I really want to love this p380

[stupidlikeafox]

Hi Everybody - I got a p380 about a month ago and it is really picky about ammo. I've got about 500 rounds through it now and the only round its been 100% with is PMC Bronze. Its done pretty well with Remington FMJ too, but will not feed WWB, Fiocchi, Remington UMC JHP, or a couple of others I've tried. I replaced the recoil spring and filed the slide stop so it no longer drags (oops, a little too much and I need a new one but it doesn't drag anymore). I flitzed the feed ramp and chamber (using a Qtip), and tried different lubes.
The usual FTF is a failure to fully enter the battery, hanging-up just a little before the slide is fully closed. Sometimes I can push the slide forward and it will close, sometimes not.
Should I just stock-up on PMC Bronze or have I missed something? Is this common after the break-in period?
Thanks

[scotchlouis]

I too just picked up a p380 and have put about 200 rounds of PMC bronze through it. Only had one FTE during the first 50 rnds or so. Also had one double feed. Put 100 rds of WWB without fail. However, I did have one light primer strike with Corbon DPX, and once the slide locked back while firing with rounds left in the magazine (my thumb probably drifted up and engaged the slide stop, I hope). The slide also failed to lock back on the last round several times (with PMC and WWB). But I'll also blame that on my thumb being held against the slide stop.

Is the failure to enter into battery happening when you change mags? I've noticed that if I use the sling shot method to close it instead of using the slide release, sometimes it will not go all the way forward. Or if the slide is closed and I want to chamber a round, I'll pull the slide back and if I don't release it very firmly, it will fail too. But if I first lock the slide back then insert a magazine, then use the release, it will always enter into battery.

I really want to love my p380 too. I like it a lot, but I want to be 100 percent confident with it's reliability. I'll continue to use the PMC for target shooting/plinking, but would like a reliable defensive round. I'm planning on getting a few boxes of Speer Gold Dot to try out next. I really want to carry the Corbon DPX, but they are too expensive to keep buying to make sure they cycle properly. Have you tried them out yet? Thanks for the post.

[racuda]

Send it back. They will fix it. MIne had to go back twice for FTF, FFE and light strikes. Kahr will make it right. They'll email you a prepaid Fedex return label too, so if they don't offer just ask. :)

[jocko]

Hi Everybody - I got a p380 about a month ago and it is really picky about ammo. I've got about 500 rounds through it now and the only round its been 100% with is PMC Bronze. Its done pretty well with Remington FMJ too, but will not feed WWB, Fiocchi, Remington UMC JHP, or a couple of others I've tried. I replaced the recoil spring and filed the slide stop so it no longer drags (oops, a little too much and I need a new one but it doesn't drag anymore). I flitzed the feed ramp and chamber (using a Qtip), and tried different lubes.
The usual FTF is a failure to fully enter the battery, hanging-up just a little before the slide is fully closed. Sometimes I can push the slide forward and it will close, sometimes not.
Should I just stock-up on PMC Bronze or have I missed something? Is this common after the break-in period?
Thanks

itback,it should feed um all, ask kahr to issue a pick up also. ask for IAN in customer service. You have done allyou canh, document inwriting when you send it in what you have done as far as ammo's used etc, send the magazines with it also.

[stupidlikeafox]

The failure to feed happens throughout the magazine, so its not just a matter of using the slide release to load the first round. The only defensive round I've tried so far is golden saber and it fed just fine, but I've only shot 2 mags of it. I think I will send it back to Kahr, I'd like to tinker with it and have the satisfaction of fixing it myself, but my slide release experiment proves the futility in that.
Thanks for the replies. I'll post an update later.

[TominCA]

I had a similar (worse) problem - sent it back and it turned out to be a small frame crack at the hammer pin. Khar was great on the repair - except that the pistol was released to California because of a number glitch so they couldn't send it back - Have a new one in 10 day wait right now.

The frame crack was very small, only about 1/8th inch- look carefully. I would recommend sending it back.

[Cokeman]

Khar was great on the repair - except that the pistol was released to California because of a number glitch so they couldn't send it back.

What does that mean? Please explain more.

[stupidlikeafox]

My p380 came back from Kahr and I took it out yesterday for the first time since it was "fixed". I fired a total of 173 rounds and had 11 failures of various sorts. I guess it goes back to Kahr. Bummer.

[flowergirl]

When I got my P380 I just read the directions and use it only as directed and have shot almost 500 rounds without one hang up. One time I noticed that I didn't have the ammo pushed all the way to the back of the mag and thought that it could have caused a problem but check now after loading that they are all the way to the back of the mag. It's amazingly accurate, fun to shoot and comfortable. This week end I added a Big Dot night site set and a Crimson Trace laser and now it is more fun than before adding them. I hope it continues to work flawlessly after reading these posts. Oh, and also this weekend I added the A Grip on the grip and have only been able to shoot about 30 rounds after adding so I don't have a good opi yet on it. I have the PM 9 also and when I wasn't using it properly, it gave me problems but since learning the proper way to use it, it is also flawless and a pleasure.

I use Winchester ammo from Walmart. Don't care to spend more than I need to for range shooting. I have though used the expensive ammo from the range but Winchester white box does great at much less.

[MikeyKahr]

My p380 came back from Kahr and I took it out yesterday for the first time since it was "fixed". I fired a total of 173 rounds and had 11 failures of various sorts. I guess it goes back to Kahr. Bummer.

These are the stories that are troubling to me when it comes to the P380s. The needing to go back is troubling enough, coming back "fixed" and still having issues and needing to go back again is even more troubling. Is it possible that some of these situations are actually some intricacy between a shooter and their pistol (whether it be their grip, their care for the pistol, etc.) - how else could it be possible that it works like a charm back at the home fort, and then come back and still have 1/16 failures? That said, I could understand this being the case in maybe a handful of situations or less. However, with all the cases that we've seen as of late, it's got to be something more...at least in my mind. Something's not right.

[TominCA]

What does that mean? Please explain more.


I did not do the quote right - sorry - the question was about CA handgun approval. How come my first Kahr had to go bak.

CA drop tests all handguns - I think its from 6 feet, but I'm not sure, they also reqire a loaded chamber indicator and sometimes a magazine disconnect on automatics. When this is done the gun is put on the approved list and can be sold in CA. The law is intended to prevent accidential discharge and has nothing to do with size or caliber.

Somehow an error was made and CA put the P380 on the list where it sat happily for about 3 weeks. I saw one in a gun store and bought it. It was not Kahrs fault - if fact I thik they are the ones who discovered it. My first P380 was one of those that came through the "widow". It was replaced with the newer CA approved P380 which also had serious malfunction problems.

Hope this clears it up.

[Cokeman]

Yeah. I think I figured it out from another one of your posts. What a weird situation and state. I used to live there but never had more than a BB gun.