Kahr P380 range report

[shootingthebreeze]

For the final 100 rounds FMJ I took my Kahr P380 to a private range where I could set up targets 10 yards away.
Performance was just as flawless as the last 150 rounds. Accuracy was incredible at 10 yards-over 95% in the black.
I would give very high marks for performance and accuracy. This is a really good pocket firearm-absolutely no wrist pain-you can fire 200 rounds at one time with no problem.

One important reason I chose the Kahr P380 was how it felt in my hand. Very comfortable fit. My friend fired it and was very impressed; another gentleman fired one magazine and was also impressed. Both commented on how comfortable it felt firing.
At 10 yards, the accuracy was really amazing.

 

[Zerodefect]

I can also shoot mine forever like it was a fullsize. I don't get where people say that a mini-auto with .380 has harsh recoil. Or maybe the Kahr P380 is that good? I shoot mine one handed or tea cup, because a real grip would put my thumb in the charcoal zone.

I'd like to upgrade the sights to something a bit taller. Maybe one of these days I'll call Dawson Precision and see if they'll make something for it.

A .125" wide front night sight and a wide .170" rear notch width would be a nice combo on the little short gun.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Zerodefect, that's just how the Kahr P380 feels- round after round is a pleasure to fire at the range without hand/wrist discomfort. No creeping out of the hand while firing.
I would say that Kahr did their research on this one. It's that good. I have seen some reports that are not favorable, but not many.
I was very impressed with its accuracy at 10 yards. Finally had a chance to go to a private range and test out close in firing. 4 targets, all black center targets peppered. Tried slow fire, 3 round rapid fire, 6 round rapid fire all the same results. This is a lethal little handgun if it had to be used for self defense.
The sights I have no problems with actually Kahr made some nice sights for this weapon.
Carrying is a breeze-invisible, don't even know I have it. Though I love my Taurus .40 Millenium which carries well there is nothing to compare with the Kahr P380.

 

[Aiko492]

Going to have to play devils advocate on the P380. It was the most uncomfortable pistol I have ever shot. I kept it for 6 months and put 300-400 rounds through mine with multiple jams. LGS ended up giving me close to what I paid for another .380 If I did Kahr again, it would be in their 9mm or .45.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Aiko, to me my Kahr P380 is very comfortable holding it and firing it. I don't have small hands I would say I have medium sized hands-but no problems handling it.
I just bought it in August so perhaps this manufacturing run was the best with all flaws worked out. The feeding ramp is smooth as glass-absolutely no problem feeding. Fires round after round totally dependable.
With my Taurus .40 Millenium I had a trigger issue which had to be replaced after 50 rounds and the magazine release spring had to be changed after 150 rounds. Now it's broken in and fires perfectly no problems - yet, no problems at all with the Kahr which I like because I want it to be totally dependable if I need it.
I also love my Springfield Champion .45-shot 100 rounds through it this weekend as well- and talk about dependable and totally reliable! Not to mention rugged. But as far as carrying-the Kahr P380 beats it.
Perhaps the negative reports come from weapons which were first manufactured before the bugs were worked out. I don't know.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Aiko492, I just have to disagree about the comfort level of the KahrP380-two other shooters fired it at the range and they had positive comments; my friend shot at least 4 magazines and was very surprised and satistfied with the feel and fit.
Like I said I could shoot that pistol all day at the range comfortably. Many .380s cannot meet that challenge.

 

[Zerodefect]

That really has to be a hand specific thing. I can't think of a mini 380 with less recoil than the Kahr.

 

[heeler]

It very well be a hand specific issue.
I just recently purchased an LCP and although my Diamondback 380 is a tad more comfortable to shoot the recoil between the two are pretty close to the same.
For a couple of years I have read on forums that the LCP/P3AT were so uncomfortable to shoot I figured all these people were right.
Well I disagree with them as it is not an uncomfortable pistol to shoot a box of 50 rounds through.
Glad your P380 is one of the reliable ones as I have read many tales of woe about that model being problematic for many owners.
Being I own a super reliable PM9 I too would love to own a good running P380.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

heeler, unfortunately we see too many negative stories on this forum and it's nice to report about a handgun which not only performs well but is accurate.
I tried to copy my pic of one of the targets but was not successful. Like I said at 10 yards there is no problem placing the rounds in the black center target.
There is no guarantee with new handguns, regardless of the make. That's why I stress the fact that any handgun should be go through a shake down of at least 200 rounds before being certified as reliable for self defense purposes. That's when problems will start showing up and most of the time can be fixed. I would never trust a handgun out of the box without range testing.
Now I can say that my Kahr P380 is range certified to be trusted for self defense.

If anyone wants to know I use FMJ ball both for range practice and self defense. After researching ammo and .380 capability, FMJ has the best penetration power for a .380. After firing my Kahr P380, I trust its accuracy at 10 yards, it's that good.

 

[heeler]

I pretty much use fmj in both of my 380's as well.
Specifically WWB 95 grain flat nose.
My Diamondback chokes on Gold Dots but runs well on Winchester PDX-1.
The new LCP which is going to replace the Diamondback has so far fired 133 rounds using five different fmj loads and one full box of Critical Defense absolutely incident free.
Also the fact that I bought it nib for $239.95 a few weeks ago truely sweetens the deal.
I do wish it had the sights of my Diamondback as well as the smooth trigger of the DB or your Kahr.
And even though I mentioned reading about problematic P380's I still think if one gets a good one such as yours you really have the better built pistol and there is no doubt about it in my mind the components of the pistol are top notch quality.
Of course all of this comes with a price.
Question..Does your P380 have night sights or the standard sights?

 

[shootingthebreeze]

heeler, the standard factory sights which are quite good in low light. The Kahr P380 sights were also talked up by several gun experts and they were right.