[jfwandrn]

Congrats on the new forum. I'm very glad to see it. I've been searching all over the web trying to get some information on the P380 and discovered there isn't a whole lot out there.
I had been debating big time between an LCP and the P380. I rented and shot about 50 rounds through an LCP and had a so - so feeling about it. Wasn't that impressed, but thought it was probably better than the Kel Tac. Then I heard about the LCP recall, and then the plastic magazine catch problem and my feelings towards it were diminished even more. During all this I heard about the P380 and started digging into it. I liked Kahr's reputation, I liked the idea of the slide locking open after the last shot, I liked the better sights, I liked the idea of the way the breach works. The only thing I didn't like was the price. But, I went ahead and ordered one anyway. Obviously my dealer can't give me any idea when it's coming in, but he said I'm first on the list and he has 150 on order. I ordered this back on January 21. Since then, I stumbled across a used Kahr PM 9 which I bought. I took it to the range today for the first time and put about 250 rounds through it. The recoil isn't as bad as I expected. I have tried to carry it in a DeSantis front pocket holster in my jeans and found it's fine as long as I'm standing up. When I sit down, it's like having a big brick in my pocket. I called Kahr about the serial number to see if they had any info on it and they said it had never been back to them, but that it was part of the barrel recall they had going. He said to try and shoot Gold Dot and if I had any trouble they'd fix it for me. They'd either send me a new barrel or polish / machine mine. If I don't have a problem, he said "enjoy" OUt of the 250 rounds I shot today, about 50 were Gold Dot. Only one failed to to load for me. The other 200 were Winchester White Box. Had only one failed ejection on those. The gun itself looks brand new with not a mark on it. It came with all paperwork, plastic case, and two magazines. I intend on carrying it in a outside wasteband holster when I'm going to be wearing a jacket, sweater or such. The P380 will be my pocket gun for when I don't have a way to cover it up. I don't care of IWB holsters.

One final thing, for those of you looking at a P380, be careful in ordering a holster. I've talked to a number of companies that are planning on using the same size holster as the LCP. Desantis (sp?) is the only one I've talked to who readily says they are definitely two different sizes and require a different mold.

Jack

 

[Guest]

Welcome Jack, very nice to have you here. I am going to respond later to your post in full - the wife is calling but you may want to take a look at this posted at our sister site, elsiepeaforum.com:

http://elsiepeaforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1908.0

Hold those thoughts.

PS: I did address the P380 holster issue, you are spot on.

 

[jfwandrn]

Kraigster

I have been following the LCP forum and I may end up with one yet. A lot depends on how long it takes to get the P380. I'm also very impressed with the way Ruger has been handling the issues. I'm sure if they haven't all been taken care of, they will be shortly.

I'm also hopeing there'll be a "P380" store similiar to the one on the LCP site.

Jack

 

[jocko]

Jack, if your PM9 is working Ok, don't mess with sending it back. It sounds to me from the rounds u put down range that it is OK. Only address an issue when there is an issue. One failure could have easily been the shooter also, with as many rounds as u put threw it that day. Many kahrs that were in that barrel issue the kahr tech told you about never went back for the recall as the owners had zero problems, Kahr reworked the ramp on those sent back that had issues. In ur case, just shoot it like you stole it.

Great guns. MY PM9 has 18.700 rounds through it and never one issue. Only thing ever happened to mine was when I was cleaning the magazine, I had a cracked follower,but it never failed on me. New follower and I have never had a failure. I carry in front pocket 24/7 in a desantis and wear jeans 99% of the time and ride a harley carrying in that position. I personaly have no problems with it in that position. You may think it prints but that is because you know u are carrying it. Think aobut this. How many people do u see every day that you visually check their front pocket for a weapon. You just don't and nobody else does either. It's obvious to you because you know u are carrying it..

 

[Guest]

Jack, there will be a P380 Store for sure. Right now there are not too many "dedicated" P380 goodies available but that will change for sure. I am looking forward to receiving my Hidden Holster pocket holster for my P380. Hopefully next week.

By the way Jocko is the resident PM9 expert and he can field any PM9 questions with the best of them. I see he's already jumped in. My experience with my PM9 was very positive and the P380 for all intents and purposes, is a scaled-down PM9. This is to our advantage because it is typically easier for a manufacturer to "design down" vs. "design up." By the time Kahr decided to make a .380 they had all the bugs ironed out in the PM9.

The P380 is a pocket gun designed to be shot a lot (stiff loads not to worry) and for a reloader like me who's mantra is, "safe queens need not apply" it is just what the doctor ordered. Beefy frame, slide locks after the last round, very smooth but long d/a trigger, real sights, feeds everything, tritium night sights coming, and like with the LCP, a solid company backing it up.

 

[jfwandrn]

Thanks for the advice and welcome. I'm sure part of the problem with how the PM9 fits my jeans is a result of my using the Desantis pocket holster that was sized for my S&W M&P 9C. It's a little big for the PM9. I have my eye on a paddle holster made by Fist http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/holster/18.htm but I want to make sure I am going to keep the PM9 before I order a $124 holster. I do have a Super Fly on order from Desantis which will fill the bill for now.

I'm really anxious for the P380 to come in. I am also into bikes (BMW K1200LT & Valkyrie) and hope that it'll be here before the riding season starts here in Minnesota.

Glad to hear there's going to be a store for the 380. I have ordered an extra mag and the Pearce extensions from Kahr so far for the PM9. I also ordered the Decal grip "pads" to see what they are like. As I run across items for the P380, I'll post the info to the forum so people will become aware of them.

Jocko, as the PM9 expert, I may be calling on you for some advice later on. So far, I'm very happy with it. Not quite as comfortable to shoot as my M&P, but not as bad as I expected either.

