P380 Light Primer Strikes

[Irelander]

I carry my P380 everyday. Usually in an ankle holster but sometimes in a pocket holster. It has ran flawlessly for me. I shoot it about once a month to make sure things are running smoothly. I pulled it out last week to put a couple of mags through it and not one round went off. I about pooped my pants when I yanked it from my ankle holster and "CLICK". I hand cycled through 2 mags worth of ammo and not one round went off. Every round had a very light mark on the primer. Boy was I mad! What if I had needed to defend myself with that gun? Its the sort of thing nightmares are made of.

So I detail stripped the slide this weekend to see if there were any obvious issues. Everything looked good. Wasn't really even dirty put I wiped everything out anyway.

Went out to shoot it some more during the weekend and about 5 out of 20 rounds went off. Now I am hopping mad. It is totally unreliable. Not sure what happened but I need to trust this gun everyday.

I've read about a few ideas to solve the issue. I have requested Kahr send me a new recoil spring and striker spring. I am going to give the striker channel a good hosing out to make sure there isn't anything gumming it up. I also read that there were issues early on with out of spec trigger bars. Did Kahr clear up that issue? My serial number is RC04XX.

Hopefully I can get it running good again so I can sell it ASAP. Even if I get it running good or I send it back to Kahr and they fix it so its running good, I will never trust this gun again. Yanking it from the holster and hearing that click gave me the chills. If that had been a defensive situation I would most likely be dead.

[jocko]

IMO ur doing the right thing in trying the new springs. IMO it will not probalby do the trck. My guess is u have an out of whack trigger bar which wll produce light strikes for sure. I f u have not cleane dthe striker channel, indeed do sol as also if any crud was left in that area from machingin etc that was not cleaned out orignally, it could have built up and caused ur isse. It is hard to imagine how u can shoot a gun and have no issues and then put it away and bingo, it gives fits. A new ecol spring will assur ehegun is going into full battery. if it is the slightest bit out of battery, it will produce lite strikes also, but I would think you would otice that also.

If u wil l never trust this gun againk then IMO u est peddle it after u get it back from kahr. Makes no sense to have it in the safe or where ever. U are smart enough to realize that sh!t does happen even to the best of guns. My G19 had to go back, and today I trust it with my life. Give kahr a shot at fixing it right for you and then retest and rethink ab out that comment, but what ever, if u post it for sale here , it will sell. Jusdt sayin

[muggsy]

I don't understand people who say that they can trust a gun, because it failed once. Suppose you discover that your gun didn't fire because of something that you did or didn't do? Are you going to blame the gun? Every gun that was ever manufactured failed at some point in it's life. I suggest you give up carrying and depend on 911. Either that or adopt a more adult attitude. Just sayin.

[smokersteve]

Every gun that was ever manufactured failed at some point in it's life.

Not true. I have a Glock 19, a Kahr cm9, a S&W Shield, a S&W m&p22, a Marlin .22 rifle, a Marlin 30-30, and a couple of shotguns that have never failed. My sons Ruger 30-06 and Mossberg 500 also have never failed.

Irelander, that would be disheartening to hear click that many times.
So I imagine the previous time out the gun ran fine? If so that's the worst part. I can understand something breaking while using it, but not when sitting around for a month. I would probably get it fixed and unload it also.

[b4uqzme]

Not true. I have a Glock 19, a Kahr cm9, a S&W Shield, a S&W m&p22, a Marlin .22 rifle, a Marlin 30-30, and a couple of shotguns that have never failed. My sons Ruger 30-06 and Mossberg 500 also have never failed.

.

...yet.

Trust is a personal thing...and there is a lot at stake when it comes to your EDC. Good luck.

[Pointblank]

Solvent or Lubricant in the firing pin channel can cause that to happen.

