More barrel peening

[FotoTomas]

I had some issues with my Kahr PM9 failing to function after little more than 1000 rounds downrange. A friend on another forum pointed me here with several threads in the last few years about the same problem.

http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=516011

http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=5936868


I felt I would add my experience to see if this problem is continuing.

18 months ago I purchased a NIB Kahr PM9 and it became my primary personal defense weapon and "always with me" pocket pistol. The first 17 months were exemplary in the reliability department. No bobbles of any kind during break-in and the first 1000 rounds.

Over the last couple of months I began to notice some hesitation in the slide going back into battery when being handled manually. No problem as the pistol continued to shoot fine.

Last week the pistol stopped shooting fine and in fact stopped shooting. The slide would not recipricate with out lots of additional force. I took it to the dealer where it was purchased. The dealer showed me where the barrel lockup areas were peening from regular operation. I have been shooting Winchester or Remington standard velocity through the gun exclusively. No +P ammo routinely went through the pistol.

The slide assembly will be dispatched to Kahr Arms next week by the dealer for replacement or repair under their 5 year warranty. I am not so sure it will find a home back in the pocket upon its return. A new S&W 642 or 638 might find its way there instead.

[flyt100]

I had the peening issue after 1500 round or so, and got mine back a few months ago from repair(new barrel and slide). I've been measuring the dimensions with a micrometer( .01 of a mm accuracy). There has been no change in the 700 or so rounds I've shot, and everything is running perfectly. Don't give up on this gun yet....

[UrbanCowboy]

Mine crapped out at 3100 rounds.

[kahrak]

For those of you that had your slides and barrels replaced, did you send it in only after the gun quit functioning, or when there were obvious signs of major peening but the gun still functioned? Mine has developed some major peening over the last few hundred rounds (VB serial #) but hasn't malfunctioned yet. Will Kahr only repair it once it has started malfunctioning or will they do it when there is an obvious problem developing?

[Colorado4Wheel]

Originally posted by kahrak
For those of you that had your slides and barrels replaced, did you send it in only after the gun quit functioning, or when there were obvious signs of major peening but the gun still functioned? Mine has developed some major peening over the last few hundred rounds (VB serial #) but hasn't malfunctioned yet. Will Kahr only repair it once it has started malfunctioning or will they do it when there is an obvious problem developing?

I seriously doubt they would do anything beyond a visual inspection. So I would send it in if you have the time.

[flyt100]

On mine, I was progressively feeling the hang up when racking the slide by hand. I was able to make it stick there, took a photo, and sent it in.

With the new parts, it works fine. I'm a little surprised by the bashing of this gun because of the peening (and I'm one that had it). It peened; they fixed it no questions asked. Works great now. No different than anything else I've had to use a warranty on.

[FotoTomas]

I guess the point is not that they fix it but WHY have such a prevelent problem that needs fixing.

In my case the factory has given me a return authorization and will make it right.

Here is the photo I promised:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/FotoTomas/KahrBarrelPeening1w.jpg