truth about the cw380

[blsi4me]

I am a new member and have only owned 1 Kahr in the past. It is an early PM9 and has functioned flawlessly since I have owned it. My wife wants my LCP, and I was thinking about replacing it with a CW380 for concealed carry. From what I have read on this forum, the P/CW380 don't appear to be like the Kahr's in the past. I know that when it comes to user reviews, those who hate the product are the most likely to speak up, but on forums there are also a number of people for whom the product can do no wrong. Before I buy a gun which may cause me a lot of grief (I am never the guy who get the good one), can anyone give me an idea of what percentage of Kahr 380's end up going back to the manufacturer for rework? If this is required (under warranty) does Kahr provide a shipping label 100% of the time?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[CJB]

Kahr had some problems with a batch of P380's that might have also found its way into CW380, not sure of the timeline. At any rate, there were some polymer frames that were bending too much under recoil after getting heated up a little. If you had that problem, Kahr replaced it.

As of late... the usual suspects. A few tales of hit and miss P or CW380's, with a wide scope of issues, except maybe... haven't see a trigger reset issue for a while (knock wood).

Small, polymer frame .380 autos tend to be a little finicky. Definitely break in the pistol with the hottest ammo you can get. Keep a good rock solid hold on it. Don't shoot it when tired, etc etc. The vast majority of folks have no issues, but those that do seem to end up here. I cannot recall Kahr hanging anyone out to dry with any pistol, ever, so if there is a problem, just go by the book, request an RMA, and let them do their thing.

[Coppertop]

Patience is the key with the CW380. I really want to like the gun, but it isn't always cooperative.

Some "break-in" after 50 rounds, some take 200 rounds and some have to go back to the factory for fine-tuning. The most common issues are failure to feed and failure for the slide to lock. No clue as to what percentage of the guns head back to Kahr. If it does have to get serviced, Kahr is pretty good about getting a pre-paid label to you and turn around is around the 10-day mark (if not quicker). I'm not too keen on their communications skills (save for Matt), but the turn around is impressive.

My CW380 took just shy of 200 rounds before it fed reliably, but the trigger pivot pin kept trying to walk out of the frame. Two trips to customer service and it was determined the frame was faulty and needed to be replaced. I've owned the gun for a month and half that time the weapon has been with Kahr.

Others here on the forums have had far better luck with their CW380 and after 50 rounds find themselves with a fantastic little pistol. My fingers are crossed that after I jump through all the ATF hoops to get the pistol back, I can say the same.

[SlowBurn]

You're in good shape. You have your LCP to carry, so if you're unlucky you can send the CW380 back as often as you have to until its right. But the odds are you won't have a problem.

[Pteridine]

My CW380 feeds and ejects Federal, Remington UMC, Remington Golden Sabers, and Magtech without any problems. Slide lock failure seems to be a function of the magazine. I experienced this and when I put pressure on the bottom of that magazine during firing, the slide locked back. I am not particularly worried about it as I consider it a minor inconvenience and use the magazine that locks the slide open in the weapon with the other magazine as a backup. FTF and FTE are the show stoppers and I did not experience either over about 70 rounds expended.
Out of curiousity, I shot at 5/8" flooring plywood. All went through two layers of stacked plywood and buried in the third. The UMC only penetrated partly into the third sheet and the base of the bullet was proud of the surface by about 1/4", the Federal and Magtech buried themselves and splintered the reverse side of the third sheet but remained within. The Saber was opened up a bit and didn't penetrate the third sheet as far as the hardball.
The UMC felt recoil was mildest. The others were a little snappier.

Accuracy was fine at 10 yards for all three with all rounds on a paper plate shooting two handed with no support. The Remington seemed more accurate. The Federal seemed to shoot low right in about a 2" group but that could be the shooter.

[kwh]

No problems with my CW380 bought over a year ago. Broken in took about 80 rounds. Must keep a straight wrist. Takes hand strength/practice to rack. XTP for carry.

