Buying a new P380. Can I trust my life with it?

[bm303]

As far as 380s go in general I would rule it out and get a 9mm. The 9mm is flooded with pocket sized options! So many to chose from. I have the PM9 myself but if I bought another pocket sized 9mm it would be the Sig P938 all the way baby! IMO of course!

I had no idea that there were 9mm's that could be concealed in a pocket in casual clothing. Wouldn't even the CM9/PM9 be really bulky in a pocket? That would actually not be a bad idea since it could be carried IWB too. I just thought it would be uncomfortable in a pocket.

[Short Bus]

agree totally but I need something small for the pocket that can be concealed in shorts and a tee shirt in hot weather.

I carry a P9 IWB easily in shorts and a tee shirt, with a good holster a CM9 will disappear.

[zamboni]

I carry a P9 IWB easily in shorts and a tee shirt, with a good holster a CM9 will disappear.

Yep. Summer and most of winter here in FL is shorts and T shirts for me. MY CM9 in PJholster IWB works in even the most discrete situations. I bought a pocket holster when I got the gun but have never even used it.

[Bawanna]

"What are the odds of having a bad one? That is my biggest fear. The good ones seem to be the best 380 on the market. "

The rash of issues we heard about the 380's a year or longer ago seem to be dealt with for the most part. We hear far less about chronic problems.

If I was ok with a 380 (which I am not) and wanted to pocket carry (which I don't) I'd buy with confidence. Do the recommended break in and if there are issues Kahr will take care of it. It isn't really like gambling in Vegas. You buy, you win. If not back it goes till you do win.

If you have zero patience or come unraveled if there's an issue I don't know of any better choices to ease your pain.

[itsthelaw]

I have the P380 and CM9, and the P380 is a LOT smaller. I think the CM9 feels too large to carry in any shorts other than cargo shorts, but I don't like pocket carry. My P380 had some issues that came down to slide lock pin and it has been perfect since replacing the pin. I don't think I will get rid of the P380, because it really is that gun that you can always find a place to hide. That said, I carry my CM9 almost exclusively. The only time I don't is when the weather is sweltering hot. I am not a pocket carry guy and carry my P380 in a Sticky holster on my hip for easier draw and total concealment. It is also a great shooting gun for the size. Don't even hesitate and make the leap!

[jocko]

considering

"What are the odds of having a bad one? That is my biggest fear. The good ones seem to be the best 380 on the market. "

The rash of issues we heard about the 380's a year or longer ago seem to be dealt with for the most part. We hear far less about chronic problems.

If I was ok with a 380 (which I am not) and wanted to pocket carry (which I don't) I'd buy with confidence. Do the recommended break in and if there are issues Kahr will take care of it. It isn't really like gambling in Vegas. You buy, you win. If not back it goes till you do win.

If you have zero patience or come unraveled if there's an issue I don't know of any better choices to ease your pain.

it came from u, very well said. U 1911 guys always seem to have the right soouthing words. I just admire u assholes

[kahrinca]

IMO there is a 1% (at least) chance of a problem with any gun made by any manufacturer. If I had as much doubt as you seem to... Well?

I am in accord.

[hardscrabble]

I'll jump in and comment on carrying a pistol in a front pocket.

I'm always at least 5 years behind whatever the cutting edge of anything happens to be at the time. Same/same when it comes to figuring out how to carry a concealed pistol. I used kydex OWB holsters for years, partly because they didn't "grab" a pistol like leather sometimes will, but mostly because I distrusted what I considered to "newfangled" inside waistband holsters.

When I got good and fed up with OWB holsters that were hard to conceal and a pain to take on/off, I decided I was going to carry in my front pocket, and I bought a CM9 to carry there. My problem wasn't that the pistol wouldn't conceal (it did, in a Nemesis holster), or wouldn't come out fast (it did...at least as well as an OWB, because it was RIGHT THERE). My little problem was that it wasn't comfortable to sit down with that pistol in my pocket. My big problem was I use my pockets for all kinds of other stuff and I didn't want to start finding a new home for keys, folding knife, cell phone, and all the other crap I always have there. In short, it didn't work for me.

That forced me to try the "state of the art" IWB holsters. I settled on Comp-Tac Minotaurs, but I am sure the Crossbreeds and others work just as well. Now I mostly carry an HK P2000 .40 and it's hard to see it even under a t-shirt. My P9 positively disappears. They are on and off in a snap and they are very, very comfortable.

IMO, there's no need to pocket carry, when there are such good options that don't cause so darn many compromises.

