P380 DAO dry fire question

[User380]

Hello all, my first post here...
I had a Taurus PT25 (similar to berretta bobcat) I sold to buy a P380 just recently. The Taurus has a hammer with DAO, I could dry fire every time without racking the slide.
With the Kahr also being DAO, I have to rack the slide after every dry fire "shot"
Is this normal for a striker fired DAO? (works the same with or without snap caps)

I haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet, and I expect it will work normally when firing live rounds...

[DavidR]

Yes that is normal for Kahr pistols.

[dustnchips]

You don't have to rack it all of the way back to reset the trigger. Listen and you will hear a click after a short distance. It is fine to rack it all of the way as it helps set the recoil springs, but not necessary to practice trigger control. If you haven't read it go to the new member forum and read the "proper prep of a new Kahr" post. Follow that and you will likely not have any problems. If you are going to use it for a carry gun I would suggest that you put a Lakeline striker in. You can get them from Kahr or Lakeline. The OEM part tends to break. If you want to carry an extra round without increasing size the Mag Guts work nicely. If you run into any problems post on here before you go to Kahr. There are people on here that can probably cure any problem you run into. Welcome to the group

[joeb]

You don't have to rack it all of the way back to reset the trigger. Listen and you will hear a click after a short distance. It is fine to rack it all of the way as it helps set the recoil springs, but not necessary to practice trigger control. If you haven't read it go to the new member forum and read the "proper prep of a new Kahr" post. Follow that and you will likely not have any problems. If you are going to use it for a carry gun I would suggest that you put a Lakeline striker in. You can get them from Kahr or Lakeline. The OEM part tends to break. If you want to carry an extra round without increasing size the Mag Guts work nicely. If you run into any problems post on here before you go to Kahr. There are people on here that can probably cure any problem you run into. Welcome to the groupAre the strikers any better in January 2020 P380 builds?

[DavidR]

I put 500 rounds through my CT380 bought in 2018 with the stock striker with no issues. I upgraded to the Lakeline at that point just to mitigate the risk that it might break.

[topgun1953]

Are the strikers any better in January 2020 P380 builds?
I'll let you know in a few hundred more rounds. :) Actually, they look the same. Some of us surmised that Kahr had a bad batch of strikers back then (around 2015) because there seemed like there were a lot of them. But I don't know if any one is sure. I normally carry my P365 but will sometimes throw my original P380 in a pocket. It has the Lakeline striker in it. The one I recently bought for $299 will be getting workouts at the range and I'll see how the stock striker holds up.

[joeb]

I put 500 rounds through my CT380 bought in 2018 with the stock striker with no issues. I upgraded to the Lakeline at that point just to mitigate the risk that it might break.


I'll let you know in a few hundred more rounds. :) Actually, they look the same. Some of us surmised that Kahr had a bad batch of strikers back then (around 2015) because there seemed like there were a lot of them. But I don't know if any one is sure. I normally carry my P365 but will sometimes throw my original P380 in a pocket. It has the Lakeline striker in it. The one I recently bought for $299 will be getting workouts at the range and I'll see how the stock striker holds up.

Sounds good, guys.
I haven't fired my P380 yet. Next Tues I'll hit the range. My new MK9 debut, no malfunctions with around 100 rounds with combo of Blazer and Lawman 124gr ammo.

As you may remember, I had a new P380 2014 KDxxx build and returned it because I read some negative things including the striker issues. I found a new REoxxx with hopefully an internals upgrade..

[dustnchips]

The striker in my CW380 broke around 500 rounds and I replaced it with the Lakeline. Now have several thousands rounds through it with no problems. I just bought two of the P380 for $300 each. One is a gift. I replaced the strikers in both of them before I even shot them. Quite a few of the stock strikers have broken, but I am sure there are many more that have not broken. If you aren't going to carry it I guess it is not important.

[joeb]

I put 500 rounds through my CT380 bought in 2018 with the stock striker with no issues. I upgraded to the Lakeline at that point just to mitigate the risk that it might break.


I'll let you know in a few hundred more rounds. :) Actually, they look the same. Some of us surmised that Kahr had a bad batch of strikers back then (around 2015) because there seemed like there were a lot of them. But I don't know if any one is sure. I normally carry my P365 but will sometimes throw my original P380 in a pocket. It has the Lakeline striker in it. The one I recently bought for $299 will be getting workouts at the range and I'll see how the stock striker holds up.


