P380/CW380--Once Bitten, Twice Shy?

[dustnchips]

I'll have to take a look at those stickies. Reader's Digest version...is it easy work, like feed ramp and the like, or does it require more extensive smithing?

It isn't much more demanding than cleaning a gun. The only hard part is pulling the striker to clean the channel. You can try squirting through the hole in the bottom of the slide though to avoid that. I like to see what makes things tick, so it was fun for me.

[boscobarbell]

It isn't much more demanding than cleaning a gun. The only hard part is pulling the striker to clean the channel. You can try squirting through the hole in the bottom of the slide though to avoid that. I like to see what makes things tick, so it was fun for me.

Gotcha. Okay, that stuff I can handle, as I've done them for my MK9 and my PM9. But what about the polishing stuff...how extensive was that?

[dustnchips]

I did use a dremell to polish the feed ramp and chamber. It didn't seem to make much difference in the shine off of them, so I doubt that it did any good. One thing that I noticed was that the face of the slide where the bullet slides up was rough and I worked on that with wet and dry. I don't remember seeing that mentioned in the stickies, but I though it could cause a feed problem so I worked on it. When you go shoot it remember to have a very tight grip. It seems a lot of people have had feed problems because they were not use to such a small pistol. And used too loose a grip.

[dsk]

Putting MagGuts kits in all my mags not only added an extra round of capacity but they completely eliminated all feeding and chambering issues. The OEM plastic followers are garbage and so are the OEM mag springs (all five of my mags would fail to lock the slide open after being left loaded for a few weeks). With the MagGuts installed I can even slingshot the slide to chamber a round, something that is impossible using unmodified mags. Now, if I can just finally put this light primer strike issue to bed I might actually have a good CCW pistol.

[boscobarbell]

Putting MagGuts kits in all my mags not only added an extra round of capacity but they completely eliminated all feeding and chambering issues. The OEM plastic followers are garbage and so are the OEM mag springs (all five of my mags would fail to lock the slide open after being left loaded for a few weeks). With the MagGuts installed I can even slingshot the slide to chamber a round, something that is impossible using unmodified mags.

Good info. I just spent some time on the thread about MagGuts, and I'm sold. Sounds like a great investment.

Now, if I can just finally put this light primer strike issue to bed I might actually have a good CCW pistol.

See...exactly my point. It seem like these models come SO CLOSE to perfection, but then you hear about these nagging issues that pop up. Curious...have you tried the Lakeline replacement striker?

[dsk]

See...exactly my point. It seem like these models come SO CLOSE to perfection, but then you hear about these nagging issues that pop up. Curious...have you tried the Lakeline replacement striker?

Yes I have. It's a much beefier part than the OEM striker and a must-have if you're going to carry this pistol. Unfortunately it didn't help with my issue, although I think I'm finally narrowing down the cause.

I agree though, the Kahr .380s come so close to perfection, only to be beset by annoying problems that Kahr should have solved on their own years ago. Instead they let us owners and the aftermarket decide whether to spend inordinate amounts of time, money and energy trying to de-bug their own product. Like so many manufacturers they have this attitude where not enough people are having problems (or at least, not sending them back to Kahr) to justify spending more R&D money on a product they've already released.

[Ed M]

My CW380 has over 600 rounds through it, and it's been 99.9% reliable. Before I got it, I went through the new Kahr prep thread, and made a list of things to do to it before I shot it. Basically just polished metal on metal contact areas, cleaned and polished mags, polished the feed ramp and chamber, sprayed out the striker channel, and lubed it.

I replaced the striker with a Lakeline unit to avoid problems down the road, and put a Lakeline guide rod in as well. Probably not necessary, but Lakeline stuff has mojo...

The only issue I've ever had was when I tried Perfecta ammo in it. That stuff has a tall case rim that doesn't fit under the extractor claw, and the slide wouldn't return fully into battery without a slap on the back of the slide. Three mags of that, and I just gave up on that ammo. There's actually 2 mods listed here somewhere that would fix that, but I just avoid running that stuff in my CW380.

