P380 Question

[RushianCoinage]

Hi everyone! I owned a PM9 for 2ish years and had no problems, but wanted to go back to a 380 for pocket carry. I had previous experience with a P3AT but didn't like it. I did some research and found that Kahr had a P380. I decided to go with it over the LCP due to my positive experience with Kahr and the slide locking back after the mag is empty.

So, on to my experience and questions. I took it to the range on Saturday. I had 50 rounds of some ammo I bought from the gun store (can't remember it's name but it had a box with orange on it, if that helps). This unnamed ammo was around $20 for the box of 50. I also bought 150 rounds of the TUL Ammo from Wal-Mart ($12).

My first 100 rounds of the orange box and the TUL Ammo went wonderfully and had absolutely no problems. The next 25 rounds of TUL went fine. However, the problems then started. Over the next 75, all TUL, I had around 5 times that I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. After ejecting each of them I found that they had been hit and had an indentation, but didn't fire. After putting them back in the magazine they all fired on the 2nd try. I also had a couple that fired and stovepiped (which i'm not really worried about)

I have never had this experience with any gun before, so it has me concerned. I know these guns need a 200 round break in, but are the failure to fires normal? Could it be the ammo being cheap or is this some type of problem with the gun itsself?

Any help would be appreciated!

[JFootin]

Welcome to the forum!

Yeah. That Russian ammo is junk and it is dirty, which could fill the striker channel with dirt. Take it down and clean it thoroughly. Use non-chlorinated brake cleaner to spray into the hole behind the breech while holding the striker back against the spring. Wear gloves. That should do it, but if not there is a sticky in the Kahr-Tech section about detail stripping the slide, including instructions to make a special striker spring holder made out of a coat hanger. Then, you can thoroughly clean out the striker channel, which can sometimes have manufacturing crud in it when new. Afterward, the brake cleaner will keep it clean. And don't oil the striker. It just attracts dirt.

But throw the rest of that TUL ammo out and just use American made stuff. Those little P380s don't like to be dirty, and they don't like dirty ammo. The tolerances are so tight that there isn't any room for crud. Also, there is a sticky in the Kahr-Tech section called Proper prep of a Kahr pistol that you should read.

[Whaleman]

What is the serial number? Sounds like light strikes in the batch of guns that had out of spec frames. Seems they get hot and warp. Mine had same problem and it took a trip back and a new frame. Bad frames in the RB area.

[Cokeman]

Was the slide fully closed when the bullet didn't fire, or open a 1/4 inch?

[awpk03s]

I had a light strike with TULA as well.

[RushianCoinage]

Thank you all for the suggestions. My serial number starts with BA5....if that helps.

I don't have any brake cleaner on hand and for some reason I feel like I would mess it up...would using the Hoppes gun solvent be sufficient to put down that hole and hopefully take care of a problem?

I'm unsure about whether the slide was back all the way. I presume it was because I had no problems up to that point, but I don't know that for 100%.

IF I am able to put another 100 rounds through it (using better ammo) this weekend with no problems would you all consider it broken in and reliable or does it need a trip back to the factory?

Thanks Again!

[kahrnut1]

you need a cleaner that is pressurized and has a straw that fits the hole to be able to flush the striker channel properly. as in previous post there are some bad frames if it does'nt clean out contact kahr

[wyntrout]

Don't put Hoppes or any lubricant/cleaner down the striker channel. That stuff will gunk up the channel/striker and cause problems! Just get some aerosol can non-chlorinated brake cleaner... nasty stuff... use plastic gloves and outside, to spray into the slide's hole on the underside and the striker pin hole while holding the striker back. This will blast the crud out... usually... and leave no residue. Don't lubricate the striker/channel... will gum up.

I usually don't use gloves and just hold the slide with a paper towel that I wipe the cleaner off. I also sling the excess cleaner out, BUT don't sling your slide onto the concrete or hard surface! Hang onto that slide!

Welcome to the forum!

Wynn

[Cokeman]

If you have another light strike. See if the slide is closed before racking it.

[RushianCoinage]

Just an update...after the last time shooting I cleaned it thoroughly (it seemed pretty dirty since I put 200 rounds through it) and made sure to lubricate as the chart directs. I did not clear it out with the brake cleaner as some said, I figured I'd try it once more.

Today I took it out shooting, this time with 100 rounds of Blazer Brass. It shot perfectly and I encountered ZERO problems. So the question now is, do I consider it broken in, even with the problems on my first range try?

[Cokeman]

Take it out and try it again. Sounds like it's going to be fine.

[yqtszhj]

Take it out and try it again. Sounds like it's going to be fine.

Yep, what he said.

Clean it up one more time before you go out and if you can spray some cleaner (no lube) in the cleanout hole (step #2 in the link http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1521 ) that will clean out any junk in the striker channel.

I would think if you clean it up good and go out and shoot 100 trouble free rounds, I think you have it made.

I want one of those P380 but just can get it at this time.

[TominCA]

You have to keep them clean - especially at first (50 rounds per cleaning is a good start for the first few hundred rounds) Take all your Russian ammo and bury it deep in your back yard.

They like lots of oil at first, especially on the rails and inside the slide and also like good ammo - you should not consider $15 / box range ammo as valid for seeing if your gun is reliable - because the amo is not always consistent enough for a heav springed, very light gun.

What amazed me about my p380's was how much less resistance they took to work the slide after 500 rounds or so. These guns are made with very hard steel and they don't "wear in" all that fast. 200 rounds is very optimistic.\ for breakin. They also last forever and eat +p ammo.