Chambering issue with new CW380

[craigd]

I have a new CW 380 and have tried 4 different ammo's and most of the time the round will not chamber. I am following the manuals direction of inserting the mag, then lock back the slide, then release with the slide stop. Most of the time the round will be stuck half way into the chamber. The only ammo that cycled some was some HPR. I also tried Hornady and Winchester. I have taken down the pistol 3 different times and can see no issues there. Could it be the mag? Trying to trouble shoot before I have to send it back for service.

I appreciate any feedback.

[SlowBurn]

Probably the gun, but
1. I lock back the slide first, then insert the mag. Not sure it makes any difference.
2. Let someone else try it before sending it in. It is possible it's a grip error. Not likely but could save an unnecessary trip to the mother ship.

[craigd]

Thanks. I have loaded it both ways. Good idea to see about someone else doing it. Merry Christmas!

[gb6491]

I have a new CW 380 and have tried 4 different ammo's and most of the time the round will not chamber. I am following the manuals direction of inserting the mag, then lock back the slide, then release with the slide stop. Most of the time the round will be stuck half way into the chamber. The only ammo that cycled some was some HPR. I also tried Hornady and Winchester. I have taken down the pistol 3 different times and can see no issues there. Could it be the mag? Trying to trouble shoot before I have to send it back for service.

I appreciate any feedback.
Is the cartridge's rim in the extractor claw/hook when this happens?

[Ikeo74]

My 2 cents. The 1 thing that can cause this problem is the friction caused by new recoil springs rubbing against each other. The outside spring binds on the inside spring. Try this, get some auto chassis grease and lube both springs and the guide rod. Just rub it into the assembly with your fingers, all the way around the assembly. Then apply a small amount on the slide rails, top and bottom for the full length. Go back to the range and try the gun again. Post back the results to let us know if it worked or not.

[craigd]

I will try rhe lube of the springs. Also, not sure about the position. I will look again.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[RonW]

I know this might be a silly question but.... Are you sure you're loading .380 auto & not 9mm?

I say this cause months ago, I accidentally mixed up my 9 & 40 M&P shield mags up & it took me a moment at the range to figure out why my shield suddenly would jam up when I tried to rack a round in the chamber.... :der:

[muggsy]

What brand of ammo are you using? Some foreign ammo has a thicker rim. A thick rim and a tight extractor is a recipe for a jamb. Run the gun wet for the first 200 rounds and clean it every fifty rounds. A dirty gun with tight tolerances is a recipe for a jamb. Have you read the break-in stickies in the New Members section? If not, do so.

[craigd]

Can you expand on the phrase run the gun wet. I believe I know what you mean, but please clarify. Also, I have tried HPR 100 gr TMJ and it ran ok, Winchester 95 gr FMJ and it hardly ever fed, Fiocchi 95 gr FMJ and it never fed, Hornady 90 gr XTP and it never fed and the first one i tried was PMC Bronze 90 gr FMJ and it never fed.

I see that you have a P380. What ammo do you use?

I appreciate the feedback.

[DavidR]

Is it jammed or just not returning to full battery?


Dave

[RonW]

Ok do this then...... Pull off the slide & remove the barrel & drop a round in the chamber to see if it seats properly....sounds like you're either loading 9mm or something is way out of spec on the pistol.

[dirtengineer]

I had problems with Fiocchi. You can visually tell that it has a thicker rim.

[berettabone]

I had problems with Fiocchi. You can visually tell that it has a thicker rim.
If you check the length, you'll probably find that Fiocchi ammo is a tad longer than most.............................................

[gb6491]

If you check the length, you'll probably find that Fiocchi ammo is a tad longer than most.............................................
I was going to check this, but darn if I'm not short on 380 ammo. The only stuff I have, outside of hollow points, has been previously chambered, so OAL measurements would be meaningless. Ditto on case length, I can't get repeatable measurements without pulling the bullets. FWIW: eyeballing it, Fiocchi seems middle of the road in OAL between it, Magtech, and Blazer. In regards to case length, I'd say the Fiocchi and the Blazer are longer than the Magtech.

