[Kraigster414]

Although my P380 worked perfectly (and continues to do so) right from the start, racking the slide has been a little rough, a slightly gritty feel is the best way I can describe it. A very easy and safe fix, is take a piece of 800 grit wet/dry paper and go back and forth on the rails and on the top of the frame. You don't need (or should) to apply a lot of pressure, just enough until the surface areas feel smooth to the touch. You will be surprised at how much smoother and "cleaner" your slide racks back and forth. 'Strictly optional but along with polishing the barrel feedramp and throat, it's not a bad idea. Your gun will go bang regardless but the slide and frame will mesh smoother and have a "cleaner' feel if you do the lightest of polishing. Enjoy.

 

[jocko]

yup it sure will be smoother. More rounds down range will do the same but once again, why not do it in house sitting there watching a ball game instead of putting rounds downrange just to make it smoother.

I think my P380 is getting alittle better about racking the slide, course it could just be me getting a better hang of doing it right to. this is a tricky little gun to rack the slide due to strong recoil springs. I am actually glad that kahr put such heavy springs in the gun, hopefully this will require less recoil spring changing to.

My kahr today took a trip to my gunsmith friend who did the stippling on my PM9. I am getting the grip stippled like my PM9, nothing else being done to it, as I love the stainless finish now even more. was contemplating getting the slide refinished in finish to match my PM9 that he did for me but this little gun is really nice looking. I am also haveing my smitty put two small mag well cut outs in the grip. personally more for looks than practicality.They will be proportional to the size of the gun, Damn I just love this little gun.......

 

[Kraigster414]

Wow! We demand photos Jocko!!

A little polishing of the frame as described above makes even more sense in light of the relatively stiff spring. Smoother at least is better. And after 600 rounds, racking back and forth still felt a little gritty. So tonight, inspired by Jocko, I pulled out the 800 grit wet/dry paper and went to work - it really is not work. Do it with the TV on. Unfortunately, right in the middle of things, Oprah came on the tube promoting this or that, I rushed to put my gun back togheter so I could shoot the TV and put myself out of my misery but it was too late. Back to work I went. A 10-minute job at best.

 

[babaladla123]

I have over 18,700 rounds through my PM9 and I have never taken that strker assemble apart. I have taken the back plate off the slide to install the 5# wolffs striker spring but that is as far as I have went, as I have no reason to fix what is not broken...

 

[ron54]

Welcome. .......

 

[xsailer]

Hello Babaladla. Welcome 18,700! Rounds. Wow....I like hearing that.

 

[ron54]

I guess that answers a previous post a few days ago about kahrs durability. ...

 

[ron54]

I had read somewhere on another forum that they were posting about kahrs durability. And many had no issues regarding that, then there were a few that compared them to Keltec and Taurus..........In my opinion a Kahr is a superior weapon...........in quality and durability !!

 

[Schuvwj]

Has anyone ever modified (shortened, etc) the recoil springs to lessen the required side racking force with any success?

 

[lefty60]

Welcome to the forum!

Small pistols are very sensitive to recoil springs, it does not take much of a change to cause malfunctions.

If someone is having trouble racking the slide there are different techniques that will make it easier. By the time the pistol has gone through the recommended 200 round break in it will be a little easier to rack the slide.

If you do a thread search here you will find some good information about how to make slide racking easier for folks with weaker hands/arms.

Sometimes Wolf Gunsprings will have reduced power spring sets available for many different gun models, and I believe they are the OEM manufacturer for Kahr.

 

[ron54]

What lefty said in his first sentence is absolutely true....... The smaller lighter guns/slides generally have stiff recoil springs because they lack the weight/mass to carry their momentum all the way through the cycling process.......this is the laws of physics, and all manufacturers deal with this issue......so generally speaking the smaller the gun.....the stiffer/tighter the recoil spring........there is usually a range where a weapon will still function/cycle properly with a lighter spring, but usually not a great one...... It's a trial and error process........ Good luck....!!!

 

[mr380acp]

I completely agree with Lefty and Ron...and I wouldn't try to alter the recoil spring you have. . Maybe you could buy another recoil spring to try to retrofit if you feel you need to.

