P380

[sudo]

I have a friend who purchased a new p380 a while back.

It was for carry, but he had so much trouble with it that doesn't carry it.

I've heard many people refer to the p380 as a jam-o-matic.

I like the small size and weight.

Is the cw380 more reliable?

I have a pm40 and it works just fine.

[gb6491]

I have a friend who purchased a new p380 a while back.

It was for carry, but he had so much trouble with it that doesn't carry it.

I've heard many people refer to the p380 as a jam-o-matic.

I like the small size and weight.

Is the cw380 more reliable?

I have a p40 and it works just fine.
I have to say that's the first time I've heard the P380 referred to as a jam-o-matic, but as you say you have heard many people say that, they must be selling well (unless those folks are just gossip mongers).

Yeah, there are some out there that don't work for one reason or another, just like there are folks out there that can't make them work (IE, poor grip, bad technique, etc.).

One would hope that those with the problem guns are in contact with Kahr Customer Service or stopping by here to see if the community can help.
Heck, this one thread has helped many whom had a problem with their 380 Kahr: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?26232-Found-solution-to-FTF-and-failure-to-return-to-battery-on-CW-380

Notice I wrote 380 Kahr as I don't believe either of the current production P380 or CW380 models is inherently more reliable than the other.

Please encourage your friend to stop by here.

Regards,
Greg

[sudo]

I think part of the problem is my friend has trouble with pocket sized pistols.

He shoots larger Glocks well.

But I let him shoot my Sig P238HD which is similar in size to the Kahr but heavier.

He had several jams in the first magazine, whereas I've never had a problem with the Sig.

[Wlfman13]

The ONLY issue I have had with my P380 has been attributed to ammo. Perfecta and Fiochi would/will not chamber. No worries. Everything else runs smoothly, without issue. To each his own, YMMV, etc.

-Wlf

[dustnchips]

I'll give him $200 for that non functioning gun.

[DAinTX]

The P380, like many pistols in that very small size range, requires a strong hand/firm grip to recoil against. Now, that may not be the issue here, but I know from long experience that if you don't provide a solid platform for these little guns, or if you anticipate recoil and flinch, you can induce cycling problems. The micro guns are a little less forgiving than larger pistols. JMO/JME.

[bobandmikako]

I have both the CW380 and P380. No problems with either after several years. I use a few brands of .380 ammo, including PMC FMJ, GECO FMJ, Sig Elite FMJ, Sig Elite V-Crown, Hornady Custom XTP and Speer Gold Dots. These have all been solid in my other .380 pistols too.

[SlowBurn]

I think part of the problem is my friend has trouble with pocket sized pistols.

He shoots larger Glocks well.

But I let him shoot my Sig P238HD which is similar in size to the Kahr but heavier.

He had several jams in the first magazine, whereas I've never had a problem with the Sig.

I think that may be the WHOLE problem with his P380. I had no idea about the flaws in my technique until I started shooting little semis. You, or someone comfortable with micro pistols, should shoot his Kahr and see if they have the same problems. Firm grip, stiff wrist.

[Planedude]

I've carried my P380 for more than ten years and have experiance one "jam" in all thoughs years. That one happend in the first twentyfive rounds during the extended 250 round break in of the little monster and I'll excuse that.
Others (two folks) have had stovepipes shooting my P380, but both of those shooters hated the recoil and wanted no more to do with the gun after that day (limp wristed).

That said, my P380 hates and will not eat Fiocci brand ammo... so I don't buy it or shoot it. My gun eats four brands of .380 target ammo just fine and has never had a load/shoot issue with Hornady CD carry SD ammo, so why try anything else?

Almost all .380 problems are ammo/shooter related (except for a couple of unrepairable Keltec's I know of) and they just need a shooter who wants them to work to get them to run.

Peace

[dsk]

That said, my P380 hates and will not eat Fiocci brand ammo... so I don't buy it or shoot it. My gun eats four brands of .380 target ammo just fine and has never had a load/shoot issue with Hornady CD carry SD ammo, so why try anything else?

Kahr .380s are known to choke on Fiocchi ammo. Apparently a case rim/extractor compatibility issue. Some members have fixed it by increasing the distance that the extractor hook sits from the breech face. I also heard that Kahr remedied it in recent extractor production but I have yet to find out if that is confirmed.

[dustnchips]

@sudo. You should try your friends 380 and see if it runs for you.

[mini14jac]

Kahr .380s are known to choke on Fiocchi ammo. Apparently a case rim/extractor compatibility issue. Some members have fixed it by increasing the distance that the extractor hook sits from the breech face. I also heard that Kahr remedied it in recent extractor production but I have yet to find out if that is confirmed.

First post here.
Got a CW380 with the factory front night sight last weekend.

Kahr HAS NOT fixed the issue with Fiocchi ammo.
(Wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't been reading on here.)

I sat down with the gun and 9 different flavors of ammo.
I put one round in the top of the magazine and used the slide release lever to chamber the round.
The only one that would not chamber was the Fiocchi fmj.
The Fiocchi XTP round actually did chamber.

Results at the range verified this.
The rounds that chambered fed fine, with maybe 5 malfunctions in the first 130 rounds.
Fiocchi fmj would not feed without bumping the slide, and the second round would jam after the first fired.

[sudo]

5 misfeeds out of 130 rounds might be marginally o.k. for a range gun, but is unacceptable for a carry gun.


And who buys a p380 as a range gun?

