New Kahr Thompson

[texascolt45]

Ordered a 1911 Tc yesterday.should be here today.hope it works and makes a good gun.pics to folow later today i hope.i've already got an S & A magwell and some thin grips ready to go on.hopefully the trigger group won't suck too bad outta the box.

[mitchjoe]

texascolt45:

Congrats on the purchase & looking forward to a range report!

mitchjoe

[texascolt45]

Dang gun didnt get shipped till today.hopefully i'll be sendin rounds down range by 11 or so tomorrow.range report to follow. :butthead:

[texascolt45]

well no range report to tell.the freakin thing wouldn't drop the hammer.seems Kahr might know small handguns but they definetly got the same folks buildin em.it looks like someone with a dremel tried to make the 80 series lower safety plunger work but it was on the wrong side.the safety and slide stop had no tension on them so even if it did work i'm sure the slide woulda locked back every time.theres 690 down the tubes.there was a shiny spot along the top of the slde and the rear sight was not gouged but not blued very well.i'll call Kahr monday and see if they fix the POS.

[N6CRV]

Fix it heck no tell them you want a new one!! Then ask what are they offering for all your trouble. I sure hope they pay for the shipping both ways and you get a fast turn around. Good luck and let us all know how you make out.
Don

[texascolt45]

i sure wanted this gun to be ok.there's definetly somethin wrong.plus the plunger in the slide for the firing pin safety is peened in so hence no 80 series safety.i just can't believe they let somethin this crappy get out.it also was from may 2005.the frame inside where the safety slides thru on the left side looks like someone used a dull drill bit to try and clearance it.if it wasnt for that id try and fix it but jeeze the crap looks like youd never get it flat.plus on the right side next to the grip safety slot its all dimpled like the trigger didnt fit and they were tryin to clearance it.good thing my STI is still with me.jeeeeezee what were they thinkin.

[SargeMO]

They must have one hell of an office party in May of '05- mine was a Bowser, too.

[texascolt45]

i just can't believe they let somethin like that get out.

[Sandman1967]

This was a "New" gun?
:scared:

[texascolt45]

yep came from sports south in louisiana and i took it outta the bag myself.all oiled up and pretty but thats when the fun ended.the recoil spring was even in backwards.the closed end was to the front.but yes it was new.

[texascolt45]

don't even think of buyin a NEW and improved 45.if mines an example there still junk and always will be.the phone is always busy and dont even think of gettin a return call.i knew it was probably a mistake buyin this thing but i had to try.evidently Kahr service is different than auto ordnance. :butthead:

[SargeMO]

Texas, if you can get to a voicemail, leave a message for "Dottie." Might try an e-mail to her attention as well. She called me back the same day and was downright anxious to get my problems resolved. Hope you get yours worked out too.

[texascolt45]

yep i got an email back from her today with a return number and everything.55 freakin dollars for overnight shipping,youchhh!

[Sandman1967]

yep i got an email back from her today with a return number and everything.55 freakin dollars for overnight shipping,youchhh!

I sure hope that they do something about that for you! Like throw in some mags or another gun...........HeeHee...
Sorry, sure hope this all works out.

[texascolt45]

talked with the delightful miss d on the phone today.i'm sure they'll make it right so heres waitin.

[RitaR]

Went back more than once and came back not working any better. Took it to a smith that fixed it. Kahr lost me as a customer forever!

[stans]

Some things just never seem to change.

[texascolt45]

has anybody bought a 1911tc that didnt suck from the box?just wonderin if it'll ever be worth a crap.

[NYCMedic]

I have fired both of their "custom" models without any problems.(Please dont scream at me for using that would with these guns. That's what they call them.) I dont own them but they were quite nice for the few hundred rounds that I put through them.

[TxStorm]

talked with the delightful miss d on the phone today.i'm sure they'll make it right so heres waitin.


Please keep us posted on this.. interested to see in how they make it "right". How it made it through QC boggles the mind! :(

[harleydog]

It makes wonder how in the world something like that can leave the factory without being a liability issue.

[texascolt45]

2 weeks and still no word.grrrrrrr.shoulda bought a freakin springfield.

[texascolt45]

got an email today there supposed to look at it monday.they normally dont replace a gun till it comes back a couple times.i can guarantee this one wont go back if it doesnt get fixed the first time.

[texascolt45]

to all who'll listen>STEP AWAY FROM THE THOMPSON.buy a springfield or somethin else.THAT IS ALL.

