CW380 Problems FIXED!

[weemsf]

I am new to this forum, but not to Kahr's. I have a PM9 as well as the CW380. My CW380 has several issues. Often it will not fully chamber the first round, in live fire often will not fully chamber a round (takes anywhere from a thumb push to a good whack to force the round into the chamber), and the firing pin strikes seem awfully light to me. I have put about 225 rounds through it, using S&B and Magtech FMJ 92 and 95 grain respectively.

Got any suggestions?

I have some pics of the gun when partially out of battery.

[yqtszhj]

Welcome to the forum from a native Tennessean.

Here’s more than you probably want to know. Many have done this and have been successful. Calling Kahr is another option. It has to do with extractor tension. Hope this helps.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...tery-on-CW-380

[markman]

If it was me, I would read this thread before I did anything to my extractor.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...80-first-shots

[weemsf]

I had already rounded the bottom edge of the extractor. My experience with pistols tells me this is an extractor issue, but not sure how to fix it. I guess filing the pin behind the slide plate may be just what I need.

[weemsf]

Well, I went back to the bench with the little 380. Worked on the extractor a little more and all will feed from the slide locked position. Drop the slide lock and, click, they go right in. I will fire it again soon to confirm the repair. I really need a small handgun to wear while I have suit on and am in a situation where I am around a lot of people. Concealment is vital.

[topgun1953]

Did you end up shortening the pin?

[yqtszhj]

Well, I went back to the bench with the little 380. Worked on the extractor a little more and all will feed from the slide locked position. Drop the slide lock and, click, they go right in. I will fire it again soon to confirm the repair. I really need a small handgun to wear while I have suit on and am in a situation where I am around a lot of people. Concealment is vital.

let us know how it works out. A success story is always good to hear.

[weemsf]

Did you end up shortening the pin?

No sir, I radiused the lower edge of the extractor. If I have any more issues, I will buy a new extractor and use a different method to alter it. I am hopeful I am done with the repair.

[Ed M]

Just rounding off the lower edge of the extractor claw helped mine, but wasn't 100%.

I wound up also removing .004" from the inside of the extractor post - did the trick.

Had I known of markman's fix, I would have done that first. He brought the root cause of the problem to our attention, and the fix involves working on a $2 part.

Here's the "other" extractor mod I did:

extractor.jpg

[weemsf]

I have a new extractor on its way from Kahr and a new striker from Lakeline. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I plan on working on the extractor to see if the mod involving the "leg" of the extractor will work.

[weemsf]

My CW380 performed flawlessly today. I did the tigman mod on my extractor as well as installed a Lakeline Striker. Fired about 50 rounds without a hiccup using Magtech and S&B ammo which has been driving me crazy. Fired some as fast as I could pull the trigger all other fired at a calm pace. No failures to go into battery and extraction was good.

The little CW380 is now in my carry herd, riding in my front pocket right now.

[Mike_usn_ret]

I thought there was a manufacturing mod that Kahr did on the extractors that eliminated the need to do this by owners. Over a year ago I put 700 rd thru my new CW380, and it still took me doing the extractor mod before my CW380 would chamber and fire/eject any and all ammo I put thru it. To give the gun credit....I sold it to my neighbor after getting it to operate at 100% and he has not had any type of problems with it. Once they are broken in, they are one of the greatest mouse guns around.