To be fair, I'm a huge fan of Kahr products, so I might be unfairly biased. But after I ran the recommended 200 round "break in " through my cw380 I never had any issues as far as reliability. Just my 2¢. Great review vid, now a subscriber!
@user-ss6zt2mo1l .. I'm looking at today's Khar .380 for purchase and have seen a lot of past reviews. The number one issue has been the ammo Jamming. You think khar had fixed the issues?
Flat nose ammo jams. Every ammo you tested except 1 was flat nose. Use round nose ammo. Also you're inaccurately comparing the Kahr's economical cw series with the Sig Sauer which doesn't offer an economical version. Compare the Kahr's pricey p380 with a sig and you'll notice that it's comparable in price and features. The Kahr is lighter, easier to shoot(no safety), slimmer, shorter and safer(striker fire).
I have had both pistols. I traded in the Kahr for the Sig. I found that I much prefer the metal frame over the polymer. And with the single action trigger of the Sig my 7 yard groups are about 3" as opposed to 9" or so with the Kahr. I never could get used to the striker fire and long trigger pull. The Sig is better.
Just a couple of observations. First you said the Kahr is very tight. Which is why you need to do the break in. The slide is not hard to pull back and the slide lock is not hard to remove if properly broken in. You can lock the slide open for 24 hrs and see a big improvement. To say the Kahr has a bad trigger is literally the only time anyone on the Internet or in person has not said the Kahr has a great trigger. It is a double action trigger, comparing it to a single action well, apples and oranges. And the fact that you forget to take the saftryboff in a non stressful situation and it did not actuate the trigger could be deadly with a Ccw pistol.
How can you gripe about the trigger? You're comparing a DAO to a single action 1911-style trigger, of course it's going to be a nicer trigger on the p938 but as far as pocket 380's with DAO, the Kahr's trigger is the best.
FYI to those looking in APR 21 I own the cw380 and love it. CCI blazer brass for training and hornady crit defense runs like a champ. Best pocket pistol imho. Polish the feed ramp and get the magguts +1 spring kit. No jams thus far for me after 600 rds or so.
I spent $299 on a new Kahr P380 (a step up from the CW380) on sale from an online Florida gunstore in 2021 and IT WORKS, my experience with it & my Kahr P9 are that neither is the jam-o-matic that you experienced in this video, in fact they do function very well -after 200-300 rounds of break-in. I'd also tell you that both the P9 & P380 came with 2 flush fit mags and an extra third extended mag supplying one extra round. But you are both correct and incorrect about the triggers, they're long to pull & long to reset, I just do not have issue with this fact, make for the same trigger habit as a double action revolver trigger -point taken- and I simply don't see it as "bad". The differences between the Kahr CW & P series pistols are mostly aesthetic but there's is certainly a difference in the performances of yours & my own. My budd has the P238 and has similar thoughts on it, reliable and practical as a 380 gets, but the Kahr P & CW series are featherweights
Good vid. I own the Sig P238 pretty much since it came out. I tried every sub-compact .380 pistol on the market at the height of the pocket 380 mega-craze years back. The Sig was and is, to this day, easily the best of them for recoil, accuracy, sights, TRIGGER and build. Love it and though there are others that are OK to good, far as I've experienced, the Sig P238 is the Rolls Royce of the pocket 380 world. I also own a Taurus P238 actually carried by a family member, soley bought for the simplicity, laser fit and lightest weight of any 380. The Taursu trigger is long and pulls shots for everybody but works great after some initial tweeking. The Sig btw had to go back to Sig (failures to extract or eject), just like the Taurus, but multiple times. Once they got it right, the Sig has run over 1,000 rounds, perfectly, without failure. I think most are perfect from the start but my extractor needed tweeking. I have a very specific lower availability version asthetically and I was unwilling to switch copies and have never seen my model in another store. Anyway, love that sig, I carry and XD as long as I can but any time I need smaller, that Sig is my other carry gun and I will never ever let that gun go, for any price.
I wouldn't call the Kahr trigger "bad" or "horrible". It's a double-action trigger and is actually quite well respected compared to other DA triggers. In fact, it's a great trigger for a pocket gun being that it doesn't need a safety, due to it's long pull, nor is it as touchy as, say, a glock trigger. I certainly agree that it's easier to accurately shoot the Sig, but the Kahr trigger is quality too for what it is.
I think the trigger is pretty good on mine. It is about 7 lbs compared to other defense pistols that are around 11lbs. It has a smooth pull, not gritty. Having a longer pull is an advantage in a defensive situation where it gives you a split second to reconsider what you are about to do. It is an advantage in the court after the fact as apposed to having a light short SA trigger and having to explain that to a judge.
You don't like a thumb safety on a single action but you would be crazy to carry that sig without the thumb safety on unless you carry with the hammer down which would be even more difficult to fire. That's the whole point of a long smooth double action trigger on the kahr
I don’t have the 380 but I do have a PM9. It is a long trigger. Really long. So much so that when I first dry fired it at the gun shop I thought something might be wrong with it, so had them show me another one to make sure it was the same. But, I shoot it pretty good. Better than my LCP. And when I dry fire and really concentrate on the sights I can’t keep any of my Glocks from twitching just a little as the trigger breaks. Though I still shoot them fine. But even though it’s long the Kahr doesn’t move for me at all when it breaks.
I had a Kahr cw-380 which I really liked at first. I did have problems with gun jamming, but did find that American Eagle ran fairly well. The striker went out twice and I then traded it in for a glock 42 which I like better. No problems with the glock at this time.
I consider trigger reset as a minor issue, because, 1 this isn't designed as a rapid fire gun, nor 2 are pocket guns engineered for accuracy past 7 yards. It is a small barrel/small grip issue. Reset is only one component to a trigger's feel, and a double action trigger is often preferred even though it is longer. Lastly, who would ever buy a single action gun without a manual safety? How would you carry it in condition 1 without a manual safety? Alternatives...maybe empty carry which is dumb, but there's a reason all 1911's have a thumb safety.
+Thomas Paine I believe that any pistol designed for carry should be capable of rapid fire and be accurate well past 7 yards, the g42 and sig p238 accomplish this with similar size and weight, and with better reliability, saying the kahr wasn't designed for it is a cop out, its just a lesser design, if you want a long trigger pull as a saftey at least get a double single action so not all your shots are so difficult, I believe they should redesign the action to a striker fired system, same low lost and weight, why not? if you want a saftey use a pocket holster you should anyway
Honest Outlaw Reviews And yet if I go to yeager or nutnfancy, they say the answer to shooting a long trigger pull accurately is trigger fundamentals, not an sa trigger. Also, what other pocket 380 is DA/SA? LCP/P3AT, Bodyguard, P709slim, g42, pico, etc....no, no, no, no, and no. All DAO striker or hammer, but no mixed fire DA/SA. I can't remember a DA/SA pocket 380. PPK, maybe, but can't remember?...and not really a pocket pistol anymore. PS, I don't know anyone who educates on daily carry or even carriers who has ever carried a pocket 380 so that they can hit a perp at 30+ feet away. I get that it is a novelty and can be nice, but at that length, run, baby run. 2.5in barrels are pea shooters and I've only ever considered them a 10ft or less close quarters gun. Even if I consistently made 30+ ft shots with one of these, I can't imagine a scenario where I would ever try it in a public self defense situation. The slightest twitch will send rounds wide under tension.
+Thomas Paine I'm talking about kahr as a company switching to da sa and close or far the sig is more accurate you probably won't be shooting at 30 yards but you probably won't ever fire your carry gun either but it wouldn't it nice to be able to if you had to for the same size of pistol, I'm just saying that other than cost why compromise
Honest Outlaw Reviews True it is probably a cost thing as well as a philosophy. I don't think that Kahr likes DA/SA, because all of their guns have the exact same action and trigger feel. Maybe it's cheap, maybe its simple, maybe its the love for a consistent trigger pull, or maybe it's just a love for that DA revolver feel, I don't know, but out of all of the pocket 380's, only the sig and kahr have I heard any praise for the triggers.
I wanted to like my CW: It's a perfect pocket size/weight, it's simple and snag-free, it hides completely in a leather rear pocket "wallet" holster and a soft-shell sleeve type for front pocket carry. I like the long trigger for safety reasons. It's simple without a manual safety. It's perfect for pocket carry...on paper. Over two years I fired over 1,000 rounds through it and it's a great shooter...when it shoots. Ball ammo, hollow point, good stuff, cheep stuff...I tried everything. I shoot it clean, i shot it dirty, shot it hot, shot it cold...even spent stupid money on extra mags to give it the benefit of the doubt. Failures to manually feed a first round, failure to automatically feed subsequent rounds, failures to eject....I experienced all of those issues regularly throughout my two years with this pistol. Despite how much I wanted and tried to like the CW380...she's gone. You have to be able to trust your EDC and after two years of trying, the CW proved to me that you just can't rely on it. I found a P238 on sale and most reviews are great, so I'm taking a long lunch break today and hope to find it far more reliable than the CW.