[NYCMedic]

What did they say/do?

[texascolt45]

nothin so far.when ya call no one calls back.sure gives ya a reoson to be mad.just think hard about buyin a thompson.

[shucks]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's

[hpcc19]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's


I wouldn't suggest an AO to anyone, but I've had 3.. still have two.

1. 1911PKZ Kahr, Series 70 type...flawless. Sold it. Damn

2. TC custom, one trip to factory (FTB, extractor, mebbe) After return had to replace slide stop myself (bad spec on these, universally) I also polished the ramp and throat. This pistol now runs GREAT!!! No, zero, nada trigger creep. But it wasn't right to go through the hassle and personal expense.

3. 1911PKZE Kahr. Feeds and shoots great, but is a Series 80. However, the plunger spring assembly needed work as it was impossible to reassemble after stripping and the safety was impossible to activate with just the thumb. This is not acceptable QC. The metalform mag was trashed because it had some fako park coating that kept it from dropping free (sanded it off and the soon-to-be rusty thing worked fine)

BTW, the FP spring must be rated at 10,000 pounds and makes reassembly a challenge. (or should I say "old" fp spring) :nono:

Kahr still might get it right someday. The bones of the pistol are good but they keep flubbing on execution. Maybe they should include a prepaid mailer for warranty returns. :D

For a budget GI, I would suggest an RIA. it is at least $100 less than SA and $60 cheaper than Kahr. They're a bit rough but run great.

The TC Custom is a pretty reasonably priced pistol with all the must have geegaws. It does shoot nice and eats all the ammo I feed it.

[stans]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's

Not all Auto Ords were bad, just a great number of them. If yours works properly, then enjoy it for what it is. If it has a minor problem that can be easily fixed, then fix it. If it is way out of spec and would cost hundreds of dollars to fix, then toss it. Regardless of manufacturer, each firearm is a rule unto itself and must be judged on its own merits.

[edwardyoung]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's


I'm not a jaded 1911 owner, nor do I pretend to be one on the internet, but I have 2 Kahr/AO's and have had no problems. I have only run about 500 rounds, total, through them, but I like them just fine. I think the main characteristic of a gun neccessary these days to garner praise from the internet experts is be expensive(RIA the glaring exception). Cast frames on non-premium brand 1911's are poo-pooed as grenades waiting to detonate if you were to actually shoot them. But peruse the Caspian forum or the Nighthawk forum and you hear nothing but praise for these high-dollar cast-frame 1911's. I'm sure there have been some dogs put out by the 1911-clone manufacturers, but I'm pretty sure mine aren't the only two that are even marginally operational. Don't get me wrong, I wish I had a couple custom Colts instead of my non-custom AO's, but I'm glad they make 1911's I can afford. And they come with a warranty, if there is a problem. I know they should find the problems before they leave the factory, but let's deal with reality. Don't tell anyone, but I actually like mine and will actually take them out in the daytime to show others.

http://gallery.sixshootercommunity.com/albums/userpics/10086/normal_AO%201911%20002.jpg
http://gallery.sixshootercommunity.com/albums/userpics/10086/normal_AO%201911%20011.jpg

[hnewton]

Just got a New AO Deluxe (wrap around grips and 3 dot sights). Love the gun. Feeds well with 230 hardball, not a hiccup yet, even with different brand name mags.. Groups well (but consistantly low). The front sight has a gap between it and the slide you can slide a post card through. When I figure out how to fix that, it should correct the low shooting. Can I just tap it down? For now it's ok, at 25yds just aim for the chin and get center mass.

[stans]

Sounds like the sight was not properly staked. Generally speaking, restaking a sight will not last very long and it may well be that the sight was once in firm contact with the slide, but the tenon is stretching and will soon fail.

[hpcc19]

Sounds like the sight was not properly staked. Generally speaking, restaking a sight will not last very long and it may well be that the sight was once in firm contact with the slide, but the tenon is stretching and will soon fail.

By the way, I had the same issue with a new Colt 70 Gov't....so it isn't just AO

[SargeMO]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6109/ao0125064rr.jpg
I like my WWII model just fine- now. It came with a busted MIM ejector, a joke for an extractor and a barrel that has "chatter" marks where the rifling cutter should have cut clean. A/O sent me replacements for the bum parts, but I opted for Ed Brown's extended ejector and extractor anyhow.