The striker in my CW380 broke around 500 rounds and I replaced it with the Lakeline. Now have several thousands rounds through it with no problems. I just bought two of the P380 for $300 each. One is a gift. I replaced the strikers in both of them before I even shot them. Quite a few of the stock strikers have broken, but I am sure there are many more that have not broken. If you aren't going to carry it I guess it is not important.I carry one of my 9mm's but may carry the P380 half the time. I guess depending where I'm going and what I'm wearing.
I'd love for someone to tell me how the newer build strikers are ok vs the older 2015 and older builds.

[I_Like_Turtles]

I carry one of my 9mm's but may carry the P380 half the time. I guess depending where I'm going and what I'm wearing.
I'd love for someone to tell me how the newer build strikers are ok vs the older 2015 and older builds.

"Wear I'm goign and what I'm wearing," that's 2/3 of what I use to determine what weapon I carry.

For me it's where I'm going, what I'm wearing, and what I plan to be doing.

At the moment though, that boils down to snub nose .38, CW 45, or 1911 SC.

[User380]

Thanks guys! I bought it used with approx 100 rounds through it, it is serial RC1xxxx.
Ill read up on the new user guide, and look into the lakeline upgrade.
I bought a few types of ammo to test at the range that I've read others had success using (avoiding the white box winchester flat tips & fiocci)
I'm looking forward to trying it out! All I've had time to do so far is a field strip and clean it, and rack the slide a ton of times

[dao]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you're ready to take it to the range. Enjoy!

[DavidR]

I’m not aware of anything Kahr has done over the years to change or improve the stock striker. On their website they offer both the stock and Lakeline strikers which suggests to me that there is still a difference.

[dustnchips]

Putting the Kahr and Lakeline strikers side by side the difference is easy to see. The Lakeline is much beefier in the web area where the Kahr breaks. No one seems to know if Kahr has changed their striker or not. They may have upgraded the metal in it. Who knows? Why risk it if you will use it as a carry gun?

[dustnchips]

I've had no problems with Winchester white box or any other ammo I have fed my CW380. Probably at least 8 other brands. I never tried Fiocci as so many people have had trouble with it. The two new P380s have only had Winchester WB and Precision one through them so far. I only have a bit over 100 rounds through each of them as I shot off some old Remington hollow points I carried before I changed to a better self defense ammo and 50 WWB and 50 P1.

[SlowBurn]

I like to use a snap cap with a springed “primer” for dry fire. Haven’t had a problem with the stock strikers.

[Ed M]

Putting the Kahr and Lakeline strikers side by side the difference is easy to see. The Lakeline is much beefier in the web area where the Kahr breaks. No one seems to know if Kahr has changed their striker or not. They may have upgraded the metal in it. Who knows? Why risk it if you will use it as a carry gun?

This.^^^^^^

Last I looked, Kahr even sells the Lakeline striker on their website. If you can't beat 'em.....

16819

[joeb]

Putting the Kahr and Lakeline strikers side by side the difference is easy to see. The Lakeline is much beefier in the web area where the Kahr breaks. No one seems to know if Kahr has changed their striker or not. They may have upgraded the metal in it. Who knows? Why risk it if you will use it as a carry gun?
This morning I emailed Kahr and asked.
It's a shame if Kahr hasn't upgraded to the Lakeline. Especially with a striker problem at the P380's cost.
If the stock striker is installed, I'll change to the Lakeline after a couple hundred rounds.

[DJK11]

You people new to Kahrs and the 380 really should shoot the snot out of your pistols BEFORE changing out parts. Just my opinion after ten years owning an RAxxxx with thousands down the pipe. Yes strikers have broken but they don’t tend to brake. Joeb, you should change yours out then you can sleep at night. You seem stressed out concerning the dreaded broken striker.

[joeb]

I put 500 rounds through my CT380 bought in 2018 with the stock striker with no issues. I upgraded to the Lakeline at that point just to mitigate the risk that it might break.


I'll let you know in a few hundred more rounds. :) Actually, they look the same. Some of us surmised that Kahr had a bad batch of strikers back then (around 2015) because there seemed like there were a lot of them. But I don't know if any one is sure. I normally carry my P365 but will sometimes throw my original P380 in a pocket. It has the Lakeline striker in it. The one I recently bought for $299 will be getting workouts at the range and I'll see how the stock striker holds up.


You people new to Kahrs and the 380 really should shoot the snot out of your pistols BEFORE changing out parts. Just my opinion after ten years owning an RAxxxx with thousands down the pipe. Yes strikers have broken but they don’t tend to brake. Joeb, you should change yours out then you can sleep at night. You seem stressed out concerning the dreaded broken striker.
Yes, you are correct. I don't like the possibility of a failure that's happened to more than a few but I will put a few hundreds rounds through it first. Maybe my confidence will build....nah.:)