New P380 - Slide Release won't work on full mag?

[Optimus]

So I just bought a brand new P380 at a local gun show yesterday. So far I haven't shot it yet but I do love the look and feel of the little gun.

This site has helpd so far, I have borken it down, inspected it and used the "Lube diagram" to lube the gun prior to my first range trip tomorrow.

The one issue I have discovered is if I insert a loded mag, 6 rounds or less it doesn't matter, the slide will lock back but the slide release lever WILL NOT release the slide. I can press down as hard as I can on the slide release lever but the damn thing just feels like it's already bottomed out and the slide will not go foward. If I jar the gun or smack it the slide will go foward into battery. So it feels like the release lever is just getting hung up or something?

If I insert an empty mag the gun functions fine. The slide locks back and the release lever will slam it foward when pressed down. Also, if I lock the slide back with no mag in the gun, then insert a full mag and hit the release lever, it goes into battery with no isses.

What's up with my gun?

Thanks!

[jocko]

it comes with two magazines, test them both out to see if the results are the same. I am alittle confused as on one paragraph you are saying it won't rlease with 6 rounds or less but iin your last paragraph you are saying that it will work fine with an inserted full mag. am I missing something here???

[wyntrout]

The correct procedure is to FIRST lock the slide back, THEN insert a loaded magazine, and then it's easier to release the slide with the lever.
That's what you said in your last paragraph... "If I insert an empty mag the gun functions fine. The slide locks back and the release lever will slam it foward when pressed down. Also, if I lock the slide back with no mag in the gun, then insert a full mag and hit the release lever, it goes into battery with no isses."
Inserting a loaded magazine and then pulling the slide back is not the correct order, though, it will usually work if you pull the slide all the way to the rear and fully release it like a bowstring or "slingshot". Holding onto the slide or "riding it" forward at all, reduces the force of the slide going forward and drastically reduces the chance of fully chambering a round... going fully into battery position.

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

Agreed. If you want to "top load". Have a full mag plus 1 in the chamber the proper way would be to lock the slide back, insert the full mag and hit the slide release. (Slingshot will work after breakin or if done properly). Then take out the magazine which is now down 1 round and replace it. Put the now full again mag in and you got full plus 1.
I used to do this all the time. I now find myself getting away from the practice and just fill a mag and go.

[wyntrout]

Dang! is there an echo in here... or is it just Bawanna'?? :D

Good morning! If I can tear myself away from this keyboard I can shave and get ready to run errands... one of which is to re-possess my Franken-Boomer along the way. I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to test it, though. I'll want to look it over and lube it a bit.:D

Wynn:yo:

[Optimus]

The only reason I think I should be able to insert a full mag then pull the slide back to lock it, and release the slide lock to slam the slide into battery, is because that's how it says to do it in my owners manual...

Does anyone do it the way the manual says? Insert a loaded mag THEN lock the slide back?

I just checked the other mag I have, loaded it up with 6 rounds, inserted it into the gun then locked the slide back. Slide release lever does the same thing, it feels like it's already bottomed out and won't budge. I CAN move it up and down very slightly...which leades me to beleive the magazine may be interferring with the release mechanism?

All I have to do at this point is jar the gun or shake it quickly and the slide will go foward. So it's like the mechanism is hung up or something?

[wyntrout]

That IS the preferred method in the manual. I don't have your manual and I'm about to run errands, but here it's an answered question in Kahr's FAQ's:
Kahr Arms / Q & A (http://www.kahr.com/OR-4.html#q10)

You can learn a lot at this site, especially in the FAQ's.

Wynn:yo:

[Bawanna]

I'll have to look at my manuals at home, it doesn't show that on the operating instruction links on this forum.
It don't sound right to me that it would say load a mag then rack the slide. It would make more sense to do the slingshot as the slide lock would not lock back with cartridges in the mag, you'd have to lock it manually.
I know the instructions specifically say to chamber from slide lock and it usually works. I really don't think you have a mechanical issue.

[wyntrout]

If I were his teacher, I would ask HIM to SHOW ME where the manual says load the mag first then rack the slide, but I was trying to be nice. I've asked that kind of question before.:rolleyes:
Later!
Wynn:yo:

[gb6491]

... Slide release lever does the same thing, it feels like it's already bottomed out and won't budge. I CAN move it up and down very slightly...which leades me to beleive the magazine may be interferring with the release mechanism?