A little work has really made a fine gun out of it. It is over 450 rounds now (350 Wolf hardball and about 100 rounds of assorted factory and reloaded JHP's, SWC loads etc.) without a hiccup- save one round of Wolf hardball that had a grossly-undersize rim. I use Metalform 7-shot mags with the round follower, but have also used ratty $5 gun-show mags for plinking- and it has run fine with them too. It is, in it's unaccurized state, shooting 2-2.5 inches for 5 shots standing, two-hand at 25 yards. Whenever I can't shoot it that well I know it's me, and not the gun..

Don't believe I'd sell it now, even at a 50% markup. It's a good solid 1911 that is proving dead reliable, and shoots where it looks. I don't care whose name is on the frame when I'm getting those things out of a gun. I have had to rebuild a few Colts and Springfields to get them to run right over the past 25 years, too.

[OD*]

Lookin' good Sarge! http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

Hey, I still have that short trigger if you need it.

[SargeMO]

Thank you OD- and I'll just take you up on that. Zing me an e-mail on any particulars if you need too.

[OD*]

E-mule sent to "show me state". ;)

[texascolt45]

course they didnt say what monday they were supposed to look at it.maybe the monday in march when they got nothin else to do.

[hnewton]

Sounds like the sight was not properly staked. Generally speaking, restaking a sight will not last very long and it may well be that the sight was once in firm contact with the slide, but the tenon is stretching and will soon fail.


Is this something I can fix myself, or do I have to take to a shop?

[texascolt45]

stillllllllll waitin for my gun back.repeat after me,No thompson,no thompson,no thompson.

[stans]

Is this something I can fix myself, or do I have to take to a shop?
If you are willing to purchace the staking tool, have a good bench vise with padded jaws, a good mallet, a (gulp) Dremel or suitable variable speed drill and a round carbide bur and invest in a few new sights (since if you are like me, you'll mess up the first one or two) then you can do this job yourself. Or, if you don't plan on replacing the front sight on several 1911's, just take it to a gunsmith and have him stake on a new sight and save yourself some money and a lot of time.

[hnewton]

OK, I'm convinced........off to a 'smith it goes. Thanks

[hpcc19]

If you are willing to purchace the staking tool, have a good bench vise with padded jaws, a good mallet, a (gulp) Dremel or suitable variable speed drill and a round carbide bur and invest in a few new sights (since if you are like me, you'll mess up the first one or two) then you can do this job yourself.

Well, I bought the Brownell's tool for $35 'cause Colt said it would be a 6 week wait for their warranty repair. Seems like it worked fine. We'll see how long it stays staked. :D

[texascolt45]

got my 1911tc back today.they replaced the firing pin plunger and test fired it.will go tomorrow to see if it will work this time.the main spring in these things are about 40 pounds it seems and the firing pin safety is pretty stout.the trigger had about an eight inch of play up and down.i'm gonna fit a videcki triger and see if i can smooth up the pull a bit.these guns look just as good a a kimber but arent really final fitted so good as far as trigger group and such.the parts are all there they just need some massaging i think.we'll see, range time to follow.

[texascolt45]

well i took it to the range today.the trigger pull was 7 pounds and some outta the box.but it did work fine.came home,fitted a greider trigger,supposed to be the old videcki.didn't have to fit the trigger to the frame it dropped in with a very tiny bit of up and down play. smoothed up the hammer hooks a bit and touched up the sear very little.i don't have a pull gauge at home but it feels a bout maybe 4.5 or so.removed the 80 series stuff cause i wont be carryin it,just an IDPA gun.all in all with what i paid for the gun and the hassle of shipping it back for 55 bucks and having to buy a trigger for 15 or so extra plus the springs i changed i doubt id ever buy another one unless they make big changes.also the full length guide rod is chromed or something and the chrome plating was peeling off after only about 125 rounds or so.i had an extra wilson so i put that in,so no extra cost.total was 690 + 55 + 20 or so for parts.$765.i love my kahr pm9 but the thompson is best left alone unless you get one cheap.

[hpcc19]

removed the 80 series stuff cause i wont be carryin it,just an IDPA gun.all in all with what i paid for the gun and the hassle of shipping it back for 55 bucks and having to buy a trigger for 15 or so extra plus the springs i changed i doubt id ever buy another one unless they make big changes.also the full length guide rod is chromed or something and the chrome plating was peeling off after only about 125 rounds or so.i had an extra wilson so i put that in,so no extra cost.total was 690 + 55 + 20 or so for parts.$765.i love my kahr pm9 but the thompson is best left alone unless you get one cheap.


