CW380 won't chamber a round at all

[rick1000]

Posted this in tech talk but I think it is more appropriate here.
Ok, after reading the stickies and cleaning and lubing my brand new cw380 I tried to load the chamber by using the slide release. It fails to go into battery with three different 380 bullets. Perfecta ball, pmc ball, and for laughs Critical defense. Looks like the ramp needs to be cut and smoothed. Polishing won't fix this. Any recommendations? If I smack the rear of the slide it will go into battery. I know these require break in but this is poor qc if this is normal

[DavidR]

That's not normal. Are you certain the recoil spring assembly is properly installed?

[rick1000]

Yes sir

[topgun1953]

Where is the round getting hung up? Is it angled up into the chamber or is it in the chamber and the slide doesn't return all the way? After you fire the round, does the next one feed? From the other thread it sounds like the answer to that is no. Very unusual for critical defense not to run. Like others have said, recoil springs..let me add extractor. See if the shell's case has come up behind the extractor when it's fed.
i know it's frustrating, but you might have to send it back. You'll love it when you get it going and yes you shouldn't have to go through all this hassle.

[rick1000]

Both, angled and not going all the way into chamber unless I slam the slide forward. Will never cycle the next round after firing. I am going to polish the crap out of it tonight and try some more pmc tomorrow. I like a project as much as the next guy but dang this sucks. Sending and new tested and supposedly functioning gun back in and everyone just being ok with that is just perplexing to me. Sounds like Kahr has allot of room for improvement. Thanks for all the help though.

[b4uqzme]

Posted this in tech talk but I think it is more appropriate here.
Ok, after reading the stickies and cleaning and lubing my brand new cw380 I tried to load the chamber by using the slide release. It fails to go into battery with three different 380 bullets. Perfecta ball, pmc ball, and for laughs Critical defense. Looks like the ramp needs to be cut and smoothed. Polishing won't fix this. Any recommendations? If I smack the rear of the slide it will go into battery. I know these require break in but this is poor qc if this is normal

fyi. None of the rounds listed would be my choice for break in. Try the best quality ball ammo you can find for the first 200 rounds or so. And hold off on the SD stuff for now too. I hope that helps.

[b4uqzme]

Oh, and hold on for dear life too. Best of luck.

[berettabone]

Both, angled and not going all the way into chamber unless I slam the slide forward. Will never cycle the next round after firing. I am going to polish the crap out of it tonight and try some more pmc tomorrow. I like a project as much as the next guy but dang this sucks. Sending and new tested and supposedly functioning gun back in and everyone just being ok with that is just perplexing to me. Sounds like Kahr has allot of room for improvement. Thanks for all the help though.

It's not that it's ok, it's just not the end of the world. Unless it's your only firearm, which it probably isn't, let them make it right. If you don't have the patience, as has been said before, sell it to a member, and they'll have it going in a short time. I've purchased brand new cars that have had stuff go wrong. When humans are at the controls, things happen, or not. When they are running correctly, they can't be beat as a small carry firearm. If cheap firearms from other manufacturers were so good, everyone would have one. Personally, anyone who owns a Taurus, or Highpoint, or CPX, or any of the other inexpensive guns, well, I don't let them in my house:p

[berettabone]

Maybe also change out the recoil spring, and check the springs in the mags, to make sure they are in the correct way. I have never heard of anyone using ball ammo during the breakin process. That's a new one on me.

[OldFatGuy]

It's not that it's ok, it's just not the end of the world. Unless it's your only firearm, which it probably isn't, let them make it right. If you don't have the patience, as has been said before, sell it to a member, and they'll have it going in a short time. I've purchased brand new cars that have had stuff go wrong. When humans are at the controls, things happen, or not. When they are running correctly, they can't be beat as a small carry firearm. If cheap firearms from other manufacturers were so good, everyone would have one. Personally, anyone who owns a Taurus, or Highpoint, or CPX, or any of the other inexpensive guns, well, I don't let them in my house:p

Good thing I don't want to go in your house! Not everyone can afford expensive handguns, but like many have said, any gun is better than none. I have a Cobra 32 that sits in my recliner with me. I bet I could get a mag+1 through it before it broke. I have a Hi Point JCP 40 in my bedroom, and I'm confident I can get a mag through that, if I'm still shooting after 10 shots, then we got a situation. I buckled up and got my CM40 for carry, but it hurt the old man purse! I'd like to have one of them fancy Kimbers, but it ain't gonna happen. I can afford to go to the range about once every 3 months or so and spend 20 minutes throwing money down range, but that's all. Some of us are poor, and I would recommend a Hi Point for someone short on dollars, they are reliable.

[berettabone]

I wouldn't own a Kimber myself, more headaches than their worth. I can deal with a cheaper firearm having problems, but not an expensive one. That's why I suggested with others, to let them get it right, and fix the one he has.:)

[topgun1953]

I wouldn't waste time polishing anything. The feed ramp comes polished, that should be enough other than breaking in between the slide and the frame. How's the extractor?
If it doesn't improve tomorrow send it back and let them fix it and don't lose any sleep.

[muggsy]

Maybe also change out the recoil spring, and check the springs in the mags, to make sure they are in the correct way. I have never heard of anyone using ball ammo during the breakin process. That's a new one on me.

Bone, I used PMC ball ammo to break in my P380 and didn't have any problems. If the gun is cleaned every 50 rounds and properly lubed PMC ball works just fine. I also used PMC ball ammo to break in my CM9. Same story. PMC manufactures ammo for the Korean Army and their ammunition factory is state-of-the-art.

[muggsy]

If the extractor is tight or the breech face rough the slide may not go into battery. If the magazine feed lips are burred and scaring the brass the slide may not go into battery. If the ammo is out of spec the slide may not go into battery. If the chamber is rough or out of spec the slide may not go into battery. You can go on a treasure hunt spending hours trying to find a solution or return the gun to Kahr Arms. The later is far less time consuming, less expensive and far less frustrating. Kahr will never learn of their problems unless the guns are sent back to them. Take it for what it's worth.

[SlowBurn]

If the extractor is tight or the breech face rough the slide may not go into battery. If the magazine feed lips are burred and scaring the brass the slide may not go into battery. If the ammo is out of spec the slide may not go into battery. If the chamber is rough or out of spec the slide may not go into battery. You can go on a treasure hunt spending hours trying to find a solution or return the gun to Kahr Arms. The later is far less time consuming, less expensive and far less frustrating. Kahr will never learn of their problems unless the guns are sent back to them. Take it for what it's worth.

this ^^^^