Kahr CW380 Repair Odyssey - Update

[StrikeFire83]

Some of you may have been following my recent purchase and testing of a Kahr CW380. Here are those threads fyi:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=739694

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=741969

The short version: The slide keeps locking back on partially full magazines. Happened during the break in period, happened in the 100 rounds afterwards. In 300 rounds I haven't been able to get through more than 1 or 2 magazines without the slide prematurely locking back.

Well, two weeks ago I used the Kahr website and filled out a Return Authorization form. Since then I haven received NOTHING. Not a callback, not an email, nothing. Zero, zilch, nada. Today I called the customer service number and left a message with my email address and gun's serial number requesting some information about when I'd get the RA to send my gun back to them. We'll see.

My patience is wearing thin. I know every company produces lemons…it's how they respond to those issues that defines the company. I'm not a happy camper. As always, I will continue to report what happens.

 

[kokapelli]

I have had to return a few new pistols over the years and would have never thought about initiating it through email.

You need to call and get a commitment from customer service to send you a shipping label. It is after all a new gun.

 

[jigglyjames29]

Seems all too common with Kahr.
Their QC issues is the only thing keeping me from buying a PM9 and P380. I guess that it's good that I learn from others' mistakes.

 

[tek610]

Any update to this saga?

 

[Jlr2267]

I am in the middle of a similar Kahr nightmare. New CW380 would not go into battery, even after forcing a few hundred thru it. Kahr ignored my emails and voice messages and then one day someone finally answered the phone (seemed I almost startled the guy by catching him near his phone...just a "hello"...thought I had the wrong number).

Anyway, I sent mine back, and week 6 at the factory starts Monday. Not a single call, email, status....nothing from Kahr. Left a vmail 2 weeks ago, knowing they'd ignore it, asking when my gun would be fixed...never got a response as expected. I won't buy another Kahr...too many good companies out there to do business with them

 

[hardluk1]

Kahr did make 90,000 pistols last year all of one basic design. they can be expected to have a few problems but I would bit its a very small number of problems when 90,000 are made and most of those are polymer pistols mainly p/cw series and smaller.
If a slide is being held open at each shot its the slide stop that catch on a bullet causing it. Pick the phone up and call them. I also never e mail looking for a reply on an issue. .

If folks would read more about problem with a product they have an interest in and then they go ahead and buy that product and have a problem ?? Don't whine about it. When your kahrs come back see that it works ok and sell it and buy what you think it better.

 

[wally]

but I would bit its a very small number of problems when 90,000 are made and most of those are polymer pistols mainly p/cw series and smaller.

If its a small number of problem guns, customer service should be able to deal with them in a timely manner.

Pick the phone up and call them. I also never e mail looking for a reply on an issue.

Phone calls leave no "records" of what was promised or said. Great customer service like Dillon uses caller ID to bring up your info and ship the parts out as soon as they find out what you need, but it took me 30+ minutes on hold to get to talk to someone, but had my parts two days later.

When I got my first Kahr about 10 years ago they were responsive, answered Email, and seemed to have good customer service. My PM40 had a defective mag catch, after an exchange of Emails they dropped a replacement in the mail. I'd been thinking Kahr customer service was good based on this experience.

But something has changed for the worst in the past few years. They are not there to support me when my front frame rail broke -- the kind of failure that made people leery of polymer frame pistols in the first place.

I'm done with them, passed on buying the CW380 I'd been waiting for until I saw how the frame failure warranty issue played out -- darn glad I did!

I'm switching my carry to S&W Shield because of their superior customer service and support. Already I'm hitting with it better than I ever did with the Kahrs despite about 10 years of practice with various Kahr models.

 

[CDW4ME]

Wow.
I recently got a Kahr PM9 and its been perfect, passed 200 round break-in, no problem.

 

[wally]

I recently got a Kahr PM9 and its been perfect, passed 200 round break-in, no problem.

My CW9 was trouble free for thousands of rounds, until it broke. I've spent way more on the ammo shot through it than I did on the gun. The poor support hurts.

If you are happy with EAA-class customer service, like with EAA guns, if you get a good one you'll be happy until it breaks.

