On the fence with P380

[mser]

Took my P380 to the range last Wednesday and experienced premature slide lock-back 5 times within 50 rounds shooting PMC Bronze. That's a total of 930 rounds through the Kahr, 630 of it since the frame replacement. The failure to feed, failure to return fully to battery and light strikes seem to have been worked out with the frame replacement, but the slide lock-back problem is chronic. Got p!$$#d off, had a temporary lapse in judgment and bought a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 with the intention of getting rid of the Kahr. Later that day and with skepticism I went back to the range with both of them. The Kahr had been thoroughly cleaned from the previous range visit. No prep for the Smith, took it straight out of the box. Shot half a box of PMC Bronze through each of them as well as a magazine of Speer Gold Dot through each of them. Experienced a few premature slide lock-backs with the Kahr. The Smith functioned and performed flawlessly. That didn't help my attitude about the Kahr. Thinking that the Smith is going to take its place I started looking around to see what I might trade the Kahr for after the LGS offered me a trade-in of $300 (refer to aforementioned temporary judgment lapse rearing its ugly head again). I want to stay with a pocket pistol so I was looking at the Ruger LC9, Sig P290 and Kahr PM40. Fast forward to today. Back to the range with both of them. 50 rounds each of PMC Bronze through both of them. Only 1 premature slide lock-back on the Kahr. One stovepipe (probably my fault) and one light strike with the Bodyguard. The second strike capability of the Bodyguard stepped up to the plate and took care of business.

The Kahr trigger is extremely smooth and the pistol is very comfortable to shoot. The slide lock-back problem is very aggravating. The Smith trigger is crap compared to the Kahr and the recoil is much sharper. After more than 700 rounds post frame replacement the Kahr is still experiencing difficulties. The Smith looks promising, but it's still early. So therein lies my quandary. I hate being indecisive. Cut my losses? Replace the Kahr with the Smith and trade the Kahr for one of the models mentioned above? Send the Kahr back to the Mother Ship for another makeover? Decisions, decisions.

[TominCA]

I tweaked the little spring that holds the slide stop down and the problem went away. Its easy to do when you are disassembled for cleaning.

[mser]

Define "tweak" Tom. My slide stop spring seems to be able to rotate ever so slightly around the torx screw when the pistol is disassembled. I placed the slide stop lever into the frame with the slide removed. The spring is indeed resting on top of the slide lock lever. When the lever is raised and released it seems to snap down to it's resting position. I placed a loaded magazine in the frame and there are no rounds coming into contact with the slide stop lever. Could it be something as simple as that spring?

[FLBri]

Keep heart MSER. I know it's frustrating, but having a reliable Kahr is the best of all options.

I don't own a P380 but I own two Kahr 9mm. One was flawless and the other took some TLC. I count them both now as reliable as a revolver and they are the greatest pleasure to shoot I could imagine.

I have heard of this chronic premature slide lock often here, and it seems it IS related to spring tension. I'm sure shortly someone with greater specific experience here will step up and describe the process. You won't regret the decision. I'm not a Kahr shill ... just that I've tried all the other small specialty CC options and none are as rewarding as a good running Kahr.

Worst case, send it back again with specific detailed instructions and explanation. I have had great experience with their service department. They want it right, too.

[Jhawkinsvalrico]

I'm new to this forum and have owned my P380 for about 6 months. I've been a 1911 and revolver guy for many years, but wanted a pocket pistol. I decided on the P380 and at first I had some doubts about it - quite a few FTF problems during the first couple of hundred rounds to wwb, but they finally quit occurring and I have put several hundred more fmj and jhp's through mine without issue. I know that some don't like having to put hundreds of rounds through their new pistols before they are broken in, but I personally won't carry anything until I have put hundreds of rounds through it and it has run pretty much flawlessly anyway. To me at least half of the fun is going to the range and shooting the heck out of my guns. I'll discount a FTF if I think I caused it by limp wristing. Perhaps I am lucky, but when I need to pocket carry, my P380 goes in my pocket. The only handgun that might displace it is a PM45 if I ever can find one locally to handle.

[jocko]

mser: try shooting ur P380 left handed to see if the slide lock thing stops, alsolet another right hander shoot the gun to seeif the slide stop issue stops. If it persists, indeed call kahr and they will send u a new slide lock spring. If ur thumb is not engaging it by accident and rounds arenot hitting the inside of the slide lock lever the only thing left is that the slide lever spring is way ot of whack. It taies a a#5 torx tool to get that little screw out, seas sells tem separtely. do not try to tightnen that screw as it willnoever tighten, snug it andu are good to go. There is a nice photo totutoria on the kahrt ewch secion under cw45 fixes by GB 6491, it discusses and shows u how to get that little spring set correctly.

first off though try it left handed to see what happens, u need to elimi9nate the possable first before sending it back. Kahr will mor ethan likely just replace the little sprng and go from there, so u might as well do it at home and save time;.

[mser]

I'm left handed so I know it's not the dreaded "thumb brushing the slide stop while firing" problem. I've also shot right handed and experienced the same results. I think I'm going to invest in a torx driver and slide stop spring and see what happens. Thanks for the encouragement, advice and suggestions. You guys are awesome.

[jocko]

u know what ur doing so give it a try, look up that thread though by GB6421. He did an awesome job explaing how that little spring works. chances are maybe that holding screw is to loose.

#5 torx, harbor freight sells that stuff to.. I bought mine singally at sears..

[mser]

Looking on the Kahr web site I found the slide stop spring as well as the slide stop screw & washer replacement parts. The screw is slotted and not a torx.

[jocko]

they are all torx today and have been for quite a few years. U will get a torx screw trust me

[jocko]

Looking on the Kahr web site I found the slide stop spring as well as the slide stop screw & washer replacement parts. The screw is slotted and not a torx.

kahrs webb site also shows the old style slides on their guns to, which we know has been dropped for the at couple of years. They are alittle lax about keeping an up to date webb site..:crazy:

Their site shows the PM9 and PM40 photos with the old style now discountined blunt nose slides..