During last summer I bought a Kel-Tec P3AT and some personal defense "defender" ammo produced by MagSafe. I often practiced with my Kel-Tec at the range using standard Federal American Eagle, but due to the extreme cost, never fired the MagSafe ammo. I carried concealed with MagSafe in the magazine and chamber for 9 months due to their claims for stopping power and safety.

Three weeks ago I was at the range and decided to try the MagSafe. On the first shot, the back of the cartridge peeled apart like a grape. The magazine blew out the bottom of the pistol, the slide bent and blew off the top, the frame split on the left side and every rivet blew out. My hand was blackened like in a bad Roadrunner/Wiley Coyote movie, but not injured. The gun collapsed into a pile of debris.

My gunsmith called MagSafe and was told OH YEAH. WE'VE BLOWN UP TWO OF THOSE PISTOLS WITH OUR AMMO. WE NOW HAVE A STICKER ON THE PACKAGE THAT SAYS DO NOT USE WITH KEL-TEC P3AT. They said their ammo is extremely hot and exceeds SAMI specs (though it's not marked +P or +P+). Then they seemed to get personal about my level of intelligence and ability to read. Note, there was no warning sticker about the P3AT on the package I bought last year.

Kel-Tec was concerned immediately, and indicated that the gun is designed to break down under a KB such as this to protect the shooter by dissipating the force of the explosion. They wanted to examine the parts to learn from this accident. They offered complete replacement of the gun, even though it was clearly the over-juiced ammo at fault.

Thursday the brand new replacement arrived with the same serial number as the destroyed gun, so I don't have a lot of registraion gymnastics to do here in the Peoples' Republik of New York.

Thank you Kel-Tec, for your concern and for the outstanding positive customer relations you demonstrated.

MagSafe will never ride in my guns again, as my opinion is that it is unsafe.

That's where it blew out. They use Remington brass, but state that it is not once-fired.

Because of all the stories I've heard of Kel-Tec's customer service, when I get he money, I will be purchasing 1 maybe 2 of their new 9mms coming out.

Dayum! Glad you are OK! I'm glad you arent out your blster, too. Did you get any pictures?

Thankfully, you weren't hurt badly. Since Kel-Tec is taking care of your gun, it is a pretty inexpensive lesson when you think about it. Something all of us can learn from.

Kel-Tec will definitely be getting some of my money this year. I have heard nothing but good things about their products and their customer service.

I'm impressed with the gun manufacture's response.
That is a class act!

Thats good of Kel-Tec agreeing to replace your pistol. But since it was magsafe that blew up your gun, I'd insist they replace it. Probably won't work out, but it'd make me feel better

Why would he sue? The gun is being replaced, no one was hurt....last thing this world needs is one more lawsuit.

That's just one of the reasons that I'm a fan, and customer, of George. He stands by his product line. Unlike some companies I won't mention that go by the philosophy that if the gun breaks into two pieces, you now own both halves.

I met George on one occasion, and had a very good conversation. It was at the SHOT Show in ATL and they were showing the (new at that time) P32. Which I bought as soon as it was available. I've owned 5 KT pistols, and #6 is the PLR16 (shoots .223/AR mags) that I'll be picking up in about a week.

Yes, I'm sold on Kel-Tec. Great service has built many empires, including IBM's. I will own many Kel-Tecs in the future.

Bad customer relations will kill a product just as fast as a bad product. That's why I cannot understand MagSafe's extremely negative response.

Originally Posted By TBoneDetroit: Thanks for posting this Wolfgang. I noticed when looking at a round placed in the chamber of mine, there is a lot of unsuported cartridge in the area by the ramp. I suspect that is the place the case blew out. I wonder even though we don't have an official moderator for this forum, if we can get one of the other mods to pin this thread. Seems like one to leave up top.

I asked to mod here with no response

It has to be a staff member to tack.

My Mod powers are useless in here.

I try again.

wow,

i am glad to see you were not injured.

for the record most of us that have been shooting awhile highly regard magsafe as complete crap ammo anyway.

i carry a p3at also almost daily and while i hate yours blew, i am glad to see they hold up well.

when you really want something mees up your drawers do that with a plr16