Kahr CW380 at 700 rounds [Archive]

smokersteve

10-19-2015, 07:54 PM

Armybrat

10-19-2015, 09:18 PM

Well, in that case you oughta edit your signature list of guns.

smokersteve

10-19-2015, 09:23 PM

Armybrat. Thanks. Just did

GA_Sheepdog

10-20-2015, 08:26 AM

My CW380 had 3 hiccups in the first 150 rounds then ran flawlessly to 700 rounds...and just the other day I took it out and had about 7 failure to feeds out of 55 rounds - all right near the middle of a magazine. It happened 3 times with my defensive ammo( Fed Hydra-Shok) which it never had a single failure with in the past.
Also about 3 times the slide lock came out some(about 1/4 inch). The slide lock design on these Kahrs is a joke. That spring held in by a screw that is difficult to adjust...and its screwed into plastic...disaster waiting to happen.
I just sold my CW380 and a few months ago I sold my CM9 so I am Kahrless and it feels good.

Hmm, my cw380 has 800 rounds through it and I've not had one problem with it. Sometimes the slide will not lock back on an empty chamber but that's due to me placing my thumb on the slide lock while firing.

So you're Kahrless, huh? I guess you'll be over on glock talk pretty soon. lol

muggsy

10-20-2015, 10:29 AM

Sounds like you're not a happy camper, Steve. Your inability to properly adjust the slide stop spring isn't an indication of a poor design. There are literally thousands of Kahr Pistols that work just fine with this setup. No offense intended.

smokersteve

10-20-2015, 10:49 AM

Muggsy,
The slide lock design is poor simply because it has to be adjusted.
Why would a gun company make a vital part of a firearm so delicate - the spring needs replaced...is it tight enough...is it too tight..the spring is held in place by a screw that is screwed into PLASTIC.
I know you are fond of Kahrs and you will defend them and their design no matter what.
I'm not a fan of constantly tinkering with a firearm that I trust to defend myself and others with.

GA_Sheepdog

10-20-2015, 11:57 AM

I've never had to adjust the slide lock spring. My brother, who acquired my old cw45 has over 1500 rounds through it and never had an issue with having to adjust the slide lock spring. The only issues he's had is his inability to properly clean and lube his own guns.

smokersteve

10-20-2015, 12:24 PM

GA Sheepdog,
That's great your Kahrs slide lock springs haven't needed adjustment, however both my CM9 & CW380 did.
Hopefully yours won't need adjustment. If they do remember it is screwed into plastic and I've heard of people stripping it.

Coppertop

10-20-2015, 01:02 PM

It's amazing that whenever someone criticizes the CW380 it is the owner's fault. We either didn't allow enough time for the handgun to break in (which is a farse) or we are holding it wrong or using the wrong ammo or some other reason other than the CW380 has issues.

I like the concept but Kahr's execution in producing the CW380 is inconsistent. One works like a charm, another doesn't. This isn't how firearms production should work.

A firearm needs to be reliable. Ideally 100% reliable but anything can fail. I just don't think Kahr has done enough to produce a reliable firearm.
My CW380 was sent back to the factory twice and eventually required a new frame because the slide stop wouldn't seat correctly. It continues to have failure to feeds and sits in my gun safe until I find something to trade it for.

If you have a reliable CW380, I'm glad for you. Just realize not everyone had your luck when they purchased the CW380.

smokersteve

10-20-2015, 01:37 PM

Coppertop,
The interesting thing is after the "break in" the gun was fine for 500 rounds then the problems came. I agree that the break in is bs

SlowBurn

10-20-2015, 01:39 PM

It's amazing that whenever someone criticizes the CW380 it is the owner's fault.
Actually I bet that's true of most any major brand semi-auto. Somebody on the internet is always hatin' on the brand, when usually its the owner and there's nothing wrong with the gun at all. On the rare occasion a manufacturer screws up (ahem.. Remington), respected professional reviewers catch it, everybody knows pretty quick and production stops. And sometimes a well designed gun gets past qc with a flaw, and needs to go back. But my money says most complaints about most semi autos are just operator error.

