CW380 FTRB Part 2, the saga continues.. question for those in the know....

[gb6491]

I would send it in,it sucks but why waste more ammo on it if its not right.
I bought my CW380 because I had a diamondback db380 that needed another trip back to the factory and they would not pay shipping,I loved that little gun but given there reputation for reliabiliy issues and having been sent in once already,I had to let it go.
I am wondering if I made the right decision, given all the troubles people seem to be having with these kahrs,I wonder if I should have kept the db380 or gotten a lcp.

I liked my DB9. I could live with it breaking trigger return springs (found a work around), but after the trigger snapped off a second time I moved on:


Regards,
Greg

[timboy]

Diamondback loves those MIM parts!
Mine went back early on for feeding problems and to have all of the stainless MIM parts replaced,it looked like they throated the barrel to make it feed.
I never had any parts break but I was always worried with that gun seeing all of the breakage posts on the old diamondback forum.
Once I heard taurus was handling the company I new I needed to replace it.
I hope kahr proves to be a better brand but.....

[TheLastDaze]

So I took her in the garage and gave her a once over....

Unconventional methods to say the least, I didnt have the right size dremel bits to feel comfortable with so I improvised.. I chucked up a bit into the drill press and started with 400grit progressing to 2000 for final... The drill press idea only worked a short while then I had to use a jag and wrap sand paper around it and do it by hand.. I then chucked a lambswool jag into the press and loaded it with green honing compound...
In the first and second pic you will see the machining grooves as it comes from the factory, the last two(finished) shots you can actually see the reflections off the rifling into the chamber..

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Getting there... This is after 400 grit working it..


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These last two pics are as far as I'm taking it for now, night and day difference.
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I cleaned the gun and frame completely noting worn parts on the back of the frame slide nubs, oiled everything a little more than I normally do and also took apart the recoil springs and greased them up with marine grease as it has higher tolerance to breakdown with heat/moisture... So It will now sit until the next time I can take it out, which unfortunately may be a week a way... fingers crossed

[TheLastDaze]

@gb... I will try the extractor and advise.. If in fact it is an issue I may take it out and give it a once over as well

[TheLastDaze]

was hand cycling the only 380 ammo I have left, Fiocchi and the Lehigh both cycled without any issues.. If this works it was the chamber or springs, but I can't for the life of me understand why greasing the springs would make a difference but I'm willing to try anything...

FWIW, Fiocchi is made in the USA !!! it even has starline brass that's what got my attention so I read the box...Wish I would have known that I would have stopped matt dead in his tracks....

[GeezerD]

@gb... I will try the extractor and advise.. If in fact it is an issue I may take it out and give it a once over as well

I had the same problem with my CW380. The sharp edges on the extractor would dig in to the rim of the cartridge. Enough that it would leave brass particles in the breech.
I removed the extractor and polished it and broke any sharp corners and also polished the breech face. I used nothing more than a hard Arkansas stone and a felt bob in a Dremel tool

Afterwards it would feed everything I put through it. If yours is doing the same thing you should be able to see the extractor digging into the cartridge. ----- GeezerD

[gun papa]

I stripped my Wife's P380 slide. With these tiny guns comes lots of tiny parts. I was stumped as to where the little horseshoe shaped striker spring stop goes, as I was not expecting it when I pulled the striker out. Luckily, I had my CW380 to confirm its placement. So both slides got strippled and cleaned. I would advise wearing glasses and being in a well lit room possibly with a non carpeted room. It was by sheer luck that I did not loose any parts. I had parts and springs flying everywhere.

[TheLastDaze]

Haahaa when I stripped my 380 the other day the extractor plunger fell off the bench, luckily it didnt land in the box of junk under the bench I would have never found it...

@GeezerD... you're saying your gun wouldn't go into battery sometimes??? Mine feeds ammo fine there are really no other issues other than the battery situation.....

[GeezerD]

Haahaa when I stripped my 380 the other day the extractor plunger fell off the bench, luckily it didnt land in the box of junk under the bench I would have never found it...

@GeezerD... you're saying your gun wouldn't go into battery sometimes??? Mine feeds ammo fine there are really no other issues other than the battery situation.....

Yes, mine would hang up during the feed cycle with the cartridge rim stuck under the extractor. ------------------------ GeezerD

[muggsy]

And I doubt they will tell you anything about what could be causing the problem.

If it is a bad frame they will have to tell him. The new frame makes it a new gun in the eyes of the BATF.

[MarkB1]

I stripped my Wife's P380 slide. With these tiny guns comes lots of tiny parts. I was stumped as to where the little horseshoe shaped striker spring stop goes, as I was not expecting it when I pulled the striker out. Luckily, I had my CW380 to confirm its placement. So both slides got strippled and cleaned. I would advise wearing glasses and being in a well lit room possibly with a non carpeted room. It was by sheer luck that I did not loose any parts. I had parts and springs flying everywhere.

This has happened to most of us! Do the disassembly in a clear plastic bag (I use a one gallon zip lock bag). That way you can still see what you are doing and the bag catches anything that goes air born so you don't spend hours trying to find the errant part!

[muggsy]

With no offense intended toward anyone, when you make a purchase and the product comes with a warranty why not take advantage of it and let the professionals take care of the problem for you. You can waste a lot of time and money trying to fix the problem yourself and end up voiding the warranty in the process. If it's an old or used gun, that's a different story. It's just possible that if Kahr had more guns sent back to them for repair under warranty that they might be a little more careful about what they send out. Hell, it might even inspire a few design changes. Just sayin.

[TheLastDaze]

I had no problem striping the slide, I've done it lots of times so no flying parts as I leave my thumb over the slide plate as I remove it, but I agree the parts are extremely small and VERY easy to lose, good Idea with the bag...

I see me striping the slide again for the extractor, I'm going to dress it up as well, while I'm at it I will address the wear I seen on the striker, at least I think it was this or maybe the pm9, we'll find out...

This will be my last ditch effort I will address everything possible, and if I have to I will buy new springs for it and try that...

[gun papa]

I have no problem stripping the slide after the first time. Now I know what to expect.
I think that polishing the internals of the slide is a good thing, something the factory warranty people are not going to do. My pistol works great. Nothing wrong with making it function more smoother.

[DavidR]

If it is a bad frame they will have to tell him. The new frame makes it a new gun in the eyes of the BATF.

Agree. I meant that if he called to ask them what the problem might be, they wouldn't tell him anything until he sent the gun in.