View Full Version : CW380 - Slide stays a bit back when pulled
EeaUM
02-14-2018, 04:00 PM
I got a new CW380 last week, and decided to clean it after about 100 rounds. After putting it back together, I noticed that whenever I pull the slide back a bit, it does not return all the way. It is much more noticeable when there is a round in the chamber or mag. (However, it is very easy to push it back into place)
I read a thread on here from 2014 where someone had the same issue, but there we're conflicting opinions as to whether it was normal.
Any suggestions?
dpierce
02-14-2018, 05:39 PM
How many total rounds have you run thru it? Did you follow the New Kahr prep in the Kahr Tech thread? I got a CT380 in December and had all kinds of issues with FTE and FTF and not going all the way into battery? After I found this forum and the How to's in the Kahlr Tech threads I have not had any issues in over 250 rounds!! I think the big plus to making the gun run better is to do the 500 hand racks without the mag in it! I could feel the gun loosen up as I was doing it and after a few breaks (it will work on your wrist and and forearm muscles) I did a couple hundred more for good measure? I just went in and checked mine and with or without the mag or one in the chamber it will go right back into battery easily just pulling it back a 1/4 to inch easily!! That's my 2 cents!!
SlowBurn
02-14-2018, 06:42 PM
May seem obvious, but I would take it apart and put it back together again. Be careful when you re-insert the slide stop pin that the catch goes in under the spring
EeaUM
02-14-2018, 08:21 PM
How many total rounds have you run thru it? Did you follow the New Kahr prep in the Kahr Tech thread? I got a CT380 in December and had all kinds of issues with FTE and FTF and not going all the way into battery? After I found this forum and the How to's in the Kahlr Tech threads I have not had any issues in over 250 rounds!! I think the big plus to making the gun run better is to do the 500 hand racks without the mag in it! I could feel the gun loosen up as I was doing it and after a few breaks (it will work on your wrist and and forearm muscles) I did a couple hundred more for good measure? I just went in and checked mine and with or without the mag or one in the chamber it will go right back into battery easily just pulling it back a 1/4 to inch easily!! That's my 2 cents!!
I have just about 200 rounds through it after tonight's range trip. Got around 20 failure to return to battery and 10 light primer strikes tonight out of about 100 rounds.
I did did break in procedures, but it didn't really seem to help with the current issues unfortunately.
May seem obvious, but I would take it apart and put it back together again. Be careful when you re-insert the slide stop pin that the catch goes in under the spring
I've done it a few times to no avail.
I'm going to upload some pictures to see if you guys spot anything out of the ordinary.
I also realized that this issue can only be replicated when the gun is cocked - doesn't matter if there is a round in the chamber or the mag.
EDIT: Here are the pics. (first 3 pics are to show the issue. The rest are the internals. Ignore the slide release not being there. Problem happens regardless)
http://m.imgur.com/a/0kiCH
gb6491
02-15-2018, 12:18 PM
EeaMU,
There's quite a balancing act going on between the recoil spring and the striker spring in these smaller Kahr pistols. Anything that might cause drag in the striker system could affect that balance. It might also be enough to have an effect on striker hits.
Have you disassembled the slide and inspected/cleaned the striker parts (to include the striker channel)?
Regards,
Greg
BTW, welcome to the forums :)
EeaUM
02-15-2018, 02:38 PM
EeaMU,
There's quite a balancing act going on between the recoil spring and the striker spring in these smaller Kahr pistols. Anything that might cause drag in the striker system could affect that balance. It might also be enough to have an effect on striker hits.
Have you disassembled the slide and inspected/cleaned the striker parts (to include the striker channel)?
Regards,
Greg
BTW, welcome to the forums :)
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I actually tried to, but I couldn't get the second detent (next to the back plate) depressed. It needs a REALLY small pin of some sort. I was thinking of taking it to my local gun shop to see if they have a tool that would work.
dpierce
02-15-2018, 04:21 PM
[QUOTE=EeaUM;395231]I have just about 200 rounds through it after tonight's range trip. Got around 20 failure to return to battery and 10 light primer strikes tonight out of about 100 rounds.
I did did break in procedures, but it didn't really seem to help with the current issues unfortunately.
I've done it a few times to no avail.
I'm going to upload some pictures to see if you guys spot anything out of the ordinary.
I also realized that this issue can only be replicated when the gun is cocked - doesn't matter if there is a round in the chamber or the mag.