For edc. Kahr p380 takes the win. After breakin its realizable. Its Smaller, much lighter and a great DAO. For the range. The sig 238 takes the win. Its heavier so makes for a less recoil. And the sig is a beauty.
Totally agree with the Sig. I had the P238 and finally found an Off Roster SSE in CA P938. Basically the same weapon except .380 vs. 9mm. The P938 is my EDC, OWB pancake holster, does no print, totally forget it’s there. Felt sorry for a friend who loved my P938 but could not find one CA, so I broke down and parted the the P238. In colder weather when clothes allow I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP II in .45, bot both have the same manual of arms. Had a Khar P380 and still have a PM40. Sold the .380 but still trying to dump the PM40. Small striker fire prior to the small 1911s. Now they are just safe queens.
HUGE difference in amount of force necessary to rack the slide! I was shocked when I checked out the lil Kahr. Just window shopping, it was what I figured I'd be getting for this category at my LGS. Ended up getting the Sig, and the kindly senior cowboy type that was there that day with his wife? Was singing it's praises, and I have to say I whole heartedly agree... the Sig P238 is just great! For such a small pistol it's crazy accurate... once YOU learn how to control your own body mechanics in handling/holding that small gun. Once you get it down though? That sweet light SA trigger is sooo helpful for your accuracy vs these long-@ss trigger pulls these striker fired all have. I carry a G29 in the woods now, so I'm slowly getting more used to the hideously long (to me anyway, starting w revolvers as my firsts) trigger pulls that their pistols have. But I way way way more like that SA trigger. I tested my Sig with all the lead-free ammo I could get my hands on for woods carry (for locations that's don't have bear, this is all you'd need with some underwoods, and saves a lot of weight). And the nice big chunky 3-dot night-sights are fan friggin tastic! I can even do a decent job without my glasses on, and for reference... I can't read printed material without them on anymore. Easiest slide to rack of ALL of them.
This was a great comparison. Just received a Kahr CW380 and my personal gun trainer and I took it to the range and he could not get a full magazine thru it. For the first seven rounds it jammed six times. Took it to the range the next day and out of 25 rounds it jammed 18 times. Give up and sending it back after 2 days. Now considering the p238 after your great and honest review. I cannot believe guys in the comments are extolling the reliability of the Kahr when everybody on the internet are having the same disastrous experiences that I and you experienced.
You must not have went through the "required" 200 round break end, when I was a young shooter in the 60's they would have laughed your ass off of the range if you brought to the range a gun that required you to shoot 200 times to see if it needed to go back to the factory or not. When did they start selling this B.S. to the public? My new S&W M&P didn't require 200 rounds to break-end, although I did shoot it 200X the first trip to the range and neither did my CZ75 or my Browning BDA 380, none of which have never missed a stroke, maybe someday I actually get around to even cleaning them if the mood strikes me. But one thing I will bet my life on, if I pick any one of them up it will fire. One other thing, if my finger is on the trigger it is Not in the "safe" position or any pretensions of it being "safe", something fixing to happen, if it doesn't I'm selling the POS and moving on. Safe trigger my ass.
Mine was a piece of unreliable junk right out of the box. If I keep it since I will lose my shirt trading it, I will file down the extractor. That seems to be the culprit and a flaw in the design of this gun.
@@chuckremm I'm ready to pawn my CW380 off, too. Have heard about the file job on the extractor, but this should have been caught and fixed at the factory, not by observant owners. Kahr lost all my respect on this clunker. A search of the internet will show owners with the same problems over and over again. And for the record, I have shot 300 rounds thru this gun and left it overnight with the slide locked open and sat for an hour racking the slide, all so called "Remedies" for this gun's problems.
If had my kahr cw 380 for about a year . Iv ran a lot of ammo through the gun and most of it flat nose ammo . Prior to the 200 round break in a did have a couple fail to eject but no issues since the break in period . I have also ram a small amount of the dfense ammo with no issue . Only complaint is the stiff spring to operate the slide . With 1,000 plus rounds it remains pretty stiff .
My Kahr CW 380 is very ammo picky and will only run reliably (100%) when freshly cleaned to about 100 rounds. It is not designed to be a "day at the range" pistol. I'm used to Kahr triggers so I've found it to be adequately accurate out about 10-12 yards (shooting balloons). I like mine and pocket carried it daily for a couple of years. Don't need to pocket carry very often anymore but still enjoy shooting it. Thanks for your review!
Great video. Regardless of conceal-ability, weight, width, trigger pull, manual safety, caliber, mag capacity, etc, etc, etc....reliability (especially when stress and adrenaline is high) remains paramount for a pocket pistol. And why I bought the Sig.
In regards to pocket carrying, I had the same problem. The holster would come out with the gun. what I do is, grab the pistol and with your middle finger, flick the holster a bit to separate them in the pocket be for you pull it out. Sort of an extra step, but I practice it with my P238. Good review.
While this is an old video, when I need to carry something smaller than my 9mm CCW, I still prefer the Sig P238. Accurate, reliable and fun to practice with. I have the original Bodyguard. 380 (horrible trigger) and bought the Ruger LCP Max a couple of years ago but still prefer the Sig. I carry with the 7 round magazine which adds a little extra length to the grip. Great gun.
I like this guy and his review method/style. I could never get used to the 1911. I have a Kahr PM9 and have been thinking about getting a P380. But I have to agree, the kahr trigger pull is too heavy, too long, and the reset is too long. That is 3 too many(s)!!!
Today I fired my CW380 for the first time. The first 25 rounds were a total disaster. Failure to eject, etc. After 25 rounds it started to work perfectly; not a single failure for the next 75 rounds. I used PPU Ammo/FMJ/94gr. for all my rounds. This ammo is kind of dirty. I did not clean the gun completely but just the barrel to see what happens.Tomorrow I'll try GECO ammo and will shoot another 50 rounds. I will do more testing before I rely 100% on it. If not close to perfect I'll go back to my Colt Mustang Pocketlite which has never failed me.
Manufacturer recommends running 200 rounds through for break in period. I bought one a couple weeks ago. After cleaning the factory grease out of it I took it to the range. I brought a box of 200 rounds of winchester fmj. Ran all 200 and had 2 failures. One at 175 and another at 185. My guess it was because it was so dirty at that point. I put 6 Hornady critical defense rounds and 6 federal hydroshock to make sure they would feed. No problems. Since then I pushed another 50 rounds and had one failure to feed with fmj. All I had to do was hit the slide lock and it started working again.
Thanks for a good video! I keep coming back to the Sig after looking at all the other options. It's pretty pricey, but I'm inclined to just save a little longer.
@@HonestOutlawReviews The no-safety-striker firearm is the most accident-prone weapon ever made. And you can thank Glock for all of the accidental discharges.
@@sycamorebacker1 oh god here we go smh. People not being familiar with their firearms and being dopes is what causes the problems you throw on Glock. I don’t even like Glock fyi but striker fired guns are just as safe or safer than hammer fired guns. In competition Ive seen more accidents and malfunctions with hammer fired guns than any other. Bottom line is take time to learn your deadly weapon.
Atleast the bodyguard my woman carries is 100% reliable and can be safely carried without a holster cuz it has a safety. Kahr trigger is awesome but the guns as a whole are not.
Have you tested karhs p380? And the karh factory manual even states all of the guns need to fire 200 rounds of any and all ammo you will fire through it before deemed reliable. I own and daily carry the KARH P380. I can say the first 200rds are quite frustrating but once through it this little bastard of a gun is quite reliable.
Hi I just found u and enjoy ur test and so on, I have both as well the Kahr was a hat to love firearm???? first 400 rounds could not get I magazine to complete. So I gave it to a friend who is a gun smith, he filed the extractor... well over 1000 rounds I am very accurate with Kahr... and it is a whole lot more reliable...I'd say 95%.... thank u your imput and as you say every one is different...
Do the break in and the Kahr will run perfectly. Of course, the single action trigger is better, but the only real way to carry the Sig is Condition 1. You forgot to disengage the safety under normal conditions. What would you do under stress. The Kahr is small, lightweight, reliable (after break in), has a great double action trigger, and is simpler to use. No thanks on the Sig, I’ll keep my Kahr.
Nice review but dude you cannot compare ANY single action trigger to a double action there is absolutely no comparison no matter how good you modify your double action it just is not going to be as good.
