Kahr P380

[ELB]

I am ambivalent about Kahrs. As noted above, I have one, like it's size and ergonomics very much, and when with the right ammo it runs fine, but it is the most finicky gun I have run across. It's hard to get anything like a statistically valid sample, but it does seem to me that on all the gun forums I run across, there are an awful lot of comments that run along the lines of "I really like my Kahr pistol...but I had to send it back to get X fixed." Dunno that I would recommend one...

[JackRR]

OK, I finally decided and got the LCP. Mostly because of the Kahr not being available except $800 or so on gunbroker.com.

Took it to the range to check it out. Cabela's was nice enough to stash 380ACP ammo for new gun owners.
Before going to the range, I carried it (unchambered) around my house in my jean front pocket in the DeSantis holster it came with it for a week. This sucker is small for sure. it fulfilled my needs for pocket carry.

Off to the range, Loaded up the mag with the Magtech 95g FMJ ammo from Cabela's. trying to chamber the 1st round, it jammed. I cleared it and got it loaded and it fired but the next round jammed. Cleared it and fired the rest of the mag without incident.
2nd attempt. Same thing again trying to chamber the 1st round. After clearing all fired. On my Glocks I always load the 1st round by releasing the locked slide release lever. And then add another round to the mag. The LCP doesnt lock back after the last round, so I was locking it back. I tried chambering the 1st round by just racking the slide. I did this a few times and it seems to work.
Jammed two more times, once on the initial chambering and once on the 1st round in the mag. Ok, more than half the failure to feed was probably my fault.

Next I got out a box of Fiocchi 95g FMJ. Same procedure as before load mag up, chamber the 1st round, then add 1 round to mag and then fire. First round fired but the 1st round in the mag jammed. OK switched to mag #2. Only jammed once (while racking the slide) in 3 mag loads.

Last box was some Buffalo Bore 100g LCRN +P. The book says not to use +P. But after doing some research I decided that it was like using +P+ ammo in my Glock 17. Its OK but dont shoot too much of it. OK, out of 6 rounds 3 didnt feed. I stopped there.

Kinda disappointed, but again I am going to blame "operator error" for now. And one of the mags could be suspect.
I every case (except BBore) the last 5 rounds in the mag always cycled and fired.

I have some Remmington Golden Sabre JHP's on order, so I am not giving up just yet.

Other than that, the LCP was hitting the center mass at 7yds. Looked like a shotgun pattern but center mass all the same.

One last note, I took it apart right before headin out to the range. I swabbed out the barrel but didnt do anyting else. I will do a good cleaning and lube and see if any difference.

[JackRR]

Followup Range report.
After a thorough cleaning and lube job, I went out to the range again. This time 50 rounds cycled flawlessly (Fiocchi and Magtech).
The Buffalo Bore jammed again 50% of the time. Ive read where other's use this ammo, but my LCP dont like it.

OK, I finally decided and got the LCP. Mostly because of the Kahr not being available except $800 or so on gunbroker.com.

Took it to the range to check it out. Cabela's was nice enough to stash 380ACP ammo for new gun owners.
Before going to the range, I carried it (unchambered) around my house in my jean front pocket in the DeSantis holster it came with it for a week. This sucker is small for sure. it fulfilled my needs for pocket carry.

Off to the range, Loaded up the mag with the Magtech 95g FMJ ammo from Cabela's. trying to chamber the 1st round, it jammed. I cleared it and got it loaded and it fired but the next round jammed. Cleared it and fired the rest of the mag without incident.
2nd attempt. Same thing again trying to chamber the 1st round. After clearing all fired. On my Glocks I always load the 1st round by releasing the locked slide release lever. And then add another round to the mag. The LCP doesnt lock back after the last round, so I was locking it back. I tried chambering the 1st round by just racking the slide. I did this a few times and it seems to work.
Jammed two more times, once on the initial chambering and once on the 1st round in the mag. Ok, more than half the failure to feed was probably my fault.

Next I got out a box of Fiocchi 95g FMJ. Same procedure as before load mag up, chamber the 1st round, then add 1 round to mag and then fire. First round fired but the 1st round in the mag jammed. OK switched to mag #2. Only jammed once (while racking the slide) in 3 mag loads.

