PDA

View Full Version : Michael's P380 Range Report...



Michael W.
06-05-2010, 07:39 PM
"His whaaaaaaaat????"

Yep, once again I succumbed to the impulse to add another
Kahr to my collection..........kind of silly since I just very recently
divested of my LCP and 380 ammo.....(Boy THAT was short sighted!:)

But in this case, the Zero Sum law is in effect so I'll probably be
selling my CW40 to partially fund the P380.
The CW40 was a bit of overlap between the PM45 and PM9 in terms
of functional use. If I'm going to belt carry, then the PM45 makes
more sense. For 90% of my pocket carry scenario's the PM9 is
the best choice.

So why oh why get back into a "mousegun"?....well....as much as I'd like
for the PM9 to fit every pocket carry scenario, there are still a few
circumstances where I wish I still had my LCP. Specifically if I'm wearing
a suit. The wool is so thin that the PM9 tends to "swing" around in my
pant leg more than I care for. So that's the "rational" reason for getting the
P380.

As for the "intangibles"....well the gun is just so darn cute:) It's really
like a miniature PM9. An exquisite little machine.

I did the requisite "pre-cleaning" and took it to the range today with
only 100rds of ball ammo. (It was $25/box at the LGS:eek:) and
some Hornady Critical Defense, which is what I will most likely be
carrying in this gun.

I have to say that this first shooting session was probably my worst
first session out of all of my Kahrs to date.....but still probably within
the norm of the "break-in" period. I had at least 4 or 5 FTRB's that requiring
a nudge to engage. I had 2 stovepipes and a couple of times when I
pulled the trigger on an empty chamber because the mag wasn't seated fully
and the slide failed to strip a round. I had at least 2 maybe 3 FTF's where the
round got hung up at the bottom of the feedramp requiring a full mag drop
to clear.

So all in all rather unsatisfying. I really wish I had brought more ammo to
see it all the way through the 200rds. (Incidentally, I shot two mags
of the Hornady CD and both ran perfectly. Shot to POA with a slightly
more stout push than the Fiocchi and PMC ball ammo.)

However, when it was behaving, it shot very well. Another sweet shooter.
While I never really thought the recoil on my LCP was anything more than
mild, the P380 is even more tame in my opinion. And one immediately
noticeable benefit was wow.....REAL SIGHTS!!! What a difference.

So...another pricey little sucker that is needing some TLC out of the box
apparently. But on the other hand...it's got the potential to be the
ultimate little pocket gun.

Michael-

http://www.fototime.com/4F5F6E96DFA82B3/orig.jpg

Bawanna
06-05-2010, 08:34 PM
Your a maniac! Your an obsessive compulsive Kahraholic. Is that really so bad. I think you actually made an improvement in your mouse gun inventory, sad that you dumped your 380 ammo stash but that can be chocked up to 20/20 hindsight.
I think she'll come around for ya, get thru the break in and the good stuff is working so no worries just yet.
I guess your due now for a new family portrait.

cgo99
06-05-2010, 09:14 PM
A maniac is right you just became my personal hero, I can't believe that you got another Kahr.
I wish my budget allowed for buying guns more often, I may have to sell one of my kids or something.
I'm sure the P380 will stop misbehaving after the 200 rounds break period, anyway congrats on your new acquisition and Bawanna is right a new family portrait is in order.

Michael W.
06-05-2010, 09:52 PM
A maniac is right you just became my personal hero, I can't believe that you got another Kahr.
I wish my budget allowed for buying guns more often, I may have to sell one of my kids or something.
I'm sure the P380 will stop misbehaving after the 200 rounds break period, anyway congrats on your new acquisition and Bawanna is right a new family portrait is in order.

Yes, indeed I am a maniac....and to think it all started with walking
into a shop intending to buy a Walther PPS:)

But, contrary to the image I may project, I do not have a limitless budget for
Kahrs. Lot's of behind the scenes selling of other guns to finance my Kahr
addiction:) I'm kind of going through a phase of "if it doesn't get shot, then it
goes!":) (Actually, going through that somewhat with my extra flyrods too.
Don't really need two 8 wts hanging on the garage cieling!

Also, I really like the fact that my obsession with Kahr's isn't just an esoteric
dalliance but they are all very functional guns that will have a place in my
EDC. The little P380 is destined to be a BUG part time and primary in some
limited circumstances. In the meantime, they are so well made and slick
machines I enjoy the "fondle-factor" as well!

New family portraits are scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime.
I just found a source online for some reasonably priced .380 S&B ball.
So hopefully next week I can go back to the range and wring out
any more gremlins.

Michael-

Tim335
06-05-2010, 09:53 PM
Your experience was exactly like my first time out with the P380 -- unreliable with FMJ and perfect with the hotter JHP ammo. I'm 150 rounds into the break-in and hope to get out again tomorrow and see if it runs better. I also have a couple of other brands of FMJ ammo to try. I'll try to follow up tomorrow night.

It IS the ultimate pocket pistol though! :D

Michael W.
06-05-2010, 10:12 PM
Your experience was exactly like my first time out with the P380 -- unreliable with FMJ and perfect with the hotter JHP ammo. I'm 150 rounds into the break-in and hope to get out again tomorrow and see if it runs better. I also have a couple of other brands of FMJ ammo to try. I'll try to follow up tomorrow night.

It IS the ultimate pocket pistol though! :D

Tim,

Looking forward to hearing how you do. I shot one box
of Fiocchi ball which is usually loaded a little hotter than
most other FMJs and one box of the PMC Bronze.
I've never been impressed with the PMC Bronze in any other
caliber and the 380 didn't change my mind:)

Another thing I was noticing was that I got the stovepipes
shooting weakhand only. I got some FTF's shooting stronghand
only. So I'm not 100% sure there isn't a grip issue involved here either.

M-

Old No7
06-06-2010, 11:37 AM
Me too on the "Gee, I had a PM9 already but..." bandwagon, of adding a P380 to my collection for those occasions when the larger PM9 was just a little too tough to conceal.

I was amazed the other day, while just working around the house, of how well it concealed in an inside-waistband holster (same one as I use on the PM9) under an untucked t-shirt. Later when we went out for dinner, it hid just as well under an untucked golf shirt. Nobody knew what I had, but me, as is appropriate.

Still need to put 50 more of the of the requisite 200-rounds through her, but I like what I see and feel so far. NO failures or hiccups to report at all!

Others have commented on the manageable recoil, due to the locked breech design, and I agree. My PM9 was smaller than my prior Bersa 380 Thunder CC I had, but that one seemed to recoil more than the littlest Kahr does.

First post for me, by the way, thanks for sharing your report.

Old No7

"Freedom and the Second Amendment... One cannot exist without the other." © 2000 DTH

bsharp
06-06-2010, 02:04 PM
The P380 quickly became a favorite of mine...I had to watch out for "thumbing" to solve some of my early problems (note: my early problems, not the P380's).

Michael W.
06-06-2010, 02:56 PM
The P380 quickly became a favorite of mine...I had to watch out for "thumbing" to solve some of my early problems (note: my early problems, not the P380's).

Interesting....can you describe the "thumbing" you're talking about?

I'm consciously trying to angle my strong hand thumb away
from the slide as opposed to lying it along the frame like
I usually do.

M-

Old No7
06-06-2010, 06:20 PM
Michael, I believe you just nailed the "thumbing" that bsharp was talking about.

Old No7