Updates to the P380 design after 2011?

[P380blues]

Until moving abroad three years ago for work, I was working on getting a problematic P380 into shape so I could trust it for carry. The gun has had just about every kind of problem you can name and has had almost every part/component, major and minor replaced by Kahr at least once.

I started out with an RAxxxx serial number. Right before I left the country, Kahr returned the gun to me for the fifth time and had replaced the frame. They said the original was "out of spec." The new frame has a serial number of RC40xx.

My knowledge of the gun is basically frozen in time (Sept. 2011). Back during this time, lots of people were having trouble with their P380s. Have things generally gotten better? Has Kahr made some change/fix to the design of the gun/frame itself to improve functioning? Is there a specific P380 serial number range that should be avoided? If so, does a P380 with an RCxxxx serial number fall into the good range?

Before I put more time into trying to get this gun to work properly, I just want to be sure that I don't own one that's considered to have some kind of core design flaw---or, if it has one, that Kahr will upgrade the gun under warranty.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[muggsy]

I had the same problem with my original P380. My serial number was RBxxxx. The replacement serial # was RDxxxx. I think that you are good to go if the serial # is RC or later, but don't hold me to that.

[TheLastDaze]

wow... sorry for your troubles.....don't really have any real knowledge base to add here as I'm new to kahrs but will say I do know you should make sure she's lubed up real good when breaking it in, polish the feed ramp (if its not already), polish chamber,polish deburr the extractor if needed.... see if you can hand cycle ammo through your gun, making sure it returns to battery if it cycles fine I would think you are good to go....

mine wouldn't cycle well and I did the above mentioned to it and it runs about 97% now.....

DO NOT USE PERFECTA AMMO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

good luck and if all else fails buy an LCP, 1750rds later and absolutely zero problems....

[SlowBurn]

Here's an old thread on the subject from the archives. Jist seems to be what Muggs says.
P380-Serial-Numbers (http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?8708-P380-Serial-Numbers)

[Bawanna]

Word is and it's old word, probably at least a year ago. Kahr got a handle on the issues common to the 380's. We seldom hear of those issues anymore. The new ones run right out of the box.

Your's was probably in that figuring out the issue phase. I don't know anything about the serial number ranges being good or bad. I would start fresh, go shoot it, identify any issues you have and let Kahr know.

I'm confident that they will get it squared away or replace it if needed.

[gb6491]

....
good luck and if all else fails buy an LCP, 1750rds later and absolutely zero problems....
Just make sure it's a post recall LCP if buying used...and there's an "improved" version of the post recall version now on the market.
Regards,
Greg

[TheLastDaze]

Just make sure it's a post recall LCP if buying used...and there's an "improved" version of the post recall version now on the market.
Regards,
Greg
yes good point... mine is the older 'post' recall '371 dash' version, doesn't feel nearly as good in the hand as the cw380 I have but it shoots just as well, the kahr is by far a superior gun all around imo and the long trigger on the older LCP's do take some getting used to but its a non issue for me...

[P380blues]

Thanks everyone. I figured the answer wouldn't be something so cut and dry, but I thought I might as well check. I'll just head to the range and see if Kahr's last fix took care of the problems, and then rely on the warranty service again if it didn't.

I agree that the LCP is probably the most reliable of the pocket .380 pistols, but my hands are just too big for the gun. I can't hold it properly and get my shooting finger on the trigger in the right way at the same time, so I don't shoot it well.

I hope the Beretta Pico turns out to be a winner, although it'll probably have teething issues just like most guns seem to these days. If I can't get my P380 to work eventually, then I reckon I'll end up with the Pico once any issues it has are worked out by the first round of buyers.

Thanks again!

[ReManG]

I worked on a P380 RAxxxx Serial number that had some issues, mainly magazine and extractor. Did the slingshot mod to the magazine followers and took about .025" off the back pin in the extractor, a little polishing of the breech face on the slide and it ran fine, and has been since. No frame issues that I was aware of, it was a friends and he was frustrated with it, so I gave him a hand. I liked it so much, I got a CW380 finally during the last PSA sale, no issues on that one, so maybe sell the P and get a CW if you wanted to.... Though I have to say, an MK is nice if you don't mind the weight for a sweet shooting micro 9mm....

[skiflydive]

Mine's RC89XX. I bought it used on this forum. I have about 300 rounds through it of mixed factory new and factory reload ball ammo and Hornady Critical Defense and haven't had even one failure.