Baklash

10-20-2015, 07:22 PM

Guns are machines and made by man. Neither one is perfect. Some have problems. Some don't. We put machines in control of our lives all the time. Sometimes the machines fail us and sometimes we fail the machines.............. Man, where did that crap come from? Just feeling philosophical I guess. I wonder if Bob Dylan needs a lyricist.:music:

muggsy

10-21-2015, 05:45 AM

Every gun needs to be broken in. It just that the other manufacturers aren't honest enough to tell you that. I would never carry a gun that I thought wasn't reliable. If you couldn't adjust the spring properly you should have taken the gun to someone who could. If you damaged the spring due to your own carelessness or ignorance don't blame the design or the manufacturer. Kahr pistols have been approved by law enforcement agencies for conceal carry by police officers as back-up guns. That's enough endorsement of the design for me. You no longer own a Kahr pistol. What are you still doing on Kahr Talk except for complaining?

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 08:29 AM

Every gun needs to be broken in.
Not true, but obviously you bought the Kahr Kool Aid. And of course I make sure a new handgun functions before I carry it.

If you couldn't adjust the spring properly you should have taken the gun to someone who could. If you damaged the spring due to your own carelessness or ignorance don't blame the design or the manufacturer. I have adjusted the spring properly on 2 Kahr pistols and did no damage to the guns. The point is which I think you are too ignorant to get is I should not have to adjust a spring for a slide lock.

You no longer own a Kahr pistol. What are you still doing on Kahr Talk except for complaining? This is a public forum right.
Complaining...how about explaining to people some issues with Kahr pistols and Kahrs lack of quality control.

GA_Sheepdog

10-21-2015, 09:52 AM

Well if you go to another manufactures talk forum, you'll see people having problems with their guns. These forums are designed for this. To talk about possible issues and fixes with people who share a common interest/knowledge for a particular product.

Coppertop

10-21-2015, 12:45 PM

Every gun needs to be broken in. It just that the other manufacturers aren't honest enough to tell you that.

I disagree.

There is a period of time where you have to get used to the firearm, but a firearm should function properly straight from the manufacturer.
Sure, you will run across production errors, pilot errors or un-foreseen flaws that will cause problems, but in general a firearm should be mechanically reliable when it leaves the warehouse.

The Kahr CW380 is the only handgun I have ever owned that required such a break-in period. And even after 200 rounds, Kahr doesn't guarantee reliability resulting in many sending their pistols back for service. The CW380 is a nice pistol but flawed in some way that there is no consistency in reliability.

Since buying the CW380 I have purchased a Sig P238, a Sig P320 and a Ruger LCP. Each of these three weapons operated with reliability right out of the box. Before owning the CW380 I've purchased dozens of firearms with similar results with each being reliable right out of the box.

If these weapons had a break-in period, it only took one round. Which is the only break-in period that is reasonable.

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 02:28 PM

berettabone

10-21-2015, 02:34 PM

Have you ever heard of a blivet????????? I'm not sure where it originates. The first time I heard it, it was from my father. It's basically 10lbs. of crap, in a 5 lb. bag. That's what a Kahr is........a mechanical blivet. They have managed to stuff all sorts of things, into a VERY small space, and made it work. Usually it works well. Sometimes, it doesn't, for whatever reason. If your dealing with someone reputable, not really a problem. You can ask any small firearm owner, if they think that their small auto, is more reliable than their full size auto. If they say yes, they've not owned many firearms. Ruger had problems with their Bodyguard and LCP models. Smith had problems with the Shield, Kimber has issues with their small 1911's, Colt has Defender issues, I could go on and on. The other companies aren't having any better luck putting together blivets, than Kahr has. I now see a lot of the smaller firearms for sale on the different sights, from all different manufacturers. Some people just don't have luck, when it comes to these small firearms. They also end up not liking them, because they are harder to control and be accurate with. Some people just don't have the hand strength, to grip these firearms tightly. Sometimes it's the ammo. If a company made that horrible of a product, they wouldn't be around. Occasionally, they all drop the ball.

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 03:42 PM

It's basically 10lbs. of crap, in a 5 lb. bag. That's what a Kahr is........a mechanical blivet.
Berettabone...I think you figured out Kahrs issue...their guns are filled with crap :)
I agree that all firearm manufacturers have problems with guns. I think the difference between Ruger, S&W, Glock and Kahr is this: Ruger, S&W, and Glock address the problems and have better quality control than Kahr. For example Kahrs problem with followers breaking, their magazines, short rails...why are these problems (and other ones) not resolved yet.
The crazy part about my CW380 is after the "break in" it ran fine for 500 rounds...then at 700 rounds the problems came. Did my hand strength decrease? - NO. Did the ammo that worked in the gun previously all of a sudden go bad? - NO.
Here is the problem - the gun became defective at only 700 rounds

getsome

10-21-2015, 04:08 PM

Lighten up Francis

Coppertop

10-21-2015, 04:42 PM

Coppertop,
I agree with you on your assessment of the "break in" of a new gun.
How is the recoil on the LCP compared to the CW380? I just purchased a LCP Custom but can't pick it up due to a hold on the gun.
Thanks, Steve

The recoil is very similar. If anything, when the CW380 works, the recoil doesn't feel as sharp as it does with the LCP.

