CW380 misfire / click no bang issue

[pcv57]

My P380 was just sent back from Kahr. I was having similar issues with several light strikes. When I asked what they did, the rep said that several new parts were replaced and 2 new mags. I'll see the work order and exactly what parts were replaced when I pick it up tomorrow at the LGS. I'll follow up with a report once I get a chance to get to the range.

[muggsy]

Today I went back to the range after doing the pencil test (which it passed) and cleaning the pistol as I normally do.

I shot 50 rounds of Hornaday CD and I had one click/no boom on round #26 with my #2 magazine (all click failures were with this magazine, not sure if that matters). Otherwise all the other 49 rounds fired off fine.

I'm going to try another 50 next time without the #2 magazine and see if that does anything. Still hoping this works itself out in the end?

It's possible that the slide isn't going fully into battery by a fraction of an inch. That would soften the blow of the striker. You might try a new recoil spring. If your gun passed the pencil test it's probably not the striker or striker spring.

[bobbyh]

It's possible that the slide isn't going fully into battery by a fraction of an inch. That would soften the blow of the striker. You might try a new recoil spring. If your gun passed the pencil test it's probably not the striker or striker spring.

Is the factory recoil spring my only option?

I e-mailed Kahr and they said to RMA it again if I continue to have the light primer strikes.

[topgun1953]

There is a thread around here somewhere that discusses the fact that the rear 'foot' of the striker hits the top round in the Mag when it come forward. I guess if your rounds are really tight in the magazine then a lot of energy would be absorbed by that hit, leaving only a small amount for the actual strike of the primer. Do you notice a difference in how easily the cartridges can be moved in a loaded mag?

[muggsy]

There is a very good article on stress cracks and metal fatigue in this months issue of the NRA publication "The American Rifleman" for those of you who are interested.

[muggsy]

There is a thread around here somewhere that discusses the fact that the rear 'foot' of the striker hits the top round in the Mag when it come forward. I guess if your rounds are really tight in the magazine then a lot of energy would be absorbed by that hit, leaving only a small amount for the actual strike of the primer. Do you notice a difference in how easily the cartridges can be moved in a loaded mag?

I don't think that that happens. The striker is partially reset as the slide moves forward. See link and scroll down.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

[bobbyh]

I don't think that that happens. The striker is partially reset as the slide moves forward. See link and scroll down.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

I don't have any issues with the bullets in the magazine from what I can tell.

I have (3) factory 6 rd. magazines from day one that I've used and I have 900 rds. through the pistol. Kahr has replaced quite a few parts during the two RMA trips; but I haven't done anything with the magazines. Perhaps the springs are worn?

I can try some new factory recoil springs as well; they're relatively cheap. I don't see any other aftermarket springs for the Khar 380 offered.

What stinks is the light primer strikes have occurred between Hornaday CD ammo (that everyone likes) and some Precision One XTP90 ammo as well.

I guess I refuse to give up yet and will try some additional ammo at the range this weekend and if not RMA it again. Though with my luck they would solve my light strike issues and my FTF issues would return!

I appreciate all the help and support so far from everyone; this is a great site.

[topgun1953]

I don't think that that happens. The striker is partially reset as the slide moves forward. See link and scroll down.

http://www.kahr.com/kahr-unique-design.asp

im talking about when the striker is released. On its way to striking the primer the back end hits the top cartridge. Put in some snap caps, pull the trigger, and remove the mag. That top cartridge is now a few mm forward.
The thread title is 'New Cw380 - Help!' Haven't learned how to copy the url to my post yet.
and bobbyh don't give up, they're great guns, fun to shoot once you get it worked out !

[Ikeo74]

How many of you guys that have had broken strikers have been dry firing your guns a lot? Dry firing "will eventually" break strikers even if there is nothing wrong with the gun. It is a fact, and happens to all makes and brands of guns.

[muggsy]

im talking about when the striker is released. On its way to striking the primer the back end hits the top cartridge. Put in some snap caps, pull the trigger, and remove the mag. That top cartridge is now a few mm forward.
The thread title is 'New Cw380 - Help!' Haven't learned how to copy the url to my post yet.
and bobbyh don't give up, they're great guns, fun to shoot once you get it worked out !

The cartridge in the magazine moves forward when you chamber a round because the rim of the round being chambered catches in the grove of the next cartridge in the magazine. It has absolutely nothing to do with the striker.

