What JHP ammo works well with the CW380?

[tycoonbob]

So I've had my CW380 for about 6 months now, and probably 250 rounds through (~220 RN, rest JHP). JHP-wise, it's been freedom munitions XTP ammo, as well as Hornady Critical Defense (90 gr FTX), and the Hornady is what I pocket carry daily. My problem is I'm not 100% confident on carrying with a round in the chamber, and what happens is I have to rack the slide, lock it back, hit the slide stop to drop the slide, and that's a lot to do if I'm ever in a scenario where I need to use my pistol.

I'd be fine if I could just slingshot the slide, but I know that's not the Kahr way. If I try to slingshot, the rim of the casing gets caught on the firing pin, and I effectively have a FTRB (see image here (http://i.imgur.com/90MfwmM.jpg)).

Is there any known ammo that doesn't cause this (unlikely, I know)? Or what can you say to make me feel more confident in carrying with a round in the chamber?

What ammo do you carry?

[sharpetop]

Use a good pocket holster to cover the trigger and keep one loaded in the pipe. The gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled.

[topgun1953]

I carry HPR or PRECSION one +P, both with the XTP in my P380. I've been practicing with freedom's offering, too. Your firing pin should not be protruding like that. You can prevent it from causing your problem by racking the slide before you insert the mag. This will insure it is retracted and then you can try sling shots. I'll bet most of us will tell you to carry with one in the chamber though. The gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled, so as long as you keep the thing in a holster you are entirely safe. The striker isn't fully cocked until the trigger is pulled.

[kwh]

I every day pocket carry a CM9 in holster. The Kahr is the only striker -fired pistol that I feel mentally comfortable in carrying without a safety,due to its longer smooooth trigger pull. I always carry with a round chambered, always in a DeSantis holster. I work all day while armed. I prefer the Khar over a snub-nose .38. (Least I be criticized,I do holster carry other striker fired pistols without a safety ,but not my every day concealed carry.) Just as you mentioned above, too many scenarios whereby-by racking a round quickly could be problematic or worse. My Daughter carries a Kahr CW380 with one in the chamber, in a holster, or in a pouch in a purse. She is able to rack the slide,but not always easily. She carries Precision One XTP ammo,tested for reliability. The Kahrs were originally designed to be a personal protection firearm and not just a scaled down police or military weapon. IMHO, the small Kahrs are superior to every pistol for pocket carry and should be carried with one in chamber as designed. If not I would choose something else.

[Armybrat]

Don't have a CW380, but my CT380 runs smooth as butter with the Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr. TX.

And I carry it loaded all the way up with 7+1 in a Remora pocket holster without any worries.

[muggsy]

It doesn't matter what our guns shoot well. Our guns aren't your gun. Find what your gun likes and use it. Do not carry an unloaded gun. A gun isn't loaded unless there is a round in the chamber. There is only one thing that will make your gun fire and that's pulling the trigger fully to the rear. It can't and won't go off for any other reason. I've carried a gun fully loaded for over 40 years and never had a negligent or accidental discharge. The best safety is the one that God located between your ears. If you think the a perp is going to allow you to chamber a round before he shoots you, think again.

[tycoonbob]

Thanks for the feedback. I do carry in a desantis nemesis holster, so trigger is covered well. I know the answer is to carry with a "round in the chamber, and try several kinds of jhp to find what works best", but sometimes you just need to hear that from others, lol.

I guess I need to shoot more to feel more comfortable with it, but I will start carrying with a round in the chamber.

[Whaleman]

Buffalo Bore +P 90 grain JHP

[Armybrat]

It doesn't matter what our guns shoot well. Our guns aren't your gun. Find what your gun likes and use it. Do not carry an unloaded gun. A gun isn't loaded unless there is a round in the chamber. There is only one thing that will make your gun fire and that's pulling the trigger fully to the rear. It can't and won't go off for any other reason. I've carried a gun fully loaded for over 40 years and never had a negligent or accidental discharge. The best safety is the one that God located between your ears. If you think the a perp is going to allow you to chamber a round before he shoots you, think again.
Pretty wise thoughts for a Buckeye.

[warbird1]

Use a good pocket holster to cover the trigger and keep one loaded in the pipe. The gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled.

