P380 changes from the first release?

[cal45]

When the P380 first came out, I bought one right away but ended up selling without firing as something else came up and I needed some quick cash. Now I'm back in the market for a pocket 380 and have heard some good and bad regarding reliability on these and want to know if Kahr made any changes on this model. Is there something based on the serial number I should look for/be aware of ? I like the PM9's and never had any issues with them but the only P380 I ever owned, I never fired. I would rather get one of these over a Ruger LCP.

Thanks for any advice

[jocko]

thats a tuff question to answer. We have had more issues witht he P380 than any model kahr, that being said the last few reports we have had lately were all positive. changes from the beginning, the right side panel is now held on with two torx screws instead of the one. My early P380 has one screw and has never given any issues, although the gun had to go back one time but has since been totally reliable. Love the gun, when it works like it should, The Ruger lcp is a damn nice gun IMO, not in the class as the kahr but neither is the price to BUT they now go bang all the time and they have over 700,000 lcp out there so this is a well proven back up gun IMO. I own um both..

I myself have mixed emotions on the P380. hopefully time and more great reports will change my mind.

[cal45]

Thanks, jocko - good info.
Any fellow members recently buy a P380? Let us know here how it has handled any range time you put into it,,,,I really want this gun to be my choice but I do not want to have to send it back to Kahr for issues...not when the LCP's seem to run fine (and as jocko also indicated).

[BuckeyeBlast]

Well, I had a LCP and sold it for a P380. Currently, my P380 is in Massachusetts.

I liked the LCP because it was completely reliable, but I sold the LCP because of the horrible trigger, harsh recoil, and lack of decent sights.

I bought the P380 because of great trigger, excellent recoil management, and some of the best sights on a pocket .380. But I digress, my P380 has been unreliable and is currently being serviced. I haven't heard anything as to it's repair status to know what, if anything, is being found. Hopefully I'll get it back within the next few days and be able to give a report.

Both guns hide and carry extremely well. If they were just simply guns to carry in a pocket, then it'd be a tie. Based solely on my experience, if I had to rely on a gun for self defense I'd get the LCP. If I wanted a gun for self defense, but also want to train with it and shoot it at a range, I'd get the P380 and pray for one of the good ones.

Hopefully - within the next couple of weeks I'll be able to report back that I have a gun that is both reliable, and a joy to shoot at the range. When I get it back, I'll let you know what the serial number was if this thread's still going...

[Jeff00042]

I really liked the accuracy, trigger and feel of my P380. Sold it because it was never reliable, even after two returns to Kahr. I have confidence in my LCP.

[Rightwing]

I purchased the 380 a few weeks ago and after a few FTE's in the first 100 rounds (and properly cleaning it) I have run a few hundred more rounds through it without any trouble. I will take it back out to the range over the weekend and give another update soon. I thought about the LCP but it was no fun to shoot, I don't plan on the 380 being a range gun but I need to practice with it and it is so much more fun to shoot. I have enough rounds in it now to be confident carrying it everyday.

[Zippo Guy]

I have had the P380 for about 4 months. In the first 100 rounds there were a few FTF. Accuracy was about 12 inches low and 8 inches to the right at 21 feet. I had Accurate Iron stipple the grip area and put a Big Dot sight on it. I love the gun, have had no problems and it is now very accurate, about an inch to the right of center at 21 feet. With about 600 rounds with no problems, I feel very confident carrying this gun.

[Ljutic]

My first p380 was problematic, even after a trip to the factory for some extra TLC. I only got 100% reliability with Golden Saber and those were quite rare at the time, so I traded it. I picked up another several months later and it's my favorite .380 if I don't consider the Mustang Pocketlite. The new one is all black and has nite sights too. I had both old and new for a few weeks and the only differences I could see was the twin screw side plate and the trigger pivot pin looked a smidgen longer on the new model.

I still feel that buying any gun right now is a crap shoot. Quality just isn't where it was before the big gun rush that's been going for the last couple of years.

[Cokeman]

Mine had some frtbs in the first 100 rounds. It's good now.

[Ljutic]

I also had the LCP for a bit and it was great for it's intended purpose, but I like to shoot my guns and the skinny heavy trigger hurt my trigger finger whenever I took it to the range. I really liked the way it carried with a ct laser in a back pocket wallet holster from Uncle George.

Ruger Customer Service is top notch so that's one more reason to seriously consider one.

[cal45]

So, glad to see some folks have theirs running good. What SD ammo has run the best out of the P380?

[TominCA]

I probably had more trouble and said more bad things than most about my 2 p380's. Sent it back - it got fixed and then it continued to "wear in". The problem IMO is the gun is so small and light for the caliber / recoil energy, that it has to be set up just right. The thing has the tolerances of a watch so it also needs to wear in. It is so light you must be very careful to hold it properly. But it is a great little pistol. If you only count the first 50 rounds starting clean mine is reliable with everything except Fiocci 90 G hollowpoint (which has a wierd bullet profile) I have put about 700 rounds through mine and it will shoot about 10 brands / configurations of ammo 100%. Three months ago I was cursing it - now I also have an MK9 and a P9 on order.

But - if you buy one don't expect a 100% gun out of the box. You will likely need to put a few hundred rounds through it to get full reliability.

[Ljutic]

So, glad to see some folks have theirs running good. What SD ammo has run the best out of the P380?

I use FMJ ammo for SD now in all 380 acp and .32 acp. Currently running Speer Lawman, but will probably change based on the results of the test I'm going to run soon. I'm looking for the fastest, heaviest, most reliable FMJ in my specific P380. I'm writing it all up in a blog so stay tuned for updates. You can check what's on tap for testing now at http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/

[scotty_MK9]

I have one and i really like it. I had alot of jams in the first 50 rounds but after that it really smoothed out and has not burped since. I think u either get a very good one or a really problematic one. I think price is a little on the high side but its one of the best 380s out there imo.

[downlow]

I've got just over 500 rnds through mine. The first 100 rnds werent to good with many FTF problems. Very dissapointing for such a high dollar gun! But after that, if you keep it clean and lubed and run the rightbullets through it, it is one of the nicest guns out theer! Fit and finish are superb, servicable sights and still the sweetest dbl action trigger out there (like a good S&W rvlvr):p
and 2 mags!!! I have the best luck with winchester wb for cheap fodder, and I'm running the Hornady red polymer tip for SD rounds. They function superbley!!!
Now, the Rugers are notably reliable and very competative with the laser kit for the money, and I like the slide hold open. My dad finally got his kel-teck back after they warrantied out his first gen for a 2nd gen gun (big difference in slide rackability and trigger pull! I like the price and the checkeringof it better than the Ruger.
Still though I carry my P380 everywhere 24/7 and clean it once a month (unless it gets submerged or damp) and I have had good luck with the above mentioned ammo. Recoil is very manageble. Mine is the 2-screw sideplate. I am very happy with it!

[teammazza]

I just bought my Kahr p380 and what can I say. It has been great after the first 100 rds and it shoots like a dream. Its definately a class above the Rugers or the Keltecs. Those are decent guns but the Kahr is something speceal. I put A-grip on it and man does it feel better. So far WWB and Hornady HP's work best in this little gem.

[BuckeyeBlast]

So does anyone know why they made the change to the frame? What problem was it intended to fix?