[Maggie Drawers]

Friends,
I've got about 700 rounds through my P380 but it's not 100% reliable. At first the slide would lock back - occasionally - with any type of ammo I used. It was maybe once in 50 rounds. But, seeing as this is a carry gun I couldn't have that so I filed a bit off the slide stop so the slide will not lock back even on an empty mag. That's fine with me.
Now, I've got something else going on and I can't figure it out. I insert a loaded mag - jack the slide to chamber a round..and sometimes but not always - the round sticks its nose into the feed ramp. So there I am with the slide virtually 100% to the rear - a cartridge jamed against the feed ramp and almost impossible to drop the magazine as it's being held by the jammed cartridge.
I've been told that maybe my mag springs are weak - I have 2 mags and both are always full and have been for a year or so. Might the springs have taken a weakened "set" so they're not feeding the cartridges property? The jamed cartridge isn't pointing slightly "above bore level" as they normally ride in the mag but rather the jammed cartridge is horizontal and pointing straight into the feed ramp.
The ammo I'm using is round nosed Remington which has functioned fine (after filing a bit of the slide stop many rounds ago).
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Threeeighty]

The owners manual tells you not to chamber a round that way , it is prone to failure.

 

[Cokeman]

Friends,
I've got about 700 rounds through my P380 but it's not 100% reliable. At first the slide would lock back - occasionally - with any type of ammo I used. It was maybe once in 50 rounds. But, seeing as this is a carry gun I couldn't have that so I filed a bit off the slide stop so the slide will not lock back even on an empty mag. That's fine with me.
Now, I've got something else going on and I can't figure it out. I insert a loaded mag - jack the slide to chamber a round..and sometimes but not always - the round sticks its nose into the feed ramp. So there I am with the slide virtually 100% to the rear - a cartridge jamed against the feed ramp and almost impossible to drop the magazine as it's being held by the jammed cartridge.
I've been told that maybe my mag springs are weak - I have 2 mags and both are always full and have been for a year or so. Might the springs have taken a weakened "set" so they're not feeding the cartridges property? The jamed cartridge isn't pointing slightly "above bore level" as they normally ride in the mag but rather the jammed cartridge is horizontal and pointing straight into the feed ramp.
The ammo I'm using is round nosed Remington which has functioned fine (after filing a bit of the slide stop many rounds ago).
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The top round usually sits horizontal in the mag because it is pushed against the bottom of the slide which is horizontal. Pull your mag out and see if the top round stays pointed up or not. A horizontal round should still load.

Make sure all of your surfaces are smooth and clean. Check the inside of the mag lips, the ramp, the inside of the mag. Springs may be the answer too.

 

[Maggie Drawers]

Just back from the range. 100 rounds of Remington round nose. 5 times the slide locked back with rounds still in the magazine. I guess I'll have to shave off a hair more of the slide stop. Prior to going to the range I'd cleaned and carefully smoothed the mag springs and inside of the mags and follower. I could see nothing amiss with the lips of the mags but gave them a going over wiht the fine emery paper, too. Ramp seemed shiny so I didn't touch it. As recommended I didn't rack the slide but instead released the slide with the slide release to chamber the first round. Only one round hung up against the feed ramp. I gave the slide a shift kick with the palm of my left hand and it chambered the round.
Talking with you guys helped me out a great deal. Thanks. It's a neat little pistol; now I have lots more confidence in it performing should it ever be needed.

 

[RossA]

The owners manual tells you not to chamber a round that way , it is prone to failure.

So with a loaded mag in the gun and the slide locked back, we're not supposed to pull the slide to the rear and let it go? That's the first time I've ever heard of a semi auto that isn't supposed to be chambered that way. For combat reloads, that's the standard way of reloading, not by using the slide stop.

 

[ron54]

Your talking about slingshoting the slide to chamber a round. Kahr does not recommend that method of loading their guns because it will not always reliably load the round. They say load from slide locked back, using the slide release. Their springs are very tight and if you don't pull the slide back all the way and let go quickly and cleanly chances are it may not load every time. I always use the slide lock method, so I never have a problem. I have tried the slingshot method and had mixed results, so that is why I don't use it. Your choice, but that's what it is........

 

[RossA]

So the issue is a possible failure to feed, not potential damage to the gun from a slingshot chambering?

 

[ron54]

That is correct.....

 

[Toney]

Yeah it wont hurt the pistol. They will slingshot fine, but with their light slides and steep ramps if you even slightly ride one forward they will hang up on the ramp.

I think a man can get into the habit of riding one forward racking one 500 times breaking one in, like a DB or KT.

 

[ron54]

Isn't that the truth......

 

[ron54]

They will slingshot fine, but with their light slides and steep ramps if you even slightly ride one forward they will hang up on the ramp.

And that right there is the reason for the very stiff springs in the small pocket guns. They make sure the slide comes back with enough force to cycle properly. That is also why limp wristing is such an issue with these guns as well. If any of the energy is absorbed by limp wristing, the slide will not cycle as it should. Toney commented in another post that while someone can shoot larger guns fine, and still not shoot these guns without issue ( limp wristing ). They dont even realize that they are doing it and blame the gun for ftf's & fte's.........

 

[dougtally]

Three things I'd have been delighted to read on a single slip of paper in my packet of P45 material (purch Sep 2013).
WARNING - MISFEED:
1) grip must be held with a 'firm double-handshake' (could have saved $135 ammo figuring it out)
2) chamber round using slide release ONLY, do not 'rack' the first round (answers why I'm still getting misfeeds with the double fist vice-grip)
3) single hand firing of this weapon is not possible to achieve feed reliability

Any single hand use and reliability of feed appreciated... what do I need to know?

 

[Toney]

What ammo are you using?

 

[xsailer]

I normally use the Slide release method but at times I have slingshot the slide and not problem IF I do it correctly. Having said that I absolutely could not do it when the gun was new. I've got 600-700 rds thru it now which I think allows me do it. I'm not taking credit for learning how to slingshot, I'm suggesting gun use over time helps.

 

[RossA]

I have to slingshot the slide. When locked back the slide release is too tight to be pushed down to release the slide.