Absolutely true.

[greg_r]

Don't own a CW380, but have a CT380 on layaway, waiting on my birthday, going to be a long two weeks! I fully intend to carry it hot when it makes it into my rotation. As others have said it's not going to fire unless the trigger is pulled.

As to hollow points, my personal opinion is to stay away from them in a 380. we had the opportunity to fire several into some hams a couple of summers back. All the hollow points we fired suffered from poor penetration. They did expand but were stopped or deflected off the bone. I was impressed by a hard cast truncated cone though. That's my choice.

[berettabone]

I love ham with a bit of gunpowder...................................

[HAP1978]

My CW .380 loves "Barnes Tac - XPD " defense ammo. Runs perfect every time. One thing I've noticed and that is that you want to use quality ammo in this pistol and it will function perfectly and give it the death grip when you shoot it. The cleaner and higher quality ammo the better it will run. They're so tight and small that quality ammo is almost a must, which I'd rather run through my pistol anyway. If the butt of the casing on a cartridge is off by a little bit, scratched or dirty you'll run into issues.

I can FEEL a HUGE difference when I release the slide with the cheaper ammo vs the high quality-clean ammo.

I shot a box of Winchester through it and the ammo looked almost like they were reloads, dirty and scratched up. I knew I was going to have issues chambering those rounds before I even tried and I did. Shot the whole box then immediately loaded up the Barnes and it ran like a well oiled machine - without a hitch.

Yeah, defense ammo is a lot more expensive but it proves that ammo does make a difference.

I've shot Federal, HPR, Winchester and Barnes through mine and HPR and Barnes worked best. HPR makes some clean target rounds.

[muggsy]

Pretty wise thoughts for a Buckeye.

Us Buckeyes aren't as dumb as we look. (Did that come out right???) :)

[RWW84]

Buffalo-Barnes +P 80 gr. Ammo - SKU:27H/20


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[Fedupmech]

I always carry with a round in the chamber. I use a Desantis pocket holster. Nothing else in that pocket. I've picked Precision One XTP bullets. I shot a whole 50 round box through it with no malfunctions whatsoever. I don't sling shot. I do the kahr method. No issues.

[timboy]

I carry my CW380 loaded with Hornady critical defense,I put several boxes through it and I trust they will function well.

[TimtheRef]

I have a P380, and I've never had a hiccup with Hornady Critical Defense 90-gr, even during the break-in period when other brands were causing it to choke a bit. I've also seen some great ballistic gel tests for this round online, shot from a P380, that successfully went through 4 layers of denim, and even bone block after denim and still managed an almost 10 inch penetration. May not quite meet FBI standards, but close enough for a personal defense scenario.

[muggsy]

The most reliable feeding ammunition is ball ammunition. The ammunition that penetrates the best is ball ammunition. Ball ammunition in a .380 won't necessarily stop a determined assailant, but a hit in the right spot will certainly kill an assailant and that will slow him down quite a bit. :)

[DavidR]

I have a P380, and I've never had a hiccup with Hornady Critical Defense 90-gr, even during the break-in period when other brands were causing it to choke a bit.

This was my experience with a CW380.

[humbug2403]

So I've had my CW380 for about 6 months now, and probably 250 rounds through (~220 RN, rest JHP). JHP-wise, it's been freedom munitions XTP ammo, as well as Hornady Critical Defense (90 gr FTX), and the Hornady is what I pocket carry daily. My problem is I'm not 100% confident on carrying with a round in the chamber, and what happens is I have to rack the slide, lock it back, hit the slide stop to drop the slide, and that's a lot to do if I'm ever in a scenario where I need to use my pistol.

I'd be fine if I could just slingshot the slide, but I know that's not the Kahr way. If I try to slingshot, the rim of the casing gets caught on the firing pin, and I effectively have a FTRB (see image here (http://i.imgur.com/90MfwmM.jpg)).

Is there any known ammo that doesn't cause this (unlikely, I know)? Or what can you say to make me feel more confident in carrying with a round in the chamber?

What ammo do you carry?
i used to carry Precision One HP, but now I carry Lehigh XP (Extreme Penetrator).