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TVirusOutbreak
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Posted: 6/21/2012 5:25:46 PM

THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT
For those who own/have shot this little beast....what do you think of it? Just purchased one...have not shot it....hear there is a "break-in" period for it. How does it compare to the Ruger LCP?

Any accessories you feel are a must have?

Best ammo you've put thru it?

Any issues keeping one loaded?....I reference this as keeping the chamber hot...which I do not plan on doing anyway....just curious.

olscruffy
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Posted: 6/21/2012 8:21:00 PM
I have two. They are full of Corbon DPX. They are not for sale. No break in period,
no malfunctions at all.

I know someone knowing about guns who had both, sold the Ruger.
YMMV
Clarkma
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Posted: 6/24/2012 7:58:49 PM

With the accessory clip from the Kel-Tec web site store, it will clip into my shirt pocket like a pen or a pocket flashlight.
http://keltecweapons.com/product/belt-clip-fits-p-32-or-p-3at/

The P3AT case support measure .270", which is bottom of the bucket along with the Ruger LCP
Factory ammo Buffalo bore 90 gr JHP +P from a Kel-Tec P3AT does 1100 fps
I have worked up 90 gr JHP to 6.2 gr Power Pistol to find the threshold of case bulge, 1100 fps
I have worked up 115 gr JHP to 4.6 gr Power Pistol to find the threshold of case bulge.
I have worked up 115 gr JHP to 3.4 gr Bullseye to find the threshold of case bulge.
AR15Texan
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Posted: 6/24/2012 8:19:39 PM
I have both the KelTec and the Ruger LCP. The Ruger feels better, but I carry the Kel-Tec since I have more time on it. Try shooting them at 25 yards off hand.
jdub229r
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Posted: 6/27/2012 7:50:09 PM
Have carried mine in my back pocket an Ace Case sleeve every day for the last 3 years. Honady XTP's & spare mag with the same in my front pocket. I have 300-350 rounds thru it & have done a fluff & buff job. I shoot a mag every couple of months as a function test; then clean it. No worries!
Bram
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Posted: 7/1/2012 11:05:37 AM
[Last Edit: 7/1/2012 11:06:54 AM by Bram]
Approximately 250 rounds into mine, and it chokes on everything I feed it. Tried some dollar-a-round Pow'rball this morning with no luck. Constant FTE's.

It's easily the most unreliable firearm I've ever owned.
echo_5
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Posted: 7/1/2012 1:07:15 PM
I love mine.

I also carry with DPX and recommend the pocket clip.
I also recommend the +1 mag extensions.

Dual weilding, I knocked all ten pins off the table.

Legalize Freedom!
felrom
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Posted: 7/1/2012 5:00:37 PM
I have one I carry when I travel on business; my wife, dad and FIL all carry one daily. Out of those four, they all required a break-in period of about 200 rounds, but after that I don't recall any of them having problems with high quality self defense ammunition.

My BIL bought the Ruger LCP and in my opinion the Ruger's trigger was MUCH nicer. Neither gun is meant for much more than point blank range, but with the smoother trigger on the Ruger a shot at 20+ yards wouldn't be out of the question. For my uses though, that didn't justify the extra $80.
The NFA's days are numbered. One day I will walk out of a gun show with a new machine gun in my hands. No tax. No wait. Present CHL. Hand over cash. Fill out a 4473. And leave.
dogrunner
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Posted: 7/2/2012 1:12:21 PM
[Last Edit: 7/2/2012 1:13:24 PM by dogrunner]
Mine has been utterly reliable, and quite accurate as well. The thing was given to me by a friend, it was in fairly rough shape but after shooting it I decided to have th slide replaced with the chrome version. Personally took it to KT & decided not to wait........that was a 9am & I got back to the house at noon, my phone rang & it was KT telling me my gun was done!..........Found they'd done a total rebuild, all the internals....inclusive of a bbl.....plus replaced the slide for the grand sum of 70.00...........Best and quickest CS I have ever experienced.