I had all the same issues. I just decided it was a "project gun" and I kinda like it now. Wouldn't do it again. you n' me aren't sellin' an guns for Kahr, are we? ;)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/hpcc19/tc1911lf.jpg

[texascolt45]

i just can't believe they sell those things and let them get outta the factory as crappy as they are.i'll keep it but jeeze Kahr needs to get off off there *** and get them right.

[Hawkmoon]

I looked at an A-O GI reproduction is a gun shop the other day. First time I've seen one in the flesh. The thumb safety wasn't fitted correctly, and would go up so high when activated that the plunger extended behind the wide spot on the safety "pad" and it was impossible to disengage the safety without using a knife blade or something to push the plunger in. The shop had a second one in the display case so we pulled that one to compare. The safety functioned on that one, but it felt really "gritty" and not well machined at all.

I was disappointed, to say the least. If I were in the market for a GI clone I would still consider an A-O, but not for a carry pistol. It appears these are guns you have to buy with the expectation that you're going to put some time and perhaps $$$ into after the sale before they are "right."

[AnimalKracker]

Does anyone have anything good to say about the AO's? I've got a pre kahr, and I' m starting to worry. All of the other forums seem to like their 1911's a whole lot, even the CD and RIA forum, and those 1911's are cheaper than the Thompsons. Any folks like their AO's
Most of us love our ROCKS. :D

[AnimalKracker]

OK, I'm convinced........off to a 'smith it goes. Thanks
For just a little more you can get the smith to put on dovetailed sight, and not worry about shooting lose again.

[Old GI]

I have a pre Kahr AO that my Dad bought used to replace a 1911 Colt that was stolen, he left the AO and some other guns to me.
As long as I use hardball or Federal EFMJs and don't use JHPs it feeds sweet. POA = POI. I just bought a SA "GI" series LW Champion and have had to spend some time and money on it. Now that the SA is at smith I am back to carrying the AO, I trust it. Don't know if it ever had any trigger work done on it but the AO has what seems like about 2-3 lb trigger pull. The SA came out of box w/ 9 1/2 lb pull, Whew!
I feel like Wyatt Earp, he worked his triggers over good and said that if you laid one of his guns on a table and looked at it hard it would go off. That's just about the way I feel about my AO, but I like that. I guess just about every 1911 likes a little tweaking, go figger'.
Overall my AO is very comforting.
Click on the camera icon and look at my "his and her" guns, the his, AO, is one on top, with the longer barrel.

[texascolt45]

the trigger pull was 4lb's and about 12 ounces.lowered the sear tension a little and got it down to about 4 pounds on the nose.perfect for me.now we'll see how the thing holds up to some shooting.got about 6000 lead 200gr SWC's.and im back to shootin 45's in IDPA.so this gun is gonna get a workout.i'll be sure and post if any bad problems crop up.

[SargeMO]

Let us know how it goes, Texas. Mine is chugging along on those 200 SWC's (loaded to 1.250) like they were hardball.

[texascolt45]

the gun is still goin good.works perfect,the extractor was a little tight i found had 2 times it didnt go all the way into battery.i think its fixed now.so far nothin has broken and mine looks like its got a regular hammer and sear not MIM parts.

[Doodle]

When you say it wouldn't go to battery, does that mean the round failed to completely go into the chamber and lock? Because mine does this after about 2 mags. What is the cause of this malf? How do I fix it?
Doodle

[AnimalKracker]

the gun is still goin good.works perfect,the extractor was a little tight i found had 2 times it didnt go all the way into battery.i think its fixed now.so far nothin has broken and mine looks like its got a regular hammer and sear not MIM parts.
While not having a AO, I do have Kimber , Para, and RIA. It sounds as if the pistol needs a few more rounds through it yet to break it in. My new Para LTC did the same thing. I just ran several hundred more rounds through it and it now works fine.

[texascolt45]

on mine the extractor was a little tight i think.the hook that grabs the case rim has too much tension and the round won't slide up into the chamber all the way.anyone that messes with 1911's can adjust it a little for you Doodle.someone might can walk ya thru it,but it also just might need a few more rounds thru it.

