reloading for Kahrs

[darwin-t]

I've been looking at Kahr 9mm pistols. I found a couple of disconcerting quotes in reviews on their web site.

"These guns have tight chambers, and tend to work flawlessly with factory ammo but can get fussy about any but the most precisely reloaded ammo in the most carefully resized cases. Reloaders should also be aware that most Kahrs will dent ejected brass badly."

and

"These guns tend to have tight chambers. While they function perfectly with virtually all conventional factory ammo, they don't like handloads unless the cartridges have been very carefully resized, taper-crimped and loaded to proper overall length. The only jams I see in Kahr pistols are usually with reloads."

Well, THAT doesn't sound good to me. I shoot reloads pretty much exclusively. I use Lee dies including a crimp die. I like heavier bullets with OALs of 1.140 or 1.150.

Could I expect problems if I tried shooting my reloads in a Kahr?

Thanks

[josp]

That depends.......
Will your relaods fit into a match chambered Go/NoGo guage?
Or take a few favorite loads to a local shop that has a Kahr and ask them to disasemble the gun and try them in the chamber.
With the inexpensive cost of new FMJ 9mm, I quit loading them.

[USDefender]

Word of warning:

One fine day, I was shooting, at my range with my best friend. I was using factory ammo & he was using re-loads - bought from one of the local range/gun-dealers.

Everything was great until he fired one & it made a "pop" instead of the usual utterly loud "bang". He tried clearing the gun & racking the slide, but the next round wouldn't chamber all the way.

Seems one of his re-loads had been loaded with the squib but no powder. The resulting charge wasn't powerful enough to push the bullet out of the barrel. If it had lodged a little further into the barrel, he probably would've been able to chamber another round - which would have most likely resulted in a catastrophic failure of his gun.

Right then & there I swore off re-loads since I don't personally re-load & can't watch the quality control of others who do. I recommend against using re-loads - especially if they are loaded with lead bullets. They'll fill in the rifling of your barrel & ruin your gun's accuracy.

[darwin-t]

Originally posted by USDefender
Word of warning:



Seems one of his re-loads had been loaded with the squib but no powder. The resulting charge wasn't powerful enough to push the bullet out of the barrel. If it had lodged a little further into the barrel, he probably would've been able to chamber another round - which would have most likely resulted in a catastrophic failure of his gun.

Right then & there I swore off re-loads since I don't personally re-load & can't watch the quality control of others who do. I recommend against using re-loads - especially if they are loaded with lead bullets. They'll fill in the rifling of your barrel & ruin your gun's accuracy.

Been there, done that (squib load). I have my press set up now where I can visually verify every charge.

I also would never shoot anyone else's reloads and always use jacketed or plated bullets.

All I have to do now is come up with the $$$ for a CW9

Good info though.

[JCM298]

I started reloading for 9MM in `94, when I bought a Glock Model 26. The reloads worked fine and I only had one mis-fire in thousands of rounds. That mis-fire was a bad primer.

The same type of reloads work just as well in my Mk9.

John

[Catbird]

I wouldn't be too concerned. I have three Kahrs -- a PM9, a P40 and a P45. Over 99% of my ammo is personal reloads. I haven't experienced any unusual issues with the Kahrs. In fact, I use the same supply of reloads for all of my handguns, regardless of the manufacturer.

[USDefender]

Originally posted by darwin-t
Been there, done that (squib load). I have my press set up now where I can visually verify every charge.

I also would never shoot anyone else's reloads and always use jacketed or plated bullets.

All I have to do now is come up with the $$$ for a CW9

Good info though.

Sounds like you've got the situation well taken care of... :)