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

[TheLastDaze]

380 and I had another little talk, she wouldn't listen....

After complete detail strip/clean of the gun couple days ago I really felt it was going to perform today...

I had 100rds left of my reloaded ammo (press is put away for now) so I decided to shoot it off and be done with it, I also shot off a box of COR-BON, some Fiocchi Extrema, and Lehigh XP...

previously my last range trip went pretty well with my handloads with the occasional FTRB, but when using factory ammo I had more issues last trip... The slide would only lock open with 7round mag and I called user error, and rightfully so... I had only one failure to lock back shooting one handed this time, and also with two hands I was mindful of the slide lock...

Multiple FTRB and even one Stove Pipe!!! lets chalk that up limpwristing though, as I was shooting with my weak hand only...

QUESTION:
What would you recommend I do to this gun??

Last resort would be to send it in, I don't want to do that In fear it will only continue to be a problem....

Personally I think its a chamber issue and perhaps needs to be honed, or simply the springs....

problem seems to be getting worse with more rounds thru it...

I WILL END THIS ON A SOLID NOTE:

Took my PM9 with me and dumped 350 flawless handloads down range, that makes it 750 rounds through this gun without a single problem, love the gun and I find myself really getting use to the trigger as my accuracy has greatly improved.....

[muggsy]

You could have a frame problem. My advice is to contact Kahr for a return authorization number and send it to them for repair. They are in the best position to tell you what the exact problem is. That's what your warranty is for. You could screw around trying various suggested repairs, but if the frame is bad none of them will cure the problem. Request a prepaid mailing label. If they won't provide one return the gun through your local FFL.

[Ikeo74]

Before you send it in for repair you could try this for a fix. These guns have a double recoil spring assembly. New springs sometimes bind up when compressed in the recoil/reload process when fired until the springs "mate" and the rough edges smooth out inside the big spring where the smaller springs rubs inside of the assembly. The fix for me, note "me" was to take automotive chassis grease (the grease you lube the tie rods and u-joints with) and grease the spring assembly good and liberal, making sure to get the grease inside the large coil and around the smaller one plus the guide rod. Put it together and go shoot it. See if that makes a difference and if it does, post your results back on the forum.

[TheLastDaze]

The fix for me, note "me" was to take automotive chassis grease (the grease you lube the tie rods and u-joints with) and grease the spring assembly good and liberal, making sure to get the grease inside the large coil and around the smaller one plus the guide rod. Put it together and go shoot it. See if that makes a difference and if it does, post your results back on the forum.

The gun was pretty oily from the factory, in fact when I detail striped it I was blown away how much residue was in there.. I cleaned it all out and reassembled it dry....

I have high temp grease I will give that a try, normally I'm a minimalist when it comes to oil on a firearm but if it worked for you then HEY I'm going to try it.... Which means I now have to break out the press again and load up some more 380.. Sorry guys I just can't bring myself to buying factory, however If I did buy ONE box of plinking loads what brand would you suggest?? keep in mind this gun now has close to 400 rounds thru it...

I'm tempted to call Kahr and ask them what the problem is, they see it everyday... maybe they could just send me out some replacement springs, maybe there's a recall that's in process?? who knows....

I'd hate for it to be the frame and go through all that jazz.... what a bummer

[DavidR]

I would stay away from Aguila - 50% battery failure rate with my CW. Blazer Brass and HPR Hyper Clean were better but far from perfect. I would send it in.

[DavidR]

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

[TheLastDaze]

Just called and talked with matt, not really helpful at all to be quite honest.. In fact seemed put off by my guns FTRB, he stated there is no 'call back' on this gun at the moment, I told him I was hesitant to return gun and if I did would they send me a shipping label?? of course not..... next time I call hopefully I will get someone else on the line and if they won't send me a shipping label then I'm going to request 200rds of the factory US ammo they recommend which btw he wouldn't label just one brand he said as long as its US made then it would be fine.... He also said they do not recommend Fiocchi and I LOL and told him that was the only factory ammo thus far that returned to battery...and at first my mixed range brass did best among all that I've used, God only knows how many casings were NOT U.S. made.... Isn't this a Japanese owned business?? good to see they're adamant about USA made products....

anyway so far NOT impressed with their Customer Service the whole time while on the phone it seemed he was preoccupied.... I will chalk it up to 'everyone has a bad day'.... until next time...

[KingWulfgar]

Another vote for sending it in. I've read plenty of stories of people getting them back within 2 weeks and the problems being fixed. Although, the spring suggestion above sounds like a potential thing to try if you're still willing to spend your time on it.

[TheLastDaze]

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

nope, he acted like this was the first phone call regarding this matter.... You'd expect " hey sorry to hear our product is causing you problems", but nothing like that...... completely the opposite, I thought they were going to get a real CS dept?? at least that's what I've heard.....

[TheLastDaze]

Another vote for sending it in. I've read plenty of stories of people getting them back within 2 weeks and the problems being fixed. Although, the spring suggestion above sounds like a potential thing to try if you're still willing to spend your time on it.

Oh I'm willing to spend some time on it, in fact I've documented everything thus far.. I'm hopeful I can find the problem myself and make a video for the whole world to see !!!! At least it would help someone else out, and, and, and, if I did happen to fix it maybe I could get a contract and become a Kahr Armorer and have all guns shipped directly to me and make a boatload of money

matt told me there is a 2-3 week turn around time..... NOT FOR ME at this point

I've heard WAY to many stories where people repeatedly return their guns only to have them sent back with same issue, in fact MANY have had all kinds of new parts replaced, basically a new gun that in turn NEEDS the break in period ONCE AGAIN>>>>

[DavidR]

You should demand a prepaid label. That gun left the factory defective, just like mine and timboys.

[TheLastDaze]

You should demand a prepaid label. That gun left the factory defective, just like mine and timboys.

yours are the two here on the forum, BUT I know many people here locally that simply won't give Kahr another chance because of crap like this, there are countless videos and posts about kahr NO Customer Service... it wouldn't have been so bad if the guy had any kind of personal relations about himself... but now after getting off the phone I'm getting a little stirred up reflecting on the conversation...... People like that tend to drag a business into the pit

[DavidR]

I hear you, nothing like poor customer service to piss off a customer!

I'm hoping to have mine back in another week or 2 but I'm tempering my expectations that the problem will be solved.

[gb6491]

TheLastDaze:
If you are interested in a DIY fix, I have a couple of suggestions. I haven't fully researched/come to a solution on the one suggestion and the other suggestion is a fix that worked for me to correct a different issue, but I believe it could contribute to the problem you are having.

The first suggestion may help (or not) in identifying the source of the issue.
Try sliding some of the problem rounds up under the extractor by hand. My P380 simply will not return to battery with Fiocchi ball and I found that the rim on this ammo is thicker than that on the other brands of .380 ammo I have on hand (all of which cycles without issue). It's very difficult to slide the Fiocchi fully under the extractor. I was going to play with the extractor to see if I could remedy the issue, but I haven't been enthused enough with the spare I ordered to start work on it (it seems Kahr has taken a page out of Glock's book and are making their new extractors via MIM technology).

The second suggestion: remove the striker block and see if that helps. I say this because I had an issue with light strikes and found that a surface of the striker block was dragging on the striker. I believe this could also cause a problem when the slide returns home and striker is put slightly under tension. I've no way to verify this belief as I've already modified my striker block so that it doesn't drag on the striker.

Regards,
Greg

[timboy]

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.