I suspect it would have the same issue with Maxx Tech and Fiocchi red box FMJ too. It did do well with Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics JHP and Fiocchi Extrema JHP. All other FMJ ammo, and all other JHP ammo of several brands has worked 100%.

Armed with the knowledge here on this forum, IMO, your odds of winding up with a very reliable 380 are pretty good. Every manufacturer of micro 380's has their share of issues - none are immune. When you get a Kahr 380 that runs 100%, I strongly believe you have the best micro 380 out there. I think it's worth the time and effort for that reason alone.

[boscobarbell]

I agree though, the Kahr .380s come so close to perfection, only to be beset by annoying problems that Kahr should have solved on their own years ago. Instead they let us owners and the aftermarket decide whether to spend inordinate amounts of time, money and energy trying to de-bug their own product. Like so many manufacturers they have this attitude where not enough people are having problems (or at least, not sending them back to Kahr) to justify spending more R&D money on a product they've already released.

This is my biggest beef. Another .380 pistol that sorta meets the parameters I'm looking for is the Beretta Pico. (Same caliber, same size and thickness, same capacity, decent sights, etc etc). But Beretta heard customers complaints after the initial launch, and now the Picos comes in the "upgraded" version that took care of some of the problems early owners were experiencing.

I'm a Kahr guy, so I naturally prefer the CW over the Pico. But if you start out with a gun already $60 or so more, and then add 200 rounds of break-in ammo, a Lakeline striker, Magguts followers, etc etc, the price differential is fairly significant to get you to the point where you have a reliable and functional EDC pistol.

[dsk]

Unfortunately that's the nature of the beast with these tiny pocket autos, or any carry gun for that matter. I considered getting a Ruger LCP to replace the Kahr, but then I'd be spending more $$$ on spare mags, MagGuts kits, a grip sleeve, holsters, and Xtra-power recoil spring (they're too lightly sprung which is why the recoil is painful). In other words, it would be an investment all over again so I may as well keep at it with the Kahr.

[boscobarbell]

Unfortunately that's the nature of the beast with these tiny pocket autos, or any carry gun for that matter. I considered getting a Ruger LCP to replace the Kahr, but then I'd be spending more $$$ on spare mags, MagGuts kits, a grip sleeve, holsters, and Xtra-power recoil spring (they're too lightly sprung which is why the recoil is painful). In other words, it would be an investment all over again so I may as well keep at it with the Kahr.

Well, if it makes you feel any better about your choice, my second LCP II is on its way back from Ruger today. The first one had to be destroyed, and the replacement they sent me was a lemon. They called to tell me what repairs they made to the second one, and it's pretty much everything but the frame.

[dsk]

If I get an LCP it will be an original first gen, not the LCP II. I can't stand the look, size or feel of the II model.

[boscobarbell]

If I get an LCP it will be an original first gen, not the LCP II. I can't stand the look, size or feel of the II model.

Agreed. Very disappointing.

I do like the LCP Custom. Great trigger and better sights. I can't understand why they went in this direction.

[kenscot]

I bought a P-380 a couple of years back and had nothing but issues with the little gun. Great trigger but could never get a box of fifty through it without some kind of malfunction. I tried every kind of ammunition I could find. Sent it back for service 3 separate times but the story never changed. After 6 months of frustration I sold it and bought an LCP
No where near as nice in almost all regards but fires and feeds reliably
Every once and a while I comeback to the boards to see if this has changed does not appear so. To bad.

[Bobshouse]

Im pretty sure Kahr has sold a lot more P380s than the few troublesome mentioned here. You know the saying, satisfied tell one or two, dissatisfied tell everyone you can. Mine hasn't given me any problems at all after the break in.

[kenscot]

Im pretty sure Kahr has sold a lot more P380s than the few troublesome mentioned here. You know the saying, satisfied tell one or two, dissatisfied tell everyone you can. Mine hasn't given me any problems at all after the break in.

This is very true and not just here to bash. It just sucks when you are the one who spends nearly 700.00 on what you hoped was the best 380 on the market.
I believe that their customer service did all they could. Mine was just destined to be unreliable which is something I was not willing to live with in a carry gun
wish it had not been the case because it is the nicest shooting 380 when it functioned