My Story. Traded a Hi-Point 380 ($75 allowed - had added one extra MAG, had case also) in at Smoky Mtn Gun&Ammo for a TAURUS 380 end of Dec 2018 cause they were on sale then at $169.99 plus a $35 Rebate (now the guns are seen for $129.99 or even $119,99).
Summary: (I wrote this in a reply to a U-Tube Poster regarding his Spectrum).
Like you (referring to the poster on U-Tube), I like the look, feel, and shooting (when it is OK) but at same time I don't have much use for a 380 (AMMO Prices, etc.). I went with it cause thought might want to Pocket Carry sometime and did not have a use for the Hi_point 380 (too clunky to carry and AMMO to expensive to target shoot).
PROBLEMS with the Spectrum (NOTE: Resolved now it appears).
First shoot, I estimate 40% of rounds took 2, 3, or 4 trigger pulls to fire (as well as some feed problems like yours where bullet jammed into feed ramp - not so much extract or eject problems you have). TAURUS took it back (paid shipping also) and seemed to have fixed the Fail to Fire problem - I shot 68 rounds the day I got it back, but still had two Fail to Fire.
Then couple shoots later (maybe another 30 rounds a few days later), it started locking back while shooting. It took me a couple more shoots (days later) to realize that the Lock Back Lever was moving up and catching the slide (no spring tension to hold LBL down). TAURUS took it back (paid shipping also). It came came back and has worked good since. I don't think I have had any failures except one fail to feed - bullet wedged on ramp (more on that later).
The second trip to TAURUS - It appeared they had installed a new recoil spring (stiffer and very hard to install it and the rod when reassembling - I actually use a 22 cleaning rod fed thru the front into the spring to keep it straight while pushing the rod fwd to where it needs to be).
It also appeared they installed a new striker at least parts of it (spring) is different color than before.
As I said - all worked OK except the one fail to feed (bullet wedged at base of ramp, actually the bullet contacts the wedge below the center point of the bullet - seems should load). So, sort of like you modifying the bottom of the Feed Ramp, but I went a bit more extreme. I modified the bottom of the fed ramp by thinning it and actually making it a bit "U" shaped (very slight 'U") VS straight across. Maybe help understand if I say - looking down at the ramp from top of barrel, see slight "U".
I probably have ran 100 or maybe 200 thru it since with no failures. That includes some aluminum case, and some flat nose (stuff I bought from a friend that sold his 380). Anyway, lately I am satisfied with the gun and find it fun to shoot.
Biggest problem now is that it is a 380 and AMMO is more expensive than 9MM by $0.05 or $0.10 a round (shoot 100 rounds, talking $5 or $10 - Ain't worth it to practice). And, I am not sure I want to mess with pocket carry -- trade it when AMMO is gone (Maybe trade, doubt get more than $50 out of it).
Summary: (I wrote this in a reply to a U-Tube Poster regarding his Spectrum).
Like you (referring to the poster on U-Tube), I like the look, feel, and shooting (when it is OK) but at same time I don't have much use for a 380 (AMMO Prices, etc.). I went with it cause thought might want to Pocket Carry sometime and did not have a use for the Hi_point 380 (too clunky to carry and AMMO to expensive to target shoot).
PROBLEMS with the Spectrum (NOTE: Resolved now it appears).
First shoot, I estimate 40% of rounds took 2, 3, or 4 trigger pulls to fire (as well as some feed problems like yours where bullet jammed into feed ramp - not so much extract or eject problems you have). TAURUS took it back (paid shipping also) and seemed to have fixed the Fail to Fire problem - I shot 68 rounds the day I got it back, but still had two Fail to Fire.
Then couple shoots later (maybe another 30 rounds a few days later), it started locking back while shooting. It took me a couple more shoots (days later) to realize that the Lock Back Lever was moving up and catching the slide (no spring tension to hold LBL down). TAURUS took it back (paid shipping also). It came came back and has worked good since. I don't think I have had any failures except one fail to feed - bullet wedged on ramp (more on that later).
The second trip to TAURUS - It appeared they had installed a new recoil spring (stiffer and very hard to install it and the rod when reassembling - I actually use a 22 cleaning rod fed thru the front into the spring to keep it straight while pushing the rod fwd to where it needs to be).
It also appeared they installed a new striker at least parts of it (spring) is different color than before.
As I said - all worked OK except the one fail to feed (bullet wedged at base of ramp, actually the bullet contacts the wedge below the center point of the bullet - seems should load). So, sort of like you modifying the bottom of the Feed Ramp, but I went a bit more extreme. I modified the bottom of the fed ramp by thinning it and actually making it a bit "U" shaped (very slight 'U") VS straight across. Maybe help understand if I say - looking down at the ramp from top of barrel, see slight "U".
I probably have ran 100 or maybe 200 thru it since with no failures. That includes some aluminum case, and some flat nose (stuff I bought from a friend that sold his 380). Anyway, lately I am satisfied with the gun and find it fun to shoot.
Biggest problem now is that it is a 380 and AMMO is more expensive than 9MM by $0.05 or $0.10 a round (shoot 100 rounds, talking $5 or $10 - Ain't worth it to practice). And, I am not sure I want to mess with pocket carry -- trade it when AMMO is gone (Maybe trade, doubt get more than $50 out of it).