happy range report

[Pender1]

Well gents, I finally got around to finishing my break-in of my P380. I put 100 rounds through it right after buying it and had a lot of problems (premature slide locks, failure to ejects, failure to feeds). I was scared that I was going to have to have a little talk with Kahr and send it in, however I am happy to report that through rounds 101-198 I had one premature slide lock(round 103) and flawless functioning after that. I even put 3 rounds of Hornaday Critical Defense through it to make sure that they ran properly before I start carrying it. All in all it looks as if this will turn out to be just as good of a gun as my PM9. I stand before you a pleased Kahr customer yet again. :yo:

[frank_drebin]

I had one premature slide lock(round 103)

Why? I wouldn't carry it until I knew why. That is unacceptable.

[Bawanna]

With nearly a 100 rounds without issue following that I'd be starting to warm up to it myself. Seems like it's working itself out.
While I would without question put another 100 thru it as soon as you can I'd certainly be starting to keep it close.

My standards have gradually lowered over the years. I use to require 500 flawless rounds before a gun was blessed for carry. This means if I got to round 472 and it balked, back to zero and start over. That's setting the bar very very high but you know I usually had no trouble getting there.

I settle for 250 to 300 now with a little bit more flexibility too.

My last range trip was a nightmare, with all sorts of issues each and everyone of which was directly related to me or in most cases my reloads.
I went today with my carefully modified and new reloads and it was 100% opposite. Everything was very very good. No issues, no failures. Accuracy even Jocko could be proud of.

Next trip I'm gonna move the target out to 3' and see if I can still hit it.

[frank_drebin]

While I agree with your assessment Bawanna, the fact that this was a slide locking means that it could randomly happen on any shot. I would not trust a gun that locked the slide back when I didn't want it to. This isn't a case of XYZ part is still tight and needs a few hundred more rounds to mate up right. I can only see something like that getting worse with wear.

Did you check the slide stop spring? Is the slide stop installed under it properly? Is it bent? Is your ammo choice wide enough to engage the slide stop?

[Pender1]

Why? I wouldn't carry it until I knew why. That is unacceptable.

I think it was ammo related, I found 2 rounds in the box that were deformed so I didn't even load them up and try. Not unlikely to say one round may have been sub-standard in some way other than visual.

[frank_drebin]

I think it was ammo related, I found 2 rounds in the box that were deformed so I didn't even load them up and try. Not unlikely to say one round may have been sub-standard in some way other than visual.

My CW40 didn't like Gold Dots. They were just wide enough to graze the slide stop when they cycled. The WWB JHPs have a much smaller opening and just glide right in...

[Bawanna]

It could certainly easily be the case of the errant thumb also. Easy to do without even knowing it. While I also agree that it deserves assessment and an answer seeked an found the fact that they are becoming fewer and fewer tells me the grip is changed for the better or something is mechanically improving.
I didn't note any ammo brand change which would certainly confirm your theory, if one was giving issues and a new brand isn't then I'd crawl back over to your way of thinking and abandon my foolish thoughts post haste.

Its Saturday night, what say we get drunk and be somebody? Unless of coures drinking is contrary to your beliefs, then we could eat mushrooms, or whatever loosens the cobwebs of our brains.
I'm not much of a drinker myself to be truthful but I been thinking of taking it up. Who knows it might be my calling.

Keep us in the loop Pender.

[frank_drebin]

In not rlealy durnk. In jsut a ltitle bzzued.

[mr surveyor]

I'm trying to grasp the "wider ammo" concept. Care to elaborate?

[Pender1]

well I will say that my 1st 100 were not the same brand of ammo as my 2nd 100. But I guess future range trips will tell if it's the gun, ammo, or me.

[frank_drebin]

I'm trying to grasp the "wider ammo" concept. Care to elaborate?

If you look at a Remington Golden Sabre the bullet's diameter is consistent until just before the hollow point opening. While ammo like Hornady Critical defense has a conical shape.

A further factor is the Overall Length of the cartridge (OAL) If the cartridge longer the bullet may hit the slidestop on some guns.

http://www.mouseguns.com/pf9rev/big7a.jpg

Hornady Critical Defense
http://gunsforsale.com/ghg/images/Hornady_Critical_Defesne_02.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/jbabbler/pistols/CIMG7890-1.jpg

[mr surveyor]

o.k., now I understand what you are referring to. The ogive and oal can be an issue. I would also guess, again just speculating on the Kahr engineering design (which I have a tendency to do with all thinge mechanical), with the feed ramp design being to the "port side" of the firearm the projectile shape and length could possibly be more of a factor due to the close proximity of the slide stop. To get it all into perspective, I'll have to look more closely, but just thinking about it the projectile is no wider than the casing and still has to traverse the same longitudinal path up the feed ramp.... so I can't figure why the projectile shape would really have the effect. Could it be that a few of the slide stop/mag catches could be slightly out of spec? That IS a known issue with a few Kimber pistols....easily remedied with light filing - or request a new part (been there, done that).

For what it's worth, I've been experimenting with handloading Hornady XTP 124 gr bullets, and they seem to function well (using 4.7 gr Unique and 1.113 oal). The conlcal bullets do seem to feed well.


surv

[jocko]

kahrs are just not ammo sensitive, I would not fault the patented feed ramp offset either. My first guess would be an out of spec slide stop lever. If that one particular round that is hitting the inside of the lever is your favorite over any thing else, then you will have to modify the slide stop lever or get a new one and see if it is OK. With so many great defense rounds on the market today, for me I think I would find another good defense round that works fine with no slide lever mod needed.

My P380 just was not in love with 102 gr. golden sabres, so I just never shoot it anymore as my defense round. Probablly could have tinkered with it to make it reliable but that round just never bent my crank that much. I had to have 3 slide stop levers replaced by Para for my carry 9, before I got one that worked like it should..