaquin]

Is it me or my K9? I bought this gun as a CCW (non-LEO), but I have rarely gotten through a 100 rounds without a failure to feed. Today I shot about 150 rounds at the range and, at about round 75 or so, I had a failure to eject, my first ever. The only good thing I can say about today is that I didn't have a single failure to feed!

Are the tolerances so tight that I should re-oil this gun in the middle of each shooting session? Or is it something else that I'm missing? I clean and oil the gun after every time I go to the range and it is well past its break-in period, as I have maybe 1500 rounds through it. I clean the magazines every 200 rounds or so, say, every other time that I go to the range. I have had problems with each of the four factory-made magazines (one eight round and three seven round). The failures to feed sometimes happen at the very beginning of a shooting session and sometimes at the end.

I purchased this gun (new) to replace my j-frame but I don't feel comfortable carrying it as I really can't rely on it. Apart from these persistent (and intermittent) failures to feed (and today's first-ever failure to eject), I just love this gun. It feels great in my hand and is more accurate than I am, but I can't justify keeping it if I can't rely on it. Has anyone some advice?

[LGCubana]

Factory ammo or reloads ?

[BackDraft]

You might want to try some fluff and buff on the feed ramp and you might also replace the recoil spring. As far as the failure to eject do a detail strip of the slide and a good cleaning and lubing.FOr the problem mag you might want to replace the sping in that also. I have found that (not saying you do it) limp wristing shooting and or the springs seem to cause most of the problems I have seen but usally I just polish the feed ramp and replace the recoil spring and no problems.
On my own E9 I use extra power mag springs from Wolffe Springs and I use a 23lb recoil spring, 20lb is the factory spring weight and 22lb is what is used in the K40. I normally shoot +P+ and Nato ammo and they are pretty hot so the heavier springs save my frame a bit. My Kahr works with WWB to the +P+ and only failures I do get are if I intentional limp wrist it when I am showing a class what limp wrsting can do.
You didn't say what ammo you are using if its reloads go to Wally World and try a box or WWB.
For lubing check out the Lube Diagram on this fourm and for fluff and buff do a search of this fourm it has been discussed in the past.
If you not comfortable doing this then you can contact Kahr and have them fix it it will cost you shipping to get it there just contact Dottie and she will take care of you.
Forgot to mention if you go to heavier recoil spring the slide is harder to pull back.

[Joaquin]

Thanks for the advice. I have used nothing but factory loaded ammunition in this gun, mostly WWB from Wally World.

[Blacktails]

Definitely try the fluff and buff, especially on the feed ramp. On my own K9, that was the first thing I did using a Dremel and some Flitz, prior to it's first range trip for break-in. Have never had so much as a hiccup, even after 1500+ rounds, and the polished barrel looks nice too :thumbsup:

[Joaquin]

Well, I did the fluff and buff as everyone advised and the feed ramp looks great. Is there any other place that a fluff and buff would help reliability?

After the fluff and buff I shot 150 rounds of factory ammo through this gun without a single failure to feed. But I did have one failure to eject. Is there anything I can do short of a detail strip of the slide to correct this remaining problem? Is the problem just gunk in the slide?

[NewsShooter]

Check for crud under the extractor claw. Short of that check for good strong tension on the extractor spring.

[JohnJak]

Almost makes you feel like going out and buying one just to have something to fix.

[Jerseycitysteve]

Have Kahr or a first rate gunsmith check the feedramp and chamber. My K9's never had a problem but with semi-auto pistols, sometimes you need a little work.

[ajkahr]

I had this problem after the break-in period on my K9 Elite 98.

I also noticed that the mag would drop a little when this would happen. The gun store/indoor range where I shoot called Dottie at Kahr for me and she immediately recommended that I replace the mag release. She would send out one, no charge, that very day. About a week later, it comes in. Changed it out and I haven't had a single problem since. probably 750rds since the fix.

The new mag release is definitely different. The catch seemed to be larger and had a slightly different notch cut in it from the original. Just call Kahr customer service, it's an extremely easy item to swap out and test to see if it fixes the problem.

-Andrew