[rickbsgu]

Check the firing pin extension (with the spring removed) It should stick out enough to put a good dent in the primer (assuming the back part of the casing butts up flush against the breach.)


I bought a used PM9 that had the same issues, especially w/ S&B ammo (known for having hard primers.)

I subsequently bought a new one and, on comparison, noted the firing pin on the used one wasn't extending as far as the new one - about two thirds as far. On disassembly of the slide, I noted a lot of gunk down at the end of the striker channel. Had a hard time getting anything down there to clean it out.

Did these things:

1. Bought a new striker and spring from Kahr.
2. Bought an end-cutting mill tool same diameter as the channel. Has blades at the bottom, squared off.
3. Used the mill tool (by hand) to scrape out the gunk at the bottom. The blades could get right into the corners and clean it all out.
4. Cleaned it all up and replaced the striker and spring with the new one.

With that, the gun has fired 100% of the time. Ultimately, the pin has to extend far enough to dent the primer pretty good.


If I hadn't gotten enough extension, I would have had a smith deepen the channel to get good extension.

[gb6491]

im talking about when the striker is released. On its way to striking the primer the back end hits the top cartridge. Put in some snap caps, pull the trigger, and remove the mag. That top cartridge is now a few mm forward.
The thread title is 'New Cw380 - Help!' Haven't learned how to copy the url to my post yet.
and bobbyh don't give up, they're great guns, fun to shoot once you get it worked out !

Here ya go: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...New-CW380-Help!
Regards,
Greg

[bobbyh]

Check the firing pin extension (with the spring removed) It should stick out enough to put a good dent in the primer (assuming the back part of the casing butts up flush against the breach.)


I bought a used PM9 that had the same issues, especially w/ S&B ammo (known for having hard primers.)

I subsequently bought a new one and, on comparison, noted the firing pin on the used one wasn't extending as far as the new one - about two thirds as far. On disassembly of the slide, I noted a lot of gunk down at the end of the striker channel. Had a hard time getting anything down there to clean it out.

Did these things:

1. Bought a new striker and spring from Kahr.
2. Bought an end-cutting mill tool same diameter as the channel. Has blades at the bottom, squared off.
3. Used the mill tool (by hand) to scrape out the gunk at the bottom. The blades could get right into the corners and clean it all out.
4. Cleaned it all up and replaced the striker and spring with the new one.

With that, the gun has fired 100% of the time. Ultimately, the pin has to extend far enough to dent the primer pretty good.


If I hadn't gotten enough extension, I would have had a smith deepen the channel to get good extension.

Thanks; it looks like another thing to look at to see if that might be causing an issue. I have access to machine tools at work.

I haven't stripped the pistol down that far yet; but might do that very soon.

[tigman250]

The cartridge in the magazine moves forward when you chamber a round because the rim of the round being chambered catches in the grove of the next cartridge in the magazine. It has absolutely nothing to do with the striker.

The striker indeed catches the top round in the magazine, drop your mag and clear the gun, insert a mag loaded with a dummy round and pull the trigger. Now before racking the slide try to remove the mag, the round will be slid far enough ahead that you have to physically pull on it to remove it and when it comes out the round will be tipped up.

to the OP, I think one of two things are happening, either (like already stated) the striker is getting too much interference from the top round softening it's hit on the primer. Or you're gun isn't going 100% into battery causing the light strikes. This would be ammo related and it sounds like it is only happening on a few different ammo's HERE is a thread that describes more of what I believe is going on, the rims on the problem ammo may be just a bit thicker which may certainly cause battery issues......on the other hand if the rims are just a tad bigger in diameter that could cause the striker to catch it more too. I would start with a good look at the problem ammo comparing precision measurements between them and known good ammo. good luck!

[bobbyh]

Hit the range today again and didn't have any better luck. This was after a full cleaning and putting in a new recoil spring.

I had three light strikes/clicks and no fire on 3 rounds (one was the very first round). 2 were with some Freedom Munitions XTP and 1 with the Hornaday CD.

So that has been three range trips since I got my pistol back from Kahr for FTF issues (which I haven't had once since it was returned). And on all three range trips I've had the light strike issue with three different types of ammo.

I'm going to contact Kahr and get an RMA for it's third return trip to them. Hopefully they can eliminate the issue; but can't say I'm too confident.

I appreciate all the help offered in here but not sure I'm quite ready to start milling down strikers and some of the other suggestions to get it to work. I'm at over 900 rounds so far and if I was carrying it today and I needed my pistol I would have been out of luck right at the first shot!