+rezdog187 some of the people who watch this video may not know that so I tried to simplify it, but thats usually true, unless you count da/sa guns like the cz shadow, and that was why I was kinda hard on the kahr, because I really dont see a use for an all double action trigger.
P.S. One easy trick people do is make a piece of wood of the right size and jam it into ejection slot of the Kahr. Carry it in the same pocket with the brushes. This also applies to SiG P290.
Greetings from Kentucky....My EDC is a Kahr PM 45 and also have a Kahr CW 45 and haven't had a moments problems from either. The CW 380 that I bought for backup is quite another story. After a 500 round break in period we parted ways because of reliability reasons.
Man I wish the Kahr 380 series were more reliable. Love the look, size, and manual of arms in the Kahr. in the market for a pocket 380 to wear around the house or jogging when I just don't feel like belt carrying and I just can't find one that like. I G42 isn't really pocket size in my opinion, I don't want a SA, and I had bad luck with the LCP.
The magazines for the Kimber micro 380, the Springfield 911 in 380, and the Sig P238 are interchangeable. I bought Kimber mags for like $18 each and they work flawlessly in my Sig P238.
If you failed to clean your Kahr and/or failed to the proper 200-round break-in, then you have no right to complain about its reliability. Since you failed to mention these, I presume you did not. TD. You can have all the 1911-style Sigs you want, I'll take my Kahr's!!
lol I did both of those.. but even if I didn't I still don't want a gun that needs to be perfectly clean, I cleaned it periodically through the test, used different types of ammo, and it still didn't work, no excuse, there are plenty of better guns on the market
TK has his Kahr for less than 4 months and he's already a die-hard "fanboy". I'd take that as a great endorsement of Kahr if this wasn't his first gun. Noobs always LOVE whatever gun they buy first. Kahr's are not bad guns, but not nearly as reliable as a SIG; that's why SIG is able to charge so damn much for their pistols (usually double what the competitors charge for similar offerings). TK will come around eventually, but for now, just let him enjoy the "newness" of being a gun owner. Agree with him or disagree with him, at least he's on "our side".
Can't wait till Greg actually buys a SIG and realizes how piss poor the quality has become lately. Can't even explain how hilariously ironic it is for you to call anyone a "fanboy". XD
I have the Kahr, have 8-900 rounds through it, had one failure to eject in first mag. Nothing since. It IS stiff; slide is harder to manipulate, is harder to break down. Trigger is a little long but not unusual for a striker fired weapon, and good for pocket carry. Much better trigger than Ruger LCP or LCP2, which are both DAO. I also found the Kahr much easier to shoot with less recoil than the LCP. Glock 19 is my in-home go to pistol and the Kahr trigger is pretty much the same. I love 1911 style pistols but I don't want to be pulling one out my pocket in an emergency. Pull and shoot. Kahr fits anywhere and it works. And it cost me $287 (new) plus $20 for an extra mag on Ebay. I carry a .38+P Ruger LCR IWB or pocket carry the Kahr. Carry the Glock on occasion. Sig makes great weapons. The 238 and 938 are VERY nice products, great shooters for small guns. Expensive and you have to be comfortable with cocked and locked and the safety. I would probably be fine with it but would rather not have to worry about it. Pull, point, shoot.
Kahr is an amazing pistol and not just for the $ - I have Kahrs and Glocks and if I pick up a Kahr then pick up a Glock, the Glock feels wayyy cheaper. Kahrs are finely tuned shooting machines. Glocks are great too and probably more reliable overall but they use polymer everywhere that Kahr uses steel (magazine, trigger, mag catch, sights, etc.)
the sig has a safety which you forgot to disengage in a non-stressful situation. would you remember under stress? that is why i do not carry a sign p238 or p239. the other small 380's do not have a safety, and in my opinion, are better defensive pocket pistol options.
All it takes is muscle memory the same as knowing not to put your finger in the trigger guard unless you're ready to shoot. Most people are just too lazy to learn the motions.
Red herring. I own a P238 and have no issues remembering to disengage the safety. If you actually shoot your pistol from time to time, and train properly, you should have no issues. If remembering a two-step process: 1) disengage the safety; 2) press the trigger, is that complicated for you, then you probably should not drive a car, let alone own a pistol (Put shifter in Drive, press accelerator with the right foot, press brake with right foot, put shifter in Park. What's more difficult?)
The moment at 7:44 when safety is forgotten is why SA guns like P238 are completely obsolete. The real elephant in this room really is Glock 42. Yes it's larger somewhat, but it's still suitable for pocket carry with the exception of vallet holster in a rear pocket of jeans.
+Pete Zaitcev I wouldn't say it's obsolete. Yes, the safety may be forgotten, but overall the Sig is an amazing gun, and it does outperform the Kahr by leaps and bounds. It's honestly even better than the G42, in my opinion, with the only exception being the safety.
Your review matches my experience. I have both the sig and the p238 and the Kahr P380 (the up scale one) Actually I have had several of each. I really like the Kahr trigger the best, but I grew up on DA revolvers. Both guns are not 100% reliable - The Sig is almost 100% reliable (almost) it can act up a little when it gets dirty.. The Kahr(s) are all VERY ammo sensitive. Ruger ARX and Critical Defense have both been good in mine, but not great,. For FMJ the Kahr likes Blazer brass and PMC 90 grain (go figure) Again not 100% reliable. The Sig shoots just about anything. The Kahr is much more difficult to maintain. I would carry the Sig. I would not carry the Kahr. I have several larger 9mm Kahrs - they have been 100% reliable and are excellent guns but all Kahrs have very high recoil spring tension and so are hard to disassemble and put back together. Thanks for your excellent review!
Kahr CW380 really isn't that bad. Takes 2-300 rounds to break in, after that the gun runs great. If your looking for just reliability out the box just get GLOCK for your EDC. Both are great guns but I would have to say this was more of an opinionated review of personal preference.
I am a sucker for .380 pocket pistols. I have yet to own a Sig 238 or 938 so I won’t comment. I have owned the Ruger LCP, LCP ll and the Max. I bought a used Kahr CW380 in early 2021. I kept it until today. Love the trigger and the general ergonomics or the gun especially with the Pearce pinky extensions installed on the mags. However after lots of ammo testing and self defense simulations it is obvious that the Kahr that I owned could not be trusted. The top round in the magazine rarely fed properly so even with one in the chamber the first round to feed from the mag would get its nose stuck near the bottom of the feed ramp. Not good so bye bye!!!! Back to my Glock 42 and the old totally trustworthy M&P Bodyguard 380 both of which have never had any issues whatsoever.
Love it but I feel sorry for Kahr-not really! You are probably the only UTube gunslinger who has anything positive to say about safeties. Lol. As an old .45 guy I feel competent to use a safety! Our family has 2 shields with safeties and a sig p238 black pearl. Excellent weapon! Thanks for your unexpurged review!! Kahr, Kimber, and others need to put pistols out that are 100% reliable right out if the box.,..Noone should have to break in a pistol with a few hundred rounds to compensate for shoddy machining!!!
I am looking to upgrade my Accu Tek AT-380 and I live in Northern California so my choices are severely limited. I believe I would be happy with Ruger LCP 380 but, of course, it is illegal to purchase in my Beautiful but gun haters state. So these two 380s are really my only two choices for a sub 3.0 inch barrel gun. Both of these guns have to be CA Compliant so both are well over $600. Spending that much and after watching your video I believe I agree with you that the Sig is the better gun especially when they are both about the same price where I live. Thanks.
You indicate that you find acceptable a gun that runs 98% of the time w/o a failure of some sort. Why would anyone accept a weapon that is not 100% effective that is used for self defense?
For a reality check: In a firefight with a pistol with a 2-1/2 to 3" barrel, no one has time to line up the X-rays by sighting down the barrel in an "isosceles triangle stance." "In a fight, front sight." These types of pistols were not designed for target shooting at 25 yards nor for gripping the pistol with both hands. It's called a "handgun", not a "handsgun". If you need both hands and arms to handle the "tremendous" kick and flip of the lowly .380, you have no business being around any firearm.
i have a CM9 never had an issue with jams in over 500 rounds. haven't cleaned it in that many round also. i've seen other reviews about the CW380, same issues you're having but some say after 200 rounds the issues "clear up"! my wife carries & shoots a Sig P238, nice gun IMO
Had both guns also. Had almost the opposite out-come. Had to send the Sig back for repair since it jamb at least once on every mag. Got it back and it still was not a hundred percent. Sold it after that. Just got a new kahr and like it a lot for pocket carry. It has bee a hundred percent reliable so far. maybe Kahr has improve the design? I don't know, but I always use quality ammo on it and my Ruger Max which I really like too. All little guns don't seem to be as reliable as the larger models.
From watching this video and many others it's clear there is a quality control issue on the CW380 from KAHR. Seems many get a functional one that feeds everything with zero malfunctions, while many get a lemon. Shame I would love to get one but not sure I want to take the gamble. Those Sigs are super sweet tho.
I've had 5 Kahrs and one of them was not reliable when the mag was fully loaded. Other 4 were 100%. I stick with them because of their looks and the way they shoot, and that wonderful trigger.
I have a kahr ct380 just a little bit longer than the cw and after break in it has ran flawlessly regardless of type ammo used, maybe I just got lucky 😁😁
They say the P.380 is a little more reliable but both say they need a few hundred rounds to be broken in. Maybe a dremel with a polishing wheel and some toothpaste to act as a polishing compound and work that feed ramp into a mirror polished feed ramp would help?
Also with the Khar’s heavier slide spring I would be curious to see how Speer Gold Dot functions in it. Due to the increased velocity a lot of folks get through a chronograph with Gold Dots. Some people even refer to them as +p loadings even though the box does not say +p.
Dang... reliability issues w/ the kahr. I hate when u really want to get a piece and somebody just busts your bubble. But I'd actually buying it for CC use so this is important info for me. Still sucks tho cuz I wanted the kahr
Seems that the Kahr guns are highly over rated Way too many negative reviews for a supposedly premium firearm. Always seems to be feeding issues. How do u break in a gun that wont feed?
Had my Kahr cw380 1yr break in was 600 rounds down range still runs like shit , went back to carrying 38 revolver. Don’t risk your life with this thing. Kahr needs to improve their gun reliability now !
I don't have the cheaper versions of KAHR pistols, but I have the P380, PM9, and the PM45 and have had no issues except that the P380 only likes Critical Defense rounds. It doesn't like standard hollow points. Since they are carry guns, I clean them after every range trip whether I shoot one mag or 10.
Sorry to see the issues with the Kahr. Maybe it's because it's the budget version or something. I've had a PM9 for about a decade now and the trigger is long ya, but it's a super smooth pull. And I typically fire several hundred rounds per session with no issues. The only time it ever, EVER jams is when I relax my grip. That said, I will say that the biggest issue I have with the Kahr is that mine is almost too light. All that energy hitting your wrist and elbow adds up after a hundred +P rounds or so. That reminds me....Kahr have super strong recoil springs because they can digest all pressures. My PM9 is a first or second gen designed to digest +P+ but they had complaints about the stiff spring....so literally all they did was drop the spring down a step and rate it for just +P but it physically can handle +P+ still. Maybe you gave it more of a solid shake. But the video makes it look like "oh, this had a few jams so it's total garbage".
I've put +p thru a p9 cm9 and p380. All end up with peened barrels. Called kahr and they said none of their guns are rated for +p. They recommend the k series metal frames if I wanted to use higher pressure ammo... Needless to say they are getting sold. I carry a Kimber micro 9 now. Far easier to shoot and more reliable.
@@thedewdster dunno about the later models, mine is a first gen PM9 and was originally designed for +P+ and they just lowered the spring pack and rated it +P. Maybe this has changed since then, I'm just going off of what the reviews said back then and I think even the manual states similar....but don't quote me there it's late and I'm not remembering clearly. Mine has digested plenty of +P and is doing fine so I guess results vary 🤷
Honestly I don't know now, I made this video a year ago but I would imagine that you could find them on gunbroker, ebay, brownells or midwest, I hope that helps
Seems like a apple vs oranges comparison. I like the Sig better, but it's $600.00 . I was looking for a micro 380, so i bought the Kahr for $207.00 new out of the box.
I have never seen a Kahr that I would trust. When I did my last CCW renewal, a young lady had brought a Kahr 9mm to recert with. By the end of the class she was using either my walther or the instructors glock to complete her 50 rnds. Any gun that requires a 'break in period' in order to be operational is just a piece of shit.
I'm calling it a horrible trigger bc that's what it is. If you check my channel out I own several double action pistols and love them. I can just see though the hype, it doesn't hurt that I have owned just about every other pistol to compare it to.
I have owned both the Kahr CW9 and CM9. The CW9 worked flawlessly and I regret trading that one for the CM9 which was not reliable. Kahr may be hit or miss as far as getting a good one.
Yup pretty much apples and oranges. I got a Ruger LC9 early on. Same DAO idea but the Kahr is much smoother. There's no comparing to a 1911 SA trigger. Still, I like this guy's reviewing style. My CW380 has been flawless since about 200 rounds. I've heard some people have trouble with Kahrs but I can't figure out why. My CW9 was perfect right out of the box.
I bought a Kahr CW380 Krytek. What a piece of crap! Kahr claims a 200 round break-in. Well, I gave up after about wasting 150 or so rounds. Would not go into battery at all. I had to slam it in every single time. This piece of junk is a jammeister on steriods. I wasted 350.00 and their customer service dept. treats you like you are an idiot. Extremely disappointed in this gun. It wouldn't shoot any brand of ammo I tried. I wish I would have watched UA-cam videos and "believed" the extremely negative reviews on this gun. I'm currently waiting to get it back from the manufacturer but I doubt it will be any better since many have sent theirs back to Kahr and still unreliable. They should be ashamed of themselves for making such an expensive piece of junk!
To be fair, I'm a huge fan of Kahr products, so I might be unfairly biased. But after I ran the recommended 200 round "break in " through my cw380 I never had any issues as far as reliability. Just my 2¢. Great review vid, now a subscriber!
older CW380's are worse than the newer ones. I have owned mine for 5 years and NEVER had a problem with it.
@user-ss6zt2mo1l .. I'm looking at today's Khar .380 for purchase and have seen a lot of past reviews. The number one issue has been the ammo Jamming. You think khar had fixed the issues?
Flat nose ammo jams. Every ammo you tested except 1 was flat nose. Use round nose ammo. Also you're inaccurately comparing the Kahr's economical cw series with the Sig Sauer which doesn't offer an economical version. Compare the Kahr's pricey p380 with a sig and you'll notice that it's comparable in price and features. The Kahr is lighter, easier to shoot(no safety), slimmer, shorter and safer(striker fire).
I run flat nose in my CW all the time, zero issues. I think the majority of this guy's jams have more to do with his wrists than anything else.
I own and daily carry the KARH P380. I LOVE IT
I have had both pistols. I traded in the Kahr for the Sig. I found that I much prefer the metal frame over the polymer. And with the single action trigger of the Sig my 7 yard groups are about 3" as opposed to 9" or so with the Kahr. I never could get used to the striker fire and long trigger pull. The Sig is better.
Word. Never had a decent group with my Kahr either.
Just a couple of observations. First you said the Kahr is very tight. Which is why you need to do the break in. The slide is not hard to pull back and the slide lock is not hard to remove if properly broken in. You can lock the slide open for 24 hrs and see a big improvement. To say the Kahr has a bad trigger is literally the only time anyone on the Internet or in person has not said the Kahr has a great trigger. It is a double action trigger, comparing it to a single action well, apples and oranges. And the fact that you forget to take the saftryboff in a non stressful situation and it did not actuate the trigger could be deadly with a Ccw pistol.
I was thinking exactly the same.
How can you gripe about the trigger? You're comparing a DAO to a single action 1911-style trigger, of course it's going to be a nicer trigger on the p938 but as far as pocket 380's with DAO, the Kahr's trigger is the best.
He said reset, which he proved in the video
I don't understand why you choose nice wood grips then put that crappy grip tape on it.
Yeah, no point in that. Might as well just buy replacement stippled grips instead of that tape
@@Maxx2294-blyatget the hogue grips
FYI to those looking in APR 21 I own the cw380 and love it. CCI blazer brass for training and hornady crit defense runs like a champ. Best pocket pistol imho. Polish the feed ramp and get the magguts +1 spring kit. No jams thus far for me after 600 rds or so.
I spent $299 on a new Kahr P380 (a step up from the CW380) on sale from an online Florida gunstore in 2021 and IT WORKS, my experience with it & my Kahr P9 are that neither is the jam-o-matic that you experienced in this video, in fact they do function very well -after 200-300 rounds of break-in. I'd also tell you that both the P9 & P380 came with 2 flush fit mags and an extra third extended mag supplying one extra round. But you are both correct and incorrect about the triggers, they're long to pull & long to reset, I just do not have issue with this fact, make for the same trigger habit as a double action revolver trigger -point taken- and I simply don't see it as "bad". The differences between the Kahr CW & P series pistols are mostly aesthetic but there's is certainly a difference in the performances of yours & my own. My budd has the P238 and has similar thoughts on it, reliable and practical as a 380 gets, but the Kahr P & CW series are featherweights
Good vid. I own the Sig P238 pretty much since it came out. I tried every sub-compact .380 pistol on the market at the height of the pocket 380 mega-craze years back. The Sig was and is, to this day, easily the best of them for recoil, accuracy, sights, TRIGGER and build. Love it and though there are others that are OK to good, far as I've experienced, the Sig P238 is the Rolls Royce of the pocket 380 world. I also own a Taurus P238 actually carried by a family member, soley bought for the simplicity, laser fit and lightest weight of any 380. The Taursu trigger is long and pulls shots for everybody but works great after some initial tweeking. The Sig btw had to go back to Sig (failures to extract or eject), just like the Taurus, but multiple times. Once they got it right, the Sig has run over 1,000 rounds, perfectly, without failure. I think most are perfect from the start but my extractor needed tweeking. I have a very specific lower availability version asthetically and I was unwilling to switch copies and have never seen my model in another store. Anyway, love that sig, I carry and XD as long as I can but any time I need smaller, that Sig is my other carry gun and I will never ever let that gun go, for any price.
I wouldn't call the Kahr trigger "bad" or "horrible". It's a double-action trigger and is actually quite well respected compared to other DA triggers. In fact, it's a great trigger for a pocket gun being that it doesn't need a safety, due to it's long pull, nor is it as touchy as, say, a glock trigger. I certainly agree that it's easier to accurately shoot the Sig, but the Kahr trigger is quality too for what it is.
I think the trigger is pretty good on mine. It is about 7 lbs compared to other defense pistols that are around 11lbs. It has a smooth pull, not gritty. Having a longer pull is an advantage in a defensive situation where it gives you a split second to reconsider what you are about to do. It is an advantage in the court after the fact as apposed to having a light short SA trigger and having to explain that to a judge.
Yeah, it's intentionally designed with a long pull w no wall
You don't like a thumb safety on a single action but you would be crazy to carry that sig without the thumb safety on unless you carry with the hammer down which would be even more difficult to fire. That's the whole point of a long smooth double action trigger on the kahr
I don’t have the 380 but I do have a PM9. It is a long trigger. Really long. So much so that when I first dry fired it at the gun shop I thought something might be wrong with it, so had them show me another one to make sure it was the same. But, I shoot it pretty good. Better than my LCP. And when I dry fire and really concentrate on the sights I can’t keep any of my Glocks from twitching just a little as the trigger breaks. Though I still shoot them fine. But even though it’s long the Kahr doesn’t move for me at all when it breaks.
I had a Kahr cw-380 which I really liked at first. I did have problems with gun jamming, but did find that American Eagle ran fairly well. The striker went out twice and I then traded it in for a glock 42 which I like better. No problems with the glock at this time.
I'll always go with reliability over any gun
I consider trigger reset as a minor issue, because, 1 this isn't designed as a rapid fire gun, nor 2 are pocket guns engineered for accuracy past 7 yards. It is a small barrel/small grip issue. Reset is only one component to a trigger's feel, and a double action trigger is often preferred even though it is longer. Lastly, who would ever buy a single action gun without a manual safety? How would you carry it in condition 1 without a manual safety? Alternatives...maybe empty carry which is dumb, but there's a reason all 1911's have a thumb safety.
+Thomas Paine I believe that any pistol designed for carry should be capable of rapid fire and be accurate well past 7 yards, the g42 and sig p238 accomplish this with similar size and weight, and with better reliability, saying the kahr wasn't designed for it is a cop out, its just a lesser design, if you want a long trigger pull as a saftey at least get a double single action so not all your shots are so difficult, I believe they should redesign the action to a striker fired system, same low lost and weight, why not? if you want a saftey use a pocket holster you should anyway
Honest Outlaw Reviews And yet if I go to yeager or nutnfancy, they say the answer to shooting a long trigger pull accurately is trigger fundamentals, not an sa trigger. Also, what other pocket 380 is DA/SA? LCP/P3AT, Bodyguard, P709slim, g42, pico, etc....no, no, no, no, and no. All DAO striker or hammer, but no mixed fire DA/SA. I can't remember a DA/SA pocket 380. PPK, maybe, but can't remember?...and not really a pocket pistol anymore.
PS, I don't know anyone who educates on daily carry or even carriers who has ever carried a pocket 380 so that they can hit a perp at 30+ feet away. I get that it is a novelty and can be nice, but at that length, run, baby run. 2.5in barrels are pea shooters and I've only ever considered them a 10ft or less close quarters gun. Even if I consistently made 30+ ft shots with one of these, I can't imagine a scenario where I would ever try it in a public self defense situation. The slightest twitch will send rounds wide under tension.
+Thomas Paine I'm talking about kahr as a company switching to da sa and close or far the sig is more accurate you probably won't be shooting at 30 yards but you probably won't ever fire your carry gun either but it wouldn't it nice to be able to if you had to for the same size of pistol, I'm just saying that other than cost why compromise
Honest Outlaw Reviews True it is probably a cost thing as well as a philosophy. I don't think that Kahr likes DA/SA, because all of their guns have the exact same action and trigger feel. Maybe it's cheap, maybe its simple, maybe its the love for a consistent trigger pull, or maybe it's just a love for that DA revolver feel, I don't know, but out of all of the pocket 380's, only the sig and kahr have I heard any praise for the triggers.
Rapid fire has NO place in SD unless you are in the woods.
I wanted to like my CW: It's a perfect pocket size/weight, it's simple and snag-free, it hides completely in a leather rear pocket "wallet" holster and a soft-shell sleeve type for front pocket carry. I like the long trigger for safety reasons. It's simple without a manual safety. It's perfect for pocket carry...on paper. Over two years I fired over 1,000 rounds through it and it's a great shooter...when it shoots. Ball ammo, hollow point, good stuff, cheep stuff...I tried everything. I shoot it clean, i shot it dirty, shot it hot, shot it cold...even spent stupid money on extra mags to give it the benefit of the doubt. Failures to manually feed a first round, failure to automatically feed subsequent rounds, failures to eject....I experienced all of those issues regularly throughout my two years with this pistol. Despite how much I wanted and tried to like the CW380...she's gone. You have to be able to trust your EDC and after two years of trying, the CW proved to me that you just can't rely on it. I found a P238 on sale and most reviews are great, so I'm taking a long lunch break today and hope to find it far more reliable than the CW.
Duh. Send it in for repair.
For edc. Kahr p380 takes the win. After breakin its realizable. Its Smaller, much lighter and a great DAO.
For the range. The sig 238 takes the win. Its heavier so makes for a less recoil. And the sig is a beauty.
Totally agree with the Sig. I had the P238 and finally found an Off Roster SSE in CA P938. Basically the same weapon except .380 vs. 9mm. The P938 is my EDC, OWB pancake holster, does no print, totally forget it’s there. Felt sorry for a friend who loved my P938 but could not find one CA, so I broke down and parted the the P238. In colder weather when clothes allow I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP II in .45, bot both have the same manual of arms. Had a Khar P380 and still have a PM40. Sold the .380 but still trying to dump the PM40. Small striker fire prior to the small 1911s. Now they are just safe queens.
HUGE difference in amount of force necessary to rack the slide! I was shocked when I checked out the lil Kahr. Just window shopping, it was what I figured I'd be getting for this category at my LGS. Ended up getting the Sig, and the kindly senior cowboy type that was there that day with his wife? Was singing it's praises, and I have to say I whole heartedly agree... the Sig P238 is just great! For such a small pistol it's crazy accurate... once YOU learn how to control your own body mechanics in handling/holding that small gun. Once you get it down though? That sweet light SA trigger is sooo helpful for your accuracy vs these long-@ss trigger pulls these striker fired all have. I carry a G29 in the woods now, so I'm slowly getting more used to the hideously long (to me anyway, starting w revolvers as my firsts) trigger pulls that their pistols have. But I way way way more like that SA trigger. I tested my Sig with all the lead-free ammo I could get my hands on for woods carry (for locations that's don't have bear, this is all you'd need with some underwoods, and saves a lot of weight). And the nice big chunky 3-dot night-sights are fan friggin tastic! I can even do a decent job without my glasses on, and for reference... I can't read printed material without them on anymore. Easiest slide to rack of ALL of them.
This was a great comparison. Just received a Kahr CW380 and my personal gun trainer and I took it to the range and he could not get a full magazine thru it. For the first seven rounds it jammed six times. Took it to the range the next day and out of 25 rounds it jammed 18 times. Give up and sending it back after 2 days. Now considering the p238 after your great and honest review. I cannot believe guys in the comments are extolling the reliability of the Kahr when everybody on the internet are having the same disastrous experiences that I and you experienced.
You must not have went through the "required" 200 round break end, when I was a young shooter in the 60's they would have laughed your ass off of the range if you brought to the range a gun that required you to shoot 200 times to see if it needed to go back to the factory or not. When did they start selling this B.S. to the public? My new S&W M&P didn't require 200 rounds to break-end, although I did shoot it 200X the first trip to the range and neither did my CZ75 or my Browning BDA 380, none of which have never missed a stroke, maybe someday I actually get around to even cleaning them if the mood strikes me. But one thing I will bet my life on, if I pick any one of them up it will fire. One other thing, if my finger is on the trigger it is Not in the "safe" position or any pretensions of it being "safe", something fixing to happen, if it doesn't I'm selling the POS and moving on. Safe trigger my ass.
Mine was a piece of unreliable junk right out of the box. If I keep it since I will lose my shirt trading it, I will file down the extractor. That seems to be the culprit and a flaw in the design of this gun.
@@chuckremm I'm ready to pawn my CW380 off, too. Have heard about the file job on the extractor, but this should have been caught and fixed at the factory, not by observant owners. Kahr lost all my respect on this clunker. A search of the internet will show owners with the same problems over and over again. And for the record, I have shot 300 rounds thru this gun and left it overnight with the slide locked open and sat for an hour racking the slide, all so called "Remedies" for this gun's problems.
If had my kahr cw 380 for about a year . Iv ran a lot of ammo through the gun and most of it flat nose ammo . Prior to the 200 round break in a did have a couple fail to eject but no issues since the break in period . I have also ram a small amount of the dfense ammo with no issue . Only complaint is the stiff spring to operate the slide . With 1,000 plus rounds it remains pretty stiff .
My Kahr CW 380 is very ammo picky and will only run reliably (100%) when freshly cleaned to about 100 rounds. It is not designed to be a "day at the range" pistol. I'm used to Kahr triggers so I've found it to be adequately accurate out about 10-12 yards (shooting balloons). I like mine and pocket carried it daily for a couple of years. Don't need to pocket carry very often anymore but still enjoy shooting it. Thanks for your review!
Great video. Regardless of conceal-ability, weight, width, trigger pull, manual safety, caliber, mag capacity, etc, etc, etc....reliability (especially when stress and adrenaline is high) remains paramount for a pocket pistol. And why I bought the Sig.
Wouldn’t the p380 be a better comparison to the p238?
In regards to pocket carrying, I had the same problem. The holster would come out with the gun. what I do is, grab the pistol and with your middle finger, flick the holster a bit to separate them in the pocket be for you pull it out. Sort of an extra step, but I practice it with my P238. Good review.
Very nice review, subscribed!
While this is an old video, when I need to carry something smaller than my 9mm CCW, I still prefer the Sig P238. Accurate, reliable and fun to practice with. I have the original Bodyguard. 380 (horrible trigger) and bought the Ruger LCP Max a couple of years ago but still prefer the Sig. I carry with the 7 round magazine which adds a little extra length to the grip. Great gun.
I like this guy and his review method/style. I could never get used to the 1911. I have a Kahr PM9 and have been thinking about getting a P380. But I have to agree, the kahr trigger pull is too heavy, too long, and the reset is too long. That is 3 too many(s)!!!
Reality is a hard thing for some to face. Maybe there's a reason the Sig is so much more expensive beside the looks. .
Too heavy?????? Who cares about the reset?
Today I fired my CW380 for the first time. The first 25 rounds were a total disaster. Failure to eject, etc. After 25 rounds it started to work perfectly; not a single failure for the next 75 rounds. I used PPU Ammo/FMJ/94gr. for all my rounds. This ammo is kind of dirty. I did not clean the gun completely but just the barrel to see what happens.Tomorrow I'll try GECO ammo and will shoot another 50 rounds. I will do more testing before I rely 100% on it. If not close to perfect I'll go back to my Colt Mustang Pocketlite which has never failed me.
Manufacturer recommends running 200 rounds through for break in period. I bought one a couple weeks ago. After cleaning the factory grease out of it I took it to the range. I brought a box of 200 rounds of winchester fmj. Ran all 200 and had 2 failures. One at 175 and another at 185. My guess it was because it was so dirty at that point. I put 6 Hornady critical defense rounds and 6 federal hydroshock to make sure they would feed. No problems. Since then I pushed another 50 rounds and had one failure to feed with fmj. All I had to do was hit the slide lock and it started working again.
Same thing happened to me. But I had to keep pushing the slide forward with every round.-I just got a Sig P238; let's see how that one goes.
My kahr cw380 has been a great pistol it had no more problems during break in than any other new pistol
Thanks for a good video!
I keep coming back to the Sig after looking at all the other options.
It's pretty pricey, but I'm inclined to just save a little longer.
it's my favorite pocket gun for sure I like the g42 a little bit more but the sig fits my pocket better
@@HonestOutlawReviews The no-safety-striker firearm is the most accident-prone weapon ever made. And you can thank Glock for all of the accidental discharges.
@@sycamorebacker1 oh god here we go smh. People not being familiar with their firearms and being dopes is what causes the problems you throw on Glock. I don’t even like Glock fyi but striker fired guns are just as safe or safer than hammer fired guns. In competition Ive seen more accidents and malfunctions with hammer fired guns than any other. Bottom line is take time to learn your deadly weapon.
If you think the Kahr has a bad trigger, try shooting the S&W Bodyguard 380.
Atleast the bodyguard my woman carries is 100% reliable and can be safely carried without a holster cuz it has a safety. Kahr trigger is awesome but the guns as a whole are not.
@@thedewdster Bodyguard trigger is so long and heavy you don't really need a manual safety.
Have you tested karhs p380? And the karh factory manual even states all of the guns need to fire 200 rounds of any and all ammo you will fire through it before deemed reliable. I own and daily carry the KARH P380. I can say the first 200rds are quite frustrating but once through it this little bastard of a gun is quite reliable.
Hi I just found u and enjoy ur test and so on, I have both as well the Kahr was a hat to love firearm???? first 400 rounds could not get I magazine to complete. So I gave it to a friend who is a gun smith, he filed the extractor... well over 1000 rounds I am very accurate with Kahr... and it is a whole lot more reliable...I'd say 95%.... thank u your imput and as you say every one is different...
OH AISO I USE M-Pro 7 lube for all my slide rails in all semi pistols...
Do the break in and the Kahr will run perfectly. Of course, the single action trigger is better, but the only real way to carry the Sig is Condition 1. You forgot to disengage the safety under normal conditions. What would you do under stress. The Kahr is small, lightweight, reliable (after break in), has a great double action trigger, and is simpler to use. No thanks on the Sig, I’ll keep my Kahr.
Better comparison would be with the Kahr P380 with the Lothar Walther Match-Grade Barrel and night sights.
Clear, succinct analytics - thx!
Nice review but dude you cannot compare ANY single action trigger to a double action there is absolutely no comparison no matter how good you modify your double action it just is not going to be as good.
+rezdog187 some of the people who watch this video may not know that so I tried to simplify it, but thats usually true, unless you count da/sa guns like the cz shadow, and that was why I was kinda hard on the kahr, because I really dont see a use for an all double action trigger.
You do not need to modify any Kahr trigger. I carry mine in a pocket, sans holster. Obviously you have never shot a Kahr.
That Alabama holster has a thumb push off tab on it, so you dont pull out the holster when you draw the pistol from your pocket. You should utilize it
Enjoyed the video keep up the good work
P.S. One easy trick people do is make a piece of wood of the right size and jam it into ejection slot of the Kahr. Carry it in the same pocket with the brushes. This also applies to SiG P290.
that's interesting I've never heard of that
a lot of shooters love the kahr trigger. the triggers are supposed to be safe. I think most people care about safety. The kahr trigger is great!
Why a Kahr cw380 and not a P380?
Greetings from Kentucky....My EDC is a Kahr PM 45 and also have a Kahr CW 45 and haven't had a moments problems from either. The CW 380 that I bought for backup is quite another story. After a 500 round break in period we parted ways because of reliability reasons.
if you are still in the market for a backup my kahr cw9 isn't perfect but a lot more reliable than the 380
+Honest Outlaw Reviews cm9 sry
Man I wish the Kahr 380 series were more reliable. Love the look, size, and manual of arms in the Kahr. in the market for a pocket 380 to wear around the house or jogging when I just don't feel like belt carrying and I just can't find one that like. I G42 isn't really pocket size in my opinion, I don't want a SA, and I had bad luck with the LCP.
R Priest I have one and it's reliable.
Can you consider doing a kahr cw380 review again
I've been looking at the Sigs and it seems they only come with one mag and the price on those are $45 I just checked today.
The magazines for the Kimber micro 380, the Springfield 911 in 380, and the Sig P238 are interchangeable. I bought Kimber mags for like $18 each and they work flawlessly in my Sig P238.
I just ordered a p380 - and I have a 938 (not 238). I'm looking to ditch weight but the 938 is a pretty slick gun.
If you failed to clean your Kahr and/or failed to the proper 200-round break-in, then you have no right to complain about its reliability. Since you failed to mention these, I presume you did not. TD. You can have all the 1911-style Sigs you want, I'll take my Kahr's!!
lol I did both of those.. but even if I didn't I still don't want a gun that needs to be perfectly clean, I cleaned it periodically through the test, used different types of ammo, and it still didn't work, no excuse, there are plenty of better guns on the market
TK has his Kahr for less than 4 months and he's already a die-hard "fanboy". I'd take that as a great endorsement of Kahr if this wasn't his first gun. Noobs always LOVE whatever gun they buy first. Kahr's are not bad guns, but not nearly as reliable as a SIG; that's why SIG is able to charge so damn much for their pistols (usually double what the competitors charge for similar offerings). TK will come around eventually, but for now, just let him enjoy the "newness" of being a gun owner. Agree with him or disagree with him, at least he's on "our side".
Can't wait till Greg actually buys a SIG and realizes how piss poor the quality has become lately.
Can't even explain how hilariously ironic it is for you to call anyone a "fanboy". XD
I hate my Kahr lol. I have a cw9 and it shoots awful, garbage sights
If your gun is inoperable without a break in period, its a POS. Sorry Kahr fan boys, but Kahrs are just expensive Kel-Tecs.
What was the little screen on his wrist displaying the camera
My jframe revolver has never jammed on me. Luckily I've never needed more than 5 rounds... yet.
Just out of curiosity have you ever needed one round?
I have the Kahr, have 8-900 rounds through it, had one failure to eject in first mag. Nothing since. It IS stiff; slide is harder to manipulate, is harder to break down. Trigger is a little long but not unusual for a striker fired weapon, and good for pocket carry. Much better trigger than Ruger LCP or LCP2, which are both DAO. I also found the Kahr much easier to shoot with less recoil than the LCP. Glock 19 is my in-home go to pistol and the Kahr trigger is pretty much the same. I love 1911 style pistols but I don't want to be pulling one out my pocket in an emergency. Pull and shoot. Kahr fits anywhere and it works. And it cost me $287 (new) plus $20 for an extra mag on Ebay. I carry a .38+P Ruger LCR IWB or pocket carry the Kahr. Carry the Glock on occasion. Sig makes great weapons. The 238 and 938 are VERY nice products, great shooters for small guns. Expensive and you have to be comfortable with cocked and locked and the safety. I would probably be fine with it but would rather not have to worry about it. Pull, point, shoot.
Kahr is an amazing pistol and not just for the $ - I have Kahrs and Glocks and if I pick up a Kahr then pick up a Glock, the Glock feels wayyy cheaper. Kahrs are finely tuned shooting machines. Glocks are great too and probably more reliable overall but they use polymer everywhere that Kahr uses steel (magazine, trigger, mag catch, sights, etc.)
Absolutely love my Kahr K9, absolutely HATE my Kahr CW380. The CW380 was sent back to Kahr but still misfires. Would NEVER trust my life to this .380!
the sig has a safety which you forgot to disengage in a non-stressful situation. would you remember under stress? that is why i do not carry a sign p238 or p239. the other small 380's do not have a safety, and in my opinion, are better defensive pocket pistol options.
All it takes is muscle memory the same as knowing not to put your finger in the trigger guard unless you're ready to shoot. Most people are just too lazy to learn the motions.
Red herring. I own a P238 and have no issues remembering to disengage the safety. If you actually shoot your pistol from time to time, and train properly, you should have no issues. If remembering a two-step process: 1) disengage the safety; 2) press the trigger, is that complicated for you, then you probably should not drive a car, let alone own a pistol (Put shifter in Drive, press accelerator with the right foot, press brake with right foot, put shifter in Park. What's more difficult?)
The Sig p239 does NOT have a manual safety! Where did you get that information from?
The moment at 7:44 when safety is forgotten is why SA guns like P238 are completely obsolete. The real elephant in this room really is Glock 42. Yes it's larger somewhat, but it's still suitable for pocket carry with the exception of vallet holster in a rear pocket of jeans.
+Pete Zaitcev I wouldn't say it's obsolete. Yes, the safety may be forgotten, but overall the Sig is an amazing gun, and it does outperform the Kahr by leaps and bounds. It's honestly even better than the G42, in my opinion, with the only exception being the safety.
I agree with the safety issues it's easy to forget I carry glockl for that reason
Completely a training issue period. Imagine that a glock guy forgot the safety.
+rezdog187 lol I guess you know I own both right?
Your review matches my experience. I have both the sig and the p238 and the Kahr P380 (the up scale one) Actually I have had several of each. I really like the Kahr trigger the best, but I grew up on DA revolvers. Both guns are not 100% reliable - The Sig is almost 100% reliable (almost) it can act up a little when it gets dirty.. The Kahr(s) are all VERY ammo sensitive. Ruger ARX and Critical Defense have both been good in mine, but not great,. For FMJ the Kahr likes Blazer brass and PMC 90 grain (go figure) Again not 100% reliable. The Sig shoots just about anything. The Kahr is much more difficult to maintain. I would carry the Sig. I would not carry the Kahr. I have several larger 9mm Kahrs - they have been 100% reliable and are excellent guns but all Kahrs have very high recoil spring tension and so are hard to disassemble and put back together.
Thanks for your excellent review!
So if you're in a fight that goes 2 or 300 rounds your kahr might stop being reliable? Really?
Thanks for posting.
Kahr CW380 really isn't that bad. Takes 2-300 rounds to break in, after that the gun runs great. If your looking for just reliability out the box just get GLOCK for your EDC. Both are great guns but I would have to say this was more of an opinionated review of personal preference.
If the gun works during testing I say it, if it doesn't I say it, that's not an opinion it's a fact.
I am a sucker for .380 pocket pistols. I have yet to own a Sig 238 or 938 so I won’t comment. I have owned the Ruger LCP, LCP ll and the Max. I bought a used Kahr CW380 in early 2021. I kept it until today. Love the trigger and the general ergonomics or the gun especially with the Pearce pinky extensions installed on the mags. However after lots of ammo testing and self defense simulations it is obvious that the Kahr that I owned could not be trusted. The top round in the magazine rarely fed properly so even with one in the chamber the first round to feed from the mag would get its nose stuck near the bottom of the feed ramp. Not good so bye bye!!!! Back to my Glock 42 and the old totally trustworthy M&P Bodyguard 380 both of which have never had any issues whatsoever.
Love it but I feel sorry for Kahr-not really! You are probably the only UTube gunslinger who has anything positive to say about safeties. Lol.
As an old .45 guy I feel competent to use a safety! Our family has 2 shields with safeties and a sig p238 black pearl. Excellent weapon!
Thanks for your unexpurged review!! Kahr, Kimber, and others need to put pistols out that are 100% reliable right out if the box.,..Noone should have to break in a pistol with a few hundred rounds to compensate for shoddy machining!!!
I am looking to upgrade my Accu Tek AT-380 and I live in Northern California so my choices are severely limited. I believe I would be happy with Ruger LCP 380 but, of course, it is illegal to purchase in my Beautiful but gun haters state. So these two 380s are really my only two choices for a sub 3.0 inch barrel gun. Both of these guns have to be CA Compliant so both are well over $600. Spending that much and after watching your video I believe I agree with you that the Sig is the better gun especially when they are both about the same price where I live. Thanks.
Sig sauer any day 7 day
You indicate that you find acceptable a gun that runs 98% of the time w/o a failure of some sort. Why would anyone accept a weapon that is not 100% effective that is used for self defense?
reality is nothing that is mechanical is 100%. He is trying to make a point not a true statistical %
Because that is impossible.