[muggsy]

Not true. I have a Glock 19, a Kahr cm9, a S&W Shield, a S&W m&p22, a Marlin .22 rifle, a Marlin 30-30, and a couple of shotguns that have never failed. My sons Ruger 30-06 and Mossberg 500 also have never failed.

Irelander, that would be disheartening to hear click that many times.
So I imagine the previous time out the gun ran fine? If so that's the worst part. I can understand something breaking while using it, but not when sitting around for a month. I would probably get it fixed and unload it also.

Your Glock 19 may not have failed, but there are plenty of other's Glock 19s that have, particularly the G-19 Gen 4. Every gun that you mentioned has failed at one time or another, or there would be very little need in this world for gunsmiths. A gun is a mechanical contrivance and as such is subject to fail at any time without notice. There are thousands of P380's in daily use that haven't failed.

[SlowBurn]

Sounds like you're going to work on it yourself instead of letting Kahr take care of it. For something that critical, I wouldn't do that even if you're pretty skilled, especially since you don't know exactly what's causing the problem. The manufacturer can simply replace everything that MIGHT be involved (since they have all the parts) then test fire to make sure its running and return to you.

Then if you like you can sell it. I did the same thing with a Taurus. I also bought my Kahr from somebody who did that and I've been happy as a clam with it.

[Irelander]

I suggest you give up carrying and depend on 911. Either that or adopt a more adult attitude. Just sayin.

I assume that you have probably cooled down by now. Just sayin.

Let's say earlier in the day before I found my P380 to not go bang. I was at the mall and was confronted by a psychopath wielding a gun or knife intent on killing me. Pretty unlikely, I know, but it does happen. When my P380 doesn't go off then not even 911 is going to help me. I'd say its a pretty adult attitude to want to retain ones life and to trust the gun you use for that purpose. It wasn't like it had one light primer strike and all I had to do was a tap and rack to get it running again. It would not fire at all...aka completely useless.

The gun ran flawlessly from day one. I did have return to battery issues when racking in the first round but Kahr sent me a new recoil spring and that fixed that. Everything was running great until last week.

I detail stripped the slide again last night and hosed the striker channel out really good with Gun Blaster. It looks super clean as far as I can tell. I never run lube in the striker channel so I know that wasn't the issue. Maybe there was a metal shaving or burr that got knocked loose after my last shooting session and jammed things up. Hopefully I will get a chance to try it out again tonight.

I am not opposed to sending it in to Kahr but I am leaving for vacation on Friday and I doubt they would do me any favors rushing to get it back to me by Thursday. Hopefully they will send me the springs I requested and get them here by Thursday. If I can't get it running by then I am going to have to figure out how to fit my G19 into my swimming trunks.

I still have to say that I am seriously considering selling/trading it after I get it running. However, I do really like the size, feel, balance, of the P380 so who knows? That click...tap/rack...click...tap/rack...click...etc. really got me thinking about what I use for a EDC weapon. I know that the micro .380 pistols aren't known for their impeccable reliability but i had heard great things about the P380. I was a believer until this ordeal.

I doubt I have an trigger bar issue. I would think that light strikes would have occurred before now if I did. Does Kahr have a lead on the out of spec trigger bars? I have read here and there about that issue. Is there a serial number range that may have that issue? Was there a recall issued?

[Whaleman]

This happened to me and it was a broken firing pin. Dan

[Irelander]

I wish it was that simple. My striker looks fine. When I disengage the striker block safety and push the striker forward, the pin protrudes normally.

[jocko]

email kahr attn: Jay, state ur case and ask for a pickup. soone ru get it back the soone ru will be able to enjoy it later.

Have u let anutter shooter try the gun also, to see if he can duplicate ur issues etc???