 

[ron54]

I completely agree with Lefty and Ron...and I wouldn't try to alter the recoil spring you have. . Maybe you could buy another recoil spring to try to retrofit if you feel you need to.

Agreed............you could end up creating a situation where the weapon becomes unreliable ..........so if you do decide to go with a lighter recoil spring, be sure to thoroughly test it with the Ammo you intend to carry it with.......... Your life may well depend on it !!

 

[Garysco]

Has anyone ever modified (shortened, etc) the recoil springs to lessen the required side racking force with any success?

There is a lot of physics involved in the function, timing and reliability of a semi-auto pistol. It gets even more complicated with each change of ammunition weight, type and powder charge. The Kahr boys make a reliable factory gun for "all" of us and the ammo we chose. I would tread very lightly around the idea of cutting/ changing the recoil spring tension if the weapon is to be used for self defense.

I recently had a 45 minute conversation with one of the experts over at Wilson Combat about my Colt 1911 Officers ACP lightweight, which had a stiff recoil spring that taxed my old fingers when racking. After my conversation with the experts I actually had them machine my slide to accept their even tighter spring/ guide rod kit for reliability in my 3.5" .45 ACP. Very nice final product is all I can say. Here is a link to a good write up on "short barrel" 1911 handguns. Although it is specific to the 1911 type I think the concepts apply to any semi auto.

Wilson Combat | Custom Gun Options

 

[ron54]

There is a lot of physics involved in the function, timing and reliability of a semi-auto pistol. It gets even more complicated with each change of ammunition weight, type and powder charge. The Kahr boys make a reliable factory gun for "all" of us and the ammo we chose. I would tread very lightly around the idea of cutting/ changing the recoil spring tension if the weapon is to be used for self defense.

I recently had a 45 minute conversation with one of the experts over at Wilson Combat about my Colt 1911 Officers ACP lightweight, which had a stiff recoil spring that taxed my old fingers when racking. After my conversation with the experts I actually had them machine my slide to accept their even tighter spring/ guide rod kit for reliability in my 3.5" .45 ACP. Very nice final product is all I can say. Here is a link to a good write up on "short barrel" 1911 handguns. Although it is specific to the 1911 type I think the concepts apply to any semi auto.

Wilson Combat | Custom Gun Options

Another very good post........good info !!

 

[ron54]

I'm a firm believer in not doing much modifying to a SD gun.......maybe change out sights (although probably a moot point in a true SD situation) it's a feel good thing ...... Many of us do it......get a higher capacity mag for it, which is practical most of the time......... But altering the functionality of the weapon that you are staking your life on could be playing with fire....... I want it to be as close to what the manufacturer designed for maximum durability and reliability..........alter range/recreational weapons ok......!!!
Of course ymmv.....!!

 

[mr380acp]

I'm a firm believer in not doing much modifying to a SD gun.......maybe change out sights (although probably a moot point in a true SD situation) it's a feel good thing ...... Many of us do it......get a higher capacity mag for it, which is practical most of the time......... But altering the functionality of the weapon that you are staking your life on could be playing with fire....... I want it to be as close to what the manufacturer designed for maximum durability and reliability..........alter range/recreational weapons ok......!!!
Of course ymmv.....!!

Absolutely!! I think a carry gun is best left as is for the most part!

 

[Schuvwj]

I only have 200 rounds on my P380 with about 2000 dry cycles with little improvement. However I did improve the recoil spring by bending the end of the springs that were cut and pointing out. Bend the protruding end of the spring so it was flat like the other end. This adjustment plus polishing with 800 grit sand paper and oil made a very nice improvement. Nice!

 

[Schuvwj]

When I purchased my P380 I noticed that the safety barrel plunger had a lot of pits and metal flaking on the wear face. Took it to my Kahr dealer and they said it was within specs. I disagreed, so I ordered a new one from Kahr. When the replacement arrived I noticed it was significantly larger and would not fit in the slide hole. It took a lot of hand filing to get a perfect fit.
I have not shot it yet. Hope this also improves smoothness!

 

[Schuvwj]

Thank you Lefty60!