Posted: 1/13/2005 2:45:22 PM EDT
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I have recently been considering the Kel-tec P3AT as my always pocket gun. However, I have heard numerous conflicting reports about its reliability. Additionally, my instincts are stearing me away from it, but the dimensions keep making me look twice. So I am asking to all who have SHOOTING EXPERIENCE with it, truthfully, how is it? TIA |
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Mine had a FTF with factory Remington hardball ammo the last time I had it out at the range. This pistol has about 100-150 rounds through it and this was the first malfunction I'd seen. I had just replaced the original mag bottoms with finger rest style and don't know if that was a problem or not. I'm seeing some battering on the front of the frame rails that I don't like, but this isn't necessarily a big deal on a pistol I don't intend to shoot a lot. I was leery about these too before I bought one, decided to take the plunge after a lot of dealers told me they were popular BUGs with LE customers. Everybody says that KelTec is great about taking care of any problems that come up but I'm not sure yet if I'd recommend one of these. |
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I have a P32, 450 rounds, no problems. Just get one with a serial number after 90,000 and you should be alright. Not very accurate past about 10 yards, but its intended use is under that distance anyway. Very easy to conceal and very light. I am glad that I purchased it. |
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Junk which I refuse to sell anymore. IMO, no better than a Jennings, Bryco, Hi-Point, etc. My favorite quote stolen from another arfcom member
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I tried the 9 mm which a friend picked up at a gun show. This POS has a front sight that leaned a bit to the right, and a rear sight thats bent to the left. Not to mention despite having a dovetail, it looks like it was smooshed in there. It grouped about 6 " on the average at 15 yards, and proudly says Made in the USA on teh side. POS all the way. |
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I've had two, a P32 and a P9. Lots of people at the gun shop I used to go to swore by them. They both had numerous failures. I could make excuses for these but in the end it's a CCW gun and that's not acceptable to me. I'll never buy or recommend one to anyone again. |
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+: Gun Tests liked it. I've run a few mags through my P3AT, just to test reliability, with no problems. -: The front of the slide tends to wear away visibly. It's still tough for me to take it apart without swearing, because there's no slide stop and the slide needs to be held back to remove the takedown pin. (Strangely, the P32 has a slide stop.) The DA-only trigger needs to be pulled quite a distance to fire. Also, the gun tends to give my hand an unpleasant slap in recoil. |
Thats the truth, Kel Tec's had so many problems I forgot those 2(Which didnt hinder it's intended functions) The positive is that it was reliable. |
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I have a P3AT and I think its great!!! I had a small problem with loading a round into the chamber, but thats because the gun is sooooo small and the spring is very heavy. The Bottom Line is "DON'T BE GENTAL WITH THESE" the slide wants to be slammed forward. IT shoots great!!! Pretty accurate for its size, extremely light weight, AWSOME trigger pull for a $200 gun!!!!!! BUY ONE, You won't be disapointed!!!!!! |
| I bought a Beretta Tomcat .32 after looking at the Keltec for a while. It was easy to get used to the weight of the Beretta, and I have NO problems concealing in my front pocket with a pocket holster. My Tomcat runs reliably..and feels like a "real gun"as far as grip and heft. You might look at it. |
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It's so small, that with the short barrel, the report is extremely loud. Not to mention, even with small hands I have a hard time holding on to it. The pistol wants to jump right out of my hand. Having said that, it is small enough and convenient enough that I never go anywhere without it. That is something I can't say for many larger pistols. I wouldn't trust the accuracy beyond 5-7 yards, but that isn't what it's designed for. |
| Guys I have a P-11 and I'd like to put in my .02 on the general Kel Tec bashing. 600 rounds of various ammo down range through 3 different magazines and no failures. It is not the most accurate or atractive gun I own but mine always goes bang when I pull the trigger. |
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A kel-tec .380 is a $200, 8 oz. micro gun. It is not made to be a pretty gun, or a shooter friendly gun. It's hard to hold onto if you have large hands... It has a looong trigger pull. Did I mention it's an 8 oz. semi-auto and no bigger than a wallet? For $200? It has no forgiveness for soft hands or limp wrists... (not meant insultingly) If you have marginally bad form, it may jam... it's an auto.... it requires you to do 1/2 the work of holding onto it so the slide can work against your resistance. It's $200... not a $500 NAA or $600 Glock.... neither of which are anywhere near 8 oz. It *may* take a little tweaking/polishing/range time to get it to 100%... some are 100% from day one, some aren't.... did I mention is $200? I'm sure Kel-tec could have done the extra buffing and polishing for a couple of $100 extra, but personaly, I appreciate the price point! The company has a life time warranty, and they honor that warranty regardless of what mods you do. Sooo... Honestly? If you want an 8 oz auto... the only one available is a kel-tec. If you do NOT want to possibly have to TLC a gun during break-in, you dont' want the .380 kel-tec. It's not a glock. It's not a revolver. It ain't a 1911... After proper break-in, it will go bang every time... or as *every* time as any auto can be expected. Had it cost me as much as a Glock, I'd be singning a different tune. If Glock ever makes an 8oz gun for $200, I'll give it a try too.... I love mine, cause I appreciate it for what it is...  My .2 cents, YMMV |