Not sur ehow ambitious u are either but have u looked at the propper prepping thread to see if there could be any suggestions there to test out in ur 380. Sometimes the littlest thing can cause issues. Sometimes they ar ein house correctable, sometimes not but it is worth a shot to check some of thye suggestions out, as we know it has helped many of owners before. The little 380 is IMO one of the niecst 380 made WHEN THE PERFROM AS DESIGNED, but can be a real PITA when they don't. they are super small, they can be quirky for some. Mine had to go back once and was flawless since then but has since been stolen about a month ago, so I am looking in this area fo a CW380. I cvan tellyou one thing, if and when I find one, I will do the propper prepping of the gun in every detail so athat way when I do hit the range I know then it is nutting iside the gun, or magazine that is the issues..

I realize this forum is the forum t hammer kahrs but some seem to think they ar ethe only flwaed gun out there. I owned 3 keltek 380, sent them back 16 times (Gopds truth)_and I feel I know how to fix things to. Took me that long to get them reliable enough to peddle, and at that time kahr was on my mind in the PMJ9 version to..
We get threds locke dchere every once in ahile due to an nwer who has issues and for some reason thinks buy hammering the dog piss out of kahr on this forum is gonna fix things. IMO is perfectly fine to state ur issue and feel badly about a new gun acting up but ur not gonna get alot of sympthay when u come here with a chip on ur shoulder. Wehave some members here who can hit a chip at 50 yards every time...Just sayin

[muggsy]

I assume that you have probably cooled down by now. Just sayin.

Let's say earlier in the day before I found my P380 to not go bang. I was at the mall and was confronted by a psychopath wielding a gun or knife intent on killing me. Pretty unlikely, I know, but it does happen. When my P380 doesn't go off then not even 911 is going to help me. I'd say its a pretty adult attitude to want to retain ones life and to trust the gun you use for that purpose. It wasn't like it had one light primer strike and all I had to do was a tap and rack to get it running again. It would not fire at all...aka completely useless.

The gun ran flawlessly from day one. I did have return to battery issues when racking in the first round but Kahr sent me a new recoil spring and that fixed that. Everything was running great until last week.

I detail stripped the slide again last night and hosed the striker channel out really good with Gun Blaster. It looks super clean as far as I can tell. I never run lube in the striker channel so I know that wasn't the issue. Maybe there was a metal shaving or burr that got knocked loose after my last shooting session and jammed things up. Hopefully I will get a chance to try it out again tonight.

I am not opposed to sending it in to Kahr but I am leaving for vacation on Friday and I doubt they would do me any favors rushing to get it back to me by Thursday. Hopefully they will send me the springs I requested and get them here by Thursday. If I can't get it running by then I am going to have to figure out how to fit my G19 into my swimming trunks.

I still have to say that I am seriously considering selling/trading it after I get it running. However, I do really like the size, feel, balance, of the P380 so who knows? That click...tap/rack...click...tap/rack...click...etc. really got me thinking about what I use for a EDC weapon. I know that the micro .380 pistols aren't known for their impeccable reliability but i had heard great things about the P380. I was a believer until this ordeal.

I doubt I have an trigger bar issue. I would think that light strikes would have occurred before now if I did. Does Kahr have a lead on the out of spec trigger bars? I have read here and there about that issue. Is there a serial number range that may have that issue? Was there a recall issued?

My friend, that is exactly why I carry a P380 as a back-up to my CM9. The chances of both guns failing at the same time are extremely small. But, just in case I also carry a CRKT M16-03Z knife in my pocket. You could very well have a trigger bar problem. You could also have a dirty striker channel, broken striker spring, or a broken striker. There are a lot of people on this forum who could help you to sort out the problem, but the first thing that you are going to have to adjust is your attitude.

[smokersteve]

The only attitude problem I see here is mister know it all muggsy

[muggsy]

The only attitude problem I see here is mister know it all muggsy

I don't know it all, but I do know a lot. My father was a gunsmith who started me into the shooting sports 59 years ago. I've built my own custom sporting rifles and have tinkered with a few guns in my time. I've shot trap skeet and sporting clays and did a little competitive pistol shoot. I'd hazard to guess that I know just a tad more than you.