P380 - time to call Kahr

[racuda]

I have had a P380 for about a year now, with 800 rounds through it. For this entire time I have had FTF, FTE. and light primer strikes.

I always thought that maybe it just wasn't broken in enough, or it was dirty, or it wasn't lubed just right. I've finally decided that something is just wrong with the gun.

Over the past year I've got really good at cleaning and lubing. I've cleaned it squeaky clean, then put just a tiny bit of Tetra, Gunzilla, or TW25B on the appropriate parts. Still out of each box of 50 there will be 1 or 2 failures. I can't trust this gun.

As for the light primer strikes, over the past year I've put about 2 cans of non-chlorinated brake cleaner in the striker channel.

Today I put 50 rounds through it with 1 FTE, and 6 light primer strikes, so I guess it's time to call Kahr.

[Garland]

I hope you are able to get it 100% right. I have had mine a few months and am having similar problems. I just got a new set of recoil springs so I am hoping that helps, otherwise mine will be going back also.

[LAZY EYED SNIPER]

I sure hate that you guys are having issues. I've had my P380 for about a year and it's been flawless through about 700 rounds. Good luck with getting the issues fixed.

[jocko]

racuda, u have done allyou can for this gun, it needs to go back the light strikes is not being caused by the shooter. the gun is definitely out of time. could be the trigger bar, could also be the slide not completley locking up correctly. Kahr needs to get it back.. Put all issues in writing when sending it back so the techs know where to start looking. Let them know what you have done to the gun as far as prepping and shooting. All informatioj you can give them will help them trouble shoot your gun.

[kpm9]

So you're sure it's not ammo related/hard primers?

[Ivan]

I bought a P380 back in Sept. and had lots of problems, so after about 500 ronds I contacted CS at Kahr and returned it for repair. They did a great job and I had it back in about 10 days. It has worked well since then, other than a couple shots that I limped-wristed. Send it back and let Kahr make it right!

[sonofodin]

Its the same as every other thing that you buy. Someone got lazy at the factory or the factory was in a poor country and therefor the quality slipped. I see it all the times in Knives with poor blade grinds, heat treats etc. It should never happen to something you might trust your life on. The quality will fluctuate. My CW45 wont eat anything but factory Ball. Shooting Armscor Precision out of it was like shooting a cannon in my hand and not very accurate at that. Ive contented myself to stowing it until I feel its trustworthy. Till then, My Colt series 70 runs like a sewing machine on dope. ANYTHING will feed in it. So that solves that.

[racuda]

racuda, u have done allyou can for this gun, it needs to go back the light strikes is not being caused by the shooter. the gun is definitely out of time. could be the trigger bar, could also be the slide not completley locking up correctly. Kahr needs to get it back.. Put all issues in writing when sending it back so the techs know where to start looking. Let them know what you have done to the gun as far as prepping and shooting. All informatioj you can give them will help them trouble shoot your gun.

I couldn't reach them by phone, so I sent an email with all of the info, and I'm waiting for their reply.


So you're sure it's not ammo related/hard primers?

It happens with a variety of ammo, plus when I eject the cartridge it has a very small faint dent in the primer. The ones of the same brand that fire have a dimple maybe 4 times larger.

[mrbumps]

I had the very same problems. It went back to Kahr twice. First time they replaced the barrel. The jamming stopped, but I still had several light primer strikes. Sent it back again. They called and said they could not get the gun to mis-fire. They shot it 100 times, using three different types of ammo (none of which I had ever used). So they sent it back without doing anything. I immediately bought the three types of ammo they said they used (Fed American Eagle, Speer Law Man, and Remington Golden Sabre) The Speer Law Man work fine, but I only had one box to try. Rem Golden Sabre worked fine. With American Eagle, I had 3 light primer strikes in 50 rounds. I have also shot Speer Gold Dot, and Fiocchi Extrema with no problems. So at this point, I am just assuming it is picky about ammo and will shoot what I know is reliable in it. BTW, the bulk packs of Remington UMC (250 rd packs) were the worst for me. Prvi Partizan and Winchester White Box also a lot of problems. It might have been the bullet shape with the WWB, as the bullets have a flat nose, and a shoulder, and seemed to feed sluggish.

Good Luck. I hope you can get it figured out.

[fixxr]

Mines going back too as soon as I get some time to call and complain. Ruger LCP has been way more reliable at 1/2 the cost. I'm bummed to say the least!!
I have a P9 that has been pretty much flawless too.\
(550 rounds and premature slide lock open, ftf, stovepipes)

[racuda]

Well, it shipped back yesterday, and they received it this morning. I sent a detailed letter listing the type of malfunctions and the kinds of ammo used. Hope they can fix it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[fixxr]

Me too. this gun is SO accurate. Just cant bet my life on it.

[fixxr]

Mine went back today w/detailed letter of explanation. I hope they fix er up!

[jocko]

Mine went back today w/detailed letter of explanation. I hope they fix er up!

will, my P380 had to make one trip back and now it runs like a charm and shoots everything that goe sin the pipe, plus is the most accurate 380 I have ever shot. amazing..sometimes I think if they spend an extra 5 more minutes on each gun that left the building they would cut their returns back by alot. I am very sure they donot test fire the guns with the magazines that are shipped with the gun , so usingonly their test magazines or verified perfect magazines proves nadda, if by chance you get magazines that are not good for the gun.

Just my 2 cents, but kahr will get you right and the turn arund time will be very short also. They don't drag their feet, This to me also says (possably) that they don't have alot of returns on their products, even then we think we real alot about guns not working right. It is a major cost for them thought to eat postage both ways, pay a tech to fix what should have left the building right in the first place,yadda yadda.. It is easy to get pis-ed over any gun that doesn't work right out of the box, Kahrs arenot the only company as u well know that give issues, and getting pis-ed only raised your blood pressure and nothing else..

[fixxr]

I Hear you Jocko and thanks for all the tips u provided me up front.
I have had a few firearms back to the womb and all but 1 was made right by the manufacturers and the one I just ended up selling. Even my little LCP had to go back to the mother ship.
+1 on the accuracy of this lil Kahr. Its a shooter!! the other 380 I shot was a Sig and it was darn accurate too.

[racuda]

Th P380 came back today. I just got back from trying it out. The verdict is...not good. I'll explain later.

[Longitude Zero]

Let us know what they did not correct.

[mad1ben2]

racuda - sorry to hear the verdict is not good. I sent mine back this past weekend and I'm staying positive that Kahr will correct my problems... let us know what was/wasn't corrected.

Fixxr - how was your experience? Did they correct your problems?

[deadhead1971]

Wonder if the Three Stooges are in the shop these days...

[racuda]

racuda - sorry to hear the verdict is not good. I sent mine back this past weekend and I'm staying positive that Kahr will correct my problems... let us know what was/wasn't corrected.

Fixxr - how was your experience? Did they correct your problems?


I started a new thread here to tell what was and wasn't fixed: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5140