All I have to do at this point is jar the gun or shake it quickly and the slide will go foward. So it's like the mechanism is hung up or something?
If you can move the slide stop lever "up and down very slightly" then the stop is not holding the slide. I suspect the slide is be held back by the top round in the magazine or the magazine itself. Check to see if the slide is getting completely behind the top round or if the slide to hitting the top of the magazine. Will the pistol function correctly if you load it this way, then slingshot the slide?
Regards,
Greg

BTW, welcome to the forums :)

[Optimus]

OK so it looks like the slide is not locking back but just sitting on the back of the first round in the mag, if I hit the back of the slide with my hand it will go into battery and chamber the first round. That's if I insert a fully loaded mag and rack the slide back.

Anything less then 4 rounds in a mag and the slide will not lock back, but just "slingshot" foward and chamber a round.

And just so you all think I'm not crazy:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/godzillax77/img044-1.jpg

[Pender1]

go to the range, make it shoot however you have to and get it broken in a little. If you're still having a problem after that, then get in touch with Kahr

[Bawanna]

OK so it looks like the slide is not locking back but just sitting on the back of the first round in the mag, if I hit the back of the slide with my hand it will go into battery and chamber the first round. That's if I insert a fully loaded mag and rack the slide back.

Anything less then 4 rounds in a mag and the slide will not lock back, but just "slingshot" foward and chamber a round.

And just so you all think I'm not crazy:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/godzillax77/img044-1.jpg

If you have any rounds in the mag the slide lock should not lock back when you pull the slide back, it will sling shot forward as designed. You have to manually push the slide lock up to lock the slide back when there are bullets left.
I see the mentioned paragraph but it's just wrong. Its far safer to lock it open first, then insert the mag and release the slide. I see it but it still don't make sense to me.

[gb6491]

OK so it looks like the slide is not locking back but just sitting on the back of the first round in the mag, if I hit the back of the slide with my hand it will go into battery and chamber the first round. That's if I insert a fully loaded mag and rack the slide back.

Good, I believe that with a little "break in' this will go away.

Pender1 has given you good advice:

go to the range, make it shoot however you have to and get it broken in a little. If you're still having a problem after that, then get in touch with Kahr

Enjoy your new pistol:)

Regards,
Greg

[Optimus]

Yup I'm not skecptical or upset in any way, just wanted to see what the deal was before I started throwing rounds downrange :)

FWIW I called Kahr and the rep said to manually lock the slide back then insert the mag., I guess the manual was just typed wrong or they changed thier recommendations.

I really like it and plan on shooting it this eveing, I'll post up with a range report and maybe even some pics.

[jocko]

If you insert a loaded magazine in a kahr or any semi with the slide fully closed and then rack the slide back,,,IT WILL NOT LOCK OPEN. If will feed the round as the gun doesn't really know any difference of what your trying to do over what actually firing the gun will want to do.

It sounds to me like your kahr is doing exactly what it should be doing.

It is harder to hand rack a kahr than most semi's and I think part of that is the small size and the stout recoil springs, so indeed do what the manual states USE THE SLIDE LOCK LEVER to load that first round, But that being said, also practice hand racking and once you get a few hundred rounds down range the gun itself will get alot smoother and you will be able to hand rck with ease. Practice it often, get used to going both ways, for a failure of a round will cause one to go into the TAP,RACK, AND BANG MODE and this is not done from an open slide.. I can personally vouch that my P380 was just a b--ch to hand rack at the beginnig I failed at least 50% of the time to get it right, I have over 1300 rounds through this puppy now and it is smooter than jelley and I can hand rack it with ease. I and the gun also mated up over this time to, so we both got to know each other better, if you can understand my point here.

a gun and a shooter need to mate up to be totally reliable...

I agree with your point of the way it is listed in the manual. It really is the most screwy wording that I have ever read, and like Bawanna stated, lock the slide open first, then insert a loaded magazine and all will be well as u even stated

[wyntrout]

Dang! Optimus, I apologize for doubting that you saw that in your manual, but it's sure not what Kahr advises and it's very problematic to load and chamber a round that way.
The FAQ link answer is the latest and from our collective experience the best way to go.
Wynn:)

[Optimus]

No problem, new gun, new things to learn.

I just shot it today, and it's a nice little piece. I have multiple failures to feed, a couple early slide lockbacks and a few fail to ejects. She has about 150 rounds through her now, mostly sellier & Bellot FMJ and 50 UMC FMJ. I shot 6 Hornady critical defense loads and 6 Winchester SE HP.

I am not too worried about the issues, I'm gonna run another 100-200 FMJ rounds through her and see what happens. I was also pleased with how little felt recoil there was.