Steve Bedair SS guide rod for the p380

[jsooner34]

Does anyone know if the Steve Bedair guide rod for the p380 work in the cw380? It almost looks slightly smaller.

[muggsy]

If it works in the P380 it should work in the CW380.

[MarkB1]

Check out this post from January.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?22226-P-CW-380-Guide-rod-length

It shows that the CW slide is a little longer than the P slide.

[Jimmy10mm]

Interesting. First I've heard of this guide rod, naturally part of me wants one. OTOH, my P380 has always worked fine with the stock guide rod. If it isn't broke, why 'fix' it ?

[jsooner34]

Update! I emailed Steve Bedair and he confirmed that the p380 guide rod is smaller than the cw380 guide rod. He ordered a guide rod from kahr several months ago but it has been on back order. I agreed to mail him mine and he is going to make me a ss guide rod and he will now be able to produce the ss guide rod if anyone is interested.

[MarkB1]

Good job, jsooner34. We'll all benefit from your effort.

[muggsy]

The barrel of the CW380 is .050' longer than on the P380. I can't see any need for the other dimensions of the guide rod to change. If the guide rod is only 5/100s of an inch shorter it shouldn't present a problem. The measurements of the two parts should tell the tale.

[MarkB1]

The barrel of the CW380 is .050' longer than on the P380. I can't see any need for the other dimensions of the guide rod to change. If the guide rod is only 5/100s of an inch shorter it shouldn't present a problem. The measurements of the two parts should tell the tale.

I would expect both rods to work in either model. It's all about having the end of the guide rod even with the end of the slide.

[muggsy]

That all depends on the length of the slide. If the barrel stuck out 5/100s of an inch more I doubt that anyone would notice. Manufacturers don't like to stock any more parts than necessary. Too much room for error.

[gb6491]

Good job, jsooner34. We'll all benefit from your effort.
Let me second that and thanks!http://www.pic4ever.com/images/128fs318181.gif

[gun papa]

I have both models and will measure overall length tomorrow

[gun papa]

CW380 Guide rod 1.879"
P380 Guide rod 1.832"

[muggsy]

Hmmmm, I was off by only .007 of an inch. Could either be used in a pinch?

[MarkB1]

If you look at the slides for the P380 and the CW380 you will see that the CW slide is a little longer than the P slide. I don't think that this small difference will cause a problem with the operation if the P guide rod is used in the CW slide or if the CW rod is used in the P slide. What will happen is that the P rod in he CW slide will not be flush with the end of the slide but will be recessed inside the guide rod hole in the slide just a little but there will still be plenty of slide left for the rod to ride on. The CW rod in the P slide will stick out a little from the end of the slide. I don't know for certain but I believe Kahr uses the same recoil spring in each.

It's best to use the correct rod for each but I don't really see a problem with a switch in a pinch.

[gun papa]

I replaced the recoil springs in my Wife's P380, and found profound differences in the stock vs. replacement springs purchased from Kahr. I will have to dig them up, and do a write up on it.