Frame replacement on the P380, Any better?

[K.C.]

I'm still awaiting for my new frame to arrive, (day 43). If you had yours replaced hows it going? I ask because I'm considering returning mine to the place of purchase if the new 200 round break in is just as troublesome.

[K.C.]

I'll be the first to respond to my own thread :p. I picked up my P380 yesterday!

Kahr sent me two brand new magazines for my trouble. Looks good! I ejected the magazine, filled it with rounds and removed the slide. I put the slide lock pin back into the frame without the slide being on to see if the new frame slide lock pin would touch the tip of the round as it were to chamber. Looks like they polished it http://forum.pafoa.org/images/smilies/smile.gif, it doesn't touch so most likely it wont prematurely lock back at the range.

I reassembled the gun and manually racked the slide through two full magazines and it went well, the slide locked back after the last round like its supposed too.

I'm looking to get to the range ASAP. I'll post how it does on its first 100 rounds later.

[BuckeyeBlast]

The new frame fixed mine. Took it from the worst gun I have ever owned to my EDC. Not one problem since, appx 300 rounds so far.

[CJB]

The front end on my pm45 was ... not right. Self destructed - chewed up because the slide ran over the top of the rails (my opinion, not stated Kahr shop fact).

They replaced the slide and the frame. Not a lick of trouble since. Perfect in every way.

They _did_ replace the whole bottom end - trigger, drawbar, cam, springs, etc... and my only "beef" is the sharp edges on the new trigger, whereas the original had nice smooth edges. Minor beef. I can fix it the way I like.

[Matthew L.]

What was the reason for a frame replacement on the p380? Do you have another thread explaining the situation?

Thanks.

[K.C.]

When I took the gun to the range for the first time I had continual premature slide lock after each shot. Beardog (member here) gave me the heads up on the slide lock pin as being the culprit and it was. Kahr sent me a new one and I installed it. I went back to the range for the remaining 200 round break in and had light primer strikes and the slide wouldn't lock back after the last round. In the midst of those two trips I also had failures to feed, failures to eject, brass in the face instead on the neighbors next door.

As far as why Kahr is replacing frame's? I don't know, they would have to answer that.

[rogerthedodger]

Another member reported that Kahr is replacing some P380 frames because of excess flexing of the rear of the frame, causing lite strikes. They may suspect a certain manufacturers dates range, but no recalls, one at a time as complaints come in. I cant find the posting right now.

[gb6491]

What was the reason for a frame replacement on the p380? Do you have another thread explaining the situation?

Thanks.


Another member reported that Kahr is replacing some P380 frames because of excess flexing of the rear of the frame, causing lite strikes. They may suspect a certain manufacturers dates range, but no recalls, one at a time as complaints come in. I cant find the posting right now.

Here it is:
http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8616
Regards,
Greg

[rogerthedodger]

Thats it! Thanks Greg.

[TominCA]

I was one of the first to get the frame replaced - I think about 10 months ago (it was before they realized a batch of frames was out of spec and warped under heat and that a whole bunch of frames was the problem) It took 6 days to and from CA!!! It still needed some break-in but now it works fine.

[K.C.]

I went to the range today and put the first 100 of the 200 break in rounds through it. It went really well! I only had one issue, a failure to chamber. I attribute that to the new mag's Kahr sent for my trouble. Two casings also kissed my head but I can live with that.

[Tap]

K.C. , please add your before and after serial number info to the thread on serial numbers.
We need to know that info.
Thanks, Tap

[K.C.]

^^^^^^^
I already posted it there. I guess it wouldn't hurt to post it here as well... My P380 that needed frame replacement was bought on June 18, 2011, Serial # was RB5xxx. It was replaced with RC4xxx on Sept.22 2011.

[Tap]

K.C., thank you for the info on the serial number. I think if I buy a P380 it will have to be a RC4+++.

[GOOFA]

Back in Jan 2010 I had my first of two frame replacements of my P380. On March 01, the replacement of my second frame took place. I spent $951 on ammunition and range time (1518 rounds). I exchange it for a PM9. I guess the saga continues.:confused:

[K.C.]

Since my last post I've only recently been able to go back to the range with my p380. I went down with another 50 rounds(hardball) and hoped it would be just like the last time where I only had one issue. Like I said earlier I thought the one failure to chamber was in someway related to the new magazines Kahr sent for my 43 day wait, I'm not to sure about that now.

Out of the 50 rounds I'd say 20 of them(the later half) began to fail to chamber. I came home broke it down cleaned the gun paying close attention to the extractor. Yeah there was a little build up but come on? I cleaned it to mirror perfection then put six in the mag then manually ran the rounds through over and over. It still fails to chamber the round starting at the fourth round. Any thoughts?

[starkreiten]

... Out of the 50 rounds I'd say 20 of them(the later half) began to fail to chamber. ... Any thoughts?

That's a bummer, K.C .:(

When you say 'fails to chamber', is it when the slide hangs up at last 1/8in or so? Or is it a major misfeed where the round never makes it into the chamber?

