[Jimbo]

I'm a Newbie - Great Forum.

I just acquired my P380 - which in California is no mean feat - and recently ran 250 rounds through it with only 2 FTF. I love the pistol. Note it is a KP38233 (CA Legal) and needs the dissassembly tool (orange mag).

So I sat down tonight to strip and clean for the first time. No problem. NOW I can't seem to reassemble. Everything goes OK but the spring guide rod seems to be catching on something and is protruding 3/8" out the front. It seems like the guide rod flange is catching on something?

I am a GLOCK man with some years experience but this is a new one. I am following manual description to the letter. I have tried reassembly a dozen times with the same effect.

Any ideas? This is a huge bummer as it now just a paper weight.

 

[Toney]

Howdy!!! Try putting the slide on just far enough to get the assembly pin to start, make sure you get the pin through the under lug on the barrel.
Then alighn the witness marks and seat the pin

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks or the reply.

No good. I can't even get the slide back that far before the spring guide rod CATCHES on something inside. The slide goes on smoothly but catches at the last 0.5 inches or so. I KNOW I have the guide rod/spring assembly installed correctly. This is maddening!

 

[Toney]

Hook your thumb in the trigger guard and use your index finger and gently bump the slide until the guide rod nut starts through the slide.

My nut was a little hard to get through at first.

 

[Toney]

Look at the end of the guide rod. You might even use something to reach through the end of the slide and guide the nut through.

Does the 380 have a open coil on the big recoil spring? You might try and rotate it 180 and put it back in. I always put the end of the coil up.

 

[Jimbo]

"Guide rod nut"? I just have a guide rod and 2 springs. The guide rod easily slides through the slide. It seems to be the guide rod flange that is catching somewhere inside. Does this make sense?

Either way, I tried your suggestion and got nowhere. The slide goes on the rails easily, then stops about 1/2" before it seats home. If I rack the slide back into the "home" position the guide rod protrudes from the front about 3/8"/ I'm sorry - I wish I could explain it better.

 

[Jimbo]

"Guide rod nut"? I just have a guide rod and 2 springs. The guide rod easily slides through the slide.
It seems to be the guide rod flange that is catching somewhere inside. Does this make sense?

Either way, I tried your suggestion and got nowhere. The slide goes on the rails easily, then stops about 1/2" before it seats home.
If I rack the slide back into the "home" position the guide rod protrudes from the front about 3/8".

I'm sorry - I wish I could explain it better.

 

[Toney]

I don't own a 380

the slide only has to go back this far to start the pin.
Without the pin inserted you can't pull the slide past where it unlocks, because the barrel isn't being pull down by the pin

be sure to get the pin into the underlug ramp. And be sure your seating the guide rod right on the barrel

Are you getting past the disconnecter?

 

[Toney]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kmFHUxDwBdM watch this....

 

[Jimbo]

OK. I will keep trying, but the guide rod is being held up before I can rack the slide into the "home" position. I will try and take a photo.

Yes - I have watched the video repeatedly. Makes it look easy, yes, but this guy is not having my problem.

 

[Jimbo]

In your first photo. My guide rod would already be sticking out the front in that position. In order to line up the pin I have to pull the slide back to that position, but the guide rod is poking out the front of the gun when I do that. At least 3/8".

 

[Jimbo]

In photo 2 - yes, I am seating the guide rod correctly. Just like my Glocks. Snaps right in - parallel to slide rails.

 

[Toney]

Are you trying to align the marks before you start the pin?
Yeah post pics

 

[Toney]

In your first photo. My guide rod would already be sticking out the front in that position. In order to line up the pin I have to pull the slide back to that position, but the guide rod is poking out the front of the gun when I do that. At least 3/8".

Are you centering the rod on the barrel? Pics man pics!!!

 

[Toney]

the only way I can get my pistol to act like yours is to move my guide rod off center.

 

[ron54]

I dont want to jump in and confuse things, just a quick thought....... are the recoil Springs facing the same way..... open end away from the flange when inserted ?

 

[Jimbo]

For example, in this video...

At 3:17 when this fellow snicks the slide into place - mine will NOT do that.
The guide rod is hanging up somewhere and protruding out the front of the gun 1/2".

Make sense?

 

[Toney]

You got to be hanging up on the lip in front of the spring seat in the frame.
The lug is off set just a little, center the guide rod between the rails.

 

[ron54]

Seems like the spring is not seating properly or binding......on itself or the guide rod, and staying partially compressed

 

[Jimbo]

"are the recoil Springs facing the same way..... open end away from the flange when inserted?"

Yes