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 04:53 PM

Coppertop,
Ok. Thanks. That's what I thought. Steve

muggsy

10-21-2015, 07:14 PM

Berettabone...I think you figured out Kahrs issue...their guns are filled with crap :)
I agree that all firearm manufacturers have problems with guns. I think the difference between Ruger, S&W, Glock and Kahr is this: Ruger, S&W, and Glock address the problems and have better quality control than Kahr. For example Kahrs problem with followers breaking, their magazines, short rails...why are these problems (and other ones) not resolved yet.
The crazy part about my CW380 is after the "break in" it ran fine for 500 rounds...then at 700 rounds the problems came. Did my hand strength decrease? - NO. Did the ammo that worked in the gun previously all of a sudden go bad? - NO.
Here is the problem - the gun became defective at only 700 rounds

How's this for a possibility, Steve. The gun ran fine for five hundred rounds. At seven hundred rounds you became careless with the reassembly after cleaning it and damaged the slide stop spring. Because you can't straighten the thing out the gun is now a piece of crap. Is that a possibility?

muggsy

10-21-2015, 07:21 PM

I disagree.

There is a period of time where you have to get used to the firearm, but a firearm should function properly straight from the manufacturer.
Sure, you will run across production errors, pilot errors or un-foreseen flaws that will cause problems, but in general a firearm should be mechanically reliable when it leaves the warehouse.

The Kahr CW380 is the only handgun I have ever owned that required such a break-in period. And even after 200 rounds, Kahr doesn't guarantee reliability resulting in many sending their pistols back for service. The CW380 is a nice pistol but flawed in some way that there is no consistency in reliability.

Since buying the CW380 I have purchased a Sig P238, a Sig P320 and a Ruger LCP. Each of these three weapons operated with reliability right out of the box. Before owning the CW380 I've purchased dozens of firearms with similar results with each being reliable right out of the box.

If these weapons had a break-in period, it only took one round. Which is the only break-in period that is reasonable.

Regardless of what you think, every gun has a break in period where the moving parts marry. That why the triggers get smoother, the slides get easier to rack and the guns become more accurate over time. Most guns, including Kahr pistols, work just fine right out of the box. Some don't. Anyone who carries a gun that hasn't been proven is running a fools errand. I wouldn't carry any gun that wasn't properly broken in and proven.

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 07:41 PM

Coppertop

10-21-2015, 08:05 PM

Regardless of what you think, every gun has a break in period where the moving parts marry. That why the triggers get smoother, the slides get easier to rack and the guns become more accurate over time. Most guns, including Kahr pistols, work just fine right out of the box. Some don't. Anyone who carries a gun that hasn't been proven is running a fools errand. I wouldn't carry any gun that wasn't properly broken in and proven.

Regardless what I think? It is what I know through my experience. Your experience is obviously different, but that doesn't mean my experiences are any less credible.

I would never carry a gun, outside an emergency, that I haven't taken to the range. It's not to break in the gun it's to see how it handles, how the sights are aligned and the overall feel. Also to make sure if functions properly.

Guns, like any other machine, will operate smoother and easier with use. But guns, like machines, should work properly out of the box and not require 200 rounds to get to get there. The moving parts should already be married.

I cannot say Kahrs work fine right out of the box. The best I can offer is that some Kahr CW380's work fine out of the box, but many do not. If you have a Kahr that works properly, I'm happy for you. Just realize not everyone is as blessed as you are to buy a Kahr that works properly. I guess I should count myself blessed as well because of all the guns I have owned, only one didn't.

Wanna guess which one that is?

muggsy

10-21-2015, 08:24 PM

Muggsy, you are a piece of work. Of course a Kahr fanboy is going to blame the operator instead of the faulty Kahr pistol.
I've disassembled and reassembled my CW380 about 300 times in the last 1 1/2 years. Who knows how many times I've field stripped my other 10 handguns.
But of course you will blame me instead of the gun. Typical fanboy.

