Posted: 3/10/2007 9:18:45 AM EDT
| I am trying to figure out what to pocket/vest carry. I am looking at the Keltec P3At and the Taurus CIA Titanium 38 spl. +p. hammerless. Anybody have both or even J frames to compare to? |
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I never really had problems with my Kel-Tec, but I never really trusted it either. I have switched to a S&W 642 for pocket carry and I have never looked back. With +P Speer Gold Dots, I do not feel underequipped. To get the Kel-Tec running good, you have to fluff & buff and tweak too many things. To get a snubby to run good, you load it. |
I can send it back to kel tec rather easily to get it tweaked but I dont believe in carrying anythign you dont trust. |
I've had my Kel-Tec P3AT for two years and I'm still fluffing and buffing. Maybe next trip to the range it will function 100%. |
What ammo do you use? |
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I have had BOTH guns. I sold my CIA a few months after I bought it because the triggerpull was just too long and hard, and there was no way I could thumbcock it. It was also just a 5-shot whereas the P3AT is 7. After a few hundred rounds of various plinking and self defense ammo, the P3AT has not had one malfunction or problem of any type. It has a long trigger pull as well, but is smaller and MUCH thinner, and you can get more leverage on the trigger, so it doesn't seem as bad as the CIA. Also, I have done NO fluffing and buffing to the Kel-Tec. It has worked perfectly right out of the box. I wouldn't feel undergunned with either weapon, as they both perform well. I believe they're different enough to warrant purchasing both. You can carry the P3AT on days where the revolver is undesireable or impossible. [/ $.02] |
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i own both. my gen 1 p3at had some minor problem. keltec replaced it, NO failures since. the cia has been nothing but 110% reliable since day one. i deldome if ever carry it though. if i need to carry a small pistol dicreetly, NOTHING beats the keltec. if dicreet carry isn't a concern my 1911 goes. the cia is an excellent choice, rugged reliable and accurate for a snubbie. if this is a daily carry gun and DEEP concealment isn't a concern, AND you prefer a wheelgun to a autoloader..... it's a decent choice. |
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I carry a P3at in this it is one carry combo you can really forget..in fact you have to be real careful not to leave it in your pocket and wash it. fred |
I shot WWB (Walmart Special) on the last trip. Shot 100 rds. The first fifty (IIRC) did fine, except when I released the slide, it would not close all the way. I had to push it shut. The last 50 rds. (IIRC) had 4-5 FTEs. I plan to F&B the ramp and chamber and give it another go. I just bought some Remington 88 gr. JHP and Remington 102 gr. BHJP (Gold Saber) and will try it next trip. ETA: Rocksarge, sorry for the Hijack. |
the cia is well made and reliable. it is not light. all steel. keltec, reliable <although there have been stories of failures on gen1 models> VERY light very small. they are different gun for different jobs. i'd put the CIA on the same level of carry as your g23 for concealment and power. the keltec is a last resort gun when nothing else can be carried or used. as much as i like mine it was NEVER intended to be a primary or offensive weapon. this gun is for last ditch close and dirty fighting. i can hold a head shot at 25' with it but it is not easy and frankly is never my firt choice for a defensive round. IMHO ALWAYS go with the largest caliber practicle for the situation. |
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I sold my P3AT because the thing simply wasn't reliable with any factory ammo I fed it. Out of a box of 50 it would FTF 5 times regardless of the brand of ammo (or ball / hp). The gun was useless to me. I even bought the pocket clip for it, and the spring steel used in this was so poor it lost it's "spring" almost immediately and became more of a hook... one that didn't hold the gun securely. IMHO they aren't to be trusted with your life. |
Everyone I know that has used WWB 380 has had bad results. I had bad results shooting a friends with WWB. Also, the CIA I'm getting is a BNIB but older Titanium that weighs 13.5 ozs. |
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something you may want to consider titanium snubbies are down right painful to shoot with self defense loads. i don't recall on my taurus but in my S&W manual it states that exotic metal guns may not be rated for +p or +P+ ammo only the steel frames are +p rated. you might want to research that and be SURE as almost all SD 38/357 loads are +p. |
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I have the Keltec... It works just fine..and I carry it just about anywhere... No one knows because it so light and thin. Never had a malfunction with it. I use speer gold dots. If you do have problems with a Keltec...send it back to the company. They are known to make things right. |
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I own a Taurus 85 Total Titanium and I used to own a Keltec P32. I traded the P32 because I simply found it too small for my hands to shoot comfortably and with any accuracy. I have small hands so for someone with larger hands, I think the little Keltecs are unusable (my dad could barely get his trigger finger in the trigger guard without moving the trigger. I really like my Taurus. Super reliable and easy shooting. As for the Keltec, I did not have any problems with reliability, but like all autos, it cannot be as reliable as a wheel gun. |
cool i know it's not mentioned in my cia manual but mine is stainless. it IS mentioned in my sw686 manual not to shoot +P from scnaduim and a couple of other exotic metal models. just wanted to make sure before you bought one. |