P380 Premature Slide Lock?

[Rustynuts]

First range test today on new P380. Worked OK on a full range of ammo types/brands. Had one FTE on a pretty weak round, but I wasn't concentrating and may have limped it. More worrisome is that I had about 4-5 premature lock backs of the slide on less than 100-rds. Now I'm lefty and was worried I was brushing the lever with my trigger finger, but after the first one I'm pretty sure that's not it.

I thought I read where some P380's might have a problem with the slide lever hitting part of the mag or bullet nose? I had an XD40SC which was famous for that and I had to shave a bit off the lever for the bullets to clear. Or can limp wristing cause the slide lock problem too?

[Pender1]

I had the same problem, but it went away after about 15 rounds. Mine was just a break-in issue.

[ORSalesRep]

I had the same problem. Called Kahr and they sent me a new slide stop and slide stop spring. Installed it myself and it was fixed. That said, I was still experiencing the slide locks after the 200 round break in period was past.

[Optimus]

Mine was locking back early A LOT. Sent it back ot Kahr and they replaced the slidestop spring and "polished slide stop". It still locks back though. I shot 50 rounds of PMC bronze through it on Saturday and it pre-maturely locked back twice.

Ughh..

I know they say to use U.S. ammo but PMC runs fine in every other gun I own so...this is kind of lame.

[Pender1]

Mine was locking back early A LOT. Sent it back ot Kahr and they replaced the slidestop spring and "polished slide stop". It still locks back though. I shot 50 rounds of PMC bronze through it on Saturday and it pre-maturely locked back twice.

Ughh..

I know they say to use U.S. ammo but PMC runs fine in every other gun I own so...this is kind of lame.

just because PMC works in one pistol doesn't mean it'll work in another. Every gun manufacturer makes their chamber and feed ramp just a little different.

[Optimus]

I don't know.

When I buy a pretty expensive gun (for a .380) I expect it to work flawlessly. I don't care who makes the ammo, the gun is marked .380, and it should shoot .380.

[Pender1]

I don't know.

When I buy a pretty expensive gun (for a .380) I expect it to work flawlessly. I don't care who makes the ammo, the gun is marked .380, and it should shoot .380.

I wish it was that simple. hornady is a good example, their .380 isn't a true .380, it's scaled down from a bigger caliber round instead of completely redoing the dimensions. Kahr has told a someone on this forum (don't remember who it was) through a letter that Hornady ammo won't work in the p380.

[jocko]

take the slide off the gun, reinsert the slide lock lever, , now with a full magazine of your ammo, insert the magazine and look to the left and see if that top round is hitting the slide stop lever. If it is, the lever should want to rise. It should not hit it PERIOD. My P380 didn't do well with 102 grain golden sabre ammo, but it worked OK with the other rounds, so I just moved on to any of te other good defense rounds out there. It likes corbon pwoer ball and corbon dpx.

I am a lefty and you IMO arenot hitting the slide lock lever with your trigger finer or anything. Actually righties have more issues doing that than any left will ever have.

I doubt if yoiur slide lock lever spirng is bad or needs replaced either. Limpwristing willnot cause premature slide locking open either.

Do the above and if it is OK, then keep an eye on what brand of ammo is causingit. If the gun has not had a few hundred fmj ronds through it to get properly mated up and smoothed out, give it alittle more range time.

Nice gun but some do give fits, but don't panic yet. You must eliminate allthe possable, such as fingers hitting the slide lock lever, rounds hitting on the inside of the slide stop lever etc, and then and then only, call kahr and relate to them what is going on and for me I think I would ask for a new slide stop lever to be sent to you no charge to retest, and then if all else fails, u have a good paper and phone trail tha tyou tried everything and now it needs to go back to kahr on their dime..

[jocko]

I don't know.

When I buy a pretty expensive gun (for a .380) I expect it to work flawlessly. I don't care who makes the ammo, the gun is marked .380, and it should shoot .380.

I agree with that either. there are alot of 380 ammo makers out there, some better than others as far as quality control goes. One can lay a half dozen different brands on a flat surface and get OAL variations that might blow ones mind.

Guarantee you if you pay a grand for A rohrbaugh R9 and don't shoot the one or two brands that they specificaly recommend your gonna get feed issues. they will tell you that. Kahrs are not normally ammo sensitive either but these small ass 380's sometimes can give feed fits.

[Rustynuts]

Jocko, did your test and saw that the rounds, depending on how they set in the mag, DEFINITELY hit the slide stop. If the round is seated perfectly back in the mag, then the nose BARELY snugs by without touching. This is with roundnose FMJs.

I see that the mags have a tiny metal wear insert in the mag follower, I assume to prevent wear on the plastic follower lip. I'm thinking to carefully file the slide lever protrusion so it re-profiles around the bullet, yet still engages at least that metal insert properly. I did the same with my XD40SC and it works fine. Will try and hit the range tomorrow. What's the worst? Slide doesn't lock back anymore and I have to buy a new lever. :cool:

[jocko]

yes you can do that. that metal insert in the follower is to pick up the slide lock lever on the last round. Go slowly, u can't put back what you take off. I would also call kahr and talk to ION and tellhim the rounds are hitting and see if he willsend you a new slide lock lever also.

I filed my slide lock lever down when I was having issue like that with 102 grain golden sabres, but I went to far and then it cleared the rounds with ease but would not lock open, so go slowly.

[Rustynuts]

Well took off as much as I dare and it seems to have improved. But I still got a few lockbacks, but also a coupla no lockbacks after last round. Still, overall much better than before. I'd rather have NO lockbacks than have it lock mid-mag!