Gun carry's well,,,all the mod's on mine are merely a SS belt clip and the pinky extension...........you really don't need much more........far as ammo goes, mine eats what I feed it, did have some problems with Wolf due to hard primers but that stopped after the rebuild. I stoke it with WW white box, flat tips, figuring that penetration is most important in it's caliber. Good gun.
toytruckman
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Posted: 7/3/2012 7:41:19 PM
Love it....100rns..... no break in and 0-malfunctions.
Bram
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Posted: 7/6/2012 1:12:41 PM
Originally Posted By Bram:
Approximately 250 rounds into mine, and it chokes on everything I feed it. Tried some dollar-a-round Pow'rball this morning with no luck. Constant FTE's.

It's easily the most unreliable firearm I've ever owned.


Snugged the extractor screw (1/4 turn or so) and took mine back out this morning. Four FTE's in 35 rounds, so its getting better, but no where near acceptable. I'm thinking a trip to Cocoa may be in order.



bcw107
RIP SSG Juan M Solorio
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Posted: 7/17/2012 11:22:08 AM
Bought mine new in 2003. Never sent in for an upgrade. Been using as a BUG for 9 years. Has about 800-1000 rounds through it. The other night when I was clearing it I noticed hammer follow. This will be the first time it's gone to the factory. Of course, 10 years out of one of these may be the life expectency so I'm not too pissed. I've never had a problem out of it before so if I have to get another I don't consider it a big deal.
I'm fluent in three languages: English, sarcasm and profanity.
DerickATM
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Posted: 7/20/2012 1:01:30 PM
P3AT owner checking in. I love mine. For accessories I have the belt clip, mag extension, and a rubber grip. the rubber grip is only it when i'm at the range though.

performance wise, no complaints whatsoever, and i typcially shoot junky steel case at the range. out of all my handguns, it also happens to be my gf's favorite. its not too much for her to handle. to make a comparison, she can't even chamber a round into my P11.lol.

here's a pic of mine. mag extension is pretty much mandatory IMO.

(my P11 is matching....love these guns)


HardShell
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Posted: 7/24/2012 12:31:42 PM
[Last Edit: 7/24/2012 12:34:24 PM by HardShell]
An early P-32 replaced the tiny .25 that had been my pocket/BUG up until then, and then a P3AT replaced the P-32 once they came out.

I have three P3ATs –– the earliest required a F&B before it was reliable; the second one simply required a few mags shot through it to break it in, zero issues since; the third and latest has been 100% GTG since round number one right out of the box.

I carried the first two in a Hedley custom leather pocket holster. For the third I added a Crimson Trace laser and started using a synthetic Nemesis, and that is what I use daily now (and for some time now). No problems with gun, laser, or holster. If I have pants on it is in my pocket with only the rarest of exceptions (meeting in DC, visiting a friend on a military installation, etc.), whether or not I have my primary on my belt.

I have great confidence in the P3AT (less so in the caliber, admittedly) based upon years of personal experience carrying and shooting them. But I also know other experienced shooters who've had problems with theirs. KT stands behind their products well and is known for their great CS, but that doesn't assuage some issues/owners, of course. Considering their low cost, I would recommend to anyone interested that they buy one and try it out extensively for themselves, so they can decide first-hand.

No experience with the LCP, so I can't speak to that.

I carried GDHPs until the DPX load came out, use that now with FMJs in the spare mag.

I do consider a good pocket holster a "must" for pocket carry, FWIW. JMHO.

I am a CHRISTIAN, a CONSERVATIVE, and a REPUBLICAN... in exactly that order, and completely without apology.
RogueSpear2023
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Posted: 7/27/2012 9:29:07 PM
I have a P3AT that I carry almost daily for the size it's hard to beat, mine has been 100% reliable after the first two mags, I have nearly 500rds through mine. It does have a bit of recoil to get used too.
theglockside
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Posted: 7/28/2012 9:05:20 PM
I have owned almost every accessorie you can find for this gun. I ended up with the crimsontrace and the mini hogue grip but I had to cut a hole in the top of the grip. It made it flat and I didnt loose any relistae on that already small grip. After a while I decided against the laser to cut back on the extra weight and just went with the hogue grip and the pocket clip.
DaveSpud
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Posted: 7/28/2012 10:56:37 PM
Traded my P-32 for a 3AT when they came out, and have lived it since.