Jack

 

[jocko]

I have a M & P and I can shoot rings around my kahrs (both of them) with that M & P. It has been totally reworked by David Bowie of bowie tactical. What a shooter it is to. BUT the M & P is really a single action gun with no hammer. It is totally cocked and all u need to do is touch the trigger. There is really no cocking of the striker assembly with the M & P. glocks are alittle different. They are about 50% plus precocked and just waiting for that slight touch of the trigger. Your PM9 is maybe at best 20% precocked and required 3/8" total trigger pull to ignite a round. That is the only safety these kahrs have a looooooong trigger pull. Smooth as glass but looooong. That is why you will read alot about a kahr shooter (right hand) saying my gun shoots low and to the left real bad, is there something wrong with it???? It is the looooong trigger doing it. It takes alot of rounds down range to get used to a kahr trigger. I to this day after all the rounds through my PM9 have not mastered it. I'm alot better but the best way to test out what I am saying and this goes for the P380 also, is to buy some snap caps and put about a half dozen in with about 30 live rounds and let someone load ur magazines for you, so u don't know if there are any snap caps in that magazine or what. Trust me, when you almost breakthat trigger off when hitting a snap cap round, u will understand what I am saying..


Port that puppy and you willthink you died and went to heaven ;D

 

[jocko]

jfwan. I am no kahr expert but I have stayed at a HOLIDAY INN.. ;D ;D

 

[mag318]

I currently have 3 M&Ps, a full size 9mm and a compact 9 and 45. They are all very good pistols. S&W years ago came out with a small 380 Sigma and I hear they are now working on a 380 version of their M&P due to the popularity of the LCP and soon the P380. With most states issuing CC permits, the market for truly small, easily concealed pistols has exploded. I ordered a P380 to replace my LCP a month ago and it arrived at my dealers Feb 27'th. I did the paperwork on Mar 3'rd and will be picking it up my next trip to Chicago (200 miles away). Just from holding a P380 I really like the feel much better than the LCP, also the sights are a big improvement. It will be interesting to see if S&W can shrink thier M&P down to this size.

 

[jocko]

I currently have 3 M&Ps, a full size 9mm and a compact 9 and 45. They are all very good pistols. S&W years ago came out with a small 380 Sigma and I hear they are now working on a 380 version of their M&P due to the popularity of the LCP and soon the P380. With most states issuing CC permits, the market for truly small, easily concealed pistols has exploded. I ordered a P380 to replace my LCP a month ago and it arrived at my dealers Feb 27'th. I did the paperwork on Mar 3'rd and will be picking it up my next trip to Chicago (200 miles away). Just from holding a P380 I really like the feel much better than the LCP, also the sights are a big improvement. It will be interesting to see if S&W can shrink thier M&P down to this size.

U ARE ONE LUCKY dog to have gotten a P380. I am still waiting, looking and begging dealers around here within a 100 mile sto get ahold of me. so far nothing, nadda, zero.

 

[mag318]

Jocko, just be patient and hopefully you'll find one soon. When I ordered mine I was just casually talking to the owner of the shop and mentioned the P380. I almost fell over when he asked me if I wanted to see one. My dealer is a LEO distributor and had one he was showing to various departments. After playing with it for a minute I placed my order and was pleasantly surprised when it showed up a few weeks later. While the LCP is a neat little pistol, the P380 just blows it away. It feels better, looks better and has a great trigger, the only bad aspect is that it cost almost twice as much. But I feel the Kahr is that much nicer to justify the cost. I also have a Kahr K9 and P45 and have been very happy with them. Kahr makes a super quality pistol and the P380 is top shelf. Even though I'm retired now from the CPD, this dealer still gives me the police price which is greatly appreciated and eased the sticker shock.

 

[DaveLee]

I keep telling myself to be patient - wait until the startup problems appear and shake out - but I know I'll grab the first one I find available....

 

[Guest]

Dave, I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me but I doubt very seriously if you will see any significant start-up problems with the P380 as we did with the LCP (now corrected with the s/n 371 prefix) or in fact the very early Kahr PM9's (peening and overall functioning). The P380 is essentially a scaled down PM9 and all the buges were worked out of latter long ago, albeit isolated stuff can happen with any gun. I now have 500 rounds through my P380, zero problems and other reports by new owners are equally positive. It's a well-built, robust pocket .380 that can be fired a lot and if you are going to have problems, normally they will show up in the first 500 rounds.

 

[mag318]

Kraigster, have you tried many different loads? I've been stocking up on WWB truncated FMJ load. 380 ammo has really dried up since the LCP came out last year, so everytime I find a box I snatch it up, found 2 boxes of Corbon 90 gr JHPs at a small shop. Since the P380 has a locked breach it should handle any load.

 

[jocko]

you P380 owners make me SICK to my stomach ;D ;D ;D

 

[DaveLee]

I feel sick too.

I was at the local Sportsman's Warehouse today and among the very few handguns they had left was an all black PM9. $686. I actually held it. Then decided to pass and wait for the P380...

I'm not well at all.

 

[Guest]

you P380 owners make me SICK to my stomach ;D ;D ;D

'Kind of like looking at your latest 401-K statement Bernie. :'(

 

[Guest]

Kraigster, have you tried many different loads? I've been stocking up on WWB truncated FMJ load. 380 ammo has really dried up since the LCP came out last year, so everytime I find a box I snatch it up, found 2 boxes of Corbon 90 gr JHPs at a small shop. Since the P380 has a locked breach it should handle any load.

Mag, I shoot mostly my own .380 reloads. As for factory rounds, I have tried only the following: Corbon DPX, Double Tap, American Eagle, and Buffalo Bore. All have been flawless in my P380.

Today, you can't be too choosy. Buy whatever you can find if you don't reload. And buy it in bulk.