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New pistol....Break-in period

MOONED
I recently made the purchase of a Kahr CW45. The manufacturer's recommendation is to put 200 rounds through it before condiering it for use as a carry gun. No problem, I understand the logic with that. Obviously, one would want to ensure the reliability before trusting it with their life....a no brainer.
So, I go to the range yesterday and put a box of fifty through it. I figure why burn 200 through it in one session, I can spend my lunch hour at the range a few more times this month.
I found the pistol 100% reliable, but totally inaccurate...what gives? I mean, the function was fine with magazine and ejection and everything, but why is the accuracy poor? I would have thought (I'm not expert) that a new gun, with a new barrel would be as accurate as it could get. Am I missing something, or would this improve as I complete the 200 round requirement from the manufacturer? Is so, why?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    Exactly what kind of groups were you getting, at what rang, and with what ammo? This was not designed to be a target gun that will but down 2 inch groups at 25 yards, or better. It should be capable of 4-5 inch groups at that range though.

    Best
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  • MOONED
    I actually went to the range yesterday with a couple of fellows from work. They are complete novices, and one guy could not his a 16x16 target at less than ten yards. I shot at fifteen yards and the pistol shoots low and to the right. Probably four low and three to the right. I could not distinguish a true pattern though. Almost like there was really no telling where the bullet would go. After running about three magazines (six shots) through the pistol, I attempted to try real hard to sight it in and may have hit a dinner plate with all six rounds at ten yards. To me this seems pretty crappy..... I brought several other pistols, including a P-38 (1943 production) and a Ruger P85. With both these two pistols, I can rapid fire at ten or fifteen yards and put six out of eight shots in a dinner plate in about eight to ten seconds.
    Please keep in mind I AM NOT suggesting my shooting is good, I am only suggesting a typical pattern to my abilities with a pistol.

    I realize this is a carry gun and I hope I never have to use it for it's intended purpose, but I thought it may actually have some kind of a pattern too.

    Aaron
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  • dcs shooters
    My P-45 will do 2 1/2in at 25yds if I do my part. I have heard and read the trigger on the CW's aren't nearly as good as the P models.
    You might try some different weight ammo.
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  • MOONED
    Thanks for the reply regarding the grain of ammo. I will try that for my next "outing". As far as the trigger goes, it's probably less than 4 pounds. I actually did not like it at first since this is a carry gun and I really did not want a light trigger. But, the length of pull is quite long, which I definitely like for this specific model.

    Aaron
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  • beantownshootah
    A few points.

    Just because the factory says that its guns need 200 rounds break in time to be completely reliable, that doesn't mean that with certain individual guns you can't get away with less.

    A pistol will probably be *slightly* more accurate after a 200 round break in and subsequent cleaning, but the difference shouldn't be dramatic, and you'd probably have to be a pretty high-level shooter to notice it.

    Kahr CW45 isn't the easiest gun to shoot well. No light weight .45 is easy to shoot well, and the DA-type trigger doesn't help either, even if its relatively light in weight. Still, you should still be getting less than 10 inch groups at 25 yards with any factory ammo.

    People talk about 2-3" groups at 25 yards, but the reality is, that its pretty hard to get there unless you're shooting off a rest and doing so very carefully at a precisely defined target (eg an NRA bullseye target. Frankly, most shooters can't deliver a 2" or less 25 yard group offhand even with a match-caliber gun and match ammo.

    Here is some idea of what it can do, per Massad Ayoob, a noted gun authority:

    http://www.kahr.com/PA-1B/review_ot091009.html
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  • rsnyder55
    Are these groups using a rest or standing? If these groups are when you are standing, I would shoot from a rest and see what kind of groups the gun is capable of.
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  • rufe-snow
    Shoot it off hand from a rested position, i.e. your standing up holding the pistol with both hands, with sandbags under your hands, not actually touching the pistol. Shoot at maximum combat range, which I consider 10 yds. Use various bullet weights and configurations from 230 grain FMJ's to 180 grain JHP's. See how it does?

    Don't pay any attention to Abood and his BS, he's been shilling various self defense/ personal protection guns in the Gun Rags for better then 25 years. Seems like every new pistol that he gets his hands on, is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    Don't pay any attention to Abood and his BS, he's been shilling various self defense/ personal protection guns in the Gun Rags for better then 25 years. Seems like every new pistol that he gets his hands on, is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

    Personally I'm not an Ayoob "fan" (for reasons beyond the scope of this thread that I won't get into) but for what its worth he generally does know what he's talking about. I'm also, by the way, not a fan of the Kahr arms company, but again, that's another issue.

    I think like most of the individuals who make their living writing for magazines that make their money advertising products reviewed in said magazines, Ayoob has a certain intrinsic credibility gap. The fact that this particular review is in "On Target" magazine (which is basically an industry/trade advertisement rag) says something. The fact that Kahr put it up on its website says something. You have to take this review, as well as most published ones, with a big fat grain of salt.

    All that said, the guy put the gun on a rest and fired off some rounds. If you look at it, his review isn't entirely positive. Unless you think he's so intellectually dishonest that he literally made up group size numbers and images to go with them (and I don't), I think you can at LEAST conclude that this gun ought to offer reasonable intrinsic accuracy (not 10" groups at 10 yards).
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  • MOONED
    I appreciate the input from all. I will try another grain/type of ammo and see how things go. Hopefully, I will find better results next time.

    Aaron
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  • lts
    New gun to carry? I'd do minimum 100 round sessions to get a handle on my new pistol along with bringing a 22 for in between to get sight, hold & trigger back. Start at 5-7 yds and go from there. Put random duds in your mag to check your push,pull,& flinch. The gun is what it is and the shooter is the variable. JmHo
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