[Wlfman13]

I didn’t buy my P380 as a “range gun”, per se, but one I could carry, and shoot every time I go to the range without fearing it will break.

The reason I am here, is that I originally thought I wanted to buy a Diamondback DB380 as my first carry gun (I loved how the “tester” shot at the local range). However, I was told to “carry it a lot, but shoot it a little”. I was unhappy with that, and said “If I have to worry about a gun breaking with normal trips to the range, I don’t want to carry it.”

The response to that was, “Well, then you want to buy a Kahr P380 or a Sig Sauer P238. And, you need to go to another gun shop because we don’t carry those. They are too expensive for our normal customer.”

So, I went to another LGS, held the Kahr, held the Sig, did as much research as I could, and decided I liked the trigger on the Kahr better. And, I ended up here that same week.

So, long story short, I am that guy. :yo:

-Wlf

[Bawanna]

An we're durn lucky you found us too.

[mini14jac]

5 misfeeds out of 130 rounds might be marginally o.k. for a range gun, but is unacceptable for a carry gun.


And who buys a p380 as a range gun?

I agree.

That was the first 130 of my 200 round break in period.
The next range trip saw me go just over 220 with 1 FTE and 1 round that ejected but the slide closed on an empty chamber with rounds in the mag.??
(That malfunction happened twice during the first 130 rounds.)

I am hopeful that the next range trip will see the gun start to run as it should.
Otherwise, it's back to the mothership.

[boscobarbell]

I agree.

That was the first 130 of my 200 round break in period.
The next range trip saw me go just over 220 with 1 FTE and 1 round that ejected but the slide closed on an empty chamber with rounds in the mag.??
(That malfunction happened twice during the first 130 rounds.)

I am hopeful that the next range trip will see the gun start to run as it should.
Otherwise, it's back to the mothership.

As someone who has been down that round a couple of times, I would suggest that you try to find a few rounds that would meet your SD parameters, and then see if you can get one or more to operate 100% in your Kahr.

I've got a P380 that seems to very much like Critical Defense (a rather forgiving round in most micros, it would seem) as well as both the Hornady and Underwood XTP rounds. There are quite a few rounds is flat out doesn't like, but as much as I love the pistol I'm not going to worry about the failures, and just be appreciative that I've got a great little gun that happens to really like a couple of great SD rounds.

I think that if you take that approach you may avoid a lot of wasted time and money, as well as undue frustration. IMHO, these Kahrs can be a bit finicky, and trying to force-feed ammo it demonstrably doesn't like is a long road to nowhere.

Good luck.....

[OldFatGuy]

Hi folks, been a while. I just picked up a P380 today from the pawn shop. I wasn't really looking to buy anything, I was selling. But I saw this thing, fondled it, thought about it for a few days, couldn't stand it, went and bought it. Good to know about the Fiocci, I'll avoid that. I'll try to get to the range in a couple weeks and see how it does.

[OldFatGuy]

Question: How to read the serial number to find the date of manufacture?

[Ed M]

Question: How to read the serial number to find the date of manufacture?

The serial number plate is on the grip. If there is an aftermarket grip sleeve on your P380, it'll be underneath it. The plate is on the same side of the frame as the slide release lever


16233

[OldFatGuy]

I can see it fine, but how do I decipher it?

[Bawanna]

Don't think it works that way with Kahrs and most others. Best to call or email CS and ask.
If it's on the grip it isn't very old, those ain't been like that for two long.

[OldFatGuy]

I sent an email to CS requesting the history, manufacture date and any service done on it.

[Ed M]

OFG - did you decipher the serial number?

Best as I can tell, the 380 Kahrs have always had the serial number on the grip.

Other polymer frame Kahrs used to have the serial number under the dust cover, but now some of them have it on the grip in the same spot as the 380's.

These new grip mounted serial number plates also have a QR code in addition to the serial #. The QR is the same serial number as the one on the plate, but in a scan-able format.

This is supposed to make inventory control easier for Kahr. FWIW, I tried to read the QR code with the code reader on my phone with no luck.

The new serial number plates are an eyesore, for sure. I wouldn't mind the smaller plate as found on the 380's.

[OldFatGuy]

I can't find anything about a pattern on Kahr SN's. Taurus uses a code so you can find the month/year of manufacture. I sent them an email, we'll see if they reply. I have a CM40, I bought new about 6 years ago. It has the same kind of plate, but it's on the polymer under the barrel, outside.

[DAinTX]

I can't find anything about a pattern on Kahr SN's. Taurus uses a code so you can find the month/year of manufacture. I sent them an email, we'll see if they reply. I have a CM40, I bought new about 6 years ago. It has the same kind of plate, but it's on the polymer under the barrel, outside.

Personally, I've had better luck with a phone call than with emails. Not just with Kahr, but other manufacturers as well. i think most CS departments are more geared up to answering phones rather than responding to emails. But hopefully, they'll answer yours soon.

[OldFatGuy]

Kahr CS replied to my email, manufacture date is November 2011. No service records. Most reviews on YouTube are positive, but then there are people really upset with the break in period, and the finicky ammo thing. And they're right, you shouldn't have to try half a dozen types of ammo trying to find the "right" one. I bought a box of cheep Remington for my first trip to the range in a couple days. And it wasn't chambering. Then I found a video of a guy that claims to know the solution. So I tweaked the extractor a little so they would chamber. I'm waiting for sights for my G2C, then I'll go to the range and try this thing out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwrBbUQze2k