20 replies to this topic

[Lancer]

After a 6 week wait, I received my drum back from Kahr a couple of weeks ago. I had returned it to have two problems corrected. The major problem was that the mag. catch would not engage and lock the drum tightly enough to hold the drum in the gun and would slide right thru. The more minor problem was that the finish was very thin in spots. They replaced the drum and I was happy to see that both problems were resolved.

Over the weekend I gave the new drum a test run. The results were not good. 3 failures to feed and one jam up on the first 50 rds. The second 50 rds., I gave up before I got thru 10 rds. I know that this is not surprising to anyone but I guess I need to vent a little.

I called Kahr today and talked to Dottie. She said to send it back, so off it goes again. I think they are going to get tired of hearing from me because I am determined that they supply me with a drum that actually works. I’ll report back in 6-8 weeks.

[First Sergeant]

Shane,

My replacement drum was much better in quality (fit) yet the finish was still thin. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but an LE only drum I bought a year ago funtions flawlessly. However, the fit on that drum was atrocious and needed some work just to fit it to a WH28. It fit just fine on 21's. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for when I finally get the time to test the replacement. It functions fine with dummy rounds.

Good Luck

Chuck

[DC Chris]

Lancer-

Might be a silly question, but what kind of ammo are you shooting it with? My 1928 is very picky about what I pass through it.

Where is the jamming? In the feed lips of the drum or in the receiver? I am assuming in the drum, but you never know. Is your gun a semi or full?


Chris.

[Lancer]

QUOTE (DC Chris @ Apr 4 2005, 08:28 PM)

Lancer- Might be a silly question, but what kind of ammo are you shooting it with? My 1928 is very picky about what I pass through it. Where is the jamming? In the feed lips of the drum or in the receiver? I am assuming in the drum, but you never know. Is your gun a semi or full? Chris.

The first 50 rds. was Winchester, the second fifty was Speer. I have shot both brands through my Bridgeport 28ac with no problems, of course that was with a Bridgeport drum.
On the one jam up, the rd. nose dived and never made it out of the drum. I believe the problem is that the rotor rubs on the feed guide and the spring is not able to overcome the extra friction. I was tempted to file the rough burrs off the backside of the rotor arms but I made up my mind that this is Kahr's problem, not mine. I've got a good drum to shoot and plenty of stick mags, I'm going to get Kahr to make this drum work if it's the last thing I ever do!

[Grey Crow]

Another possibility is that its not being wound enough. If the rivet's on the inside were not modified they tend to sound the same. If you count these clicks the drum will not function. Per PK's instructions a 1/4 turn equals one click.

I had the same problem with my X drum, until I only counted the louder clicks. One of the problems with the new L's is that they all sound the same.

I haven't taken my new L out yet for a test run. Soon though as the weather is starting to become a little milder. Now if it would just stop raining for a little bit.

[Lancer]

QUOTE (Grey Crow @ Apr 4 2005, 10:54 PM)

Another possibility is that its not being wound enough. If the rivet's on the inside were not modified they tend to sound the same. If you count these clicks the drum will not function. Per PK's instructions a 1/4 turn equals one click.

Grey Crow,
I read Pk's post too. The first attempt I wound 2 1/4 turns, 9 clicks. The second attempt I wound 2 1/2 turns, 10clicks.

[Elbow]

Well, I sent my Kahr drum back 5 weeks ago and they said it would only take a week for the new one to show up.So I called them up last week and they said they shipped it a few weeks ago.I asked them where they sent it to? They said they shipped to Minnisota I told them they shipped to the wrong state,I live in Michigan. Now it's a week later and I still haven't gotten it yet!! The waiting sucks and I hope this one works.

[PK.]

In all those I have worked on so far, I have only found one where the rotor actually interfered with the body. The drag problems are most common due to improper spacing/ location of the guides in the body and cover and their relationship with each other. This is difficult to address without the proper sized gage pins and tools required to push the guides around and get them into the right places.

The springs are not as strong as they should be (in my view) and I always wind the new drums to 11 clicks, even for use in a 28. Once corrected they seem to work well.

Keep at ‘um Kenneth, I agree with your determination to hold their feet to the fire and make it right. That serves everyone’s interest.