For a reality check: In a firefight with a pistol with a 2-1/2 to 3" barrel, no one has time to line up the X-rays by sighting down the barrel in an "isosceles triangle stance." "In a fight, front sight." These types of pistols were not designed for target shooting at 25 yards nor for gripping the pistol with both hands. It's called a "handgun", not a "handsgun". If you need both hands and arms to handle the "tremendous" kick and flip of the lowly .380, you have no business being around any firearm.
i have a CM9 never had an issue with jams in over 500 rounds. haven't cleaned it in that many round also. i've seen other reviews about the CW380, same issues you're having but some say after 200 rounds the issues "clear up"! my wife carries & shoots a Sig P238, nice gun IMO
Had both guns also. Had almost the opposite out-come. Had to send the Sig back for repair since it jamb at least once on every mag. Got it back and it still was not a hundred percent. Sold it after that. Just got a new kahr and like it a lot for pocket carry. It has bee a hundred percent reliable so far. maybe Kahr has improve the design? I don't know, but I always use quality ammo on it and my Ruger Max which I really like too. All little guns don't seem to be as reliable as the larger models.
From watching this video and many others it's clear there is a quality control issue on the CW380 from KAHR. Seems many get a functional one that feeds everything with zero malfunctions, while many get a lemon. Shame I would love to get one but not sure I want to take the gamble. Those Sigs are super sweet tho.
Thanks for your time. Was going to buy the but now I'm not going to buy a kar
What watch are you wearing?
I've had 5 Kahrs and one of them was not reliable when the mag was fully loaded. Other 4 were 100%. I stick with them because of their looks and the way they shoot, and that wonderful trigger.
sycamorebacker1 I've got two Khars myself (a pm40 & p40) and I'm looking at purchasing a .380. I've also had no issues.
@@tiaraharrison8843 I had a PM40. That baby kicks!
Do you think there's any possibility of knocking the safety to fire accidentally on the Sig ?
No it’s a very firm positive clicking safety
hey outlaw, what kinda watch were you wearing when doing the "home defense" scene?
I have a kahr ct380 just a little bit longer than the cw and after break in it has ran flawlessly regardless of type ammo used, maybe I just got lucky 😁😁
They say the P.380 is a little more reliable but both say they need a few hundred rounds to be broken in. Maybe a dremel with a polishing wheel and some toothpaste to act as a polishing compound and work that feed ramp into a mirror polished feed ramp would help?
Also with the Khar’s heavier slide spring I would be curious to see how Speer Gold Dot functions in it. Due to the increased velocity a lot of folks get through a chronograph with Gold Dots. Some people even refer to them as +p loadings even though the box does not say +p.
Dang... reliability issues w/ the kahr. I hate when u really want to get a piece and somebody just busts your bubble. But I'd actually buying it for CC use so this is important info for me. Still sucks tho cuz I wanted the kahr
Guy said in comment section that underwood xtreme penetrater ammo actually didn't perform as much as expected on real flesh and bones while hunting.
I have enjoyed your other videos that I have watched but after watching this one I wonder if those were biased as well.
everybody is slightly bias, I have a huge bias against guns that don't function correctly
Seems that the Kahr guns are highly over rated Way too many negative reviews for a supposedly premium firearm. Always seems to be feeding issues. How do u break in a gun that wont feed?
By selling it and walking away. I wanted to love mine, but I could not trust it if I needed to use it in a real life situation.
Ive been looking into all kinds of pocket pistols and things lately forget that life is valuable I’m just gonna get a glock lol
Had my Kahr cw380 1yr break in was 600 rounds down range still runs like shit , went back to carrying 38 revolver. Don’t risk your life with this thing. Kahr needs to improve their gun reliability now !
Can you do a update video
So what I’m hearing is you think Kahr is not on the go-to list? ;)
I don't have the cheaper versions of KAHR pistols, but I have the P380, PM9, and the PM45 and have had no issues except that the P380 only likes Critical Defense rounds. It doesn't like standard hollow points. Since they are carry guns, I clean them after every range trip whether I shoot one mag or 10.
Sorry to see the issues with the Kahr. Maybe it's because it's the budget version or something. I've had a PM9 for about a decade now and the trigger is long ya, but it's a super smooth pull. And I typically fire several hundred rounds per session with no issues. The only time it ever, EVER jams is when I relax my grip.
That said, I will say that the biggest issue I have with the Kahr is that mine is almost too light. All that energy hitting your wrist and elbow adds up after a hundred +P rounds or so. That reminds me....Kahr have super strong recoil springs because they can digest all pressures. My PM9 is a first or second gen designed to digest +P+ but they had complaints about the stiff spring....so literally all they did was drop the spring down a step and rate it for just +P but it physically can handle +P+ still.
Maybe you gave it more of a solid shake. But the video makes it look like "oh, this had a few jams so it's total garbage".
I've put +p thru a p9 cm9 and p380. All end up with peened barrels. Called kahr and they said none of their guns are rated for +p. They recommend the k series metal frames if I wanted to use higher pressure ammo... Needless to say they are getting sold. I carry a Kimber micro 9 now. Far easier to shoot and more reliable.
@@thedewdster dunno about the later models, mine is a first gen PM9 and was originally designed for +P+ and they just lowered the spring pack and rated it +P. Maybe this has changed since then, I'm just going off of what the reviews said back then and I think even the manual states similar....but don't quote me there it's late and I'm not remembering clearly. Mine has digested plenty of +P and is doing fine so I guess results vary 🤷
Does anyone know what the camera on his wrist was?
I thought the sig only came with 1 six round mag.
Depends on which model you choose. Some have two mags, while others have one and a worthless, form fitting, plastic paddle holster.
Where were you finding 238 mags for $20? I can't find them under $40
Honestly I don't know now, I made this video a year ago but I would imagine that you could find them on gunbroker, ebay, brownells or midwest, I hope that helps
The magazines for the Sig P238 are interchangeable with those of the Kimber Micro 380 and the Springfield 911 in 380. Saved me quite a few $$$
And that’s the problem with the Sig is you forgot the safety , and how would someone including you react in a very stressful situation
Seems like a apple vs oranges comparison. I like the Sig better, but it's $600.00 . I was looking for a micro 380, so i bought the Kahr for $207.00 new out of the box.
I have never seen a Kahr that I would trust. When I did my last CCW renewal, a young lady had brought a Kahr 9mm to recert with. By the end of the class she was using either my walther or the instructors glock to complete her 50 rnds. Any gun that requires a 'break in period' in order to be operational is just a piece of shit.
My CW9 has been 100% reliable from day 1, no break in.
Dan Wesson, Wilson combat, Les Baer they all require two or three hundred round break-in and they're not pieces of s*** for sure
Calling it "really horrible trigger" simply because it's not a SA or a short reset striker-fired is pretty weak.
I'm calling it a horrible trigger bc that's what it is. If you check my channel out I own several double action pistols and love them. I can just see though the hype, it doesn't hurt that I have owned just about every other pistol to compare it to.
I think Kahr is one of the best triggers you can get.
Kahrs easily have one of the best DA triggers out there, no hype
I have owned both the Kahr CW9 and CM9. The CW9 worked flawlessly and I regret trading that one for the CM9 which was not reliable. Kahr may be hit or miss as far as getting a good one.
Yup pretty much apples and oranges. I got a Ruger LC9 early on. Same DAO idea but the Kahr is much smoother. There's no comparing to a 1911 SA trigger. Still, I like this guy's reviewing style.
My CW380 has been flawless since about 200 rounds. I've heard some people have trouble with Kahrs but I can't figure out why. My CW9 was perfect right out of the box.
I prefer the Kahr as a tiny carry option . If you want to go bigger , get a small 9mm .
I have the kahr cw380. Really unreliable. Sent it to kahr. Took 4 months. Still jams in every way a gun can jam.
Kahr has a lemon on their hands and knows it. Check out the extractor fix on UA-cam. Maybe it might work for you. I've given up on mine.
Ah man that grip tape over that pretty p238 makes me sad.
shooting faster is better than looking good, sometimes
I also have a Kahr cw380 , reliable only with hardball ammo . Any actual hollow point it wont run them . The ramp is to steep
Even Critical Defense?
#2 is reliability?
Reliability should always be #1 with no compromise.
I bought a Kahr CW380 Krytek. What a piece of crap! Kahr claims a 200 round break-in. Well, I gave up after about wasting 150 or so rounds. Would not go into battery at all. I had to slam it in every single time. This piece of junk is a jammeister on steriods. I wasted 350.00 and their customer service dept. treats you like you are an idiot. Extremely disappointed in this gun. It wouldn't shoot any brand of ammo I tried. I wish I would have watched UA-cam videos and "believed" the extremely negative reviews on this gun. I'm currently waiting to get it back from the manufacturer but I doubt it will be any better since many have sent theirs back to Kahr and still unreliable. They should be ashamed of themselves for making such an expensive piece of junk!
Were you dropping the slide with the slide release as you're supposed to, or sling-shotting it?
Sig: oh, safety is on...you're dead. No thanks.
I had a CW380....hated it.
Awesome video!
CT380 kicks the CWs ass