Calling all p380/cw380 owners

[drewski115]

So I had a PM9 which was a great little gun but it did not pocket carry well for me. I decided to sell it and go smaller. Was thinking a CW380. Unfortunately those around here are like unicorns, mermaids and Big Foot, you hear about em but no one has seen one. I went to a LGS and took a look at the P380. Very nice but when I hit the magazine release it was solid. It took pushing with both my thumbs on top each other to get the release to work. The magazine would move down in the magazine well just a short way but not drop free. The dude at the LGS did not seem concerned about it and put it back in the case.

Has any current owners of P380 or CW380's have this occur? This can't be normal or is it till it is used some? I am not too concerned about the magazine not dropping free as that is an easy fix but the release button is an issue.

Thanks

[wyntrout]

Things can be "tight" in new guns, especially Kahrs. All can benefit from cleaning and lubricating AND using it to break it in. Sometimes extra TLC might be used as very light sanding of magazine and magazine well with fine sandpaper... taking care not to alter the retention notch by rounding it... just remove any possible burrs. Sometimes the magazine can be squeezed a tiny bit with non-marring pliers or something like that to reduce "too-fat" magazine and make it function better. Be careful with any procedures like these, though, avoid permanent injury to your pistol!

Wynn:)

[ammodave]

Not normal. The mag release on my new (unfired) CW380 is easy to push and the mag drops free. The recoil spring is another issue. I found the slide almost impossible to rack back to the locked position. After I cycled the slide about 300 times it finally became manageable.

[wyntrout]

Some guns leave the factory in "perfect" condition and others may need more rough edges smoothed or broken in... mated with use and wear.

"Normal" can cover a wide range of things that are balky or kind of tight until a bit of wearing in with use and proper lubrication.

It's best to do your part and read the manual and go through the information in our new member area where there are all kinds of help and info about nearly every problem. We do get newbies with "problems" they created, too, with improper procedures in disassembly and re-assembling the pistols. ANYONE can get a Kahr apart, but putting it back together CORRECTLY requires using proper procedures for the specific KAHR pistol... steel or polymer being the largest two categories. There are assembly issues particular to Kahr owing to its unique design... the result of 6 or more Kahr patents.

Here's my newcomer welcome with many of the links and information, but there are a lot of others:

Welcome to the Kahrtalk forum supported by K a h r Arms.
Here are a few essential links and things to do BEFORE you take your new pistol to the range, and ESPECIALLY BEFORE taking it apart and trying to re-assemble it! The Kahr is a different design… 6-7 unique patents cover the Kahrs. I’m not trying to imply that you don’t know anything about guns, but many don’t know anything about the Kahrs and some of the things you can do to damage or cause malfunctions of your new, or new-to-you Kahr pistol.

First, if you don’t have a manual, yet, or one didn’t come with your pistol, you can view it and/or download the pdf file here:
http://www.kahr.com/PDF/kahrmanual.pdf

Please watch one of these videos FIRST! These videos can point out possible problem areas and emphasize correct procedures!
Take down and re-assembly videos:
T, TP, CW, P, & PM/CM Series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=G2cZgVg_SwA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G2cZgVg_SwA)
MK series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...mSCnIOaUk#t=0s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zXmSCnIOaUk#t=0s)
K series:
http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-K9-Elite.asp

There are many links on fixing problems listed in several places… under the New Member or Kahr Tech sub-forums. To start, a very good one:

Proper Prepping of a new Kahr:

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14748

A very handy one is the Kahr Lubrication Diagram:
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14750

Many of your questions can be answered in these areas and you can learn how your Kahr works and not damage it with improper handling.

Another great resource for information on Kahrs... Archives of Magazine and Internet Reviews for Kahr pistols by industry experts. They test these pistols and report on their views and the ammo they tested in it. This is a good way to find ammo that might fit your needs along with accuracy and feeding in the pistol... usually from a rest with velocity and energy, as well as penetration and expansion sometimes... very informational.

http://www.kahr.com/product-reviews.asp

Frequently asked questions: http://www.kahr.com/faq.asp?

One very important bit of advice: Hold the Kahr pistol firmly when firing OR CHAMBERING a round. These compact pistols need all of the force they can get from the slide to get a round into the chamber successfully. If you don't hold the pistol firmly, part of the needed momentum is transferred to MOVING THE PISTOL and the top round will DIVE and jam into the right side of the feed ramp. The weak hand, over hand rack method gives the best grip and a firm rack will give you the best chance at chambering a round.

Use the weak hand fingers over the slide(clear of the ejection port), thumb along the slide and pointing to the rear. Use the gun hand to simultaneously firmly push the gun as you give a vigorous rack with the weak hand and cleanly release the slide as it reaches the rear limit and is "snatched" from the weak hand. This approximates a real rack from firing and beats the slide release method WHEN executed properly. Much more strength can be exerted when this is done closer to the body.

