In the past I had always heard it recommended to ship the slide off to Kahr directly to have replacement sights installed due to an exceptionally tight fit. Has anyone had their regular gunsmith change them without issue or is it still recommended to have Kahr do it?

I think Kahr is your best choice.

Contact Kahr Arms Technical Support Department to receive a Return Authorization number before shipping a firearm to the factory. You can do this by online (RA request form) or by calling 508-795-3919-ext.1

Kahr handguns returned to the factory for service or repair should be sent to:

Kahr Firearms Group
Attn:Return Dept.
105 Kahr Ave.
Greeley, PA 18425

Yes Kahr.
Their sights are horribly tight fitting and I've heard stories about damaged sights when they've finally been removed and installing.
Quite like an older Beretta rear sight which are a bitch also.

Their sights are as hard to replace as my FN 509T. You really need a sight tool and possibly a vice in order to not screw anything up. I replaced the rear sight on my gun and just took my time. Out of the different gun sights I have replaced, it was by far the hardest.

I can’t recall if I ever changed out Kahr sights, but I’ve done a bunch of XD’s. A heavy duty MGW sight tool couldn’t get ‘em to budge. Hammer and punch worked every time, but not without some effort.

Installing is a piece of cake as the sights are fitted (filed).

I screwed up my sight trying to replace it. Send it to Kahr

Kahr or a good smith. The factory sights are insanely tightly fitted and new sights will require a good bit of fitting. Getting the new ones in is easier than getting the old ones out.

I changed out the sights on a CW9

It was about the same as changing factory sights out on a Sig in terms of tightness.

Thanks everyone!