May take a look at the mags themselves and give Kahr a call for a new lever and maybe the spring.

[wyntrout]

The reality is that after chambering a round from a full magazine, and topping the magazine off, the next time the slide cycles, the next bullet to the top of the magazine will be forward about 1/8" to 1/4", and that's probably where your problem is... the bullet hits the slide lock or takes a dive into the ramp and doesn't feed.
With the slide locked back, insert a full magazine and release the slide, chambering a round. Now eject the magazine and see where the next round is sitting. This can vary quite a bit during the firing and cycling of the gun. The 9mm's are really bad about this, but I think the .380's do it as well... the magazines, that is.

I just tried that with a couple of my magazines and the top cartridge is only about 1/16" or less from the back of the magazine... "mileage" varies.

My P380 went back for the same reason and fix as Optimus', but mine has been fine since... fingers crossed. I tinkered with mine a lot and the magazines as well before sending it back... destroyed one magazine trying to add detent to rear of lips to stop the premature forward travel of the NEXT round.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

I doubt if the magas are any cause, but test both, if one does it and the other doesn't then it is a bad mag. If the both do it, IMO it is the slide lock lever, Probalby nothignw ron witht e slide lcok spring.I am very hesitant about telling anyone to replace the slide lock springs as that little screw threads directly into the polymer which is so so easy to strip out.

[jaycee3613]

Hey Yall! 1st post. I have had a pretty tuff time with the slide locking open at random on my PM9. I will not get into the time, energy and money I have put into this issue. Slide stop replaced, polished, shaved, new springs, 3 mags, diff ammo......and then slide locks open. It wouldn't bother me so much if it were a target pistol, it only does it on average once or twice in a 100 rounds. I need to be confident with a carry gun.

I guess by design trying to cram 9mm into such a small gun you run the risk of malfunctions here and there.

I do love the gun and if there is any progress I will post it. Till then contemplating selling it...........

[MikeyKahr]

Hey jaycee3613, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your issues with the PM9. By random, you mean? Has it been with all magazines or just a few (perhaps the 7 rounder)? Random order on the magazine? (Second bullet out of the magazine seems to be the most troublesome for those experiencing lock open troubles). How many rounds do you have downrange? Could limp wristing it be causing problems, like if you're getting tired? I'd suggest keeping a record of when the lock backs happens (which mag, which round in mag, how far into your shoot, etc.) and come back here and post the information as there's lots of good folks with helpful knowledge and experience. Good luck to you and hope it clears up for you.

[jaycee3613]

Thanks MikeyKahr. I'll try to hit the range sometime soon. I just have to stock up on ammo. As for the magazines, the slide locks open premature on all 3 mags. I also noticed that it is usually at the 1/2 box of ammo mark and it has happened at all rounds in the mag; (from second round to last round). American eagle ammo fmj, winchester ranger fmj, speer gold dot jhp, cor-bon power ball, sellier and bellot fmj. are some of the different ammo I have ran through.

Try to do some shooting with the pm9 this weekend. I'll post any info.

Happy Halloween.................

[jocko]

Thanks MikeyKahr. I'll try to hit the range sometime soon. I just have to stock up on ammo. As for the magazines, the slide locks open premature on all 3 mags. I also noticed that it is usually at the 1/2 box of ammo mark and it has happened at all rounds in the mag; (from second round to last round). American eagle ammo fmj, winchester ranger fmj, speer gold dot jhp, cor-bon power ball, sellier and bellot fmj. are some of the different ammo I have ran through.

Try to do some shooting with the pm9 this weekend. I'll post any info.

Happy Halloween.................

this also. let another good shooter try your PM9 to see if he can duplicate what is happening to youl. Once or twice in a 100 rounds is odd, for if something is wrong with a part it should duplicate time and time again. elimiante allthe possable. Your ammo selection shold have nothing to do with what is happening. Kahrs are not ammo sensitive at all. Be very aware of where your hand posistion is in relation to the slide lock lever. Many hit that lever and never know they did it. Testing left handed also will elimiante that possable to.

don't give up the ship yet...

[jaycee3613]

Thanx Jocko! Some good suggestions. Have a good one........Happy Shootin.....

[wyntrout]

Slide lock spring loose or bent?

http://kahrtalk.com/p-cw-series-pistols/2774-new-380-same-issues.html#post29719

Pix.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

indeed check out what wyn stated. If it is loose it will accidently by enertia of the gun lock open, if it is bent, depending how it is bent, it can also cause the slide lock open. If it is bent where the spring is actualy not wanting to pull the slide lock lever down and keep it there, then again enertia of the gun itself can cause that lever to pop up. Be very careful in trying to tighten that slide lock spring though, as that little screw goes only in to the polymer, so very little torgue can strip it out. Snug is enough..

[Rustynuts]

Anyone have the direct number to ION at Kahr? I called in and got a regular tech support guy (Jay I think?). Talked about both issues with slide lock and mag releasing. Didn't really offer anything of value, tried to get a new slide lever, etc., but basically said send it in and we'll look at it. Rather not spend $50-60 bucks overnighting the pistol and being out the gun for 2-weeks (if lucky!).

Still can't see why this gun has so many problems when my little P3AT ran like a champ, even with +1 mag extensions on. For 2-3 times the cost I expected better.

[wyntrout]

I always email, To The Attention of the person I want... actually I use his email address: eoin.pryal@kahr.com. I have never called Customer Support.

Explain your problem and include pictures, if relevant.

Wynn:)

[Rustynuts]

Thanks, good to have. But may have ID'd the problem (see mag drop thread)