If it's the slide hanging up, I was noticing that with mine while 're-cocking' for the light strikes. You might want to take look at this post: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9838
(http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9838)
Dana

[BEARDOG]

Oh my KC,
Sorry to hear this, A few things I would check...
Make sure the mag springs are in the right way, make sure they are clean inside with free moving followers.
Check to see if the follower is hitting/sticking as it passes the magazine release.
Make sure the feed ramp and chamber is clean and well polished, polish it with a dremmel and compound if you have one.
Maybe try another recoil spring?
OR...
Call Kahr again tell them to FIX the F@#$%^& thing right or give you your money back! Then go buy another brand of .380.

[OldLincoln]

Kahr has an abbreviated chambering system that requires a slippery ramp and chamber throat. Picture the round hitting the ramp and slides up to the top of the inside throat of the chamber which tips the rim up to align as it chambers. Any friction in those spots will slow down the action and can cause it to not fully chamber, which appears as the slide does not fully close. Just chuckled picturing a kid slurping a strand of spaghetti which is a close picture.

My suggestion is to polish those spots and as a test, rub some gun grease on them and shoot it. If it hangs you know one thing it is not, but if it works that is a probable cause. IF that is the culprit, keep them shiny and it's okay to rub in a small amount of grease, but should not be required.

Finally, I didn't see it mentioned but some has reported failures that turned out to be related to the ammo they used. Some were reloads, some weak store brands. If you are shooting either, I suggest you eliminate that possibility with strong factory ammo until this thing is working right.

I'm sorry you are going through this and, yes, the P380 has been an issue for a while and although Kahr is willingly fixing them, it's taking too long and repeat trips to get them right. I can say that once fixed and proven, they are a great little pocket gun.

[K.C.]

Oh my KC,

Make sure the mag springs are in the right way, make sure they are clean inside with free moving followers.

The mags are factory, never taken them apart.


Check to see if the follower is hitting/sticking as it passes the magazine release.

All good there.


Make sure the feed ramp and chamber is clean and well polished, polish it with a dremmel and compound if you have one.

I always clean the barrel and feed ramp after every use with Hoppes #9 solvent so good there. Polishing may be needed? I never had to do that before on any of my other guns but I'm open minded.


Maybe try another recoil spring?

I'm kind of leaning toward this as the culprit although I dont want to believe it needs replaced after possibly 600 rounds? After my last post I went back and manually ran some rounds through it, but with much more deliberate full racking of the slide. It was much much better.

The recoil spring feels just as tight as when I first bought the gun.


Call Kahr again tell them to FIX the F@#$%^& thing right or give you your money back! Then go buy another brand of .380.

To be honest I'd like a full refund, If anyone knows how to go about it successfully let me know.

[Cokeman]

Some were reloads, some weak store brands. If you are shooting either, I suggest you eliminate that possibility with strong factory ammo until this thing is working right.

Examples of both?

[K.C.]

Check to see if the follower is hitting/sticking as it passes the magazine release.

Once again your on the money! When I said earlier "all good there" that was based on just a visual insertion of the mag. After thinking about it a while' I inserted a mag, left the slide open and used a pencil to push the mag follower down while holding my finger ever so lightly on the mag release button and damed if it didnt move.

I performed the modification on all my mags as "gb6491" instructed in his post (#2) here:http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1612

Great post as usual. Wouldn't have been able to do it with out him!

This little gun will make a gunsmith out of me yet geez....

[Cokeman]

So it feeds perfectly now? Cool!

[K.C.]

So it feeds perfectly now? Cool!

Cant make that call yet! The magazine followers are now snag free so we'll see how that impacts feeding/chambering at the range. We'll talk about perfection then.

[K.C.]

I just got back from the range, seems the mag modification did the trick. I bought some Remington this time and it ate all of them with no problem. I put the remaining Federal Champion that were problematic through and only had one failure to chamber.

I'm really hoping this gun will become reliable. I'm going to wait a bit before running some more JHP's. Hopefully I'll have no more negative reports.

[K.C.]

I just wanted to update the thread,Sorry It's taken forever. Money has been slipping through my fingers with lots of things breaking down at the house plus I've been spending much time with my New Glock 27 so hence my neglect on getting back to you as far as my P380.

I've pretty much reached the point to where I can consider the gun 100% reliable. It shoots perfectly with my choice of JHP's (Speer gold dots). This was only accomplished because of the magazine modifications. If you haven't modified your mags you too may have to to reach 100%. Just the way it goes I guess.

[BEARDOG]

I just wanted to update the thread,Sorry It's taken forever. Money has been slipping through my fingers with lots of things breaking down at the house plus I've been spending much time with my New Glock 27 so hence my neglect on getting back to you as far as my P380.

I've pretty much reached the point to where I can consider the gun 100% reliable. It shoots perfectly with my choice of JHP's (Speer gold dots). This was only accomplished because of the magazine modifications. If you haven't modified your mags you too may have to to reach 100%. Just the way it goes I guess.

:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2: