Only problem with the CW380 Is once you start carrying it you don’t wanna take any of your other guns with you anymore >because they feel like a full size World War II service 1911 Compared to it, my wallets harder to conceal then the CW380🤠
After shooting a friend's PM380 I nabbed me a CW380 as soon as I found one on sale. I've carried a LOT of different guns (long LEO career and after) ... and more importantly, seen what bullets actually DO to people so caliber and "power" really isn't an issue for me. I toted a Kel-Tec P3AT for years. It was one of the first gen, and first available in my area. I shot it so much the takedown pin began to work loose. As James said, the Kahr is actually a tiny bit smaller but with real, useable sights that my 50+ eyes can pick up just fine. At seven yards and in I can shoot half-dollar or even quarter size groups. At 50 yards I can easily hit chest-size Pepper popper plates. And it disappears in my pocket or at worst, looks like a well-worn wallet in the pocket holster I made for it. I can carry it and have two spare mags in a repurposed card wallet pretty much so long as I'm wearing anything more substantial than a swim suit. Most malfunctions I've seen with these and other micro-miniature pistols can be remedied by shooting the way it was intended. That is, one-handed with a very firm grip. If you hold these little guns in a typical target or combat two-handed hold like you use for a duty-sized piece, you leave too much room for the frame to move (it only needs the barest fraction of an inch). Hold it tightly, extend your arm, and try to not let the muzzle rise. You will likely find all "reliability issues" to be unintentionally shooter induced. If you do shoot with two hands, use that old cup-and-saucer grip like James was using in the above video. Also, stay away from steel cased ammo. Just don't even try it. FWIW, I own three Kahr pistols, all small (the other two are .40s, one a PM40 looks like the big brother to the CW380). The only issue I've ever had with any of them was in the older K-40 Covert which I bought used and it came to need a new, updated mag release which Kahr sent me free along with instructions on how to install it (super simple). I have a LOT of different guns to carry but that little CW380 is on me more than anything else, sometimes as a BUG, but often enough, especially in warm weather, as my primary pistol.
@@nate3877 -So, are you the TH-cam comment police? What gives me a headache are Twitter-brained people who can't read past 100 characters. Maybe next time just scroll on by and let the grownups talk, eh?
Just so you know, it’s thanks to this specific video demonstration that I bought the Kahr P380...it’s nw my favorite ccw as a now retired police veteran. I also love the Glock 42, but from a size/weight standpoint, along with overall build quality the Kahr P380 just can’t be beat...the CW 380 I would assume is right there as well, however I was able to pick us a virtually new 2017 Kahr P380 for $335 out the door. I added meprolight night sights and had my gunsmith shape up/ shave down the lower end of the extractor to better accommodate any size casings making it capable of shooting virtually any kind of 380 ammo. I personally use Hornady FTX in my extended 7 round- primary magazine and American Eagle FMJ in my smaller- standard 6 round backup magazine. Anyway, thx for this great review.
I own two and they have thousands of rounds through them. I love pocket guns, shoot them weekly. (before the Virus days). They are outstanding pistols, so freaking mild to shoot. My last one I bought, I did the break in by racking the slide and letting it take a "SET" for 48 hrs, same with the magazines and ran 200 flawless rounds and continues to run flawless. Even shoot a lot of Steel case ammo. Bravo to Kahr. Outstanding firarms and so well made.
For some reason my dog loves your voice. He watches the TV every time James from TFB TV is on. I'm going to have to make a montage and post it of him ignoring others but watching you.
I’m with you, I love this gun. After the first 75 rounds NO problems. I have a Glock30s, Springfield xds 9, & HK45c. The Kahr still gets a lot of run from me. I wear jogging paints, & basketball shorts a lot, & this gun with a Desantis superfly in the pocket holster is lovely.
Good video man. Ive had 3 kahrs. The CM9 (over 500 rounds fired) is an amazing gun and never had any malfunction while shooting but I did notice one day after a range trip that the plastic follower in the mag was cracked in half and the broken part was down in the mag. Somehow it didnt cause any malfunction so technically performance has been flawless but I did have to replace the follower. No problems after several hundred more rounds fired..Unfortunately my cw380 would not reset the trigger after a couple hundred rounds. Sent back to kahr and they fixed it but ended up trading it once it tested good. Had a CW9 that would drop the mag when fired about once every few mags. Kahr sent me a new mag release and it ran fine after that but again, I traded it off. I will probably keep my CM9 forever. I love the look and design of the kahrs but after only one of three working out and meeting my expectations, I probably wouldnt buy another.
I can attest towards James' opinions on the Kahr CW380. I got mine for my 21st birthday, and I also went out and bought 200 rounds of Remington UMC. I was very excited to go out to the range and shoot it. I had expected the gun to fail from the very beginning from other Kahr owners' testimonies and videos I've watched, but when I started pulling the trigger, it performed very well. Throughout those 200 rounds, the only failures I experienced were failure to go into battery due to me limp-wristing the gun. I modified my grip and went through the rest of my break-in without any further issues. Due to the small dimensions of the Kahr, it really is pretty snappy. I was having so much fun shooting my pocket pistol that I went through a box of Magtech with 50 rounds. My CW380 has now been through 450 rounds as of July 2018. I was a bit surprised that Kahr had pointed out that the gun needed a "break-in period." I get that people wanted their firearms to operate reliably straight out of the box, but it actually makes sense because it could help loosen the tension on some parts. For example, the slide was easier to rack after a while, and magazine was also easier to load by hand. As of now, I've tricked out my CW380 with some Talon Grips tape to help hold the gun better, and went with a MagGuts +1 conversion kit on my stock 6-round magazine. I also purchased a 7-round magazine with the grip "pinky" extension.
On my newest P9 (circa 2003)... I've never had an issue in 17-years, however, I did recently upgrade the followers to the new Kahr metal followers which are advertised on its website. They are made by Lakeline and you can purchase from them too. I can now slingshot from an open or closed slide position 100% of the time. I really like the idea of a deep concealment 380 like the Kahr. I've had 2 Kahrs non-stop for 20-years....and I have found them to be 100% reliable. In fact -- I've never had a failure with them of any kind. Big fan using them as an EDC. Initial chirps about the 380 had me nervous ... but I'm inching closer to buying one.
That grip and recoil control is perfection. For being a small gun you definitely have to grip the gun a certain way to really have good aim. I am used to shooting my Glock 19 gen 4 but opted to carry this bad boy EDC. I shot my first 40 rounds through it today although I will say I will definitely have to practice with it alot more to get comfortable with it. However I got a great deal on it and it was brand new so new regrets lol
I have a bg380 I carried for years as my pocket gun. I've shot all the others and nothing could replace it until I scored a P380 Kahr. It's a great pistol. Superb trigger, less recoil, smaller, it's a beast.
I swear, every Kahr video and/or forum post has a comment like this. I have to say this does seem like a common theme with Kahr, unlike Kimber, who will just send you another jammomatic. - James
I honestly think it's a ammo issue. Some hollow points just get caught up on that ramp. Rounder nosed hollow points like magtech seem to work fine with it. But when I tried speer gold dots and it turns into a wrist and fore arm exercise machine. It loves Winchester white box round nose...flat nose it turns into a magazine puller.
Mel Matrix I think their production methods allow a few lemons every once in a while. They do have to cut costs. Either way, Kahr will always immediately correct even the smallest of issues.
i didn't even get to take mine to the range, it broke the firing pin after i took it home and dryfired it a few times. That was the second Kahr that broke on me, CM45 being the other one. Both were the tungsten cerakote TU3 verson of both callibers. It took Kahr 10 days to fix the CM 45 wh ich i sold after i got it back. The CW380 has been at the shop for over a month now and i plan on selling that without firing a round through it when i get it back. I'll stick with my ruger LCP Custom which has never had a issue at all through 500-600 rounds so far. James the thing that ruger offers over khar is out of the box relialibilty , with the LCP II which has a better trigger then most if not all 380's in the class plus better grip and last shot hold open with ruger out of the box relialibity that doesn't require a 250-400 round "breakin". I really wanted to like the Kahr but just can't trust it with all the problems they seem to have with this "budget" line that has had issues accross all calibers.
What I've read on the Kahr pistols is if you get a good one it's great but if you get one that is bad it will never run worth a darn no matter what, kind of a feast-or-famine thing. You have to keep sending it back until Kahr gives up and replaces the whole gun. And there seems to be a higher rate of disapointed owners than many other brands. Not huge but higher than I'm comfortable with so I chose the LCP custom.
You're fortunate, I've put 350 rds thru mine so far and it still isn't "broken in" yet. FTE,FTF, slide wont reliably close or hold open every time. I really want to love it,looks and feels good, but... can't carry it. Terrible for a new out of the box gun.
My favorite carry gun is the Kahr CM9. I had been carrying a Taurus TCP, but I really wanted a 9 mm in a small package like the TCP that would work for me to carry easily nearly all the time. In addition to the caliber the Kahr feels significantly more robust than the TCP and I shoot it more accurately than my other carry guns.
I bought one of these brand new and the slide wouldn't go back on the frame from day one cleaning. (not operator error) This brings me to another point of comparison between this and the P380. Although I did not realize this at the time of purchase, the CW only has a one year warrantee, while the P380 has a lifetime warrantee. With that said, though I still have to pay for my repair and shipping to Kahr, it would still take several returns to make up the cost difference between the two...but it's still worth noting if you are in the market for one of these. PS ~ I know I should have returned the pistol immediately, but kept putting it off thinking I had lifetime service.
I love my CW380. Just got some Magguts for the flush mag that turns it into 7 rounds plus one. Never had any issues. The trigger is excellent better then my Glocks!
I looked at the Kahr but bought the LCP b/c it worked right out of the box, no 200 round break in period required, and has been 100% reliable for well over 200 rounds of everything.
I'm sure you're glad u made that decision. Just like u...i couldn't be happier with my regular LCP. I got a deal 3 years ago $169 for a raspberry colored one. It has worked great...and if I have a problem Ruger has famously stellar service.
@@markedman3990 I did p/u a CW380 awhile ago in a trade (I was curious) but sold it off. The reliability was spotty and I could see no advantage over my LCP.
I purchased a Kahr cw380. Shot the break in rounds. During that break in I had several issues. It will totally not feed Fiocci .380 fmj. I have that on video several failures with Remington green box .380. However Winchester white box worked great. Few times the slide failed to lock back. Seems if my thumb is anywhere on that huge slide release lever the slide won’t lock back on that last shot. I ran some Sig Sauer v-crown hollow points they functioned through the Kahr cw.380. But just can’t seem to trust it for everyday carry! My confidence is like 50% for the cw.380. But! You are correct, when it functions. The trigger is good. Like a shorter version of a double action revolver trigger. I shoot a bit high with it but The groups are very tight. I picked up a Sig Sauer p238 .380 and shot about 100 rounds through it, and zero issues. It shot that fiocci .380, wichester white white and Remington green box. Also sig v-crown. The only thing about the sig is that 1911 manual of arms. I’d like to think my 1911 phase is over from the 90’s! I want to like the CW.380 just can’t trust it. Carrying the Kahr .380 is like dating a stripper. It’s fun to use, but can I depend on her when I need her? Should I sell the Kahr? Or should I put more rounds through it?
I bought the Kahr CW380 and had a few problems with slide locking back with rounds still in the magazine- the slide spring broke ( possibly when putting back together after cleaning). I loved the size though, and purchased the P380 and it is a totally different feeling gun, the recoil is less possibly from different recoil spring and the trigger is smoother/lighter. with the machining on the slide and the extra magazine, I feel like it is worth the extra money for the P380. I carry the PM9 daily for 5 years now, other than a few times carrying the p380
I am a fan of the Kahr but I own a Ruger LCP II, which is much better than the LCP and it's a shame you didn't compare it to the Kahr in this video. I think you'd find it a much closer comparison than the older LCP.
I can't speak for the trigger on the Kahr, but I can speak for the trigger on the LCP II. It's considerably better than the crap on the original LCP...it's completely different. My point was that the original LCP wasn't ever going to even come close to the Kahr in anything but size and weight. The LCP II is at least SOMEWHAT comparable.
Brian Anderson the old Ruger LCP trigger is so bad it's almost dangerous I hear the of the Ruger LCP 2 is much better I sold my original LCP the day I bought it because the trigger was so bad
Unlike the KelTec, the Kahr is rated for P+ all day long. After the recommended break-in period (200+ rounds), the Kahr is truly amazing. I've owned the Kahr P380 (the pricier brother) since 2009. Still flawless, over 15 years and thousands of rounds later...
I got mine a few years ago. It has served me well. It did require breakin. It did take a good 100 rounds to get the slide broken in and such. It just shoots really well and the recoil doesn’t really slap it around.
Had a CW380. Had to sell it for peanuts. It was unreliable with frequent malfunctions. Wanted to love this pistol, but it broke my heart. Got a Glock 42 and it is just flawless. Love my G42. With +P Underwood Extreme Defender ammo I consider it adequate for deep concealment.
When I bought my cw380 it was for summer time in Florida and I used it in a pocket holster I love it and found myself going to it every day over my 42 43 26 and 19 I wanted to use the larger guns but the cw380 makes you forget you have it and I love that about it. And you are correct it’s way more accurate than something that small should be. Hands down my favorite gun.
Pocket holster is my fav way to carry also, the cw380 is the only one I have found that is comfortable enough for a daily, all day long carry. With a pocket holster, can’t even tell it’s there.
First time KAHR owner. I bought the CW380, then started seeing all of the negative reviews. I was very disappointed UNTIL, I went out and started shooting it. I did clean the gun before I started my shooting trials to see how miserable this thing was going to perform. To my surprise, I have shot hundreds upon hundreds of rounds with various ammo. I have yet to this day had one single FTF, stove pipes, jams of any kind. Maybe I should play the lottery if I’m that lucky to get the only KAHR CW380 that actually works😀. Honestly, I’m a glock guy, but I just didn’t like the size of the 42 for pocket carry in the summer months for example. This was pretty recent, since August 2018, so maybe they listened to their customers and fixed their issues. Anyways, my two cents, and happy shooting.
I bought a kimber crimson ultra carry and a cw380 around the same time, I put trijicon night sites on the kimber. I went to brake both guns in, kimber says 900 RDS of FMJ before hollow points, the cw380 said 300 RDS. I often shot them side by side, playing with distances, different shots etc and I was so impressed with the cw380 that I have never carried the kimber even know it’s .45, has a laser and night sights. Many times the cw380 was just as accurate or more accurate as my kimber and the kimber has a longer barrel. I have carried my cw380 for more than 10 years, it’s with me when I make deals with strangers, it’s with me on my motorcycle, it’s with me when I’m mudding on my four wheeler on public trails, I never clean it if I don’t shoot it, it lives in its in-pocket holster, that’s by far my preferred way to carry it, the holster is almost like a felt that fits in my front pocket perfectly and grabs the inside of the pocket well enough that I can pull the pistol out and the holster stays in my pocket. After all that carrying, it’s got one spot of rust on the slide and that was more recent when I was mudding, I probably should have cleaned it and didn’t, oh well. It was a cheap gun, I don’t care as much about its condition and I trust it with my life. I still can’t get passed how well it shoots.
The LCP1 gen2 with better sights and trigger with a stainless slide is the best of all the LCPs ever made. What it does bring to the table is reliability, something that many of the Kahr 380s have lacked. You should really try to compare to this particular LCP if you can find one...as Ruger only made them for 2014 to the best of my knowledge.
I have 2 Kahn’s . My fav is a PM45 I bought for a song when Gander Mountain was bought and closed . I can’t miss with it . I agree with so much of what you have said
alfred vozzella I had a karh p380. I had nothing but problems with it past the break in period. Failure to feed issues constantly. It did a little better with round tip lead rounds but still jammed up a lot. But most people want a defense round while carrying a 380. I got the pm9. This gun has run all sorts of ammo defense and regular rounds. Over 5000 rounds never one malfunction. What I have noticed is the 9mm round is pointy and sits higher up on the feeding ramp. The pm 9 came out first then the 380. It seams they took the 9mm model and made the 380 model without considering adjustment necessary to make the 380 reliable like the 9. The shape of the 380 is more round and makes it sit lower on the feeding ramp. They need to adjust the design so the round points slightly more vertically and sits higher up on the feeds ramp. It’s a shame because it has such a great potential to be a great fun.
We didn't really get to see them shorty shorts but thanks to the sweaty tight T-shirts I was able to finish myself off. Give us what we really want to see, James.
I have a CM40 with around 2,000 rounds thru it. No malfunctions of any kind. I don't limp wrist it. The recoil is surely substantial though and it took me a long time to become proficient with it. Rubberized Talon grips helped significantly. Damn thing is smaller than most 9mms and even a few 380s. I have never owned any other Kahrs but the one I have has left me very pleased. Keep up the good work James. And if fuckers keep complaining about your shorts wear a just a sock instead. Nothing silences a room like swinging your cock inside of a sock while making helicopter sounds.
Excellent video on the kahr CW 380 ACP best gun for 2021 About$450 with 2 mag's a 6 shot and a 7 shot with pinky grip I give this video five star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇺🇸💯👍❤️
The only problem with the kahr 380 is i read that they dont like to feed the lehigh defense extreme penetrator rounds (which is probably the best 380 round there is)
depends on your thought process. if you follow the FBI testing standards, the XTP loadings are generally the only ones that really meet the standards. IIRC it was a fiocchi XTP load that did the best.
This gun should feed anything you like to run through it. My S&W Bodyguard will shoot anything I buy. Kahr's cw380 is crap. As soon as I get my "New" cw sent off and hopefully semi-repaired, I'm pawning this paperweight off and salvage some of my cash and buy a real gun.
Just got mine today and took it out to break it in. Cleaned and lubed it, ran 200 rounds through it. A few hiccups in the first 50 rounds. After that I only had issues with the aftermarket 10 round mags I bought off of ebay for it. The oem mag ran perfectly everytime. Something strange though, after just 12 rounds, my front sight flew off! I lost it because I was in grass. Hopefully kahr sends me a new one.
I have the Kahr CW380, their CW9, a Glock 43, and a Glock 42. Those are all great. I carry the largest pistol that my clothes will allow. So, what I carry is governed to a large degree by my wardrobe. The more grip I have, the better I shoot it. That said, The Kahr CW380 is my Sunday-go-to-meeting pistol. I carry it when I want nothing to show. It shoots amazing well for its size. I've had a few instances of a failure to feed with the Lehigh Extreme Penetrator. I keep one of these in the chamber and Federal HSTs in the magazine.
There really isn't that much difference at all for the price! The C-Series Kahrs are excellent!. Got a CW380 in mid-2016. Actually found a CT9 (full-size) for cheaper and love that as well. A P9 for $250. Kahr triggers are so superior to others. Even if it's slightly off or choppy, they will happily smooth the trigger bar for you.
I've had 4 P380's over the years and currently have two. Love the trigger and soft shooting but mine have been very ammo sensitive. In contrast my Sig p238's will eat anything. If your P380 is giving you trouble try boutique ammo like Winchester PDX1 or Critical Defense or Ruger ARX (buy the same stuff as ARX from Freedom Munitions as bulk at half the price). All in all a beautiful little gun.
Left mine in the jeep on a summer day, the trigger mechanism literally melted and was inoperable. It was only like an 80 degree day too. Sold that hunk of shit the next week. I still love you though James
Fast forward to 2023-Kahr 380 still my favorite. And please note. I am a Pocket gun 380 enthusiast. Own most of them, belong to a club dedicated to shooting them. Just a terrific, extremely well built firearm. Shoot small often? Then get the Kahr, it will keep running when all the others have dropped by the wayside. Super mild recoil. Kahr makes such a smooth, deliberate Dao trigger for EDC. And do not forget the Kahr Cm9. I carry it 10-1 out the door over all my new double stacks. Kahr, there is just something about them. Dang they are nice guns.
If I remember correctly the Kahr requires a 200 + round break in period BEFORE it will operate w/o a malfunction. My LCP has worked w/o a single problem right out of the box for over a year, and it’s a lot cheaper.
I had a S&W bodyguard 380 that I wanted to like but it felt terrible to shoot and had issues.This Kahr is actually very pleasant to shoot. I’ve been wanting to buy an LCP to see how it compares.
If someone is concerned about the chance of rust, I recommend just getting some Cerakote or DuraKote, and give it a coat on the slide. It really shouldn't be an issue, if you do maintain your carry weapon, I.E. clean, lube it, and give it a light coat of oil over the metal parts. It'll last a long long time.
I just paid 300 for 1 come with a crimson. Trace laser and upgraded firing pin. Also came with 3 magazines. 2 of them had plus 1 add-ons. Honestly, I think I'm gonna save up for the TP9 Gen 2 premium.
Let's be real, a self defence pistol does not need to be a target pistol. The material & manufacturing process the barrel and sights are made makes very little difference at 10 feet shooting distance.
Honestly, if I was told I could only have one .380 ever.... Easiest choice in the world. (And I don't mean the Kel-tec.) But yeah, I'd have to go for the P-series version.
Just picked up a Kahr CW380, ran 50 rounds of sig fmj, PPU jhp, hornady critical defense in that order. 1st 75 rounds there were problems, after 75 flawless
Great review. I just bought a CW380. I haven't fired a weapon since I left the navy 14 years ago, but after numerous road rage incidents, and after some research, it looks like the weapon I bought is very popular for good reasons. Afterwards I think I overpaid a bit but not by too much, so I'm ok with that.
Kahr pistols are amazing - they make a Glock feel cheap. They are unbelievably underrated but I don't mind because I can get them for less money than most other common carry pistols.
The new 380 ammo of today is no joke...it’s a man stopper especially at close range. There is less recoil and worse case the hardball FMJ ammo which can be used for practice can be used for defense with penetration of 24” if you do not have any Hollow points available. While 24” is slightly over penetrating it’s not too far away from the ideal 14-17 inches. My Kahr P380 weighs less than 10 oz and with an extended +1 magazine I can load 7 + 1 in the chamber. That’s 8 rounds in a small package as the P380....that’s hard to beat my friend.
Great pocket carry pistol especially during the summer months if your out bike riding or jogging. Took me about over 200-300 rounds to break in. As a left handed shooter such as myself, its hard to shoot with two hands holding it. I find myself shooting it better with only one hand due to the mag release in the way causing me to release the mag. Otherwise nice pocket carry gun.
I carried the kahr k9 for the longest time. They are awesome guns. Given The cw380 is the bottom of the barrel amd the k9 is basically the top but I'm sure its still excellent. I pocket carry an S&W bodyguard now. But id consider replacing it with a cw380 if one popped up for sale I front of me haha
James, the current Kel Tec 380 model is the P3AT. I have one & never a bobble. Cant find any reference online to a P380. Maybe yours is a prior model? Like your vids! 👍
well I carry an LWS-380 by Seecamp. and that gun is very very nice and reliable it doesnt have any sights and i feel that is the only thing your gun has on the Seecamp. very good gun get one! there over 800$ though
If I could help it, I would carry a 9mm for concealed carry because nowadays, you can find (granted, with rebates) ammo for 14 or 15 cents a round. With a cursory search on an ammo site like gunbot, I saw at lowest about 22 cents. Sure, that's pennies difference, but that adds up quickly, even before going into defensive ammo and not FMJ. I'll sacrifice some size and go with a Glock 43, M&P shield, or something else.
Very good video, as usual. There is no doubt that there are smaller 380s than the G42, but none of them shoot comparably to the Glock 42. The Glock 42 is the only small gun that shoots like a full sized gun. I own a much larger and heavier Sig p230 (Walther PPQ equivalent) and there is no comparison. The G42 out shoots it.
While marginally bigger the gl 42 is pocketable and added wright makes it easier to control. That said I also like Kahrs although have found reliability to be inconsistent
Is the trigger really DAO as stated on Kahr's website? Last week, I saw a CW380 in a store along the highway on a long drive, but pulling the trigger didn't move the hammer, and I had to rack the slide. I left out the magazine, if that made a difference.
Can’t say it enough. Don’t use hollow points if you’re gonna carry a 380! Ballistically, even range ammo offers better penetration than most underachieving hollow points. Thanks for the video.
I love the Stars & Stripes Forever music at the end. Does the Kahr CW380 have a safety? I like the M&P Bodyguard because it has a safety, you can just stick it in your pocket with the safety on, no worries, not so with the LCP, it certainly needs a pocket holster.
James, The current kelTec 380 model is a P3AT. I cant find any reference online to a P380 unless yours is possibly an older model? I have a new P3AT. Never had a bobble. Like yer vids! 👍
James-The lcp11 knocked it out of the ballpark with no competition. I have over 200 rounds through mine with 100% reliability. Trigger and accuracy far exceeds that of the Kahr; it's not a "cult" pistol like the kahr-lol.
Thanks for the timely video. I've been shopping for a little .380 mouse gun. Wife has a Bersa Thunder CC, but I'm hoping for a smaller footprint. Big hands here...any issues with slide bite?
Oh, not even close. The Bersa is much milder, but the size and weight difference is not-insignificant. The CW380 is truly pocketable, the Bersa is not. I still think the Bersas are some of the most underrated CCW guns out there. - James
TFB TV: James, what about the Beretta Pico? How do you think it compares with the Kahr P380? I have the Pico and it's fit and finish are top notch, very shootable, and very accurate.
James you have said in another video about having a pocket gun in a holster that at least covered the trigger guard. I notice there is a techna clip on your Kahr in this video and you say you love to carry. Do you like the clip and trust it for carry in pocket or pants? I just recently purchased a bodyguard 380 and would like to try the techna clip.
Hey James, I was all set to buy this pistol after your review. However, when I started looking for other videos on the internet about the CW380 the were a lot of them that say don't waste your money, it had problems cycling all except a few types of ammo, it didn't extract (being the biggest problem). The reason I was looking to purchase an EDC pistol was I am disabled and was recently robbed. It seems disabled people make good targets I guess. I was wondering if you made any modifications to your gun to make it reliable? And what type of hollow point ammo you found worked best? Honestly....do you still think this is a good gun? Do you get some benefit from Kahr for promoting their guns? Also, one of the internet videos the guy said he emailed Kahr regarding the problems he was having and Kahr never responded back to him. That's just terrible customer service by a company that doesn't care. Being disabled I can't afford to make a financial mistake!
I have the Bodyguard, w/ factory crimson trace. I bought it cuz I have a Shield 9mm and love it. The Bodyguard's trigger is far too long, and I plan to sell it. If you have large hands, it might not be a problem, I've heard. But im going to get a Kahr CW380 for a replacement backup summer gun, as I normally carry an airweight Smith with a bobbed hammer, and also will be getting a Bersa Thunder Plus for the capacity.
l dislike the cropping on this video. What's the point of watching this if l can't see James' shorts?
Kurt Bergh they are not just shorts they are tactical shorts
I wonder if James shorts accept Glock mags?
Kurt Bergh 😂
Only problem with the CW380 Is once you start carrying it you don’t wanna take any of your other guns with you anymore >because they feel like a full size World War II service 1911 Compared to it, my wallets harder to conceal then the CW380🤠
dude i just picked up my cw380 today and now my p365 feels HUGE 😂
After shooting a friend's PM380 I nabbed me a CW380 as soon as I found one on sale. I've carried a LOT of different guns (long LEO career and after) ... and more importantly, seen what bullets actually DO to people so caliber and "power" really isn't an issue for me. I toted a Kel-Tec P3AT for years. It was one of the first gen, and first available in my area. I shot it so much the takedown pin began to work loose. As James said, the Kahr is actually a tiny bit smaller but with real, useable sights that my 50+ eyes can pick up just fine. At seven yards and in I can shoot half-dollar or even quarter size groups. At 50 yards I can easily hit chest-size Pepper popper plates. And it disappears in my pocket or at worst, looks like a well-worn wallet in the pocket holster I made for it. I can carry it and have two spare mags in a repurposed card wallet pretty much so long as I'm wearing anything more substantial than a swim suit.
Most malfunctions I've seen with these and other micro-miniature pistols can be remedied by shooting the way it was intended. That is, one-handed with a very firm grip. If you hold these little guns in a typical target or combat two-handed hold like you use for a duty-sized piece, you leave too much room for the frame to move (it only needs the barest fraction of an inch). Hold it tightly, extend your arm, and try to not let the muzzle rise. You will likely find all "reliability issues" to be unintentionally shooter induced. If you do shoot with two hands, use that old cup-and-saucer grip like James was using in the above video. Also, stay away from steel cased ammo. Just don't even try it.
FWIW, I own three Kahr pistols, all small (the other two are .40s, one a PM40 looks like the big brother to the CW380). The only issue I've ever had with any of them was in the older K-40 Covert which I bought used and it came to need a new, updated mag release which Kahr sent me free along with instructions on how to install it (super simple).
I have a LOT of different guns to carry but that little CW380 is on me more than anything else, sometimes as a BUG, but often enough, especially in warm weather, as my primary pistol.
Yo my friend this was way too long for a TH-cam comment I got a headache just scrolling past it. Then had to come comment
@@nate3877 -So, are you the TH-cam comment police? What gives me a headache are Twitter-brained people who can't read past 100 characters. Maybe next time just scroll on by and let the grownups talk, eh?
@@Zzero5728 Wow, glad to have helped!
Happy shooting!
Just so you know, it’s thanks to this specific video demonstration that I bought the Kahr P380...it’s nw my favorite ccw as a now retired police veteran. I also love the Glock 42, but from a size/weight standpoint, along with overall build quality the Kahr P380 just can’t be beat...the CW 380 I would assume is right there as well, however I was able to pick us a virtually new 2017 Kahr P380 for $335 out the door. I added meprolight night sights and had my gunsmith shape up/ shave down the lower end of the extractor to better accommodate any size casings making it capable of shooting virtually any kind of 380 ammo. I personally use Hornady FTX in my extended 7 round- primary magazine and American Eagle FMJ in my smaller- standard 6 round backup magazine. Anyway, thx for this great review.
I own two and they have thousands of rounds through them. I love pocket guns, shoot them weekly. (before the Virus days). They are outstanding pistols, so freaking mild to shoot. My last one I bought, I did the break in by racking the slide and letting it take a "SET" for 48 hrs, same with the magazines and ran 200 flawless rounds and continues to run flawless. Even shoot a lot of Steel case ammo. Bravo to Kahr. Outstanding firarms and so well made.
For some reason my dog loves your voice. He watches the TV every time James from TFB TV is on. I'm going to have to make a montage and post it of him ignoring others but watching you.
He's got a radio voice!!!
James and his Kahr
Nick Jr
And a much better love story than _Attack of the Clones._
I’m with you, I love this gun. After the first 75 rounds NO problems. I have a Glock30s, Springfield xds 9, & HK45c. The Kahr still gets a lot of run from me. I wear jogging paints, & basketball shorts a lot, & this gun with a Desantis superfly in the pocket holster is lovely.
Good video man. Ive had 3 kahrs. The CM9 (over 500 rounds fired) is an amazing gun and never had any malfunction while shooting but I did notice one day after a range trip that the plastic follower in the mag was cracked in half and the broken part was down in the mag. Somehow it didnt cause any malfunction so technically performance has been flawless but I did have to replace the follower. No problems after several hundred more rounds fired..Unfortunately my cw380 would not reset the trigger after a couple hundred rounds. Sent back to kahr and they fixed it but ended up trading it once it tested good. Had a CW9 that would drop the mag when fired about once every few mags. Kahr sent me a new mag release and it ran fine after that but again, I traded it off. I will probably keep my CM9 forever. I love the look and design of the kahrs but after only one of three working out and meeting my expectations, I probably wouldnt buy another.
I can attest towards James' opinions on the Kahr CW380. I got mine for my 21st birthday, and I also went out and bought 200 rounds of Remington UMC. I was very excited to go out to the range and shoot it.
I had expected the gun to fail from the very beginning from other Kahr owners' testimonies and videos I've watched, but when I started pulling the trigger, it performed very well.
Throughout those 200 rounds, the only failures I experienced were failure to go into battery due to me limp-wristing the gun. I modified my grip and went through the rest of my break-in without any further issues. Due to the small dimensions of the Kahr, it really is pretty snappy.
I was having so much fun shooting my pocket pistol that I went through a box of Magtech with 50 rounds. My CW380 has now been through 450 rounds as of July 2018.
I was a bit surprised that Kahr had pointed out that the gun needed a "break-in period." I get that people wanted their firearms to operate reliably straight out of the box, but it actually makes sense because it could help loosen the tension on some parts. For example, the slide was easier to rack after a while, and magazine was also easier to load by hand.
As of now, I've tricked out my CW380 with some Talon Grips tape to help hold the gun better, and went with a MagGuts +1 conversion kit on my stock 6-round magazine. I also purchased a 7-round magazine with the grip "pinky" extension.
On my newest P9 (circa 2003)... I've never had an issue in 17-years, however, I did recently upgrade the followers to the new Kahr metal followers which are advertised on its website. They are made by Lakeline and you can purchase from them too. I can now slingshot from an open or closed slide position 100% of the time. I really like the idea of a deep concealment 380 like the Kahr. I've had 2 Kahrs non-stop for 20-years....and I have found them to be 100% reliable. In fact -- I've never had a failure with them of any kind. Big fan using them as an EDC. Initial chirps about the 380 had me nervous ... but I'm inching closer to buying one.
That grip and recoil control is perfection. For being a small gun you definitely have to grip the gun a certain way to really have good aim. I am used to shooting my Glock 19 gen 4 but opted to carry this bad boy EDC. I shot my first 40 rounds through it today although I will say I will definitely have to practice with it alot more to get comfortable with it. However I got a great deal on it and it was brand new so new regrets lol
I have a bg380 I carried for years as my pocket gun. I've shot all the others and nothing could replace it until I scored a P380 Kahr. It's a great pistol. Superb trigger, less recoil, smaller, it's a beast.
I've had this gun for awhile. I had to return the first cause it was a jamomatic even after the break in. The replacement works great.
I swear, every Kahr video and/or forum post has a comment like this. I have to say this does seem like a common theme with Kahr, unlike Kimber, who will just send you another jammomatic. - James
I honestly think it's a ammo issue. Some hollow points just get caught up on that ramp. Rounder nosed hollow points like magtech seem to work fine with it. But when I tried speer gold dots and it turns into a wrist and fore arm exercise machine. It loves Winchester white box round nose...flat nose it turns into a magazine puller.
Mel Matrix I think their production methods allow a few lemons every once in a while. They do have to cut costs. Either way, Kahr will always immediately correct even the smallest of issues.
unfortunately mine started having consistent malfunctions after about 600 rounds so I shelved it.
This vid must be sponsored by Kahr
i didn't even get to take mine to the range, it broke the firing pin after i took it home and dryfired it a few times. That was the second Kahr that broke on me, CM45 being the other one. Both were the tungsten cerakote TU3 verson of both callibers. It took Kahr 10 days to fix the CM 45 wh ich i sold after i got it back. The CW380 has been at the shop for over a month now and i plan on selling that without firing a round through it when i get it back. I'll stick with my ruger LCP Custom which has never had a issue at all through 500-600 rounds so far. James the thing that ruger offers over khar is out of the box relialibilty , with the LCP II which has a better trigger then most if not all 380's in the class plus better grip and last shot hold open with ruger out of the box relialibity that doesn't require a 250-400 round "breakin". I really wanted to like the Kahr but just can't trust it with all the problems they seem to have with this "budget" line that has had issues accross all calibers.
What I've read on the Kahr pistols is if you get a good one it's great but if you get one that is bad it will never run worth a darn no matter what, kind of a feast-or-famine thing. You have to keep sending it back until Kahr gives up and replaces the whole gun. And there seems to be a higher rate of disapointed owners than many other brands. Not huge but higher than I'm comfortable with so I chose the LCP custom.
You're fortunate, I've put 350 rds thru mine so far and it still isn't "broken in" yet. FTE,FTF, slide wont reliably close or hold open every time. I really want to love it,looks and feels good, but... can't carry it. Terrible for a new out of the box gun.
So what do you pocket carry?
My favorite carry gun is the Kahr CM9. I had been carrying a Taurus TCP, but I really wanted a 9 mm in a small package like the TCP that would work for me to carry easily nearly all the time. In addition to the caliber the Kahr feels significantly more robust than the TCP and I shoot it more accurately than my other carry guns.
I have had the CW9 for about 2 years and love it. Kahr makes great pistols.
I bought one of these brand new and the slide wouldn't go back on the frame from day one cleaning. (not operator error) This brings me to another point of comparison between this and the P380. Although I did not realize this at the time of purchase, the CW only has a one year warrantee, while the P380 has a lifetime warrantee.
With that said, though I still have to pay for my repair and shipping to Kahr, it would still take several returns to make up the cost difference between the two...but it's still worth noting if you are in the market for one of these.
PS ~ I know I should have returned the pistol immediately, but kept putting it off thinking I had lifetime service.
I love my CW380. Just got some Magguts for the flush mag that turns it into 7 rounds plus one. Never had any issues. The trigger is excellent better then my Glocks!
I looked at the Kahr but bought the LCP b/c it worked right out of the box, no 200 round break in period required, and has been 100% reliable for well over 200 rounds of everything.
I'm sure you're glad u made that decision. Just like u...i couldn't be happier with my regular LCP. I got a deal 3 years ago $169 for a raspberry colored one. It has worked great...and if I have a problem Ruger has famously stellar service.
@@markedman3990 I did p/u a CW380 awhile ago in a trade (I was curious) but sold it off. The reliability was spotty and I could see no advantage over my LCP.
@@oldcop18 well you confirmed the things I've heard over, and over about Kahrs reliability....well the CW380 anyway.
I purchased a Kahr cw380. Shot the break in rounds. During that break in I had several issues. It will totally not feed Fiocci .380 fmj. I have that on video several failures with Remington green box .380. However Winchester white box worked great. Few times the slide failed to lock back. Seems if my thumb is anywhere on that huge slide release lever the slide won’t lock back on that last shot. I ran some Sig Sauer v-crown hollow points they functioned through the Kahr cw.380. But just can’t seem to trust it for everyday carry! My confidence is like 50% for the cw.380. But! You are correct, when it functions. The trigger is good. Like a shorter version of a double action revolver trigger. I shoot a bit high with it but The groups are very tight. I picked up a Sig Sauer p238 .380 and shot about 100 rounds through it, and zero issues. It shot that fiocci .380, wichester white white and Remington green box. Also sig v-crown. The only thing about the sig is that 1911 manual of arms. I’d like to think my 1911 phase is over from the 90’s! I want to like the CW.380 just can’t trust it. Carrying the Kahr .380 is like dating a stripper. It’s fun to use, but can I depend on her when I need her? Should I sell the Kahr? Or should I put more rounds through it?
I bought the Kahr CW380 and had a few problems with slide locking back with rounds still in the magazine- the slide spring broke ( possibly when putting back together after cleaning). I loved the size though, and purchased the P380 and it is a totally different feeling gun, the recoil is less possibly from different recoil spring and the trigger is smoother/lighter. with the machining on the slide and the extra magazine, I feel like it is worth the extra money for the P380.
I carry the PM9 daily for 5 years now, other than a few times carrying the p380
Smallest 380 the seecamp.
I owned both. The cw380 is actually surprising comfortable to shoot.
The seecamp was awful to shoot.
I am considering the seecamp or the p/380 , cw/380..........which do you prefer?
I am a fan of the Kahr but I own a Ruger LCP II, which is much better than the LCP and it's a shame you didn't compare it to the Kahr in this video. I think you'd find it a much closer comparison than the older LCP.
The only problem with the LCP II is that the sights are still like nubs and pretty much unusable. The Kahr has much better sights than the LCP II.
Brian Anderson Kahr will always have a superior trigger, sights, better accuracy and less recoil from heavy recoil spring, etc..
I won't argue the sights being crap...they work fine for me but there's plenty of room for improvement.
I can't speak for the trigger on the Kahr, but I can speak for the trigger on the LCP II. It's considerably better than the crap on the original LCP...it's completely different. My point was that the original LCP wasn't ever going to even come close to the Kahr in anything but size and weight. The LCP II is at least SOMEWHAT comparable.
Brian Anderson the old Ruger LCP trigger is so bad it's almost dangerous I hear the of the Ruger LCP 2 is much better I sold my original LCP the day I bought it because the trigger was so bad
Unlike the KelTec, the Kahr is rated for P+ all day long. After the recommended break-in period (200+ rounds), the Kahr is truly amazing. I've owned the Kahr P380 (the pricier brother) since 2009. Still flawless, over 15 years and thousands of rounds later...
I got mine a few years ago. It has served me well. It did require breakin. It did take a good 100 rounds to get the slide broken in and such. It just shoots really well and the recoil doesn’t really slap it around.
Had a CW380. Had to sell it for peanuts. It was unreliable with frequent malfunctions. Wanted to love this pistol, but it broke my heart. Got a Glock 42 and it is just flawless. Love my G42. With +P Underwood Extreme Defender ammo I consider it adequate for deep concealment.
When I bought my cw380 it was for summer time in Florida and I used it in a pocket holster I love it and found myself going to it every day over my 42 43 26 and 19 I wanted to use the larger guns but the cw380 makes you forget you have it and I love that about it. And you are correct it’s way more accurate than something that small should be. Hands down my favorite gun.
Pocket holster is my fav way to carry also, the cw380 is the only one I have found that is comfortable enough for a daily, all day long carry. With a pocket holster, can’t even tell it’s there.
First time KAHR owner. I bought the CW380, then started seeing all of the negative reviews. I was very disappointed UNTIL, I went out and started shooting it. I did clean the gun before I started my shooting trials to see how miserable this thing was going to perform. To my surprise, I have shot hundreds upon hundreds of rounds with various ammo. I have yet to this day had one single FTF, stove pipes, jams of any kind. Maybe I should play the lottery if I’m that lucky to get the only KAHR CW380 that actually works😀. Honestly, I’m a glock guy, but I just didn’t like the size of the 42 for pocket carry in the summer months for example. This was pretty recent, since August 2018, so maybe they listened to their customers and fixed their issues. Anyways, my two cents, and happy shooting.
I bought a kimber crimson ultra carry and a cw380 around the same time, I put trijicon night sites on the kimber.
I went to brake both guns in, kimber says 900 RDS of FMJ before hollow points, the cw380 said 300 RDS. I often shot them side by side, playing with distances, different shots etc and I was so impressed with the cw380 that I have never carried the kimber even know it’s .45, has a laser and night sights.
Many times the cw380 was just as accurate or more accurate as my kimber and the kimber has a longer barrel.
I have carried my cw380 for more than 10 years, it’s with me when I make deals with strangers, it’s with me on my motorcycle, it’s with me when I’m mudding on my four wheeler on public trails, I never clean it if I don’t shoot it, it lives in its in-pocket holster, that’s by far my preferred way to carry it, the holster is almost like a felt that fits in my front pocket perfectly and grabs the inside of the pocket well enough that I can pull the pistol out and the holster stays in my pocket.
After all that carrying, it’s got one spot of rust on the slide and that was more recent when I was mudding, I probably should have cleaned it and didn’t, oh well. It was a cheap gun, I don’t care as much about its condition and I trust it with my life.
I still can’t get passed how well it shoots.
The LCP1 gen2 with better sights and trigger with a stainless slide is the best of all the LCPs ever made. What it does bring to the table is reliability, something that many of the Kahr 380s have lacked. You should really try to compare to this particular LCP if you can find one...as Ruger only made them for 2014 to the best of my knowledge.
I carry mine daily and it's my go to side arm. Got one in purple too.
I have 2 Kahn’s . My fav is a PM45 I bought for a song when Gander Mountain was bought and closed . I can’t miss with it . I agree with so much of what you have said
alfred vozzella
I had a karh p380. I had nothing but problems with it past the break in period. Failure to feed issues constantly. It did a little better with round tip lead rounds but still jammed up a lot. But most people want a defense round while carrying a 380.
I got the pm9. This gun has run all sorts of ammo defense and regular rounds. Over 5000 rounds never one malfunction.
What I have noticed is the 9mm round is pointy and sits higher up on the feeding ramp.
The pm 9 came out first then the 380.
It seams they took the 9mm model and made the 380 model without considering adjustment necessary to make the 380 reliable like the 9.
The shape of the 380 is more round and makes it sit lower on the feeding ramp.
They need to adjust the design so the round points slightly more vertically and sits higher up on the feeds ramp.
It’s a shame because it has such a great potential to be a great fun.
We didn't really get to see them shorty shorts but thanks to the sweaty tight T-shirts I was able to finish myself off. Give us what we really want to see, James.
I love the trigger on the cw380 it’s like a really good double action revolver trigger
I've heard pretty mixed things about the C line of Khar pistols. I have a MK9 solid stainless and it's been fantastic.
I love kahr! They make the best edc options n the steel frame k series is just breath taking beautiful.
I have a CM40 with around 2,000 rounds thru it. No malfunctions of any kind. I don't limp wrist it. The recoil is surely substantial though and it took me a long time to become proficient with it. Rubberized Talon grips helped significantly. Damn thing is smaller than most 9mms and even a few 380s. I have never owned any other Kahrs but the one I have has left me very pleased. Keep up the good work James. And if fuckers keep complaining about your shorts wear a just a sock instead. Nothing silences a room like swinging your cock inside of a sock while making helicopter sounds.
Excellent video on the kahr CW 380 ACP best gun for 2021
About$450 with 2 mag's a 6 shot and a 7 shot with pinky grip
I give this video five star
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇺🇸💯👍❤️
The only problem with the kahr 380 is i read that they dont like to feed the lehigh defense extreme penetrator rounds (which is probably the best 380 round there is)
depends on your thought process. if you follow the FBI testing standards, the XTP loadings are generally the only ones that really meet the standards. IIRC it was a fiocchi XTP load that did the best.
This gun should feed anything you like to run through it. My S&W Bodyguard will shoot anything I buy. Kahr's cw380 is crap. As soon as I get my "New" cw sent off and hopefully semi-repaired, I'm pawning this paperweight off and salvage some of my cash and buy a real gun.
Chuck Remm if your offering hit me up. Ill take it of your hands.
Just got mine today and took it out to break it in. Cleaned and lubed it, ran 200 rounds through it. A few hiccups in the first 50 rounds. After that I only had issues with the aftermarket 10 round mags I bought off of ebay for it. The oem mag ran perfectly everytime. Something strange though, after just 12 rounds, my front sight flew off! I lost it because I was in grass. Hopefully kahr sends me a new one.
I'm a fan of the kahr. I have a cw380 a cm9 and a cw9. I used to carry the cw380 every day till i got my cm9. incredible gun for the money
Tell us about that clip you had installed on yours.
I have the Kahr CW380, their CW9, a Glock 43, and a Glock 42. Those are all great. I carry the largest pistol that my clothes will allow. So, what I carry is governed to a large degree by my wardrobe. The more grip I have, the better I shoot it. That said, The Kahr CW380 is my Sunday-go-to-meeting pistol. I carry it when I want nothing to show. It shoots amazing well for its size. I've had a few instances of a failure to feed with the Lehigh Extreme Penetrator. I keep one of these in the chamber and Federal HSTs in the magazine.
There really isn't that much difference at all for the price! The C-Series Kahrs are excellent!. Got a CW380 in mid-2016. Actually found a CT9 (full-size) for cheaper and love that as well. A P9 for $250. Kahr triggers are so superior to others. Even if it's slightly off or choppy, they will happily smooth the trigger bar for you.
My LCP just won't eat hollowpoints...so critical defense it is... definitely brought my attention to the Kahr brand. Nice vid
Ive got a CW.380. I love it too. Pocket pistole extrodinair!
I've had 4 P380's over the years and currently have two. Love the trigger and soft shooting but mine have been very ammo sensitive. In contrast my Sig p238's will eat anything. If your P380 is giving you trouble try boutique ammo like Winchester PDX1 or Critical Defense or Ruger ARX (buy the same stuff as ARX from Freedom Munitions as bulk at half the price). All in all a beautiful little gun.
Left mine in the jeep on a summer day, the trigger mechanism literally melted and was inoperable. It was only like an 80 degree day too. Sold that hunk of shit the next week. I still love you though James
ILY2
TFB TV which is better, Kahr 380 or LCP 2 380?
I have left my CW380 inside a hot, black vehicle in the summer hundreds of days and never had a problem. Where do you live; on the South Hell?
+FactoryMobilePhones G no comment. Too close to call. Both are good options.
Judah Lion Exactly, haha! Doesn't make sense to me. What could possibly melt in it anyway?!
Fast forward to 2023-Kahr 380 still my favorite. And please note. I am a Pocket gun 380 enthusiast. Own most of them, belong to a club dedicated to shooting them. Just a terrific, extremely well built firearm. Shoot small often? Then get the Kahr, it will keep running when all the others have dropped by the wayside. Super mild recoil. Kahr makes such a smooth, deliberate Dao trigger for EDC. And do not forget the Kahr Cm9. I carry it 10-1 out the door over all my new double stacks. Kahr, there is just something about them. Dang they are nice guns.
If I remember correctly the Kahr requires a 200 + round break in period BEFORE it will operate w/o a malfunction. My LCP has worked w/o a single problem right out of the box for over a year, and it’s a lot cheaper.
Mine did not! Nightmare breaking it in. Always unsure whether it would malfunction when I needed it.
Its a luck of the draw. Some people get luckier then others. I have one on order so we’ll see if I get the long or short side of the straw
I had a S&W bodyguard 380 that I wanted to like but it felt terrible to shoot and had issues.This Kahr is actually very pleasant to shoot. I’ve been wanting to buy an LCP to see how it compares.
If someone is concerned about the chance of rust, I recommend just getting some Cerakote or DuraKote, and give it a coat on the slide. It really shouldn't be an issue, if you do maintain your carry weapon, I.E. clean, lube it, and give it a light coat of oil over the metal parts. It'll last a long long time.
I guess I'm a little late, but NICE review. I'm going to go look at a Kahr CW 380 tomorrow. Thank you.
I just paid 300 for 1 come with a crimson. Trace laser and upgraded firing pin. Also came with 3 magazines. 2 of them had plus 1 add-ons.
Honestly, I think I'm gonna save up for the TP9 Gen 2 premium.
Let's be real, a self defence pistol does not need to be a target pistol. The material & manufacturing process the barrel and sights are made makes very little difference at 10 feet shooting distance.
Idiot
Honestly, if I was told I could only have one .380 ever.... Easiest choice in the world. (And I don't mean the Kel-tec.) But yeah, I'd have to go for the P-series version.
I had a cm 9 for probably 10 years runs like a champ very accurate
Just picked up a Kahr CW380, ran 50 rounds of sig fmj, PPU jhp, hornady critical defense in that order. 1st 75 rounds there were problems, after 75 flawless
Great review. I just bought a CW380. I haven't fired a weapon since I left the navy 14 years ago, but after numerous road rage incidents, and after some research, it looks like the weapon I bought is very popular for good reasons. Afterwards I think I overpaid a bit but not by too much, so I'm ok with that.
Did you go shoot it yet
@@deltadragon2335 Yep, and later sold it. It was a good gun but I don't carry .380 anymore. 9mm is my minimum.
@@PopBubbleWrappable I'm the same way 9mm or bigger for carry and defense so what did you do in the navy
Kahr pistols are amazing - they make a Glock feel cheap. They are unbelievably underrated but I don't mind because I can get them for less money than most other common carry pistols.
The new 380 ammo of today is no joke...it’s a man stopper especially at close range. There is less recoil and worse case the hardball FMJ ammo which can be used for practice can be used for defense with penetration of 24” if you do not have any Hollow points available. While 24” is slightly over penetrating it’s not too far away from the ideal 14-17 inches. My Kahr P380 weighs less than 10 oz and with an extended +1 magazine I can load 7 + 1 in the chamber. That’s 8 rounds in a small package as the P380....that’s hard to beat my friend.
I’d prefer FMJ for self defense in this case because .380 doesn’t seem to have the velocity to expand like a larger caliber
I was considering that as well but opted for the Xtreme Defenders from Underwood
Great pocket carry pistol especially during the summer months if your out bike riding or jogging. Took me about over 200-300 rounds to break in. As a left handed shooter such as myself, its hard to shoot with two hands holding it. I find myself shooting it better with only one hand due to the mag release in the way causing me to release the mag. Otherwise nice pocket carry gun.
Do you still like the CW380 and is it still holding up after all these years??
Sir would you say your conclusion holds true today is the khar cw380 still the best bang for buck
I carried the kahr k9 for the longest time. They are awesome guns. Given The cw380 is the bottom of the barrel amd the k9 is basically the top but I'm sure its still excellent. I pocket carry an S&W bodyguard now. But id consider replacing it with a cw380 if one popped up for sale I front of me haha
Nice video. LW Seecamp is the smallest production 380 on the market although heavy and very expensive.
I am gonna go buy one today and I just got a Sig 226 so for the first time and only time in my life I will shoot 2 new guns on the same day. Cool.
James, the current Kel Tec 380 model is the P3AT. I have one & never a bobble. Cant find any reference online to a P380. Maybe yours is a prior model? Like your vids! 👍
well I carry an LWS-380 by Seecamp. and that gun is very very nice and reliable it doesnt have any sights and i feel that is the only thing your gun has on the Seecamp. very good gun get one! there over 800$ though
If I could help it, I would carry a 9mm for concealed carry because nowadays, you can find (granted, with rebates) ammo for 14 or 15 cents a round. With a cursory search on an ammo site like gunbot, I saw at lowest about 22 cents. Sure, that's pennies difference, but that adds up quickly, even before going into defensive ammo and not FMJ. I'll sacrifice some size and go with a Glock 43, M&P shield, or something else.
Very good video, as usual. There is no doubt that there are smaller 380s than the G42, but none of them shoot comparably to the Glock 42. The Glock 42 is the only small gun that shoots like a full sized gun. I own a much larger and heavier Sig p230 (Walther PPQ equivalent) and there is no comparison. The G42 out shoots it.
I want two of them with a belt clip on either side . Thank you very much , you too Kahr . Thanks be
P380 is running fine, I wanted good sights and found a new one (NIB) for $299
Thanks for a great review. Unbiased! Think I'll get one
While marginally bigger the gl 42 is pocketable and added wright makes it easier to control. That said I also like Kahrs although have found reliability to be inconsistent
I've got a Kahr CT380, solid lil gun
Is the trigger really DAO as stated on Kahr's website? Last week, I saw a CW380 in a store along the highway on a long drive, but pulling the trigger didn't move the hammer, and I had to rack the slide. I left out the magazine, if that made a difference.
Great breakdown video
Can’t say it enough. Don’t use hollow points if you’re gonna carry a 380! Ballistically, even range ammo offers better penetration than most underachieving hollow points. Thanks for the video.
I don’t want penetration, I want lethality. That’s the point of a hollow point
The tile can also be used on prostate exam video!
Picked mine up for $220 from buds a couple months ago!
I have a CM40...love it.
I love the Stars & Stripes Forever music at the end. Does the Kahr CW380 have a safety? I like the M&P Bodyguard because it has a safety, you can just stick it in your pocket with the safety on, no worries, not so with the LCP, it certainly needs a pocket holster.
Great review. Everyone you said is spot on.
I won’t argue w that. Love mine
James, The current kelTec 380 model is a P3AT. I cant find any reference online to a P380 unless yours is possibly an older model? I have a new P3AT. Never had a bobble. Like yer vids! 👍
Great review! Thanks!
James-The lcp11 knocked it out of the ballpark with no competition. I have over 200 rounds through mine with 100% reliability. Trigger and accuracy far exceeds that of the Kahr; it's not a "cult" pistol like the kahr-lol.
Thanks for the timely video. I've been shopping for a little .380 mouse gun. Wife has a Bersa Thunder CC, but I'm hoping for a smaller footprint. Big hands here...any issues with slide bite?
How do these compare to something like a Bersa 380? Accuracy, recoil etc.?
Oh, not even close. The Bersa is much milder, but the size and weight difference is not-insignificant. The CW380 is truly pocketable, the Bersa is not. I still think the Bersas are some of the most underrated CCW guns out there. - James
I am about to buy one I'm glad I made a good choice
TFB TV: James, what about the Beretta Pico? How do you think it compares with the Kahr P380? I have the Pico and it's fit and finish are top notch, very shootable, and very accurate.
Great video , I think the Beretta Pico is probably ( a little ) smaller , but I really don’t think anyone likes the Beretta Pico.
James you have said in another video about having a pocket gun in a holster that at least covered the trigger guard. I notice there is a techna clip on your Kahr in this video and you say you love to carry. Do you like the clip and trust it for carry in pocket or pants? I just recently purchased a bodyguard 380 and would like to try the techna clip.
Hey James, I was all set to buy this pistol after your review. However, when I started looking for other videos on the internet about the CW380 the were a lot of them that say don't waste your money, it had problems cycling all except a few types of ammo, it didn't extract (being the biggest problem). The reason I was looking to purchase an EDC pistol was I am disabled and was recently robbed. It seems disabled people make good targets I guess. I was wondering if you made any modifications to your gun to make it reliable? And what type of hollow point ammo you found worked best? Honestly....do you still think this is a good gun? Do you get some benefit from Kahr for promoting their guns? Also, one of the internet videos the guy said he emailed Kahr regarding the problems he was having and Kahr never responded back to him. That's just terrible customer service by a company that doesn't care. Being disabled I can't afford to make a financial mistake!
I'd be interested to see a comparison between the Kahr CW380 and the S&W Bodyguard 380.
I have the Bodyguard, w/ factory crimson trace. I bought it cuz I have a Shield 9mm and love it. The Bodyguard's trigger is far too long, and I plan to sell it. If you have large hands, it might not be a problem, I've heard. But im going to get a Kahr CW380 for a replacement backup summer gun, as I normally carry an airweight Smith with a bobbed hammer, and also will be getting a Bersa Thunder Plus for the capacity.
I had a CM9 and sold it. Kind of regretting it. Looking at the CW380 now vs the G42 and man... I dunno lol.
ct380 is about the same size as the glock 42 but .75 thick instead of .92