[jocko]

only thing in that one pocket of miine is my PMJ9 in a desantis. I have no problems carrying everythging elase where I want. and I ama talking jeans, not cargo stuff.

Works for me, maybe not four u or others but it is with me 24/7 and I never have to dress to carry....

[Bawanna]

"I never have to dress to carry.... "

This must be rather alarming even to your local Indianan's who know you?

Surprised this isn't on utube, but maybe it is and I missed it.

[Tinman507]

Jocko? Is that you?

[AlbinLee]

BM303,

I just bought a brand new P380 with the black DLC finish. I was very hesitant at first because the 380 is generally known for being finicky. I have been carrying a CW9 for the past year, and have found that I am tired of IWB. Pocket carry would be most ideal, and more comfortable when seated/driving for me (instead of constantly adjusting holster angle and position). I spent alot of time doing research, clearly this little pistol is not cheap. There seemed to be issues with the first couple design iterations, but at this point, it seems like Kahr has nearly perfected it. They updated the recoil spring specs, and a few other minor changes, and I felt confident enough to make the dive.

I was pretty nervous to break it in, which I just did last weekend. Well, I am pleased to say that there were absolutely no malfunctions of any kind, through 325 rounds. I was blown away. I trust my life with the P380 one hundred percent, and it is my new EDC. I shot 100 rounds WWB, 200 rounds of Remington UMC, and 25 Hornady Zombie Max. I carry the Hornady Critical Defense Rounds.

Although my thumb/pointer finger web was left a little sore, this pistol is very controllable to fire. The trigger is identical to my CW9, so it felt very familiar. In order to assure that the pistol had the best chance to run from the start, I disassembled it and cleaned the factory grease using Isopropyl alcohol, so that it was completely dry. Then, I lubed it up with Ballistol, generously on the rails and barrel, but avoiding the firing pin area.

The week before my day at the range, I racked the slide about 500 times, to smooth out the contact surfaces and break it in. Then, it was up to the P380 and myself to test it. The only malfunction occurred as a result of operator error: the slide failed to lock back a couple times on the last round. After adjusting my grip and focusing on keeping my right thumb from resting on the slide lock, there was no issue. I also was sure to make a solid platform by having a firm grip.

So I felt like there was a small gamble, being that micro 380's can be picky about ammo and technique. Also, there is such a small tolerance for error in a semi-auto action so short, that the pistol design has a huge obstacle to overcome. I am an engineering student in my final year of study, so I love to analyze mechanical stuff. I personally think the Kahr design is genius, and many of their patents lend themselves to the P380 function. The P380 is like the culmination of their design expertise, the best and most difficult to perfect semi-auto they have produced. All of the progress they have made from the K9, to polymer P9, and then ranging to more compact designs like the PM9, they have maximized the potential of their design with the P380, IMO. And now that they have worked the kinks out, I think there is no question in my mind that this is the best polymer, semi-auto, micro 380 on the market.

As a side note, there is an interesting point I would like to make about the P380. Both the P380 and CW9 user manual states that, in order to properly chamber the first round, you must lock the slide back, insert mag, then drop the slide. In my experience with the CW9, I was able to slingshot the first round without issue (even during the initial break in). I found that with the P380, this is not the case. The P380 is very unique, with the action being so short. In order to chamber the first round of a magazine, you must rack the slide one time, causing the striker to preset, then lock the slide back, insert mag, and chamber round. If you do not preset the striker first, the round will not chamber. Let me give you an example: If you rack the slide, safely dry fire, then lock the slide back, you will notice the firing pin protruding from the breech face. If you try to insert the loaded mag, and drop the slide, the round will not chamber! It will hang up on the protruding firing pin. This does not happen with the CW9, and the reason it occurs with the P380 is because the action is so short, that the striker is not engaged by the trigger system (in the frame) soon enough, as the slide travels forward, to pull the firing pin from the breech face. So the edge of the round will catch that protruding firing pin, and prevent the first round from continuing into battery.

The moral of this extremely long winded story is this: In order to chamber the first round in the P380, you must do the following:
1. Rack the slide to preset the striker, allowing it to return completely closed
2. Do not dry fire
3. Lock the slide back
4. Insert a loaded magazine
5. Drop the slide, allowing the first round to chamber

As long as you remember this minor nuance of the P380, along with the fact that you must keep your thumb from riding the slide release while firing, you should have no problems.

-Albin

[MW surveyor]

Tinman - Can't get that out of my eyes!

[Paxmo]

380 is fine but 9 is better. :19:

[Bawanna]

And 45 is the answer.