[Doodle]

I ran 200 rounds thru today. Only malf was on chambering from a fresh magazine. It sure was nice to go thru mag after mag and just rock n roll. Shoots kinda low and a little left but I think the left is me. I think I push the trigger that way.
I had the gun disassembled and put the barrel back on the frame w/o slide to see if the round would bind on stripping from the mag by hand. It did.
I am looking at the area ground on the bottom of the chamber and the place on the frame that ramps the round up. So, I think the problem is in the angle that the round feeds at needs adjustment or breakng-in. I still have only 350 rounds thru it.
Thanks Tex
Doodle

[SargeMO]

Doodle,

DON'T change the angle of the feed ramp! That can't be fixed once the metal is gone, and the proper cure is a pretty simple.

The brain trust at Auto-Ord sent a .283 link on my replacement barrel, and I noticed that HP's would hang on it a little when I hand-cycled the gun. They'd still feed when the gun was being fired, but unfired rounds that I ejected when clearing the gun showed a clear ding on the edge of the HP.

The longer link was allowing the barrel to set further to the rear during link-down, and it was practically standing on the link (instead of indexing the bottom lugs on the slide stop) when in battery. Lacking a true .279 GI link, I substituted a .280 that I had on hand and mated the barrel to the frame per Kuhnhausen- there needs to be about a 1/32 or .030 space between the bottom of the barrel throat and the feed ramp, so the rounds don't hang up, like yours is doing.

I'd almost bet your link is too long. Get yourself a .279 link and see if that don't cure the barrel throat/feed ramp overhang. Those hang-ups will disappear when you get the correct link and mate the barrel to the frame. It'll also probably shoot better, because the bottom lugs will be indexing properly on the slide stop pin, assuming it's not undersize.

Tuner may have some photos of the correct/incorrect engagement, and if you can beg/borrow/steal Volume 1 of Kuhnhausen's book, there is a great illustration there. Meanwhile I'll hunt around and see if I can find something on the idjitnet.

Found it! Text at http://www.blindhogg.com/gunsmith/barrel.html I personally like a little more than what's shown here. I set a mic for .030 and work until the space btween the throat/ramp matches what I seen on the mic.
http://www.blindhogg.com/pics/barrel15.jpg

[Doodle]

Thanks SargeMO, I was excited about the gun shooting and worded my post poorly (and read later not to change the angle of the ramp). I read that the are can be polished with polishing compound. I looked at the ledge and doesn't look like a 32nd but my eyes haven't been calibrated since the operation. I 'll break out my mics or calipers and find out the true deminsions. Thanks Again Doodle

[CD MCKINNEY]

Well I was thinking about getting the 1911TC, but after handling several of their other models, (which were ****) and reading all of the nonsense here about A/O, Kahr & Thompson; I wouldn't take one for free. I have Springfield Armorys and a few Colts that are great, and thanks to you all for saving me from making a mistake.

[hpcc19]

Well I was thinking about getting the 1911TC, but after handling several of their other models, (which were ****) and reading all of the nonsense here about A/O, Kahr & Thompson; I wouldn't take one for free. .

CD, please put me first on the list to take the free ones that you won't take. :)

[custommade]

I have a Thompson Custom that I purchased here in beaumont Texas. I have not had any of the problems that I read in this post at all. The pistol shoots good, is accurate and reliable. In fact it has been my carry weapon since receiving my Conceal Carry permit in March. I would definitel buy another.

[custommade]

In fact I recently purchased the new Tarus P1911 and it was with me for 2 weeks until I sold it. Purchased a new Ruger ,, competition 22 automatic. All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put that Ruger back together again. Ruger MkII owners know what I am talking about. LOL

[custommade]

I have been trying to get a pic of my 1911 and I think I finally have it.

Mine is the Thompson Custom 1911CAF with the aluminum body and frame. Tommy has not given me any problems yet and I don't expect any. I have been able to shoot anything I have loaded. It is now one of my carry pistols, the other being a Beretta PX4 Storm 40sw of which I am pleased with also. I am new to shooting and the 1911 and I want to learn everything from you guys. Thanks to this forum for giving me the learning platform on which I plan to one day build my own 1911.


http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x59/horacel2/thompson1911CAF.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x59/horacel2/Automaticfamily.jpg

[custommade]

I am so very sorry for putting all of this mess in the forum. Mr. Moderaror, can you fix it ?

[OD*]

custommade,

You need to re-size your photos, amigo. ;)

[custommade]

I'll try to do better the next time, OD. I am more at home behind the trigger of my 45 than behind a keyboard but I hope to improve more as I post more. Thanks.

[OD*]

You're welcome and no apologies necessary my friend.