EDIT: Here are the pics. (first 3 pics are to show the issue. The rest are the internals. Ignore the slide release not being there. Problem happens regardless)
http://m.imgur.com/a/0kiCH[/QUOTE
When you cleaned it did you do step 2 where you pull the striker back and clean the striker channel clean out hole? I had done what I thought was a good clean before I found the Prep thread here but did not know about step 2? When I sprayed brake clean thru that hole and around the striker I could not believe how much crude came out? After following the steps for Prepping and hand racking it 700 times oh ya I also polished the feed ramp I can now hand rack it without using the slide lock and it feeds smooth and goes into battery easy? I see in the last pic of your slide the striker channel hole is the same color as the slide and looks flush to the slide? Mine is dark in color and you can see the hole where it is drilled to the striker channel? Hope this helps?
Bawanna
02-15-2018, 04:50 PM
Thank you for the warm welcome!
I actually tried to, but I couldn't get the second detent (next to the back plate) depressed. It needs a REALLY small pin of some sort. I was thinking of taking it to my local gun shop to see if they have a tool that would work.
No special tool needed. It's just deceiving. The little half moon notch is bigger than the actual hole you use to depress the extractor pin. Chances are if you don't feel it depressing your pushing on the plate and not getting to the pin.
A strong needle or fine scribe is needed to clear it. I actually use a jeweler screw driver, one of the smallest in the set.
First time or two it might take some careful prying to get the back plate to start off.
Also look into a Ripley Retractor. A bent piece of coat hanger to keep the striker spring under control while you remove the back plate.
Once you've done it, you'll see how easy it really is.
EeaUM
02-15-2018, 05:57 PM
Wait wait. I stuck an Allen key behind the striker spring, but am I supposed to pull it all the way back at the same time I'm sticking the needle in the second decent?
gb6491
02-15-2018, 06:42 PM
Wait wait. I stuck an Allen key behind the striker spring, but am I supposed to pull it all the way back at the same time I'm sticking the needle in the second decent?
The striker spring and striker spring guide rod sit in a recess of the back plate; they only need to be moved enough to allow the plate to slide free,
This gent does a good explanation of this in his video:
cq93dGhNpvg
Many here prefer using a "Ripley Retractor" in lieu of the cable tie used in the video.
..... Here's another solution. I call it the Ripley Retractor. A simple piece of wire clothes hanger cut to fit and retain the spring safely while the plate is removed and after it is off. Easy to make and it works well. Keeps all pressure off the plate and keeps parts from flying around until you're ready to ease them out.
https://s13.postimg.org/yy6ewz4sn/Kahrtool002.jpg_original.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
https://s13.postimg.org/hxniokmp3/Kahrtool001.jpg_original.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Like Bawanna, I use a very small jeweler's screwdriver to push the extractor pin.
http://i61.tinypic.com/i77wv7.jpg
Regards,
Greg
Bawanna
02-15-2018, 06:46 PM
Well done Greg, your quick access to applicable photo's amazes me. Excellent.
At first while depressing that pin you might have to pry carefully on the back plate, they can be snug and need some persuading.
After being removed once or twice they usually are easier to get off. I don't take mine off very often.
EeaUM
02-16-2018, 04:23 PM
That post was very helpful, thank you!
I ended up up getting it apart. I'm about to clean the striker channel, but first I am trying to sand down the extractor a bit. For some reason nothing is sanding it down. Going to try a more coarse file.
EDIT: JUST as I posted that I decided to go a bit more lunatic on it, and NOW it's starting to sand down :)
Bawanna
02-16-2018, 05:25 PM
Often times when sanding and not making progress finer sand paper actually improves things.
Especially on metal.
I run into this all the time with hard woods. With ebony 120 grit won't hardly touch the stuff, it's like gravel out of your driveway and just scratches.
Move up to 180 or 220 and things improve. Slow going of course but at least getting saw dust or sand paper dust in this case.
EeaUM
02-16-2018, 07:36 PM
Okay so I did everything and for some reason the gun still doesn't return all the way when it's cocked. Happens with or without ammo. With or without the mag. I don't think it's the recoil spring. It only happens when the gun is cocked.
I'm going to a gun show tomorrow, so I will take it and see if anyone can figure it out. Kahr is also sending me a new recoil spring and striker spring.
In the meantime, any ideas? :confused:
EeaUM
02-23-2018, 04:43 PM
So I sanded the extractor, installed a new recoil spring and a new striker spring.
I shot about 90 rounds at the range. Only 2 failure to go into battery and 1 light primer strike. (Compared to over 10 each before) The original issue of pulling back the slide a bit and it not returning all the way is still happening, but barely. Gonna shoot it more and see if I see even better results.
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