Cary Gunn
posted this
26 February 2017
Gents,
Finally got my hands on the new Kahr CM9 and the Lee six-cavity 358-125-RF mold mentioned in my original post.
I dumped a bunch of water-dropped slugs cast of 2/3 wheel weights-1/3 range scrap, sized them to .357", tumbled lubed with Ben's Liquid Lube, and seated them to a C.O.A.L. of about 1.040,” placing the mouth of the 9/19 cases even with the bullet's crimp groove.
I charged with 5 grains of Herco powder, in the hope that the relatively high powder level in the case would help prevent the bullet from being pushed deeper in the case, should the rounds encounter any overly energetic slam-bang on the feed ramp during the new-to-me auto-loader's feed-cycle. That seems to have been a misplaced concern, though, since the Kahr pistol has thus far proven gentle enough in it's treatment of the cartridges on the trip from magazine to chamber.
And, although the round-count at this point is far too low for a categorical endorsement, the Lee flat-nosed revolver bullet seems to to be doing fine in the Kahr 9/19. The pistol has been trouble-free, and the bullets nicely accurate.
I was bit disappointed with the new little pocket pistol at first, since the best I could do with factory j-word bullets (Hornady 115-grain FTX Critical Defense loads) was discouraging 3 1/2- to 4-inch off-hand groups at 13 yards. Still, the tight, brand-new pistol gobbled up the Hornady stuff with nary a bobble.
I started off with the factory ammo to check the pistol's overall functionality, and to allow the copper jackets to “smooth-up” any possible rough spots in the spanking-new bore.
My outlook brightened when I switched to the Lee revolver bullet handloads, since they easily cut my 13-yard groups about in half. The Kahr was tossing the 125-grain bullets (actually 129 grains when cast of my relatively soft alloy) into about 2-inch groups, roughly half the size of the “patterns” thrown by the J-word fodder.
As I said earlier, it's still way to early for celebration, but, thus far, the Lee 125 revolver bullet and my new Kahr 9/19 pistol are getting along just fine. My only problem so far has been been some consternation involving the bullet's fit in the bullet-seating die, but I'm in the process of successfully working through that little trouble spot.
I'll report further when my round-count rises high enough to be meaningful.
Happy trails,
-- Cary Gunn --