Chime in. PK380 Good or bad experience.

[HolyKngt]

Originally Posted by table42

I've moved on to my next purchase which will be another .380; the Ruger LCP, Keltec P3At or Taurus TCP, I can't decide.

Just my opinion, I've shot the Taurus TCP, and my friend has had multiple problems with it, FTEs, and even some misfires with good ammunition.
The Keltecs in general are notorious for jamming, and being unreliable (except the old .32s they proved them selves in the 90s)
I've shot about 1,500 rounds through my Ruger LCP, and it hasn't had one problem. (It doesn't lock the slide back when empty, but most pocket guns don't)

[amin_aur]

Hi!

No regrets buying the pistol. I've put 500 rounds through it and had one failure to eject. I like the ergonomics of the pistol, the size and weight. It's a fun pistol to shoot. I'm concerned about the scraping of the barrel, though. Has anyone had an issue with that?

AA

[HolyKngt]

Originally Posted by amin_aur

No regrets buying the pistol. I've put 500 rounds through it and had one failure to eject. I like the ergonomics of the pistol, the size and weight. It's a fun pistol to shoot. I'm concerned about the scraping of the barrel, though. Has anyone had an issue with that?

Scraping of the barrel? Please explain, sounds like something that shouldn't be that way

[eddbrowne]

"Scraping of the barrel? Please explain ..."

The barrel is stainless MIM (not PM), even though the bore was
likely cold drawn/forged before the riflings were broached/drawn.
The common heat-treated color of (magnetic-martensitic) stainless is black,
and it's cheaper to leave it that way.

But the barrel OD was left as turned. As the rough barrel wears against the
supporting port in the slide, the black surface wears off, and the barrel can
become very rough from "chatter". It's only a cosmetic problem, but it's ugly.
They should have brushed or tumbled the barrel to smooth rough
features, and to remove the black surface.

I polished all exterior black surfaces, which also cleaned up sharp edges.
Now it looks like dull polished stainless, as it should have been NIB.

[Krohbar]

Took our PK380 back out today, ran 116 rounds through in rapid succession. Not a single FTE. A few more trips like that and I'll be happy that is the weapon that my wife will carry. Early on must have just been some gunk or was picky with the ammo. Shot Remington FMJs, Blazers, and Hornady Critical Defense the first trip. Today was the rest of the Hornady Critical Defense, and a box of Winchester white box.

[Krohbar]

Quick video I took at the range today:

YouTube - FIRING WALTHER PK380

YouTube - FIRING WALTHER PK380

[citizen-alpha]

I sent my Pk380 back to S&W because of an issue with the spiral pen that goes through the hammer and holds the gun together came half way out of the the pistol after only about 200 rounds through it... btw I purchased it New in late Feb. 2011.

S&W's sending me a refund, because I told them that I couldn't trust my life with an issue like this happening to a brand new firearm. Other than that the 200 rounds that I put through it had no jams, miss fires or ftf.

I'll be moving on to Ruger's SR9C it's around the same price, the same size only it's a 9mm with a 10+1 and a 17+1 magazine and was 2010's gun of the year.

Sorry guys, but I gave her a go

[eddbrowne]

Spend some time looking at independent reviews and comments.
And see if you can first test the gun you buy.
That Ruger has had some issues, including FTFire (light strikes).
At least make sure it has had the drop-fire flaw fixed. (there's some stamp on the frame)
The hi-cap mags have had trouble.

If I was looking for 9mm carry, I'd get the Bersa Pro 9 UC.
It fires when ready. But they are very hard to find lately.

[dblalock]

I think you know how I feel, as is indicated in my post about failure to extract.

Love the ergonomics of the gun. Lack of recoil and ease of racking made my wife fall in love with it initially.

But, since the FTE problem, she's pretty much lost all confidence in the gun as a weapon she can count on when it's time to defend herself. That's a sad statement. I know that there are plenty of folks that bought a 'good' PK380, and I hope that the gun gives them years of trouble free service. There are however, another subset of the PK owner population that do have problems with the gun. We look to the manufacturer to help us out, not by going out of their way, but simply by honoring the warranty that they wrote and attached to the gun. Just a somple commitment to customer service after the sale. I havent' seen any such commitment from the Smith-Walther people, and based on my experience with our problem, it's not just an issue with a random customer service rep, it seems to be more an attitude they've cultivated into a daily business practices.

Probably, someone will respond with stories of prompt, efficient service from Walther America, and I say 'good for them'. This is my experience, and I'don't think I'm in the minority.

If your gun works GREAT! If it doesn't - good luck.

DB

[blfunder]

I love this gun. I keep it in my apartment and shoot tactical competition with it, as well. The only problem was after about 200 rounds, it started having FTEs. Sent it back and, within a month or so, had it back and it runs perfectly now (about 1000 rounds later). Perfect for home defense and concealed carry.