Posted: 11/11/2010 10:12:03 PM EDT
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So I picked up my new (to me, used) Kel Tec P3AT earlier this week. I won't have a chance to shoot it until Saturday or Sunday. But, tonight I did try to chamber a round and manually cycling a mag through it. The first round wouldn't load when I pulled the slide back and let it drop. Blazer FMJ's in the mag. If I gave a gentle nudge to the rear of the slide, it would chamber, and a few would cycle, and a few wouldn't. I also tried to field strip it a few days ago, but ran into some trouble. I tried to go by the user manual I have in a .pdf, but was unsuccessful. Is the take down pin supposed to be really hard to remove?
Here's what the guide provides, and it seem sort of vague on the specifics. 
My first thought was maybe it needs a bit of lube to get to cycle properly, but I've been unsuccessful at a field strip thus far. Maybe it just needs a couple mags put through it? Here's an obligatory pic of said gun, with a few of it's big brothers. 
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The way it shows on your supplied picture is the way to do it. I use a small flat screwdriver instead of the rim of the cartridge though. My pin is too far recessed for the rim of a .380 cartridge to get under it. I used a razor blade to get it up a bit then tried the cartridge method. Ended up scruffing up my slide more than I would have preferred with no more upward movement of the takedown pin. 
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I find it's easier to take the pin out when the slide is pushed slightly forward. I may try this tomorrow. Would tonight, but I'm kinda drunk and don't want to start finger fucking my kill toys. |
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Feed ramp might need a polish, of the 2 I owned neither did. Blazer ammo might just suck.
It shouldn't be difficult to remove the pin. I do it like this guy and never had an issue |
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Feed ramp might need a polish, of the 2 I owned neither did. Blazer ammo might just suck. It shouldn't be difficult to remove the pin. I do it like this guy and never had an issue Thank you for the link. |
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i pull the slide back a tiny bit. easiest is a small flat head screw driver. it will get easier over time. I'll try that too. Due to the fact I picked this up used without any idea of previous maintenance, there's a good chance it's NEVER bee field stripped. |
| I also noticed, after paying for my KelTec that it game with a Mecgar mag, not a factory mag. Unless I am mistaken, and KelTec uses Mecgar mags from the factory. If the former, any problems with these mags? Though the issue doesn't really seem to be feed related. |
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I pull the slide back a tiny bit. easiest is a small flat head screw driver. it will get easier over time. Pull the slide to the rear 100% Now the thiner part of the slide should be near the take down pin. Pry the pin out. oh do NOT LOSE the extractor |
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I pull the slide back a tiny bit. easiest is a small flat head screw driver. it will get easier over time. Pull the slide to the rear 100% Now the thiner part of the slide should be near the take down pin. Pry the pin out. oh do NOT LOSE the extractor Thanks for the tips. I'm drunk, so I do not want to do this tonight. I'm definitely going to try it tomorrow. My last two times at intoxicated gun smithing resulted in broken ears on two AR lowers. 
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The extractor may not fall out, depending on how old your gun is. At some point they changed the extractor so it wouldn't fall out.
Mecgar makes KT's mags. I've bought 3 P3AT mags from KT and they're all stamped "MECGAR", the same as all the mags included when I bought the guns. I own 2 x P3ATs, my dad has one, and my FIL has one. All were purchased new and all had quirks at the start. Run about 200 rounds through it while you're practicing drawing and point-shooting it and they should all clear up, then buy some hot self-defense ammo and you'll be gtg. |
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I also noticed, after paying for my KelTec that it game with a Mecgar mag, not a factory mag. Unless I am mistaken, and KelTec uses Mecgar mags from the factory. If the former, any problems with these mags? Though the issue doesn't really seem to be feed related. Kel-Tec uses Mecgar as factory mags. |
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i pull the slide back a tiny bit. easiest is a small flat head screw driver. it will get easier over time. Pull the slide to the rear 100% Now the thiner part of the slide should be near the take down pin. Pry the pin out. When you pull the pin out, apply pressure to the polymer surrounding the pin hole. There is a spring that holds the assembly pin in, and you do not want that to come out of its slot. |
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On my P3AT, I can pull the takedown pin with my fingernail. On the P32 I used to have, it had just enough resistance that I couldn't do that, but I wouldn't call it difficult... FWIW, the only thing that could cause my P32 to choke was aluminum-cased Blazer ammo... and it choked so hard that I quit trying. I haven't tried aluminum or steel-cased ammo in my P3AT yet. |
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It takes some pressure, but should not have to be forced. Watch the ejector, it will fall out and only goes back in one way. It is an easily lost part, but KT will replace it for free.
Do the full fluff and buff, including the chamber, to increase reliability. It really should feed FMJ without problems. Mine sometimes needs a little tap to get the slide going, but it does not hang up in the same way in the recoil cycle. |