[EricNC]

I just picked up a new P380 Friday. Removed factory oil and re-lubricated and put about 220 rounds through it today.

Question: This is my first Kahr, and have never broken one down before yesterday... when I'm reassembling and reinserting the slide stop, is it normal to have to push pretty hard to send it the final +/- 1/8" into final assembled position? It finally "clicks" into place, but the way the manual reads, it should go in easily.

Anyway, just wondering. I've greased it, and it still has the same resistance.

While shooting today, I had quite a few FTFs. My 2nd round got hung up even. I think I had at least 10 FTFs total, but none in the last 70 or so rounds. It happened for three different kinds of ammo (all 95 gr.).

After reading many of the posts here, I'm almost inclined to send it in to get the ramp polished. But since the last 70 were fine, I'm not sure if I'm jumping the gun (pardon the pun).

Any input on the slide stop question and the FTFs would be most appreciated.

Glad I found this forum...lots of good info here.

Eric

 

[Bayoutrigger]

The FTF's could be the result of something as simple as the way you grip the gun. Make sure your strong hand is as far up the handle as you can possibly get. The handle is small to start out with and you need to get the web of your hand jammed up into the curved back of the handle. Then make sure both hands firmly grip the pistol. Try keeping wrists locked. Because of it's size, the P380 needs all of it's recoil to cycle. My wife was having the problems you described when she first purchased the P380 and firming up her grip solved the problems. Good luck!

 

[EricNC]

Thanks for the insight. I really don't think it was the grip. I've shot small guns before and after the first FTF, was really concentrating on a firm grip. I think it's the ramp, and probably (from what I'm reading here) typical on the break-in for this gun.

It happened probably 5 times in the first 15 rounds, then only 5 more times in the next 150 or so. Not at all in the last 70. So I'm pretty sure it's out of the gun's "system," but will need to shoot it more before I have enough confidence to carry it.

That said, I really wish they'd have polished the ramp better at the factory before sending it out, as this problem seems to be somewhat common.

Still have the question on the slide stop -- anyone else notice that you really have to apply a lot of pressure to get it to click into final position?

 

[jocko]

the 380 kahr slides are a beech to put back on, They willnever just smoothly slide on, so u will figure out the quirks in yours as it also seems some are different even in where they tend to hang up.

Mine is not easy to get on or off. I can do it but if Ihanded it to a person who did not know, he would think something is wrong. I do think it is the slide trying to ride over that cocking cam that causes the hang up but kahr says it is natural.

The FTF's kinda hard to say. I tend to think may hand positioning could be part of it, but if the last 70 was Ok, then it just might be the gun is now starting to shoot itself in to. A gun and the shooter also has to mate up right or things will not work right either. These are small guns, very light, . things happen on them that normally big guns don't porduce. \\

I think you OK with your P380 though. More than likely the feed ramp is OK to. Kahr does a good job on their feed ramps, IMO>

 

[EricNC]

All good info, thanks a lot.
I'm going to try to put another 100 or so rounds through it tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes. More important than the target ammo, of course, is my carry round. So I'm going to run at least a box HPs to start with (figure since I'll carry it clean and cold).

I really need a good reliable cc gun, and if I get more hangups tomorrow, I might have someone polish the slide locally (I'm just not confident in my abilities to start messing with such an expensive gun) and see if that helps. But hopefully it'll be 100%, and then I'll be confident enough in it to carry.

Thanks too for the slide stop info. The manual was a little misleading by saying "the slide stop should go in easily". Glad to hear there's not anything wrong there.

Eric

 

[jocko]

All good info, thanks a lot.
I'm going to try to put another 100 or so rounds through it tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes. More important than the target ammo, of course, is my carry round. So I'm going to run at least a box HPs to start with (figure since I'll carry it clean and cold).

I really need a good reliable cc gun, and if I get more hangups tomorrow, I might have someone polish the slide locally (I'm just not confident in my abilities to start messing with such an expensive gun) and see if that helps. But hopefully it'll be 100%, and then I'll be confident enough in it to carry.

Thanks too for the slide stop info. The manual was a little misleading by saying "the slide stop should go in easily". Glad to hear there's not anything wrong there.

Eric

actually the slide does not need polishing, just rounds down range will polish any spots needed. What you might be getting with some of the ftf, is simply the slide mating up with the polymer frame. Even though the slide does not run on those polymer rails on top of the grip ,,, those rails only help guide the slide on the gun propery BUT if those rails are alittle warped or maybe to much polymer left on the grip after kahr got done macheing those polymer rails, , it will tend to want to slow down the slide somewhat, But rounds down range will simply wear in those high spots and soon the gun will feel smoother all around and that is due to simply mating of the metal slide to the polymer frame.

So just be patient with it, the gun seems to be doing OK, I sure like the corbon power ball round in my P380. With the power ball bullet, feeding is about as good as u can ever get. If ur gun feeds fmj ok then it will feed power ball OK also..

 

[EricNC]

great info - I'll try power balls. I've got some Federal Hydrashocks that I was thinking about trying.
Sorry, I meant get the ramp polished...

 

[EricNC]

OK - another 56 down range today and all went perfectly. They say 200 rounds to break the gun in for a reason, and I believe them. I'm over 120 without a single hitch, so I think I'm good to go.

I couldn't find any Carbon Power Balls...tried 5 stores. The only carry ammo I could find was a box of Extreme Shock. These seem "gimmicky" but were nice and rounded and looked like they'd chamber easily. Not sure what to make of the 70 grain....seems light. I put a mag through before I shot the FMJs, and they went through perfectly. I'm going to keep my eyes open for the Carbons or something more traditional, but these will have to do for now.

The only other thing I can say is that the gun definitely smooths out a lot the more you shoot it. I'm not sure if I'm just getting used to it, or if it really keeps getting smoother. Like Jocko said below, it might be the polymer getting leveled out. I also think grease on the rails is better than oil, esp for this little gun. In any case, I'm liking it more and more.