CW380 back at mothership

[knot4reel]

Had to send the little feller home this week. It had been performing pretty well but had started failing to chamber the next round after firing the first shot. When I would drop the mag the slide would slam closed on the empty chamber. Looking at the mag the next round would be pushed forward approx. 1/4". It didn't matter if I had six or five rounds loaded in the mag. This was happening just about every other magazine using Remington and Blazer Brass FMJ and alternating magazines. Round count is 240.

I value opinions from you folks. What are some thoughts on what might be causing this. Especially the pushing the next round in the magazine forward ? I'll post an update when I get it back from the factory with their findings. Kinda hard to trust for EDC with it doing this. Thanks.

[topgun1953]

it's normal for the top round to be moved forward... the foot of the striker hits it. Did you lock the slide back before you dropped the magazine?

[knot4reel]

it's normal for the top round to be moved forward... the foot of the striker hits it. Did you lock the slide back before you dropped the magazine?
I did not. I just dropped the magazine.

[topgun1953]

sometimes when i experience a feed problem, the slide is held open by the jam itself. if I'm able to withdraw the mag, the offending cartridge comes out and the slide will close. PerhAps this is what is happening. I always make sure the slide is fully back and locked.. As far as the failure to feed... since Kahr will soon have it, I am curious what they say... I get FTF, nose dives, with the top 2rounds of my 7 round mag.... with mag guts in it.

[knot4reel]

They received it this past Wednesday. I too am curious as to what they find is causing this problem. If my luck goes as it normally does, they will run a 100rds thru it without as much as a hiccup and I will look like a fool for sending it in. :)

[knot4reel]

Ok, got it back yesterday ( 4weeks seems like a long turnaround time. Hope this doesn't indicate that a lot of Kahr's go back for repairs.) Anywho here's what they did. Replaced recoil springs and rear extractor pin, reworked slide and barrel ( someone with knowledge please explain what this means ), polished feed ramp, tested ok. I hope to take it out and check out their repair job tomorrow. Wish me luck.

[gb6491]

Ok, got it back yesterday ( 4weeks seems like a long turnaround time. Hope this doesn't indicate that a lot of Kahr's go back for repairs.) Anywho here's what they did. Replaced recoil springs and rear extractor pin, reworked slide and barrel ( someone with knowledge please explain what this means ), polished feed ramp, tested ok. I hope to take it out and check out their repair job tomorrow. Wish me luck.
4 weeks is quicker than I've had work done by S&W and Ruger, but slower than that from RIA and USSF. I don't think there is really much to be gleaned from the length of TAT in regards to how many products are going back for repairs. Gunsmiths take time off, parts can be in short supply, custom work could be in the queue, lot of different factors will affect TAT.
I know that's of little consequence when it's your gun that's gone, but stuff happens:rain:

Anyhow, thanks for updating us and good fortune tommorrow!

Regards,
Greg

[knot4reel]

Took the cw out today to try out since the repairs. Here is the set up, Rem FMJ- 1 in the pipe- 6 in the mag. Pull trigger-bang one in pipe fires next one jams :mad: Clear jam and rest fire :cool:. Load next mag with 6 and drop slide to chamber one. All six fired flawlessly. On a roll now, load another mag with 6, all fired but the last one did not lock the slide back. Oh well no biggie. Dropped the mag out and tried to lock the slide back to insert the next loaded mag in. I discovered that I could not open the slide, it was stuck closed on an empty chamber.

Well I worked for five minutes trying to manipulate the slide into opening. tried with empty mags wouldn't work whether mag was in or out. Finally I decided to try pulling the trigger, of course being safe where the business end was pointing, after 3 or 4 trigger pulls while trying to open the slide whatever was holding it closed let go. Keep in mind this slide was locked on an empty chamber! Well to say the least at this point I was livid with my little Kahr. So don't ask me why but I loaded a mag with Hornady XTP hollow points which before the trip to Kahr it refused to chamber reliably.

Guess what- bang bang bang bang bang bang. Humm. Loaded another mag full, same result. Perfect. I ran 4 more mags of FMJ's with no problems whatsoever.

What are some of your thoughts on why the slide locked like it did. I'm aware of the short rail possibility but this doesn't appear to be a problem with this gun. Would you guys trust it, or should I call Kahr on it. I want to think it was just a gremlin.. Sorry for being so long winded.

[DevinBreeding]

Took the cw out today to try out since the repairs. Here is the set up, Rem FMJ- 1 in the pipe- 6 in the mag. Pull trigger-bang one in pipe fires next one jams :mad: Clear jam and rest fire :cool:. Load next mag with 6 and drop slide to chamber one. All six fired flawlessly. On a roll now, load another mag with 6, all fired but the last one did not lock the slide back. Oh well no biggie. Dropped the mag out and tried to lock the slide back to insert the next loaded mag in. I discovered that I could not open the slide, it was stuck closed on an empty chamber.