Last box was some Buffalo Bore 100g LCRN +P. The book says not to use +P. But after doing some research I decided that it was like using +P+ ammo in my Glock 17. Its OK but dont shoot too much of it. OK, out of 6 rounds 3 didnt feed. I stopped there.

Kinda disappointed, but again I am going to blame "operator error" for now. And one of the mags could be suspect.
I every case (except BBore) the last 5 rounds in the mag always cycled and fired.

I have some Remmington Golden Sabre JHP's on order, so I am not giving up just yet.

Other than that, the LCP was hitting the center mass at 7yds. Looked like a shotgun pattern but center mass all the same.

One last note, I took it apart right before headin out to the range. I swabbed out the barrel but didnt do anyting else. I will do a good cleaning and lube and see if any difference.

[A-R]

Followup Range report.
After a thorough cleaning and lube job, I went out to the range again. This time 50 rounds cycled flawlessly (Fiocchi and Magtech).
The Buffalo Bore jammed again 50% of the time. Ive read where other's use this ammo, but my LCP dont like it.

Question: Did you take the new gun right out of the box and try to fire it? The description in your earlier post is a prime example of why I NEVER do this with any gun. Even a used gun I will field strip, inspect, clean, and lube before firing it the first time. Just to be sure I am comfortable with its condition before I fire it.

I suspect a lot of "breaking in" woes may be attributable to just shooting a new gun right out of the box.

[JackRR]

Followup Range report.
After a thorough cleaning and lube job, I went out to the range again. This time 50 rounds cycled flawlessly (Fiocchi and Magtech).
The Buffalo Bore jammed again 50% of the time. Ive read where other's use this ammo, but my LCP dont like it.

Question: Did you take the new gun right out of the box and try to fire it? The description in your earlier post is a prime example of why I NEVER do this with any gun. Even a used gun I will field strip, inspect, clean, and lube before firing it the first time. Just to be sure I am comfortable with its condition before I fire it.

I suspect a lot of "breaking in" woes may be attributable to just shooting a new gun right out of the box.

I took it apart and swabbed the barrel to get the preservative out but nothing else. Lesson learned, thorough cleaning from now on.

[djwdjw]

I have been looking for the Kahr P380 for a year now.
I have seen a couple of them on Gun Broker going for 700 plus and I have no intention of getting in on that action.

I am the same. I will eventually buy one when I can find one for summer pocket carry.

I generally like Kahr and have a couple now that are good shooters, but both have had warranty work for different reasons - PM9 broke a recoil spring keeper, PM45 liked to pop mags out, but problems now solved. They've been good otherwise. The PM9 is a surprisingly accurate pocket gun for me.

Both of these with the little style bump in the trigger guard will take the skin off the 1st knuckle of my finger after about 25 rounds - thankfully this feature seems to be absent on the P380.

When they are generally available at a sane price I will go for one. The .380 consolation prize I use now is a kel-tec with a crimson trace and it is also a fun concept, but not nearly the build quality of the Kahr, but it has also never failed to function.

[03Lightningrocks]

I have been looking for the Kahr P380 for a year now.
I have seen a couple of them on Gun Broker going for 700 plus and I have no intention of getting in on that action.

I am the same. I will eventually buy one when I can find one for summer pocket carry.

I generally like Kahr and have a couple now that are good shooters, but both have had warranty work for different reasons - PM9 broke a recoil spring keeper, PM45 liked to pop mags out, but problems now solved. They've been good otherwise. The PM9 is a surprisingly accurate pocket gun for me.

Both of these with the little style bump in the trigger guard will take the skin off the 1st knuckle of my finger after about 25 rounds - thankfully this feature seems to be absent on the P380.

When they are generally available at a sane price I will go for one. The .380 consolation prize I use now is a kel-tec with a crimson trace and it is also a fun concept, but not nearly the build quality of the Kahr, but it has also never failed to function.

I have nothing but good things to say about my PM9. I have to be North of 1200 rounds and it just keeps on running. Like you, I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate it is.