.380 Designs - Question on Blowback vs. Browning

[D-Man]

I see that the new Kahr .380 that is coming out in a month or has a Browning blowback design, which is different than many other .380's that have a Blowback design.

Obviously we won't know for sure until they can be fired, but would the Browning design of the Kahr mean a smoother recoil? And what other .380's have the Browning design?

 

[Ash]

So you are saying the Kahr has a locked breach? I think the Colt's had the locking breach, as well as some CZ's. I don't quite understand why one would want to lock a 380 as blowback is so cheap. However, if you do not produce a blow-back pistol and want to sell something in 380, it might be much cheaper to merely produce 380 barrels for the 9mm platform, there being only 1mm difference between the cases after all. I imagine issues would exist with the recoil springs, which might need to be lightened.

The rest, what Jim says below...

Ash

 

[Jim Watson]

The Kahr website says "lock breech; Browning type."
Which means it is recoil operated like their larger calibers. Blowback operation is not mentioned and is not used.

Although most .380s are blowback, a locked breech like the Colt Mustang, KelTec P3AT, and Ruger LCP allows use of a lighter slide, softer recoil spring, and gives less felt recoil. You will definitely feel that in firing. My Colt Gov't .380 is more comfortable to shoot than my CZ83 even though the CZ is heavier and has a broader grip to distribute the kick.

 

[D-Man]

^ Jim thanks.....I didn't even realize that the P3AT and LCP had the Browning design - I was thinking Kahr was doing something new.

 

[makarovnik]

A locked breach generates lighter recoil and thus a lighter recoil spring is needed so the slide will be easier to pull back. If the Kel-Tec P3AT was a blowback gun the recoil spring would be so tight you wouldn't be able to rack the slide and recoil would still be extra nasty. My Walther PPK in .380 has a very stiff spring and is hard to pull.

The nice thing about a blowback gun is simplicity, less parts a tendancy for better accuracy and less expensive to manufacture.

It is commonly thought that the 9x18 is the most powerful round that should be used for a blowback. Yes there are exceptions like the Hi-Point .45acp but the slide is HUGE and heavy to manage the power generated.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Mustang lock breech; recoil Soft
PPK/S Blowback recoil snappy .