Mine stays bone stock. No accessories. Although I break down and get a laser at some point.

First time I shot it I expected to shoot a mag, switch to another gun, shoot another mag, etc. Wound up shooting a whole box without a break. 50 straight rounds. Just enjoyed shooting it, and found it quite accurate once I figured out the sight picture.
BankerBilly
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Posted: 8/3/2012 10:55:12 PM
[Last Edit: 8/3/2012 10:57:35 PM by BankerBilly]
I have a "green" PA3T with well over 500 trouble free rounds thru it. Carried now and then as a BUG and loaded Speer Gold Dots and a back up mag of ball.

Also have a Ruger LCP loaded the same way. Shoot the P3AT a little better - most likely because I've had it for a few years. One advantage of the Ruger is the slide hopld-open lever.

Also have a "black" Kel-tec in 32 ACP. It too has been 100% reliable and it's easier to shoot vs the P3AT.

Just my 2 cents . . . . .

BTW –– all three carried with a round in the chamber. Believe me , you;ll never have time to rack the slide if you need it.
goanra
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Posted: 8/18/2012 3:54:44 PM
I got my black P3AT in 2008 and took it to the range that same day. I had one stovepipe during the 1st or 2nd mag. Finished after 50 rnds & no probs. Took it home, cleaned it & now has 400 rnds with zero probs.
Wife tried it about 3 yrs ago and loved it, despite her tiny hands and took it away from me. She got her CCW & never goes anywhere without it. I got another one (2009) as the size allows it to go 'anywhere' & is my No Excuse Carry. The 6+1 capacity means either of us will 'get-home-safe'.
My 2nd one is green just to tell 'em apart. I use the belt-clip (blued) as a RF pocket clip as it keeps the sidearm in an accessible position. This green P3AT has about 250 rnds, but never an issue.
The belt/pocket clip is not an option for me, but wife doesn't like it as she uses a 'dedicated' slot in her purse & fanny pack for instant access. I got extra mags for each since they are loaded 24/7 365.
I tried the mag ext, and was nice for the range, but I thought it defeated the x-small size of this 'super concealable' sidearm.
Regarding the chamber, i was taught 40 years ago to Never have an empty chamber and i taught wife the same way. the P3AT has a stiff enough trigger pull, for me, to avoid a ND.
I only use the premium protection ammo JHP from Win & Fed and Rem RN green box for the range. We both practice at 20 ft since we'll never use that much distance for defense.

The reason i didn't go with the LCP was they did not have the pocket-clip option + they had just gone through a recall issue around that time (serious or not, it scared me away, at the time).
Dieselman
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Posted: 9/24/2012 7:47:19 PM
[Last Edit: 9/24/2012 7:51:27 PM by Dieselman]
I bought my Kel-Tec last year. It resides in my front pocket everyday all day regardless of what I am doing. If I have on clothing, then i have my P3AT with me. This gun has never failed for me ever! It has worked 100% right out of the box when I shoot it. However, that being said, my wife and daughter both have trouble shooting this gun and it often ends up jamming for them due to them limp wristing the gun. I would reason to guess that some of the other folks here that have had jamming issues with their P3AT could also be associated with limp wristing.

I do not feel that the .380 has enough firepower to reliably penetrate with expanding projectiles. I have tried hollow points through it and it fed them fine. I just choose not to carry them in favor of FMJ for more reliable penetration of my target.

Whenever I go shooting, I will pull out my P3AT and blast a few dozen rounds without any cleaning to test for reliability straight out of my pocket with all the crud and denim fibers and any other junk that accumulates in the gun just as I would if I actually had to use it to defend myself. It fires every time. Riding in my pocket the last year has not been easy on the finish of the gun and it has developed some pit rust on the slide. Other than this, the gun has held up well. I am very happy with my P3AT and would recommend the gun to anyone who is looking for a small pocket pistol.