P380 Light Strikes/Lube Question

[scotchlouis]

I have a P380 with about 800 rounds through it. I experienced two light primer strikes with Cor-bon DPX and one with Winchester PDX-1. That latter during the last 100 rounds (I haven't had any light strikes with any fmj ammo). I took apart the slide and cleaned it thinking that it could be the firing pin channel being clogged up.

My question is with re-lubing. Specifically #7 on the Kahr lube chart. Could lubing that location cause a problem with oil getting into the firing pin channel and causing these light strikes?

Thanks

[Jackalope33b]

After reading several posts on here, I have been keeping oil, lube etc away from #7, and #8 on the Kahr lube chart. 2 light primer strikes in 800 rounds, I would say thats pretty good considering what alot of guys are going through lol. You might need a new spring, but Im no expert. Im sure someone will chime in and lead you in the right direction.

[Bawanna]

I'm no expert either but I spray some light lube on 7 and 8 myself. If you flush out that striker channel with the patented Jocko brake cleaner method any that does creep into the channel should be flushed out easily.


FWIW I only do the flush treatment periodically, (I know I'll pay for this in the afterlife, I can see it now at the Pearly Gates, Did you flush out your striker channel using brother Jocko's brake cleaner method in every cleaning?) I don't do it every cleaning and have had zero problems with junk building up. Some seem to build up more than others and I haven't figured out the reasoning behind that but I'm some times challenged in such things.

[Jackalope33b]

I agree.. If you dont clean that channel, your just asking for problems. Brake cleaner method works perfect, and will flush anything out! It should be part of cleaning, and it takes a whole 5 second burst of spray........

[Jigger]

I use a Q-tip for 7,8 & 9 and just put a light coating on each area. I clean the channel out after every range session. It only takes a minute to do it.

[Bawanna]

I agree.. If you dont clean that channel, your just asking for problems. Brake cleaner method works perfect, and will flush anything out! It should be part of cleaning, and it takes a whole 5 second burst of spray........

Actually when you think about it a 5 second burst is forever. A 1 second burst or on and off the button fast as you can is usually more than enough.

It is quick and easy, I just need to go outside to do it which isn't a bad thing.

[scotchlouis]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I have had 6 or so shooting sessions with it and cleaned and lubed (including #7) each time, but I didn't clean out the firing pin channel each time. However, I took the slide apart after about 500 rds and cleaned it out and have found plenty of (excessive amount of?) oil on the firing pin and in the channel. I did it again last night after my last range trip and had the same result.

Isn't it typical with pistols that there should be NO OIL on the firing pin and in the channel lest it make pin move more sluggishly resulting in light strikes?

I'll try both: replacing the spring (firing pin spring, or recoil spring, or both?) in case it's a failure to go into battery problem, and spraying the channel every cleaning. Do I need to take the slide apart to spray it, or is there way to do it without?

[jocko]

Look for that little hole on the bottom of the slide up by the breech face. That goes direcrtly into the striker channel.Insert your spray clean nozzle in that hole and spray away, fluds wil come out the breech hole and the back of the striker channel. Then just pubb back with your finger the stiker itself and spray directly from the brrech face into the channel now fluids will comeout that clean out hole. ur striker will stay perfectl clean if u do this and itmight take 10 seconds at best if you do both things. Most just insert the nozzle in the hole and spary away. Once yo get it cleaned it is a brreze to keep it that way. No need ti dissasemble. I doubt if ur striker spring is weak,but if u got a new one, go for it. NO oil in the striker channel. everything is stainless. Personally for me spray cleaning through that cleanout hole should be part of every cleaning routine. YMMV.

Also IMO two light strikes in 800 rounds could also have been maybe u just short stroked the trigger.. Normally if a gun starts to produce light strikes, it will continue to produce them, but also u found alot of crude in the striker channel, so maybe that was the cause.. replacing with a new recoil spring IMO is a good idea, althugh basically a new spring is in ur gun, one never knows and we have readf on here many times where a new recoil spring solved that shooters issues. Ur certainly not going to hurt anything and u are also eliminating a possability also. No doubt not all recoils springs are the same, ...

[rogerthedodger]

I think it depends on how many rounds per range trip, and whether you will carry, or store your handgun. I like to clean the striker channel, the Jocko way, after every 100 rounds or so, in all my pistols, but more often my carry weapons. I use Electronic contact spray cleaner instead of brake cleaner.
Roger

[jocko]

electronic contact spray cleaner works just as good. Probably not a hill of beans fiddreence , other thant he name on the can.

[scotchlouis]

So any kind of brake cleaner or contact spray will do the trick?

Guess I have another excuse to make a trip over to Wally World. Auto parts are right next to the ammo

[Bawanna]

I think the key word is non clorinated. I don't think theres any clorinated around anymore. I know the NAPA stuff is 880, same stuff as gunscrubber if you got any of that. Just alot cheaper.

[ripley16]

My question is with re-lubing. Specifically #7 on the Kahr lube chart. Could lubing that location cause a problem with oil getting into the firing pin channel and causing these light strikes?

Thanks

No, you'd have to have a very wet channel to cause the striker to malfunction. The various holes and open nature of the striker allow it to "self-clean.

Certain models of Kahr have been plaqued by light strikes. Why this is so is an open question, but I suspect the energy is just barely suffucient to fire most primers and when anything out of spec occurs the striker simply fails to hit hard enough. I have alot of guns...only my Kahrs have suffered from light strikes.

[scotchlouis]

No, you'd have to have a very wet channel to cause the striker to malfunction. The various holes and open nature of the striker allow it to "self-clean.

Both times I cleaned the channel, there was a generous amount of oil and was quite wet. I placed one small drop on #7 each time I cleaned the gun which was 4-5 times before I opened it up and clean the channel out. So it seems that not much oil had drained out.

I just picked up some brake cleaner and I'm gonna try it out. Hope it helps.

[jocko]

here u go

So any kind of brake cleaner or contact spray will do the trick?

Guess I have another excuse to make a trip over to Wally World. Auto parts are right next to the ammo

napa brand #M high pressures non cholorinated brake cleaner. part # 08880, won't hurt anythinbg.

Wally world : CRC spray non cholorinated spray cleaner. :::: electronics dept. electronic spray cleaner, all will do the same job. One reason why I suggested and use myself the 3M brand is that it is the most pwoerful spray cleaner I have ever use4d. It will blow sh-t out of places that you could nevrer get to. Drys instantly, as do the other mentioned. Wear a rubber glove for any of those spray cleaners for they will take the oil out of your skin and cause dryness.. safety first, as with all gun cleaners...