For a carry gun I want something the manufacturer really stands behind. Bottom line "if you've never broken a gun, you just ain't been shooting enough!". If you are happy to be on your own when it happens, then it doesn't much matter what you buy.

 

[JERRY]

tag for update....

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I recently sent my PM-9 for warranty service because the feed ramp was impacting the magazine follower causing it to break. I initiated an RMA via the Kahr website, received an RMA number via e-mail from Kahr in a couple of hours, shipped my pistol to Kahr and had it back in two weeks - with zero problems.

 

[Jlr2267]

I recently sent my PM-9 for warranty service because the feed ramp was impacting the magazine follower causing it to break. I initiated an RMA via the Kahr website, received an RMA number via e-mail from Kahr in a couple of hours, shipped my pistol to Kahr and had it back in two weeks - with zero problems.

Can you define "recently"? Seems they are now on a 6+ week turnaround.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

As recently as last month. I got the RMA number Tuesday, March 11; shipped the pistol to Kahr on March 12th; I received the pistol back from Kahr Thursday, March 27.

 

[wally]

But who paid to ship it back?

That is the crux of my issue, I don't think I should have to pay ~$65 to ship it back for a warranty repair! It costs them a lot less than this to send you a return label.

 

[Jlr2267]

Got mine back 2day via FedEx. The work order says they polished ramp, slide and slide stop, new recoil springs. We'll see.

 

[Jlr2267]

The gun was still not functional after the warranty work, so I sold it back to the LGS from which I bought it (at a substantial loss, of course). Never again Kahr.

 

[rodinal220]

I don't know why Kahr poly framed guns seem to be the most problematic. I have the K40/K9 steel framed guns and they have been 100%. I shied away from getting a poly framed Kahr because of the reliability issues with them.

I really wish they would have better handled customer service issues over the years and QC issues.

 

[gym]

Slickguns had the 380 Kahr, "CW" for around $320 yesterday, I was going to post it but they sold right out. I think that many of these company's are under staffed in the return departments. Not that it's an excuse, but I would call all day until I got someone on the phone.
The 45 was also about the same price, and in stock. The new batch are supposed to be good, perhaps you just got a bad magazine or ejector. At 10 ozs, it's probably harder to shoot and operate smoothly than the larger ones. I have a PM9 and have had no problem with it at all.
Could limp wresting or a bad recoil be at fault?

 

[JERRY]

does StrikeFire83 (OP) care to comment any further on his ordeal?

 

[popeye]

I bought a CW380 yesterday. These negative comments are disturbing. I've had good luck in the past with Kahrs. Doesn't Kahr now own Magnum Research as well as Olympic Arms? Perhaps CS covers em all and is lacking in staff.

 

[snooperman]

The customer service at Kahr has been poor for years and now their quality control stinks as well. Buy S&W or Ruger and call it good.

 

[psyshack]

I get a kick out of Kahr's pocket rockets and the owners issue's. Every Kahr I've had a chance to inspect and shoot from a troubled shooter as been perfect. I feel sorry for CS folks and tech/repair folks.

I see it everyday in my pump, boiler and chiller world. Got a boiler level control back from a cust. today screaming warranty and there damn boiler is down. I checked

 

[C0untZer0]

I get a kick out of Kahr's pocket rockets and the owners issue's. Every Kahr I've had a chance to inspect and shoot from a troubled shooter as been perfect. I feel sorry for CS folks and tech/repair folks.

My CM9 shot fine but there is no denying that it was punching holes in the magazine follower, this is the picture of my magazine follower:

 

[Rugerspyderon]

This is why we buy Ruger, S&W and Sig.

 

[DT Guy]

I've had 5-6 Kahr's, and only ever had a problem with my CW45, which was fixed quickly and easily by the factory (and at $0 cost to me in shipping or other nonsense.)

My CW380 has been great since round one, although, like any tiny gun, ammo selection and proper grip are critical to making it run; we're getting to the fringes of what's workable in these tiny pistols, and they are (naturally) much less tolerant of tiny issues than duty sized weapons.

Larry