**Update 1/25** CW380 - continuing FTF issues after return from Kahr service

[bobbyh]

**update in post #12**

I returned my CW380 to Kahr several months back as I was having many FTF issues when dropping the slide on the 1st round. They inspected it, cleaned up the burr on the underside of the slide, and said it was good to go.

In my last 3 range sessions since; I have had many more FTF of the 1st round using various ammo (WWB, PMC FMJ, Hornaday CD, Freedom XTP HP) and no change whether I'm using 6rds. or 5 rds. in my (3) factory 6 round magazines. The FTF causes the 1st round to either get stuck entering the barrel or it loads the bullet but the slide is 0.75 short of home and I have to tap if forward to chamber the round completely.

I do notice I usually see this issue more often after 40-50 rounds in the same range session; but that is not 100% the case. I clean and properly lube the pistol after every range session. I have had 3 range sessions since it was returned and have shot about 250 more rounds total. $$$ I also had 2 FTE stovepipes in this last session with the PMC ammo.

I am hesitant to even think about carrying this pistol, though it is intended to be my summer CCW pistol. My CM9 has been trouble free for 700+ rounds and I carry that 95% of the year.

I am going to contact Kahr service and see if they will take a look at it again; but not sure what to expect as I thought they fixed it the first time around.

Can anyone offer any other advice that might help solve my issues? If not I am considering selling it and going back to my trouble free (but horrible to shoot ) LCP. I have seen some people have trouble with their CW380, sell it, and get a good one the next time around. I have spent too much on ammo already and it's very frustrating. I love everything about this pistol except it's reliability. :frown:

Sorry for the long winded post.

Thanks!

[hardknocks1]

Hello
I would get rid of it and cut my losses.
It may cost more in ammo to get it reliable than you will lose on the sale.
I want one myself but I'm scared off by all the problems.
So I keep my LCP and over 800 trouble free rounds through 9 or 10 ammo brands and three different Hollow points.
My 3 kahr 9mm are perfect.

[pr42]

Personally, I would have an ethical problem selling a gun that I know has issues. Of course you could always tell the buyer about the problems, but presumably this would result in a much lower sale price, so that would be another disincentive for selling (assuming the goal is to recoup some of your expenses). I think I would try again with Kahr to get the problem fixed properly. I've never had to deal with Kahr customer service, but I have to assume that they want their products to work well and be liked by people. No company wants its customers posting complaints about this sort of thing online. On the other hand, a customer service success story is a big plus for them. So, presumably they are sufficiently savvy to know that these days, it really pays off to get customers happy. Just always be polite, patient and unemotional when talking with customer service, they always appreciate that and will then often (in my experience) try to go the extra mile for you. I'm sure it's fixable, just a question of going through the debugging process, try one thing, if that doesn't work, try another, until you finally hit the solution. Give them another chance... that's what I would do.

Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

[SlowBurn]

Not sure what "dropping the slide" means. If you're using the recommended technique using the slide stop to load the first round, and you've got a good firm grip when doing it, then I'd send it back again. If racking by hand, could you be riding slide the tiniest bit?

[timboy]

Request another shipping label and tell them to fix it,you paid for a working gun and they should provide you with one.

[ulflyer]

Racking by hand, or slingshoting it, will often cause the problem you are having. There are some procedures that help, but the surest way is to use the slide release.

[bobbyh]

Not sure what "dropping the slide" means. If you're using the recommended technique using the slide stop to load the first round, and you've got a good firm grip when doing it, then I'd send it back again. If racking by hand, could you be riding slide the tiniest bit?

I guess I should have described it better. I always use the slide release to load the 1st round of a magazine. I never rack it by hand.

I emailed Kahr service and they sent me a link to an RMA form to fill out. Hopefully they come through with a prepaid label and I can have them attempt to fix it again for me. I'll give it another try.

I wouldn't sell it without disclosing the issue and I would probably just give it to a friend if this next fix doesn't work. I really hope they can solve my issues though as I really love how it shoots.

[SlowBurn]

Good luck. If it still has issues I wouldn't wait so long or shoot so much. Shoot a box at most, send it right back.

They'll get it right eventually. Don't give up. If you give that gun away I think you'll regret it.

[bobbyh]

Good luck. If it still has issues I wouldn't wait so long or shoot so much. Shoot a box at most, send it right back.

They'll get it right eventually. Don't give up. If you give that gun away I think you'll regret it.

Thanks for the advice. I probably gave it too many range sessions expecting a different outcome each time. They sent me an RMA and pre-paid label today of all days!

I have confidence in the pistol when I have the 1st round chambered and ready to shoot. That is how I would carry it, along with a spare magazine, though if I need to reload I am in real trouble anyway.

I do notice most of my FTF issues are after shooting it past 40-50 rounds. If it was only that way all the time I could see it being too dirty to load properly. However; the fact it happened to not chamber properly on just the third magazine along with a couple FTE I can't say it's acceptable.

I appreciate everyone's advice and I'll update the thread after I get the CW380 back from Kahr and take it to the range.

[30harry]

Not saying this is your problem but I went to a heavier recoil spring and solved the same problem on my kahr.

[bobbyh]

Not saying this is your problem but I went to a heavier recoil spring and solved the same problem on my kahr.

I'd consider giving that a shot if I continue to have issues after I get it back.

What brand and model did you replace the stock spring with?

[bobbyh]

Update 1/25/15:

I sent my CW380 back to Kahr and it was returned after repair 3 days later! The included tech. work sheet said they reworked the extractor, extractor port, and slide. They also fired 100 rounds through it.

I finally took it back to the range today to test it out:

I shot 36 rounds of Hornaday CD with no issues. On the next magazine round #3 just clicked and was sitting in the chamber when I opened the slide. I removed the round and it looked fine. I put it back in the magazine and fired off the rest of that magazine with no issue. I shot the remaining Hornaday CD ammo which totaled 50.

I also shot 50 Freedom Munitions 90gr. XTP HP ammo with zero issues.

I'm hoping the single round that didn't fire off as a hiccup that might have been my fault.

I will try it a few more times at the range and hopefully I have no issues and can feel confident carrying the pistol.