KP1 range report or not!

[coop2564]

Purchased a KP1 in 243 went to range yesterday and gun would not fire. Then after pulling trigger it would not open had to pull trigger assembly to get it to open. Tried about 10 times it would just barely leave a dimple in center of primer. And each time i would have to pull trigger assembly to open. Then it finally fired however now I can not open action even pulling trigger assembly  it will not open. Cant believe knight doesnt have better QC than this! In this economy putting out a product like this maybe a death sentence. Other than the gun not firing I liked everthing about it. It was deeply blued and everything fit verywell. And it looks great, But I'm very disappointed an American company would allow a gun out the door without it being tested. I hope they can make a rock soild repair. But they sure could have saved me some aggrevation by testing the gun before it left the factory! 

[coop2564]

Found part of the problem, tapped out hinge pin and got gun unlocked. When I tilted the gun up and down I could hear the firing pin fall back but striker part stayed sticking out of hole got a needlenose plier and the striker part is broke loose from main firing pin so that might explain the fail to fire part but not the lockup problem. Put gun back together and closed and it was very hard to open with the spent case in it. With the case out it opened very easy. Got a new shell and same it was very hard to open. And still unsure why when it didnt fire it would not open. Anyway I will call Knight tomorrow sure hope I dont have to send barrel in with it and take scope off. Seems to me its all frame related issues.

[coop2564]

Sent in the frame, they said they have completely redesigned the trigger group half the parts of the 1st one. Said it would be a couple weeks on turn around we'll see.

[Busta]

Sorry to hear of your problems Coop.

I was REALLY wanting one of these KP1's, but after examining a few and reading reports I have still not purchased one. I never did like the hammer/safety, and as a muzzleloader they had an extractor. They have redone the trigger group by making the hammer have a shorter throw. I hear that improved things, but they still have the extractor on the muzzleloader barrel.

They have designed a breech plug for the Vision that Grouse reports has no blowback with BH209.

Good luck with your .243, I hope they get you taken care of.

[richj]

I finally got to the indoor range to shoot the 270. Not one snag to it.

The range is only 25yds and no benches. I bore sighted it and the first round went to poa so I'm happy. Shot a 1" knot so next stop is the 100yd range.

The trigger has a bit of spring to take up then lets off at about 3 lbs, I like it.

Rich

[coop2564]

Got my .243 KP1 back from factory. New trigger group! Hammer has less upward slope I can cock without extension now much shorter hammer pull also with more of a positive cock and no safety! Its slightly heavier though original was about 3.5 lbs now slightly over 4lbs but very crisp. Gun fired without fail although it was very hard to open about 1st 10 shots after firing,  as the barrel and latch started to mate together each shot it got easier. It took about 6 shots to sight in after that It was grouping well with mosts 3 shot groups at 1.5" this was with a 30 mph cross wind in Big D. Over all I put 42 rounds though it, my best load group was with 85gr sgk right at 1" next 95 gr fusion 1.250. With the wind I was very pleased gun fired every time and opened every time. Knights customer service was excellent and they definitely fix to my satisfaction. 

[Busta]

Thanks for the update Coop! I handled one in a gun shop the other day that had a more solid short throw hammer, they feel way better than the original design. It is too bad that in this day and age we as customers have to do some of the R&D for most of these Companies. It is through good input from people like you that help them improve the products. Knight has had some real toads over the last 6 or 7 years, I hope they get this KP1 completely figured out like T/C has done with the Encore.

I would like to see them make a few changes to the muzzleloader version sooner rather than later. Get rid of the extractor and make a better breech plug. They are going to have another contender really soon, the CVA Apex with the Bergara barrels.

Keep us posted on your range reports.

[coop2564]

Went back to range yesterday it was calm and 74 degrees. Shot serveral groups where every hole was touching with 85gr SGK feds and 80gr rem green box. 95gr fed fusions were .750 to 1". Gun seemed very tolerant to barrel heat was grouping very well shooting shooting it hot or cold. Love the gun!

[Tunaman]

I am so glad to hear that they have worked out the trigger issues. I had an early KP1 and Got rid of it because of the failure to fire issue. Much like you, though, I liked everything about it but the failure to fire. When it fired, it shot very well. I may have to pick up another one, now that they have fixed things.

[nomosendero]

Looks like I may not need one of those after all. 

[Swampman]

Since Knight is going out of business, I probably don't either.

[Underclocked]

Got my new trigger group in a couple of days ago (I think it's #4 for me  )

The new trigger assembly is:

easier to install and remove

omits the bullcrap de-cocking safety and is a simple rebounding hammer

fits my rifle better

not quite as elegant in appearance as the older assembly but that is in the eye of the beholder.

Operating the new trigger outside the rifle, there was spongy creep and just didn't feel all that crisp generally. Oh boy - there won't be a version 5! Installing the unit in the rifle made a remarkable difference (perhaps the barrel interlock was the cause?). In the rifle, the trigger feels much better - very little takeup of any kind, no creep at all, crisp letoff at ~4lbs. That is a heavier trigger pull that I like and a little heavier than my older unit, but I can live with it.

[Busta]

UC,

Glad to hear you got the new rebounding hammer, I handled a few of those at one of my favorite toy stores a couple weeks ago. They had a bunch of KP1's on the rack, some had the new assembly, some had one of the older versions. I was checking serial #'s to see if there was some kind of timeline, but they were all over the place. Some with very low serial #'s had the new assembly, some with serial #'s just a few away had different hammer/trigger assemblies. So a guy isn't going to be able to tell by the serial #, but if it don't have that goofy hammer safety, it should be the newest version.

It is just too bad they didn't get it right the first time, that rifle could have saved their butt to some extent.

Have you tinkered with your new trigger/hammer yet? Could it be lightened?

[squirrellluck]

Underclocked, did you have to send your reciever in to get the hew trigger group?

[Underclocked]

No, an online friend was at the auction in Iowa and asked a Knight employee there to send me one.  He did.

Haven't messed with it yet, Busta...  I'm a little bit paranoid about not being able to get the thing back inside its housing.  It's impossible for me to see in there. 

[coop2564]

One more note on KP1 .243, went to indoor range Saturday too hot outside. Has anyone noticed (at least with mine) how barrel heat does not affect the KP1? I shot 3 5 shot groups with federal 85gr  Barnes TSX's all 3 groups were right at an 1" and I have noticed every time I have shot it barrel heat just doesn't seem to affect its POI at all. Its a shame Knight couldn't have hung on a little longer and got all the initial kinks out of this gun, it has addressed the forearm accuracy problems of the TC's and Handi's with this design. After the 2nd group I took the rifle apart, taking forearm off pulling pin and removing barrel simulating a barrel change. Then put it back together and shot the final group absolutely no POI change! Still hoping someone will buy them and continue with the KP1 and their bolt designs some of the best guns on the market in these two!