first time handgun owner

[heathenhawker]

I just got my first handgun of my own over the weekend, PK380 serial 027xxx, for a really good deal. Bartered for it with a friend that owns a gun shop! He had me use up a mag of Federal fmj's to make sure I liked it and I really do. It's comfortable, I like the spring tension, and I don't think it will take me much practice to get very accurate with it. I think it may have been gently used as there's a bit of wear on the right side of the action, but it came with everything in the case as if it were brand new, including the spent shell from the factory. I've been bugging my husband for something of my own for a while now as he drives semi truck and so I'm by myself alot. He left me his, a Ruger p89 9mm, and I can handle it well enough to be comfortable using it, but I really don't like it.

Here's the reason I'm posting this: I honestly have very minimal experience with semi auto's. I own a couple working heirloom rifles passed down from my grandparents, and have taken down a ton of rabbits with them. I took a ladies shooting course a few years ago, but have only handled handguns a couple times since then. So after bringing this one home and getting myself familiar with it these are the things I'm wondering about:
1 - when I pull the action back, the barrel is all loose and wiggly. It all seats fine when closed though. Is this normal??
2 - if I put a round directly in the chamber by hand, 4 out of 5 times the action won't close all the way, it stops short about 1/8 of an inch. I take the round back out and it closes all the way. I checked and the round is seating properly. It fed from the mag just fine the other day. Is there something that needs to be cleaned or filed??
3 - the mags don't fit tight in the grip, they're slightly loose. Is this normal?

I think I'll be cleaning it before I take it out for more practice, I just need to get some more cleaning oil. I was just wondering if there's anything else I should know.

Also, I've been looking into holster options for when I'm out and about. I wanted something for when I'm out wandering around the desert by myself (I'm a falconer and I'm becoming addicted to rock hounding.. ) and I really liked the pics of the waist pack style one I saw on the Cornered Cat website... Any suggestions on where to shop for that type?

[table42]

Welcome to the forum

1 - Yes, the wiggle is normal. The tilting barrel is a common action that has about 100 years of history behind it.
2 - Mine does the same, especially when a little dirty from shooting or time for a light clean and lub. I don't normally do that anymore.
3 - "slightly loose" would be normal, I would describe mine as slightly loose.

[heathenhawker]

Thankyou! Those were my suspicions, I just wanted to be sure!

[KsThumper]

>> 2 - if I put a round directly in the chamber by hand <<

Page 16 of the Owners Manual says:

WARNING: Always load a round into the chamber by feeding it from the magazine. Failure to follow this warning can result in severe injury or death to you or others. never attempt to load the pistol by inserting a round into the open ejection port.

PK380 Safety And Operating Instructions

[heathenhawker]

Originally Posted by KsThumper

>> 2 - if I put a round directly in the chamber by hand <<

Page 16 of the Owners Manual says:



PK380 Safety And Operating Instructions

Haha! I totally missed that, thanx!

[ShipWreck]

Loading it by hand in an open chamber can break the extractor. The extractor has to jump over the edge of the rim.

Some guns, like the Beretta 92, are specifically made to be able to load that way in an emergency, but most are not. However, a few times is usually okay. Doing it a lot can break your extractor

[heathenhawker]

Originally Posted by ShipWreck

Loading it by hand in an open chamber can break the extractor. The extractor has to jump over the edge of the rim.

Some guns, like the Beretta 92, are specifically made to be able to load that way in an emergency, but most are not. However, a few times is usually okay. Doing it a lot can break your extractor

That makes sense. It's just that some of the stuff I've seen on it states: Capacity 8 + 1 rounds; which lead me to believe it was o.k. to load one into the chamber.
The manual also says: "Never use non-standard, reloaded or "handloaded" ammunition which has not been subjected to internal ballistic pressure testing." But since I've seen that a number of people do anyway, I figured that must just be a disclaimer.? I was hoping to be able to use reloads.

[searcher451]

HH: Load the pistol, rack the slide, then drop the magazine and add a round. Now reinsert the magazine ... and presto. As to reloads, the better rule of thumb might be to avoid all reloads except your own, provided you know what you are doing. You can't for a minute assume that the other guy does ... because too often, he doesn't.

[table42]

Dittos! What he said.