I really want a CW380 or P380 but i'm hesitant

[Antiacus]

Here's the issue:



You have this chincey slide release spring mated to a steel spring release screw that goes into a plastic frame with a big warning not to overtighten.

All the other issues i feel i can deal with. I know the cw380 doesn't like fiocchi ammo, don't care that much, i think there's even a work around for it. I've felt the pistol and it's amazing. Typical Kahr buttery smooth trigger that is a work of art. The ergonomics are astoundingly good for a pistol of the size. Pick one up, then the smorgasbord of competitors (lcp et al) and they're universes apart.

I've owned one other Kahr. A CM45 that i loved dearly.

Is my concern overblown? Anyone have issues with this part?

[CJB]

Your concern is a bit overblown, yes, I'd say.

That spring sometimes need tweakage, but once set, seems to stay put and last a long long time.

Four Kahr pistols here. One had a spring issue, and once that was determined, it was an easy fix. The "do not overtighten" caution is just that, a caution. Worst case - you over tighten and strip out some polymer. Hello JB weld or Accraglass or other strong epoxy type filler. Actually... if you use some stainless powder in with Accraglass, its stronger than the original poly nylon-66 is. But try not to strip the screw out. Its easy to just snug it up and forget about it for next to forever.

My own tweakage was due to the spring being bent laterally, which held the slide stop out laterally just a mm or so, and... it would occasionally hang up, only while hand racking. I thought it was my finger hitting it while racking, tried this and that. It was the spring. No biggie, out came the spring, a little counter tweak with needle nose pliers, in goes the spring. Done. Hasn't hiccuped since.

There are little grooves in the washer that hold it, so that once its positioned, it tends to stay put.

That's about all I can think of. Its something misunderstood, feared, avoided... by folks, but.... its just a little spring, easily replaced, and easily repaired.

[Antiacus]

Your concern is a bit overblown, yes, I'd say.

That spring sometimes need tweakage, but once set, seems to stay put and last a long long time.

Four Kahr pistols here. One had a spring issue, and once that was determined, it was an easy fix. The "do not overtighten" caution is just that, a caution. Worst case - you over tighten and strip out some polymer. Hello JB weld or Accraglass or other strong epoxy type filler. Actually... if you use some stainless powder in with Accraglass, its stronger than the original poly nylon-66 is. But try not to strip the screw out. Its easy to just snug it up and forget about it for next to forever.

My own tweakage was due to the spring being bent laterally, which held the slide stop out laterally just a mm or so, and... it would occasionally hang up, only while hand racking. I thought it was my finger hitting it while racking, tried this and that. It was the spring. No biggie, out came the spring, a little counter tweak with needle nose pliers, in goes the spring. Done. Hasn't hiccuped since.

There are little grooves in the washer that hold it, so that once its positioned, it tends to stay put.

That's about all I can think of. Its something misunderstood, feared, avoided... by folks, but.... its just a little spring, easily replaced, and easily repaired.

Thanks CJB that helps ease my mind.

[Bills1873]

CJB says it straight on. CM45 and a PM9, no issue, don't even think about it.

[marshal kane]

Not a problem with my P9 either. Screw was set at the factory and I've never had cause to touch it. 2K+ rounds through my P9 as of last Thursday.

[dustnchips]

PM9 used, CW380 used a great deal, CW380 new. No problem with any of them.

[SmokyT]

I own a P380 and have not experienced any issue with the particular part (though I have had some issues with the original striker). Some individual P380 pistols may need a bit of tweeking, but once you have the bugs worked out, it is a joy to shoot. Very reliable and accurate. Overall, it is a well-built pocket gun.

[wayneo1]

I was worried about the same exact thing but I ordered my p380 last week and I have been shooting it this week. So far pretty happy, took it apart a few times no problem putting back together and I didn't damage the spring and if I do Kahr has great customer service they'll help me out. Mean while finally I have a gun I can put in my back pocket and it shoots just as good as my MK 9 which is cool.

[jtsmall]

Is there a spec on tightening the torx screw. Kahr suggested I check to see if it's loose as I'm experiencing premature slide locks.

And if loose to snug it a little.

Thanks.

-jts

Sent from my SM-N930V using Tapatalk

[LeeTn]

In response to the op, my CW380 has no problem with Fiocchi Extrema 90 gr. XTP.

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[Bobshouse]

Your CM45 has the exact same part, yet you state you had no problems with it. Answered your own question.

[Papersniper]

I cannot address your concern with that spring, but in my experience of field stripping my gun maybe 5 times I do not recall any issues with it. Plenty of issues taking it down and back together (read somewhere in another thread), but no issues with that tiny spring....but one has to use caution when inserting the slip stop pin. My Kahrs are more difficult to field strip than all my other guns (other than a Ruger Mk III), but they are also among the most accurate, and have other attributes (small size) that keep them in my inventory.

I have only shot mine a little over 200 rounds. However, it has been flawless with the 50 rounds or so of my carry ammo: Fiocchi Extrema XTP. Below is a recap of what I've shot and my comments:

Kahr cw380 Wear in started Aug 2016: (total rounds in CW380 = 200+ rounds as of Oct 2016)
*Speer Lawman 95 gr FMJ - 100 perfect for me. About 100 rounds without failure.
American Eagle NO! NO! NO! - too many FTF - Save for Glock 42
GECO FMJ – Do not use. Failure to eject which causes a round jamming into that one. About the same as American Eagle.
Maxx FMMJ - Do not use. Failure to eject which causes a round jamming into that one. Worst of any ammo I've tried.


SD Ammo:
*Fiocchi Extrema 90gr XTP - Tried - 100% perfect for me, two boxes through gun Oct 2016.
Fed Hydra-Shok - not tried in CW 380 yet Oct 2016

[SaltyNC]

As you're looking at ammo, I would just suggest buying single 50-round boxes until you find what your CW380 likes, because my experience is 180 degrees from Papersniper. My CW380 was broken in with American Eagle and performed flawlessly after break-in. However, my CW380 never did like Fiocchi. I shot 50 rounds of it a few weeks back just for kicks, and I still had a couple of malfunctions. There is a thread that describes taking a small amount of material off the extractor as a fix. Also, Winchester flat nose likes to hang up on the feed ramp in my CW380. For SD, I use Precision XTP. The XTP bullets feed reliably and do well in ballistic gel tests. So, all that to say, the CW380 in my experience can be ammo-sensitive, but it's a very accurate pistol and a pleasure to shoot for being such a tiny pistol.

Salty

[CPTKILLER]

Get it or one like my MK9!

[Papersniper]

"..So, all that to say, the CW380 in my experience can be ammo-sensitive, but it's a very accurate pistol and a pleasure to shoot for being such a tiny pistol."

Ditto! Our experiences with ammo preferences for the CW380 just show how individual these tiny pistols can be! I am also surprised mine is not reliable with American Eagle, as I've never had any issues with that in any of my firearms; pistol or rifles. I bought 200 rounds of American Eagle for the wear in process, but quit trying it after about 50 rounds of failures. The Lawman FMJ worked 100%. On the Fiocchi, mine works 100% with the XTP bullet, their "Extrema" load. I've never tried Fiocchi's FMJ because I heard so many negative comments on that load. But their Extrema loading sure works well in my CW380 and it is my carry ammo in both my Glock and the Kahr. I still need to test my CW380 with some Federal Hydra-Shok I have on hand. That works fine with my Glock 42, but I have not gotten around to testing it in the Kahr yet.