I had problems with Fiocchi. You can visually tell that it has a thicker rim.
I agree. While I was working on my P380, I did note that some brands of 380 ammo (Fiocchi in particular) have a thicker rim than others. The thicker rim stuff was more difficult to push up under the extractor. I decided to follow this gent's lead and took some material off the rear pin of the extractor to better accommodate the thicker rim stuff: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?26232-Found-solution-to-FTF-and-failure-to-return-to-battery-on-CW-380 (http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?26232-Found-solution-to-FTF-and-failure-to-return-to-battery-on-CW-380)
I've not had any return to battery issues or extraction issues with my pistol post doing this. Now, I'm not saying this needs to be done (many pistols are probably fine as they are), but I do think it's worth keeping in mind ( plus I'm happy with the results in my P380).
http://i65.tinypic.com/303ipe0.jpg
http://i64.tinypic.com/10sgabb.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/2luxkp3.jpg
Regards,
Greg

BTW, if it hasn't been done already, I'd suggest the OP disassemble the slide, then inspect and clean the extractor parts (to include the tunnel in the slide). It also wouldn't hurt to disassemble the magazine and check that the spring is correctly oriented to the follower.

[Ikeo74]

The top picture of the fiocchi is creased just below the bottom of the bullet. If that is factory ammo, I wouldn't buy any more of it.

[gb6491]

The top picture of the fiocchi is creased just below the bottom of the bullet. If that is factory ammo, I wouldn't buy any more of it.
Yes it is, but in it's defense, that's from some ammo I keep on my workbench to test this and that...no telling how many times it's been chambered, ejected, dropped:2eek:, etc. You've a good eye.
Regards,
Greg

[muggsy]

Can you expand on the phrase run the gun wet. I believe I know what you mean, but please clarify. Also, I have tried HPR 100 gr TMJ and it ran ok, Winchester 95 gr FMJ and it hardly ever fed, Fiocchi 95 gr FMJ and it never fed, Hornady 90 gr XTP and it never fed and the first one i tried was PMC Bronze 90 gr FMJ and it never fed.

I see that you have a P380. What ammo do you use?

I appreciate the feedback.

By running it wet I meant well oiled. You'll find a lube chart in the stickies. My current summer carry ammo for the .380 is Hornady Critical Defense. During the break-in I ran PMC Bronze ball ammo with no problems. The only ammo that my P380 doesn't like is Winchester White Box flat point and Fiocchi. What works well in one gun may not work well in another.

[craigd]

As I try to chamber the round, it gets stuck half way into the barrel. When it does chamber a round, then sometimes it will extract the casing, then the next round gets 3/4's the way in. Sometimes I can handle the slide and it will fully chamber. Other times it wont fully chamber again at all and I have to drop the mag and pull the slide back to release the round.

[Ikeo74]

Have you seen any improvements yet using some of the suggestions given here?

[craigd]

None yet. Haven't tried the lubing of the springs and the slide. Doing that tomorrow. The PMC Bronze is what I first tried.

[RonW]

I still think you got your 9mm mixed up with some .380's

[muggsy]

I still think you got your 9mm mixed up with some .380's

Not likely. A 9mm won't chamber at all in a 380, but a .380 will chamber in a 9mm. Go ahead, ask me how I know. :)

[berettabone]

I don't have a .380, but I loaded a mag with Fiocchi FMJ's, and Fed HST's, alternating rounds, in a dirty firearm. The Fiocchi's jammed, the nose was under the feed ramp. The HST's gave me no problems. I never had an issue with Fiocchi until after the break in period. Coincidence, maybe, but I just don't use it in my MK any more. Other firearms don't seem to have an issue with Fiocchi.