Range Day with brand new CW380

[Pointblank]

I could not resist the Palmetto State Armory Black Friday Deal and picked up a CW380 for $239. I bought 3 additional magazines from Midway and as I always do with new guns, I numbered them in case I had a problem. I thoroughly cleaned the pistol with Breakfree CLP before going to the range. I took several different brands of ammo, Magtech FMJ, Fiocchi FMJ, Hornady Critical Defense and Gold Dot.

Overall, the pistol was dependable and accurate. One strange thing though, something that I never experienced before. Two of the magazines would balk loading the first round with slide locked back, and yes I used the slide lock lever. This only happened with FMJs. How odd is that? The JHPs did not have this issue. Also, if I loaded a round in the chamber and top-off the magazine, again no problem.

I'm thinking two of the magazines have issues. Perhaps it's the springs. I am going to replace the magazine springs and the recoil assembly and see what happens. The pistol is definitely a keeper and fun shoot. I'm just going to shoot the heck out if until I am satisfied.

[jocko]

my bet is after a couple hundred rounds thngs will change for the good with those magaznes..

[erichard]

Was it flat nose WWB or round ball FMJ? How did it hang up?

The top bullet is wedged in the magazine the tightest due to spring compression being the max. If you can buff the lips of the mag, it might lessen the forward resistance slightly. I personally wouldn't bother with new springs. The springs will lose some power with use.

Use a healthy dose of lube for the slide, and that should help the return power of the slide somewhat, especially in a new, tight gun.

Needless to say, make sure the mag is seated all the way in. Sounds like you know what you're doing, though.

[Bill K]

Overall a positive range report - that's good!

Hope you get the mag issue resolved but in worst case you can use those just for the range and the issue free ones for carry.

[DavidR]

Sounds like a decent start. Congratulations.


Dave

[Pointblank]

As stated, I used Magtech, Fiocchi, Hornady and Gold Dot. The FMJs were all round nose.

[SlowBurn]

As stated, I used Magtech, Fiocchi, Hornady and Gold Dot. The FMJs were all round nose.

I'm suspicious of the Fiocchi. I have a P380 so the barrel and chamber are not exactly the same, but you can easily try this: Field strip the gun, take the barrel out and just drop a round of Fiocchi into the chamber. Does it readily go in, like the other brands?

[Pointblank]

The Magtech was just as bad. It only happened with two of the magazines. If I only loaded the magazines with five rounds, they would work fine. It's the magazines. When I receive the new parts I will shoot the heck out of it.