Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns who has a Kahr P380?

how do you like it? Are they ammo sensitive?

Like other models in the Kahr line, QC is hit or miss. I had a heck of a time getting mine to shoot reliably over 90% and had to send it back twice (on their dime). I went through over 500 rds working through this process. The ergonomics and sights are superior to any other compact .380 IMO and the accuracy is phenomenal. Mine isn�t ammo sensitive, per se � but due to the tight fit, tolerance stacking can be an issue. Mine will not run if not lubricated well, also.

At retail price, I wouldn�t recommend the P380 with ammo prices and availability being what they are, as it might cost a couple hundred dollars to get one running right these days.

I personally know of two P380s that ran well after break-in and two that had issues. If I hadn�t bought my P380 for a song (relatively speaking) I wouldn�t be messing with it to be quite honest.

The platform design deserves an A+ �. the execution gets a D. A pistol with an msrp in the $600+ range should perform better IMO.

NOTE: Kahr has just introduced a new .380 in the CW line with an msrp of just over $400 - I'd go that direction if I were starting over.

I have a P-380 and the thing is just like my other 2 Kahrs, ran right out of the box with no issues. Comparing it to my LCP, is really no comparison. The sights are so much better than the LCP, the trigger is easier to operate and it fills the hand just a little better than the LCP.

Mine has eaten mainly handloads, 95 FMJ's and 90 Gold Dots, with about 2 mags worth of factory Gold Dots. No issues with mine and I have run about 350 rounds thru it.

My Kahr P380 feeds only FMJ bullets reliably while my Kel-Tec P3AT takes anything I feed it. The trigger pull is also pretty long on the Kahr. I think the Kahr is better made than the Kel-Tec though.

My wife tried a Ruger LCP, Smith Bodyguard and the Kahr P380, she liked the P380 best. I was thinking of getting it as it was easier for her to pull the trigger.

I had trouble with mine, but I must admit I got mine early on when they first came out. I have owned the taurus tcp, kahr 380 and ruger LCP. I think the kahrs problem if I remember right is the slide sometimes wouldn't go all the way back into battery. it was the most accurate, most comfortable and nicest put together of the 3, but it was also way more expensive. I had problems with all 3 380's all were sent back and fixed. I ended up keeping the LCP because I think not having a slide lock back makes the gun more simple and reliable. still though the LCP is a rattely POS throwaway gun.

As soon as it's available in my area I am going to pick up a Kahr CW380 to replace my KelTec P3AT... As I've had good luck with my 3 Kahr's.

Jerry

I've had/have (3) .380's; Sig P238, Kahr P380, & Kel-Tec 380. Of the three, I prefer the Sig for comfort to shoot and accuracy. The Kahr I bought used and already broken in; so no problems there! The Kel-Tec is long gone; was reliable but nasty to shoot! As to OP's question, I've seen alot of them ammo sensitive, especially during break-in. Once corrected, fine little guns.

My wife shoots a P380 , It's a nice gun but has started to give her problems with the trigger not resetting. Time for a trip back to Kahr.

Missed out buying one by an hour last week. Crazy demand for them

I bought a Kahr P380 4 days ago.

It has one problem I see.
I would not eject my handloads [for the P3AT and LCP unfired. They were too long.

I am going to either load a tad shorter or shorten the Kahr ejector.

It seems to be as small as the Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP, but a little heavier, better built, and more expensive.

One important feature to me is the case support.
Kahr P380 0.175"
Ruger LCP 0.270"
KelTecP3AT 0.290"

This means that while case bulges are the weak link if a load work up in the Kel-tec and Ruger, this will never be an issue with the Kahr.

That part is worth the $500+ right there.

Sounds like they are not bad little guns. The case support info is priceless, thanks for sharing that.

Mine has been fine - no failures to feed/fire/extract-eject.

I think I will buy it for her, I got two boxes of hornady critical defense, it also works well in my LCP. I also will get a crimson trace for it. I would rather her carry a G19, but that is not going to happen. Thanks for the replies.

Mine was very picky on the ammo it would shoot until I got it broke in. at least 200 rounds and work the slide 5 to 600 times by hand. I also hand polished the slide and cleaned it every 50 rounds. Doesn't care for any ammo with a flat nose. Mine will eat the Hornady critical defense loads as fast as I can pull the trigger now. I hated breaking it in, but its my favorite carry gun now.

the 200 round break in ammo cost is half a new gun price these days.

I am 9 days into owning a Kahr P380.

The case support is perfect at 0.175", all the way to the extractor groove.
The chamber wall is 0.063" thick, ~ twice that of a P3AT or LCP.
The recoil spring at the rear is 12 pounds, ~ twice that of a P3AT or LCP.
I have developed a load that is 50,000 psi, ~ twice that of the threshold of case bulges for a P3AT or LCP.

What does it all mean?
The Kahr costs ~twice as many $ as the Kel-Tec or Ruger, and it is worth it.
For an advanced handloader, it is like having a 9mm in the shirt pocket.