Long term postive experience with the P380

[JohnTz]

I have been absent from the forum for a while and I checked in again a few days ago and I was amazed at how much negative dialogue has been posted about the little 380s. I normally don't just post unless there is something specific to talk about but I felt compelled after reading all the negative threads to post my positive long term experience with my P380 after 4750 rounds. My gun was purchased at retail at a local gun shop. Serial RDxxxx. Stone stock with no polishing or any modifications to it or the magazines. Shot day one without being cleaned or lubed with 100 rounds AE hardball. Not a single malfunction. Carried every single day. Weekly range sessions with AE hardball and various SD ammo brands and the little gun just keeps shooting and shooting. Highly accurate and always reliable. Can keep 50 rounds in a 2 inch hole at 21 feet no problem. Can shoot it rapid fire as fast as possible and it just keeps on running no problem. I replace the recoil springs and the magazine springs every 750 rounds as the recoil springs get too weak after that and cause feed issues. The magazine springs get weak as well and keep the slide from locking back on last round. As long as these springs are replaced at the 750 interval the gun runs like a Rolex. No other parts or springs have been replaced and the gun shows almost no wear. I love this little pistol and trust my life to it daily without reservation. It is simply perfect. Just wanted to share some positive experience so people reading this forum dont think this is a bad weapon. Just the opposite , it is as nice as it gets for a gun this small. I have many guns but always carry this one as it is so small and easy to conceal in a suit. I carry Golden Sabre SD ammo and it has been 100 percent reliable in this pistol. I hope the people having issues stick with it as the design us solid and the pistol is a good one. I have several friends that purchased one after shooting mine and they have had a great experience as well. Only caveat s to replace the springs at 750.

[muggsy]

I have in excess of 2000 rounds through my P380 with similar success and have yet to replace the recoil springs. I don't see anything wrong with what you're doing, but I don't think that it's necessary. I plan on changing my recoil spring when I reach 3,000 rounds unless I start experiencing function problems.

[b4uqzme]

Thanks John!

[JohnTz]

I have in excess of 2000 rounds through my P380 with similar success and have yet to replace the recoil springs. I don't see anything wrong with what you're doing, but I don't think that it's necessary. I plan on changing my recoil spring when I reach 3,000 rounds unless I start experiencing function problems.

Thanks Muggsy. For me its like clock work. At around 750 is starts to malfunction and new springs bring it back to its perfect self! ��

[Bawanna]

Nice to see good reports now and then which I'm sure are much more the norm than the bad ones.

I've never replaced a recoil spring in my life, true story.

I do have one enroute for my Colt Match Target Woodsmen since it's balking a bit, and of course a gun that begins to balk, the recoil spring is the first order of business, so far none of mine have balked.

I'm an avid believer in don't mess with success though, if changing recoil springs frequently brings peace of mind and no issues by all means stick with it.

[SlowBurn]

Similar experience. Replaced my springs @ 1,500 rounds.

But there was something funky about the set I got, replaced them again immediately. It's been money since.

[Bawanna]

Similar experience. Replaced my springs @ 1,500 rounds.

But there was something funky about the set I got, replaced them again immediately. It's been money since.


Worth noting, replace something that is working just fine and then replace it again to get it right.
When mine fail or begin to balk I fix em. Until then I just love em, clean em, and oil em and live happily.

[GROTMAN]

I replaced my recoil spring in my pm 9 after it had well over 3,000 rounds. Not that I had to.. it still worked fine, but didn't want the first time it didn't to be when I needed it most. Still have the original around as a back up in case the "new" one goes bad and have to wait for another new one.

[Chansen760]

I applaud all those whose gun worked so well out of the box. I however got one that didn't. I have been shooting for 40 years and the P380 was the first gun that I have ever had problems with. I just sent it back to Kahr to get it working (I hope it comes back working). I love the size and the weight and precision and quality of the build but if you have 20% or more failure to return to battery that is a problem. I've been carrying a XDS and just wanted to downsize for comfort. I shouldn't have to polish ramps and barrel entries on a premium gun that I paid a premium price for. Again I am envious of those that got a good one out of the box.