P380 slide eating trigger bar

[starkreiten]

Figured I post this here, since it's a bit more on the technical side...

After 500 or so flawless rounds through my P380, I've started getting FTF from light strikes. 'Recocking' a time or three will get the round to fire. Same WWB ammo that's always been used for practice.

First thought was a sticky striker -- but, no improvement with cleaning. Pulled it apart (just to be sure) and everything looks good.

Upon closer inspection of the frame, the trigger bar was showing wear/deformation where it contacts the slide potentially causing it to bind on the frame a bit. Checked where the slide contacts the trigger bar, and that edge was SHARP!'Smoothing' the slide turned into a bit of a project, since EVERY edge along the rail was sharp. Likely the source of my ever present frame 'shavings' around the frame guides as well. Got the trigger bar into as good a shape as I could, and the slide action definitely feels better now -- especially that last little bit before it's fully closed.

Now, I had previously 'smoothed' my magazines catch slot, which solved my difficult mag release/lock problem. I could feel those edges were sharp, but hadn't thought to look further since it was shooting fine.

So, what I'm wondering now is if the trigger bar binding could cause the striker block to not fully disengage, causing light strikes?

Heading out to the range now to see if I manged to 'smooth' out the problem.

Dana

[OldLincoln]

Hi Dana and welcome to Kahrtalk!

You may have one of the faulty frames that Kahr has been replacing under warranty. If I recall correctly they also experienced light strikes. It has something to do with the poly frame twisting when fired. You might call Kahr support tell them about it and if they agree, they will send you a prepaid label to send the gun back. There are lots of posts on this subject here if you search them out.

Unfortunately replacing the frame means a different serial number and new registration through your FFL.

Bawanna or Jocko or any of the real experts will likely be along shortly to confirm or deny.

Again, welcome.

[jocko]

u should be able to dry fire that gun now to see of those light strikes continue withut even shooting any rounds..

[Cokeman]

Do you have any pictures of these issues?

[starkreiten]

50/50

Well, I didn't make it to the range yesterday, but today it ran 50 for 50.
I will clean and inspect then toss another hundred through to make sure, but hopefully it's going to be good now. I'm also going to add a lube point to the trigger bar at the slide contact point.

OldLincoln: Thanks for the info. I read a bunch of those posts, and noticed guns were coming back with new frames (plus other parts) and still having trouble. Seems like something is being missed.
As for frame twist -- since the barrel is locked into the slide when the round is supposed to go bang, I don't see how that could affect the strike. It could affect pretty much everything while the slide is in motion, but while in battery?

jocko: Good idea. With the whole inertial striker thing going, I hadn't thought to look at the pin while dry firing. All the light strikes left a dimple in the primer, just not quite good enough. I'll have to pull some brass and check if there is a noticeable difference between strikes. Once the trouble began; it's possible they were all light strikes, but just hard enough for most of the rounds to fire.

Cokeman: I'll try to get some pics posted if I can remember where I left the camera. ;/

Dana

[starkreiten]

P380 slide sharp spots

BTW, my sn is RB6xxx, which does not seem to be a good sign around here.

I've marked the major points in the pics, but pretty much every cut that intersects the rails is sharp. You can also see a slightly flat spot on the trigger bar where that sharp edge of the slide hits. It was really ugly before I smoothed it, actually gouged out and deformed. I need to get a new trigger bar, because I don't think is it supposed to be thinner at the top either. Anybody have pics of a fresh one?



If I did it right, clicking on the thumbnails should pull up the full pics.

Dana

[Cokeman]

I'd send it in asap.

[muggsy]

Ya done good with the Pics.

[getsome]

On the two middle pictures it looks like metal brass shavings on the slide, is that what it is?...Either way call Kahr for a shipping label and let them fix it...It seems they have a handle on the problem now but at first they were just throwing parts at it...Good luck with it and welcome to Kahrtalk...

[starkreiten]

Thanks for all the input.

Referencing the pics: not even a cursory wipe down had been done after the 50 rounds. I think it looked good in there, despite having been over-lubed after my 'smoothing' session.

getsome: Yep, looks like brass. There isn't much, but I'll have to take a look at the buildup on the trailing edge of the striker block. I had a Glock once that would score the top round in the magazine so bad that the case would split after a light reload or two.

muggsy: Thanks, but be glad you didn't have to see the others....

Cokeman: Send it in? But it's all fixed now!<muhahaha> (fingers crossed)
I am not a gunsmith, but I do fix things for a living, and everything in there looks good except that trigger bar. I also have no problem doing some pro bono reliability re-engineering on my Kahr. If the reliability holds, then I might play with a new trigger bar or 3 to see what some modified profiles and/or heat treating can accomplish -- just for fun.

Dana

[Cokeman]

You're cool with all that gouging?

[starkreiten]

You're cool with all that gouging?

I'm not sure what you are referring to, the only damage I've seen is to the trigger bar.

-Dana

[Cokeman]

That plastic rail above the trigger bar is not gouged?

[starkreiten]

Cokeman, maybe.... I'd need to see a healthy one to know for sure.

There were no loose poly shavings from the 'post smoothing' 50 rounds, but I'll clean it up and keep an eye on it. Thanks for the heads-up.

Dana