2 kahr 380s, 2 broken strikers

[DavidR]

Is this conversation still going on?

There have been multiple reports of broken 380 strikers on this forum. Lakeline responded by selling a beefier striker which you can now also buy directly from Kahr.

[topgun1953]

Is this conversation still going on?

There have been multiple reports of broken 380 strikers on this forum. Lakeline responded by selling a beefier striker which you can now also buy directly from Kahr.

It indeed has been a while since I've seen a broken striker on this board. I think the horse is dead. We can stop beating it now.

[ct9kahrtoter]

Not to keep beating the horse, but is this problem specific to the .380 Kahrs, or all of them?

[Bawanna]

Mostly the 380's. Not heard of issues with any of the others.

[CPTKILLER]

I would immediately dump both pistols and move on to something more reliable .

Look hard at the Sig P365.

[Ed M]

I would immediately dump both pistols and move on to something more reliable .

Look hard at the Sig P365.

I wouldn't dump anything.

I love my P365, but the 365 has had it's share of problems.

Broken strikers being one of those problems. Sig has had 3 iterations of strikers for this gun. The most recent seems promising, and also helps eliminate primer drag.

Lightning Strike also makes an aftermarket striker that is not a MIM piece, but it's like a hundred bucks - vs the 30 something for a 380 Lakeline striker. Interestingly enough, Kahr actually sells that Lakeline striker on their website.

My P365 came with a dead tritium vial on the rear sight. Sig sent me a new set of sights in a few days though, and also offered to install them if I sent them the slide. The dead sight issue persists for new 365's even today.

Other failures for the P365 that have been reported include broken trigger return springs, defective recoil spring assemblies, extractor issues, magazine follower issues, and persistent rust issues on the sights and mag release. New, un-purchased guns in gun shops have been reported to have rust on them, even though they just recently arrived.

These are just some of the more common problems, but like ANYTHING made by man, nothing is perfect.

[ct9kahrtoter]

Mostly the 380's. Not heard of issues with any of the others.

Thank you for the reply.

[wyntrout]

Last December before our 3-week Winter trip, I went to put on my P40 and my CrossBreed Minituck holster. My pants had shrunk! I got out my P380 Mintuck and it fit fine.

I've been carrying the P380 mostly since then and it has always been my around the house and Dr. visit pitol.

I've been cleaning it more often because I rely on it more. I've been having a problem with rust... from the slide lock pin and spring area, aswell as the front and rear of the recoil assembly. I got my P380 new 1 April 2010... had a night-sighted one on order for 11 months!

I've put well over 200 +P rounds through the pistol and maybe a few thousand FMJ, too. I started out with 90-grain Gold Dots by Buffalo Bore and when they started using a different bullet, I switched to Underwood's 90-gr +P GD's at 1,200 fps.

I've never had a problem with my pistol, though the +P rounds ARE brutal... like .357 Magnums in a 2" snubbie!

Anyhow, back to the rust. I use Tetra oil and grease and I 'm still getting rust buildup, so I just ordered Lakeline's stainless guide rod, and while there I looked at the striker again and decided to get one of those as well because of the most robust design. I've had no problems with the original and I did put the lighter Wolff striker spring in it many years ago.

Since this has become my EDC until my pants get a little more room for the larger pistol, I thought I would get a few nagging concerns, or possible ones, taken care of. Next, I'll look for a replacement defense round... standard pressure... since my impact point has moved away from where I would like it with the +P ammo. Standard FMJ is okay for me. I'll see what Underwood has for defense... maybe even the +P with another bullet.

Wynn

[DavidR]

Great post.

Does the 380 striker use the same spring as the 9mm striker?

[gb6491]

Great post.

Does the 380 striker use the same spring as the 9mm striker?

When I was having light strikes with a used P380 I tried a PM9 striker spring in it. That cured the light strikes, but the slide would move rearward as I pulled the trigger (heavier striker spring overcoming the recoil spring). So my take is that they are not the same.
Regards,
Greg