Kahr 380 Striker Ultimate Fix

[muggsy]

Quit being so modest, everyone knows your dad didn't shoot, if he did, that first number would be a 2.

Right here, Bob and I really mean it. Dirt does have very little on me in the way of age.

[topgun1953]

Just saw this thread. Got my p380 back yesterday after its 4th striker replacement. I was just going to replace it, but Jay really thought I should send it in, so I did. Well, I guess this is good...along with the new striker, I got a new barrel, slide, and springs! They did send a note warning me about the thing that happens when you dry fire and then attempt to load a round. Usually the striker is still protruding through the breech and the casing slams into the striker before it is retracted. I'm aware of the problem and usually avoid it but admittedly it happened a few times. They seem to think this is a possible cause for breakage. What do you guys think? Oh, so i want a new one too!

[Alfonse]

I do not know all the failure modes. Some of the failures look like the types of failures that are caused by repeated stresses from the photos. Loading the pistol with the striker pin exposed could exacerbate the problem. If that broke the striker, it would happen right at the time. But, I like to make everything as use and abuse proof as possible. You shouldn't have to worry about doing things with some special procedure to keep you gun from breaking. I believe you will find our aftermarket part will do that.

[NacsMXer]

How does this striker affect the quality/feel of the trigger pull? Does it feel the same or better? My P380 already has a buttery smooth trigger and i'd prefer not to negatively affect that. Thanks!

[Alfonse]

How does this striker affect the quality/feel of the trigger pull? Does it feel the same or better? My P380 already has a buttery smooth trigger and i'd prefer not to negatively affect that. Thanks!

It is the same as a factory part as far as trigger function.

[muggsy]

Just saw this thread. Got my p380 back yesterday after its 4th striker replacement. I was just going to replace it, but Jay really thought I should send it in, so I did. Well, I guess this is good...along with the new striker, I got a new barrel, slide, and springs! They did send a note warning me about the thing that happens when you dry fire and then attempt to load a round. Usually the striker is still protruding through the breech and the casing slams into the striker before it is retracted. I'm aware of the problem and usually avoid it but admittedly it happened a few times. They seem to think this is a possible cause for breakage. What do you guys think? Oh, so i want a new one too!

Jay is wrong on that one. If you dry fire the gun and then load the gun the striker is captured when the slide is returned to battery. The striker is preloaded in all Kahr
pistols. See illustration.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

[Frequent Flyer]

Jay is wrong on that one. If you dry fire the gun and then load the gun the striker is captured when the slide is returned to battery. The striker is preloaded in all Kahr
pistols. See illustration.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

I had to go get mine to figure out what they were talking about. If I dry fire it and then rack the slide back the striker is sticking out the whole way back. Letting the slide close I saw the striker go in at 2/3 to 3/4 closed.

[Alfonse]

I had to go get mine to figure out what they were talking about. If I dry fire it and then rack the slide back the striker is sticking out the whole way back. Letting the slide close I saw the striker go in at 2/3 to 3/4 closed.

Yes, so if you had dry fired it, so the striker is sticking out, and tried to rack in a round from the top of the magazine, the round would contact the striker. It would likely either mis-feed or push in the striker. I have to wonder, since the round is only being pushed up by the magazine spring, if that is really contributing to possibly breaking strikers way back behind the breech face. If the end of the firing pin was shearing off, it would seem to make more sense that it may be the issue. But, we don't see that and it would take a wimpy firing pin for that to happen. I think more likely dry firing is a sharper impact to the striker that is causing the failures.

Again, it doesn't really matter in that the fix in either case is a stronger striker solves the problem. Of course, snap caps and avoiding as much dry firing as possible probably helps the striker live longer too.

[Bobshouse]

I'm checking this thread and your site daily....we getting close?

[Alfonse]

Scheduled to arrive while I am at SHOT. Then final inspection. If all goes well, this month.

[topgun1953]

Jay is wrong on that one. If you dry fire the gun and then load the gun the striker is captured when the slide is returned to battery. The striker is preloaded in all Kahr
pistols. See illustration.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

yeah I know but the dimensions on the P380 are such that the case head impacts the striker before it gets retracted. It wasn't Jay, someone included a note when it was returned...

[Alfonse]

The strikers and spacers have shipped. They will arrive next week while I am at Shot.

The week after that, I should have them final inspected and on the market if all is well with the parts. I am excited about these parts.

[Bobshouse]

So am I!!

[gun papa]

Me too. The striker is the cw380's Achilles heel.

[muggsy]

yeah I know but the dimensions on the P380 are such that the case head impacts the striker before it gets retracted. It wasn't Jay, someone included a note when it was returned...

That's what causes what is referred to as primer smear. It isn't what causes the striker to fail. The striker is far harder than the primer.