[Motorcar]

For what it is worth.. I stopped by my local machine gun rental range today to see how the owner's new Westy '28 was doing. He and his wife love it and said it runs flawlessly. He purchased two (2!) new Kahr L drums and both run like a top. I guess he hasn't read all the threads around here. His 39 round West Hurley drum won't run. He said he went to the "Shot" show and spoke to the Kahr people about his new purchase of the Westy. They told him if he had any problems at all with his '28, to just send it to them and they would be glad to warranty repair it for him! What a strange world we live in

[Elbow]

I just got my drum back from Kahr yesterday and it's going back today.The dam thing has so much DRAG it will not cycle the rounds. The spring is really weak and the body of the drum flexes alot and the rotor rubs the bullet guides. Talk about on going quility control problems!!
These things are some of the most expensive boat anchers out there. This will be drum number 3 for me.


Frustrated

[Norm]

I don't own a Kahr drum, but it seems to me that the Kahr drums vary from "don't work at all" to "works ok."

I got to try Kevin's Kahr drum in my TSMG. Mine shoots 950 RPM, and his drum worked fine for the first 45 rounds and then jammed. Even though it jammed (like we both expected), it ran better than we thought it would.

I guess it's the luck of the draw on these drums, though there don't seem to be as many keepers as we would hope.

I did notice that the springs felt wimpy.

Norm

[PK.]

Norm, try 15 clicks in the 950 rpm gun.

[Lancer]

QUOTE (PK. @ Apr 7 2005, 05:27 PM)

Norm, try 15 clicks in the 950 rpm gun.

How many clicks can you wind these drums without damaging the spring?

[Norm]

Since it wasn't my drum, I went easy on it.

Kevin told me to try 14 clicks, so I did.

Kevin had his WH with a 21 type acuator in it and he tried the maximum it would go (19 clicks) and it still did not feed well at 21 speeds. The round would actually turn sideways inside drum (like the rotor was slow to turn.)

When he had his 28 acuator in the gun (slower shooting), it seemed run ok.

Kevin said that he had done a little work to the drum (smoothing out burs and such.)

Norm

[JimFromFL]

When I sent mine back I asked for a refund.
I wonder if they will actually do it.

[Elbow]

I would be suprised if you get your money back.I really think Kahr is LOOSING THEIR ASS OUT on these drums.If you end up getting your $$$ back,then when I get my 3rd drum back,if it don't work, I'll be asking for my $$$ back also.

What a bummer this is,something that can be so good turns out to be a joke.I wonder,has anybody has gone as far as calling the B.B.B. on them yet?Would it really matter?

[Kevin]

I think Norm just about covered our experience with the Kahr drum. I have filed off a few more places that were dragging and will try it again. The spring is the weak spot now. I will also try to close the feed slot a little so that the rounds don't ride so high. The rounds now are so high that the first one must be pushed down while the drum is installed in the gun. Yeah, I know the drum is doo-doo but sometimes the temptation to make something work is just overpowering. As Norm said it does OK at 28 speeds but not too well at 21 speeds.
Kevin

p.s. Norm if you have a digital camera we'll have to get a pic of both of my 28's.

[Norm]

QUOTE

Norm if you have a digital camera we'll have to get a pic of both of my 28's.

You have two of Thompsons?! Now I am jealous!

Are they both Westys or do you have WW2 gun? Maybe a Colt?!

Norm

[Kevin]

PhilOhio
I believe the dimension between the feed lips is too wide ( about a 32nd inch wider than my two other drums). It allows the round to ride farther up the left ramps before it is stopped by the left feed lip. I think if the left lip extended into the gap a little futher it would capture the round between the left ramps and the left lip just as you say it should. The round would also ride lower in the drum so the drum could be installed in the weapon without having to push the round down while doing so. The round doesn't touch the right feed lip but the gap is much larger than the other drums.

Norm
It's a 28 Ford model A hot rod. Wish I had two Thompsons

Kevin

[Kevin]

PhilOhio,
After rereading your post and wanting not to do any more work than I have to, I took another look at the drum feed ramps. I was thinking that fooling with the ramps might cause problems with the rest of the drum. Using a drift and just a little pressure I was able to reshape the rear ramp. The round now sits lower and level. Hopefully this will keep the round from nose diving during feeding. The top round now clears the action while sliding the drum in place.

Thank you for the info, that's what I like about this site
Kevin