You yourself said the gun ran fine through 700 rounds. You yourself said that the problem was the slide stop spring. Why didn't you replace the spring rather than the gun? There are literally thousand of CW380 in use that never experienced any problems. Every other gun manufactured has had its share of problems including the gun you traded for. I'm a piece of work? My Kahr P380 runs just fine with all of its "design faults".

muggsy

10-21-2015, 08:46 PM

Regardless what I think? It is what I know through my experience. Your experience is obviously different, but that doesn't mean my experiences are any less credible.

I would never carry a gun, outside an emergency, that I haven't taken to the range. It's not to break in the gun it's to see how it handles, how the sights are aligned and the overall feel. Also to make sure if functions properly.

Guns, like any other machine, will operate smoother and easier with use. But guns, like machines, should work properly out of the box and not require 200 rounds to get to get there. The moving parts should already be married.

I cannot say Kahrs work fine right out of the box. The best I can offer is that some Kahr CW380's work fine out of the box, but many do not. If you have a Kahr that works properly, I'm happy for you. Just realize not everyone is as blessed as you are to buy a Kahr that works properly. I guess I should count myself blessed as well because of all the guns I have owned, only one didn't.

Wanna guess which one that is?

There are thousands of Kahr owners who have shared my experience. If Kahr pistols were flawed they would have gone out of business long ago. Kahr stands behind their products.

Coppertop

10-21-2015, 09:10 PM

Kahr stands behind their products.

If that was true, they would have commented on the legitimate concerns consumers have raised. Surely they monitor this website and I'm sure I am not the only one who has written them directly.

I'm sure there are many Kahr owners that share your success. Just as there are many who haven't. Unless you know each of us personally, you have no clue if our issues are design related or user error. It is irresponsible to assume the latter simply because it fits your position the best.

But curious... if every gun has a break-in period how do you explain that right out of the box the Ruger LCP has yet to have a failure to feed, but it only took three rounds for the Kahr CW380 to jam?

I've cycled about 200 rounds through the LCP and still no failures, broken parts or anything else to question the reliability. I can say the same about the Sig P238 that I purchased recently. Yet the Kahr CW380 continued to experience failure to feeds, the slide lock broke and the frame had to be replaced. And my pistol isn't unique. You can read about similar issues with the CW380 throughout these forums.

Bobshouse

10-21-2015, 09:46 PM

Firearms such as Ruger, Glock, Springfield Armory, to name a few, are all built loose, with plenty of forgiveness when chambering a round. My P380 feels like a solid little brick in my hand, I don't get that with the others. When you shake a Kahr, there is no rattle, there is no room for a rattle.

When you put a family of 7 in a station wagon, its still somewhat comfortable, in a 2 seat sportster, not so much.

Some people are station wagon people, others prefer Kahrs.

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 09:49 PM

You yourself said the gun ran fine through 700 rounds. You yourself said that the problem was the slide stop spring. Why didn't you replace the spring rather than the gun? There are literally thousand of CW380 in use that never experienced any problems. Every other gun manufactured has had its share of problems including the gun you traded for. I'm a piece of work? My Kahr P380 runs just fine with all of its "design faults".
It's called trust. I'm not going to trust a gun that breaks at 700 rounds. Everytime I go out to shoot I empty the entire mag of what I've been carrying. I'm not a big fan of a gun that doesn't feed the 3rd round like my CW380 did and continued to do. It was also very difficult to clear because the way it was jamming Every Glock, S&W, and Ruger I've done this with has never failed. I'll stick with what works and what I trust.
In my area there are three reputable LGS who all told me to stay away from Kahr - I should have listened.
Later. I won't be back.
You did your job Muggsy - running someone off who has a critic of your precious manufacturer of a gun .
Steve

smokersteve

10-21-2015, 09:57 PM

Bawanna

10-21-2015, 11:23 PM

I've been neglectful and didn't read this thread because I don't own a 380, don't want a 380 and have no use for one.

Long story short who ever opined "Lighten Up Francis" nailed it on the head.

Kahr probably does not monitor this site and it matters not if they do or do not.

We accept constructive criticism and moderate heated discussion but draw the line at power whining.

For now I think this pony is rode down and the bone is plumb chewed.

We're done here.