Here's a video on that. The first part is what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=hjLbFOw8sow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hjLbFOw8sow)

There are many helpful members here most of the time who might be able to help you, but as anywhere, there are many opinions and not all are correct. Be mindful of this before doing anything drastic to modify your pistol!


Wynn:)
Aka wyntrout

PS: I keep thinking of stuff to add and help new members... and am trying to cover most of the popular subjects. Yes, it's repetitious to many, but possibly not to all new members. This approach is easier than having to look up every tidbit for each new member or question that arises. :)

[drewski115]

I had read the prep threads when I had the PM9 which were very helpful. I did not see the videos though. Thanks. This forum is great.

Guess I'll take a look at another P380 or CW380 if I can find one locally.

[mikemc53]

Just picked up my new CW380 about two hours ago. Took it home and cleaned it up real good. Stoned any sharp or jagged edges, lightly oiled and put it back together. The mag drops really easily on this one, though on my CM9 it took a little breaking in.

Hope to get to the range tomorrow so if I do, I'll have a short report on the performance. I have some Magtech, WWB and Herters to run through it, plus a few rounds of Hornady Critical Defense. If this gun is anything at all like the CM9 I am going to be one very satisfied little fella.

[drewski115]

Just picked up my new CW380 about two hours ago. Took it home and cleaned it up real good. Stoned any sharp or jagged edges, lightly oiled and put it back together. The mag drops really easily on this one, though on my CM9 it took a little breaking in.

Hope to get to the range tomorrow so if I do, I'll have a short report on the performance. I have some Magtech, WWB and Herters to run through it, plus a few rounds of Hornady Critical Defense. If this gun is anything at all like the CM9 I am going to be one very satisfied little fella.

Nice. Congratulations on the purchase. Please do report back. I'd like to know.

[Tomac]

Wife's P380 needed a little sanding on the mag release for mags to drop free easily but otherwise has been 100%.

Tomac

[Nismo]

I have a new p380 purchased last month. The mag release pushes in very easily and the mag slides right out with gravity.

I purchased 2 additional mags and both pop out with ease. One of my mags seems a bit tighter in the mag well and is almost non drop free, but that is just that mag's issue not the gun.

[DJK11]

With more than 4000 rounds through my P380, I can attest it gets smoother with use.

Keep shooting it.

[WLEEP]

Drew, I'm in central Florida and had been craving a CW 380. One showed up the third week of November and I snatched it up. Within a week three other LGS in my area had them.


My mag release was smooth as silk.


RE: slide rack. I just sat in front of the TV the following Sunday watching football and racked the slide about 300 times and it works fine.'

[drewski115]

Drew, I'm in central Florida and had been craving a CW 380. One showed up the third week of November and I snatched it up. Within a week three other LGS in my area had them.


My mag release was smooth as silk.


RE: slide rack. I just sat in front of the TV the following Sunday watching football and racked the slide about 300 times and it works fine.'

Thank you sir for the report......it's starting to sound more encouraging.

[2tango2]

My first range trip with my CW380 was a disaster. Jam after jam justifying to chamber a round

Since then I have bought some training rounds and have been feeding and cycling smoothly. I think the Frog Lube treatment probably helped as well

Does seem smoother to rack now though after all the practice round cycling


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[The Faux King]

Mag release is fine on my P380 -- has been since day 1.

[drewski115]

Well thanks everyone....I ordered my CW380 today from Vance's Outdoors. We'll see how it goes.

[2tango2]

My 2nd range trip was outstanding compared to 1st. Enjoy your new CW380 and don't judge it by first trip if you have some issues

[drewski115]

My 2nd range trip was outstanding compared to 1st. Enjoy your new CW380 and don't judge it by first trip if you have some issues

Roger that. Thanks for the report.

[Firewire]

I picked up a CW380 yesterday. Completely stumbled upon it! Empty mag drops 1/3 before sticking, but I find that ok. Definitely glad I cleaned it. A few loose filings found, so clean it before firing first time. My feed ramp looks like a mirror from the factory. Beautiful!!!

Recoil spring keeps wanting to poke out on reassembly, but that is my only complaint. I did notice my serial is RHxxxx and the P380 was a RDxxxxx.

Gallery of Guns shows plenty in stock if you don't mind waiting 2-3 days for delivery to a local ffl.

[drewski115]

Picked up my CW380 today at Vance's in Columbus Oh. So far everything is good. The magazine release button is smooth, easy to push and the magazine drops free with gravity. Awesome. Now time to prep it then get in some range time......unfortunately the wife is eyeing it up. I may have to buy 2 now.