CW380 - Need Help

[Jlr2267]

Ok guys, I need some suggestions. I bought a new CW380 a few days ago and got it to the range today. Let me first say that I have owned Kahr handguns before I know they are initially very stiff and usually require a break-in of about 200 rounds. I had a CM9 that would jam 1 in 5 shots until it broke in after 100 or so rounds.

This CW380 is another beast altogether. Last night, I cleaned and lubed meticulously, as I do all my firearms. I noticed the slide was *extremely* stiff and difficult to lock back (I'm a big guy and have never struggled like that w/a pistol).

So today at the range, I lock the slide, load the first mag, release the lock and the round does not chamber, the slide is 1/8" short of full battery...no biggie, I thought, it's new and tight. I forced the slide forward and fired the first shot...same thing...1/4" out of battery this time...I kept going, thinking this would work itself out, but before I realized it I went through 300 rounds this way (yes, I am sick that I blew thru 300 rounds and still have a non-working gun). The last mag was no better than the first...no improvement whatsoever.

Out of the 300 rounds, I had 3 types, all brass round nose, all quality factory ammo. Maybe 5 or 6 out of 300 chambered without me forcing the slide forward. Many times I had to exert serious force to chamber the round...I mean like grunting, squinting, taking-a-dump force To add insult to injury, I had about 20 occurrences of the extractor failing to pull the spent shell, jamming the next round into the still-chambered case.

Anyone have experience with Kahrs like this? I've never had anything this bad before, so I'm not sure where to start. The feed ramp looks to be polished smooth, as does the chamber. As stiff as the recoil spring is, I would have never thought I'd see problems like this. With an empty mag, the slide will easily slam into full battery, so it's the ammo hanging up going into the chamber that's causing it, but it happens with 3 different ammo types, so I'm sure it's not the ammo that's the problem..??

 

[jigglyjames29]

Sounds like an out of spec chamber.
With the barrel removed from the slide, how easily does a round drop in?

And how is the extractor tension?

 

[Jlr2267]

I just randomly pulled 10 from a new box of the same stuff I was shooting today and all 10 plonked right down into the chamber under their own weight.

The extractor is pretty tight, but I'm not really sure what is too tight. I can slide an empty case from the bottom of the slide (slide off frame) under the extractor claw with a little force, but it's nice and snug with very little wiggle room once under the claw.

 

[wally]

My warranty experience with Kahr was EAA class service -- demanded I pay to send the gun back to them, maybe you'll have better luck or your dealer will do it for you.

 

[Jlr2267]

My warranty experience with Kahr was EAA class service -- demanded I pay to send the gun back to them, maybe you'll have better luck or your dealer will do it for you.

I am hoping to avoid returning the gun. As bad as it is though, it may be beyond my ability to fix.

 

[silicosys4]

I had the same issues with my cw40. Very tight chamber that required excessive crimp and short OAL on my reloads. There is another guy with a cw45 who has said he has solved a similar issue with his by keeping his OAL short.
I'm sending mine back to kahr for this and another issue. If it is giving you those kinds problems with factory ammo, I'd definitely send it back, or take it to a smith for work.

 

[Jlr2267]

Can someone with a CW380 (or P380) tell me if the 2 recoil springs are supposed to be equal length? On mine, the inner spring is 3/4" shorter.

 

[Tony k]

There is another guy with a cw45 who has said he has solved a similar issue with his by keeping his OAL short.

That's probably me you're talking about.

However, I don't think oal is the issue based on this descripion. My oal issue was causing nose dives and rounds jamming straight in to the feed ramp. I think I've figured out the root cause of that problem, but I won't hijack this thread with that discussion.

If I understand correctly, the op's CW380 has a slide that is difficult to actuate even without a round in the chamber. Right?

If so, I'd check to make sure your trigger bar is not getting stuck between the frame and the slide. There's someone over on Kahrtalk who had that problem, but I can't find the thread. It sounds similar to what you are describing.

Beware, I've owned a Kahr for less than 1 month, so consider the source.