livnstrong
07-09-2012, 11:21 AM
As of today I have a one month old P380 and a one week old MK9 back in the loving hands of Kahr Service.
Thanks to all the tips and experience here I felt confident enough a month ago to purchase a NIB P380. I prepped it as recommended (which really helped) and started putting break-in rounds though it. Initially I had trouble of some sort with just about every mag fired - FTRTB, FTF, FTE, FTL, FOSTLB - with the slide not returning to battery being the primary cause. Up through 500 rounds fired that issue improved significantly but I still received a nagging pattern of occasional failure issues. I have also gotten a consistent pattern of rounds that eject right back into my face, even after beefing up the grip. I also noted that even well after break-in the mag release requires an extreme amount of pressure to disengage and drop the mag, although once fully depressed the mags all drop free.
Towards the end of this process of sorting out the P380 I picked up a NIB MK9 Elite 2003. It is just as beautiful in person as in the pictures and threads that I have seen here. After prepping the MK9 and firing 250 break-in rounds I was also noticing issues, mostly FTF from rounds diving or jamming at the top of the magazine, but also a few FTE's where the casing jams horizontally right in the slide opening. I also was getting the same pattern of casings that eject back into my face. Again I tried an improved grip but could not eliminate the problems. At this point I got two experienced shooting instructors to fire both the P380 and the MK9. Their results were identical to mine even experimenting with different grips, firing positions and ammo.
I have gone through similar break-in issues with Kimber and Kel-tec firearms, and to a much lesser extent with an H&K. In those instances, after a few hundred rounds, any issues went away never too return. The Kimber is a .45, the Kel-Tec a 9, the H&K a .40. All are compacts with snappy kicks when fired. I am well used to having to maintain a firm grip with no limping wresting when firing these compact pistols. I was honestly expecting some break-in issues with my Kahr's but also was expecting that any issues after break-in would likewise go away.
Last Friday I spoke with Tim Pearce - Kahr Customer Service Director. He was adamant that these issues were not normal in either Kahr and that he wanted to get both the P380 and MK9 back ASAP and to their gunsmiths for work. Kahr paid the return shipping and they delivered this morning. So, that's where we are. I will post the progress and results if anyone is interested. Thanks again to all here for the wealth of info in these forums.
Thanks to all the tips and experience here I felt confident enough a month ago to purchase a NIB P380. I prepped it as recommended (which really helped) and started putting break-in rounds though it. Initially I had trouble of some sort with just about every mag fired - FTRTB, FTF, FTE, FTL, FOSTLB - with the slide not returning to battery being the primary cause. Up through 500 rounds fired that issue improved significantly but I still received a nagging pattern of occasional failure issues. I have also gotten a consistent pattern of rounds that eject right back into my face, even after beefing up the grip. I also noted that even well after break-in the mag release requires an extreme amount of pressure to disengage and drop the mag, although once fully depressed the mags all drop free.
Towards the end of this process of sorting out the P380 I picked up a NIB MK9 Elite 2003. It is just as beautiful in person as in the pictures and threads that I have seen here. After prepping the MK9 and firing 250 break-in rounds I was also noticing issues, mostly FTF from rounds diving or jamming at the top of the magazine, but also a few FTE's where the casing jams horizontally right in the slide opening. I also was getting the same pattern of casings that eject back into my face. Again I tried an improved grip but could not eliminate the problems. At this point I got two experienced shooting instructors to fire both the P380 and the MK9. Their results were identical to mine even experimenting with different grips, firing positions and ammo.
I have gone through similar break-in issues with Kimber and Kel-tec firearms, and to a much lesser extent with an H&K. In those instances, after a few hundred rounds, any issues went away never too return. The Kimber is a .45, the Kel-Tec a 9, the H&K a .40. All are compacts with snappy kicks when fired. I am well used to having to maintain a firm grip with no limping wresting when firing these compact pistols. I was honestly expecting some break-in issues with my Kahr's but also was expecting that any issues after break-in would likewise go away.
Last Friday I spoke with Tim Pearce - Kahr Customer Service Director. He was adamant that these issues were not normal in either Kahr and that he wanted to get both the P380 and MK9 back ASAP and to their gunsmiths for work. Kahr paid the return shipping and they delivered this morning. So, that's where we are. I will post the progress and results if anyone is interested. Thanks again to all here for the wealth of info in these forums.