New CW380,dissapointed.

[timboy]

I recently traded in a diamondback db380 in on a Kahr cw380 in the hopes that it was a better quality and functioning gun,now I am not so sure I did the right thing.

I took it out today for its break in with high hopes after following all of the great prep advice on this site.
I ran 300 rounds through it and it only had one failure to feed but a consistent problem with the slide not returning all the way forward,stopping with the end of the slide flush with the end of the grip frame,requiring smoking the back of the slide to get it into battery.
Running the slide by hand if you ride the slide you can feel the loss of spring tension as it nears the end of the grip frame.
So I guess I have to call Kahr and see what they say,$120+ in ammo down the crapper so far.

Anyone have a similar problem?

[TheLastDaze]

Sorry to hear that, I too have one on the way and have great hopes it will perform.... I would not call it a complete waste of ammo as you deliberately kept feeding a gun that wasn't performing...

Like feeding a car gas when there's a leak in the hose... I have zero experience with Kahrs so far so others will chime in with real world advice, but while I try to ramp up my post count : ) let me suggest clean the gun, lube, and with mag out rack that sucker like there's no tomorrow.... Then after around 200 plus times take it out and dump 50 into it...

[yqtszhj]

Sorry for your frustration. Im curious if you cleaned it during those 300 rounds. One thing I might try once if they don't ask for it back is clean it real good since you've been shooting, oil it well (maybe a little on the wet side), and try one box of some full power full metal jacket ammo. Im glad you didnt have any ftf or other jams. I think what you are facing will clear up. Possibly after a good cleaning since your breakin is done.I've had 4 kahrs and after a good first shooting and a good cleaning they do run better.

Also make sure to hold it firmly in the beginning. A little bit of loose grip in the beginning will cause what you are having now. I have a glock that would do that too in the beginning but it cleared up also.

[leftysixty]

Pull the barrel out, drop a live round in the barrel. The base of the case should be even with, or lower than the end of the barrel. If I'm not clear enough, search "plunk test".

There have been cases of the chamber/freebore being incorrect.

Also some bullet shapes will engage the rifling before the slide is completely in battery. A more pointed bullet will be less likely to do that.

I'm sure that others will be along to give you a better explanation.

Good luck, it will work out.

[shlike]

Sorry for your frustration. Im curious if you cleaned it during those 300 rounds. One thing I might try once if they don't ask for it back is clean it real good since you've been shooting, oil it well (maybe a little on the wet side), and try one box of some full power full metal jacket ammo. Im glad you didnt have any ftf or other jams. I think what you are facing will clear up. Possibly after a good cleaning since your breakin is done.I've had 4 kahrs and after a good first shooting and a good cleaning they do run better.

Also make sure to hold it firmly in the beginning. A little bit of loose grip in the beginning will cause what you are having now. I have a glock that would do that too in the beginning but it cleared up also.

+1 What he said. I experienced the same thing with my CW380 when going through the break-in period. It would occasionally fail to go fully into battery, requiring a nudge on the back of the slide. I kept the gun clean and lubed, using only full-power factory ammo, and the problem went away after about 150+ rounds. After that, it has functioned flawlessly. I now have over 1000 rounds through mine without a single hiccup. That being said, I do not use reloads in this gun, only full-power factory ammo. It is not fussy, and will eat whatever factory ammo I feed it, both FMJ and JHP.

[TheLastDaze]

. That being said, I do not use reloads in this gun, only full-power factory ammo. It is not fussy, and will eat whatever factory ammo I feed it, both FMJ and JHP.

I only intend to feed mine handloads, so it will be interesting to see how it performs... my loads casings are within spec so it should be a non-issue... however I do have one box of factory perfecta I'll probably shoot first (just to be rid of it)

[gb6491]

Timboy,
Welcome to the forums
What ammo are you using in your CW380?
Regards,
Greg

[timboy]

I kept feeding ammo into because problems can be expected during the first 200 or so rounds during break in,not unusual in my experience but this problem didnt go away.

I used 250 rounds of Remington UMC fmj and 50 rounds of crappy brass cased tula ammo just to see how it ran...worse than the Remingtons...not suprising.
I did wipe and re oil the slide contact points,barrel a few times during the process.
I think the gun just has a binding or spring related issue as it really feels and sounds odd while slowly running the slide by hand without a round in it.
Also the side cover bulges out near the end of the trigger travel,it seems like the trigger bar is pushing it out.

[CharlieR]

It will smooth out after more rounds. I am in the process of breaking in my second P380....up to around 300 rounds now, only failed to go into battery once today. First outing it was a lot. My first P380 was the same. After around 500 rounds, it was perfect in all respects. This new one is smoothing out nicely.

Charlie

[gun papa]

My Wife's P380 had same issue. Kahr would not respond to e mails. I just bought $9 in replacement springs. No more issues.

[TheLastDaze]

My Wife's P380 had same issue. Kahr would not respond to e mails.

EVERYONE should be fired in their Customer Service department..... !!!! Unless of course there is a chance you had the wrong email address..... :-)

[GeezerD]

I had the same problem with a CW380 that I bought a while ago. The first time out, I put 25 or 30 rds downrange with 2/3 FTF. I discovered that the cartridge rim was catching on the extractor as a result of sharp corners and rough finish on the extractor and breechface. After polishing and breaking some corners on the extractor and breechface, I took it back to the range and put 150 rds thru it with no issues.

There is no way that it should take 300 to 500 rds of ammo to break in a new pistol. It is a result of companies reducing the amount of fitting and finishing on a new gun and letting the consumer wear everything in with a lot of shooting.

GeezerD

[timboy]

OK just tore it down did a good cleaning and noticed the hood of the barrel has been contacting the inside of the slide,it happens in the last portion of slide travel as the barrel moves into lock up,there are marks on the inside of the slide and the very edge of the barrel hood is now deformed from hitting.
It explains why it needed that little nudge to send it home.
I will get ahold of customer service and find out how to send it back for thier examination.

[gun papa]

OK just tore it down did a good cleaning and noticed the hood of the barrel has been contacting the inside of the slide,it happens in the last portion of slide travel as the barrel moves into lock up,there are marks on the inside of the slide and the very edge of the barrel hood is now deformed from hitting.
It explains why it needed that little nudge to send it home.
I will get ahold of customer service and find out how to send it back for thier examination.

Picture? What you describe sounds normal on both of our guns here.

[gun papa]

EVERYONE should be fired in their Customer Service department..... !!!! Unless of course there is a chance you had the wrong email address..... :-)

It was the same address as the first time I did get a response. The response I received from Jay was about the same problem the OP described. Jay said it was normal, but 400+ rds later it was the same. I just bought new springs. Fixed it.