[gunnutz]

I'm wanting one too, got a naa .22 mag conversion i gotta get rid of first though. Shoot man just get it, the internet is a funny place. Unless your getting so and so's favorite piece most folks will trash what you want and tell you what a steaming piece of junk it is and usually the most outspoken folks have never shot much less owned the piece they are flaming. Seems like kahr has good customer service so you really have nothing to loose.

[Coppertop]

Keep the NAA. You'll miss it when it's gone.

[Alfonse]

Mine works fine.

[b4uqzme]

I'm wanting one too, got a naa .22 mag conversion i gotta get rid of first though. Shoot man just get it, the internet is a funny place. Unless your getting so and so's favorite piece most folks will trash what you want and tell you what a steaming piece of junk it is and usually the most outspoken folks have never shot much less owned the piece they are flaming. Seems like kahr has good customer service so you really have nothing to loose.

The internet reports on Kahr CS are all over the board too. So either Kahr CS swings like a pendulum or their customers do. Hmmmmm. :rolleyes:

[bonjorno2]

Keep the NAA. You'll miss it when it's gone.

exactly! I miss my PUG

[bok15]

Funny, I just sold a pug for a cw380... I'm feel it was getting rid of one quality firearm for another quality firearm that has more purpose.


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[muggsy]

The CT380 isn't any different than any other Kahr pistol. Some run just fine right out of the box and a few don't. Most of the problems are owner opperator related and a few have bugs that need to be worked out. My only concern would be your with your wife's ability to cycle the slide. Kahr recoil springs are a bit on the stout side. If she can cycle the slide I'd say go for it. Kahr makes some of the finest concealed carry pistols available.

[CharlieR]

Break in can sometimes be frustrating, but all of my Kahrs turned out to be the most reliable pistols I have. I had to send my 2nd P380 in to Kahr, but it came back perfect. All of the others only got better and better the more they were shot. I'd say go for it !! Of all the small .380's out there, the P/CW380's are the most accurate, easiest shooting ones you'll find.

[GA_Sheepdog]

I have a cw380 and its been flawless. Like muggsy stated, my only concern would be her ability to rack the slide. My wife is unable to rack the slide on my cw380 but she can rack my Glock 19 just fine.

[RonW]

Before I buy a gun which may cause me a lot of grief (I am never the guy who get the good one), can anyone give me an idea of what percentage of Kahr 380's end up going back to the manufacturer for rework? If this is required (under warranty) does Kahr provide a shipping label 100% of the time?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I understand the logic as I too like to research products online to get a feel for it before purchase. In all honesty, if a consumer has a issue, many times they look online to find a answer, many times they join forums such as this one and join the discussion about their "problems" with the product. Many more consumers who have no issue's with the product are happy and may or may not join a forum. what I'm trying to say is, the "issues" with the CW380 may not be as bad as it may appear to be.

Kahr produces some of the best pistols on the market IMO. I would not judge a product based on online forums, the CW380 actually gets good reviews & praise. If you want a more realistic idea of the CW380's reliability, go to online retailers such as Cabela's & Bud's gun shop & read the consumer reviews.

[CharlieR]

You may want to look on Kahr's website. There is a drop-down list on the product page for "Where to Shoot". Before I bought my first P380, I tried one out at the place listed there. I was sold.

My brother and his friend both bought CW380's, and his friend didn't want to "take the time to break it in". So, he took me up on his offer to do that for him (he provided the ammunition)......Im such a nice guy :-). My brother's CW took about 180 rounds to be perfectly reliable, his friend's was flawless after about 50.

Look at the drop down box on the far right on this page: http://www.kahr.com/Pistols/Kahr-CW380.asp

[smokersteve]

My CW380 worked fine until 700 rounds then it didn't.
Sold it

[dirtengineer]

I had to send mine back once and still had to do a strikerectomy in order to get it to work. 200 flawless rounds and counting... I probably won't trust it for another 200, but I love the way it shoots, so I am willing to keep going. I still carry my LCP for now.

My CM9 has been basically flawless.