Well I worked for five minutes trying to manipulate the slide into opening. tried with empty mags wouldn't work whether mag was in or out. Finally I decided to try pulling the trigger, of course being safe where the business end was pointing, after 3 or 4 trigger pulls while trying to open the slide whatever was holding it closed let go. Keep in mind this slide was locked on an empty chamber! Well to say the least at this point I was livid with my little Kahr. So don't ask me why but I loaded a mag with Hornady XTP hollow points which before the trip to Kahr it refused to chamber reliably.

Guess what- bang bang bang bang bang bang. Humm. Loaded another mag full, same result. Perfect. I ran 4 more mags of FMJ's with no problems whatsoever.

What are some of your thoughts on why the slide locked like it did. I'm aware of the short rail possibility but this doesn't appear to be a problem with this gun. Would you guys trust it, or should I call Kahr on it. I want to think it was just a gremlin.. Sorry for being so long winded.

what ammo were you using? [Edit*nevermind I realized you answered this*Edit] If you are using fiocchi, perfect or Tulammo, don't anymore. I've never been a fan of Remington ammo either. Seems like it's consistantly loaded weak. Mine loves hornady XTP, Winchester white box and Speer gold dot. Maybe call KAHR and ask them what ammo they use to function test after service and try that.

I would field strip, disassemble striker assembly and check everything with a flashlight. If you have a dremel, inspect, polish, clean everything thoroughly where parts move together. Inside mag well feed lips, barrel hood, feed ramp, chamber (lightly) then use a good oil sparingly. I use mobile1 motor oil 0-W40 European motor oil. $7 a quart at Walmart. I would also function test everything with the gun disassembled to make sure everything moves together normally. For example, with a field stripped slide, move the barrel through its motions without a spring to try to pinpoint anything abnormal.

As far as the slide locking closed it sounds like it ejected the spent casing then locked closed? I would inspect your striker, striker channel, the cam that pulls the striker back, slide lock and rails for any weird burs or peening.

luckily these pistols are fairly simple designs with few parts which means it can only be a select number of things. I also feel like I'm promoting these guys all the time lately but the lakelineLLC aftermarket striker seemed to make a significant difference in the smoothness of the function of my 380.

[SlowBurn]

Hard to say, but I wouldn't send it back if its working now. If it was mine I'd clean it as normal, check if anything obvious is visible while it's field stripped - taking a close look at the extractor. Then after another couple trips to the range, if no further hiccups, assume some crap worked itself out and trust it.

[b4uqzme]

Hard to say, but I wouldn't send it back if its working now. If it was mine I'd clean it as normal, check if anything obvious is visible while it's field stripped - taking a close look at the extractor. Then after another couple trips to the range, if no further hiccups, assume some crap worked itself out and trust it.

+1. You pretty much hafta repeat the break-in process after a trip back to mother IMHO. I'd recommend you keep it clean and keep shooting it. Hope you have no further problems...but let us know. Best of luck.

[gb6491]

........

What are some of your thoughts on why the slide locked like it did. I'm aware of the short rail possibility but this doesn't appear to be a problem with this gun. Would you guys trust it, or should I call Kahr on it. I want to think it was just a gremlin.. Sorry for being so long winded.

If it were mine:
I'd inspect the barrel lug and both ends of the barrel hood.
Any damage there would need to be addressed.
If I found nothing untoward , I'd grease the lug, oil the slide stop pin, slap it back together, and shoot it some more.
Regards,
Greg

[knot4reel]

Thanks for the responses gents. Today I gave the little feller a detailed inspection and cleaning. I could find nothing that seemed unusual or out of place. I probably won't get a chance to run it again for awhile. Until then I'll load six XTP's, (it seems to be more reliable only having 5 in the mag) and put him in the pocket. At least I can count on one good shot if needed. The dependability thing I'm afraid might never go away with this one now. At least in my mind the what if it don't could be permanently burned in there. I sure hope that thought goes away with a 100% performance from it next time out.

[Alfonse]

Next time out, let someone else (preferable experienced with pocket guns) shoot it and see how it works for them.

These tiny pistols are great at pointing out issues with grip. Even though I had shot for decades and had a half dozen Kahrs before I got a CW380, it taught me a few things I needed to improve in my grip and hold to get it to fire every time.

[knot4reel]

Next time out, let someone else (preferable experienced with pocket guns) shoot it and see how it works for them.

These tiny pistols are great at pointing out issues with grip. Even though I had shot for decades and had a half dozen Kahrs before I got a CW380, it taught me a few things I needed to improve in my grip and hold to get it to fire every time. Thanks, I have tried that also and we all experienced the same issues with it. This was before the trip to Kahr. What's bugging me now is what in the world would make it lock the slide closed on an empty chamber?

[Alfonse]

That is a mystery. I would guess like the others, some foreign bit of metal or something. Check a piece of the recoil spring did not break off the end if you have another to compare.