Interesting, because I've talked to a couple of local guys that have Kel-Tec's that love them because they know they can almost always get off at least one shot. I hate mine because after about 700 rounds and three trips back to the factory, I don't think I've made it through an entire magazine without a jam. It's all in how you look at it.z |
Natural selection will take its course with people who continue to buy Kel-Tecs..... |
LOL when wardrobe requires an 8oz carry, it's the 380, else its a g26 with the 380 in bug role. i know what my kel-tec can do and can't do, cause i've put the range time in on mine. anyone who pockets any auto for ccw without the range time gets what they deserve... a malf doesn't respect brand names. I have no dillusions what a $200 gun is, or how a .380 caliber performs. Sometimes I just can't tuck the .50 BMG into the waistband to jog around the block. Not everything in my civy world is teflon coated, but i respect the needs and opinions of those whose it is. so, yeah: I love mine, cause I appreciate it for what it is... |
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Another thread: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=4&t=13166 Rumor is they may be coming out with a 3AT sized 9mm at the SHOT show. |
| I guess I will have to go put another 100rnds through my P32 tonight at the range just to make sure you guys are not spoofing me, and just when is my gun supposed to fail. Oh yea never durring practice but only when I need it most. Too bad I can't practice clearing jams and the like so I will know how to do it when it fails when I need it most. Please give advice on how I can make it jam so I can learn to clear malfunctions. |
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mine worked flawlessly- after a trip back to cocoa +1 to mr joy's comments when glock makes a .32/.380/9mm the width (and weight?) of my finger, i'll buy one. not because i need one. because it would be wicked cool. i don't have mine anymore, and i haven't had an occasion yet, where i thought, "gee, i wish i still had my keltec" but i also don't lament the sale of my seecamp. and can't imagine any conceivable handgun this size to warrant regret. all pistols this size are virtually useless. |
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I own and shoot a P3AT. For me it is one of those, "Carry a lot and shoot little" guns. I typically use it as BUG. I rarely use it as my primary. The reasons are I don't completely trust the .380 to do the job and the little gun seems to have a breaking problem. Mine seems to require constant attention, first one thing then somethin else. The only times I carry it as my primary is when the situation dictates an invisible" almost" ccw. IMO the P3AT is a good BUG but could use a lot of redesign work. In fairness though it is only a $300 dollar gun that actually fits with a holster in your jeans pocket. All in all I like mine. I took the time and patiently made mine pretty much trustworthy. I don't recommend it as a first gun. |
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i have about 300rnds through my p3at. zero malfunctions. accurate for what it is. trying hard i can hold a head shot at 20'. realisticly it's a close and dirty backup gun. Not my 1st choice compared to my 1911 but i have no issue carrying it when nothing else will do. i did the fluff and buff and closely inspect every component of it each time i clean it looking for wear or broken parts. mike |
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Picked up a P3AT last June (2004). Had a FTE about once in 50 rounds -- no good ! ! Sent it back to Kel-Tec and it was returned within 17 days. Kel-Tec installed a new "thicker" extractor -- almost twice the size of the original extractor. About 300 rounds since then -- only ammo it will not extract is Wolf ammo -- I can live with that. Now carry it at times as my second gun -- loaded with W-W white box FMC ammo. This ammo has a "flat point" bullet with the weight of 95 grains. Doubt a HP round would do as well . . . . |
I had several hundred flawless rounds through my P-3AT, then it happened.  I got FTFs and the trigger wouldn't reset! After I detail stripped it and cleaned it thoroughly, it was OK again, but I'm no longer going to be carrying it. I want a gun that just plain works. I can throw my G26 in the sand, kick it around, pick it up, load a mag, and it will shoot flawlessly. I will accept nothing less for a carry gun.
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+1...You stole my response. 
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that was the malf i had. send it back! |
Roger that! My main priority of any weapon is reliability. That is what I was looking for and now I know that I would never be confident enough to carry it. Thanks guys. |
That's exactly how I felt about my P-3AT, David. Felt. Hundreds of rounds down the pipe (and that's not exactly fun with the .380!) with nary a malf. Then it happened. I was at the range, and I hand-cycled the entire mag trying to get one to go BANG. No love. Sure, it worked fine after I detail stripped it and cleaned it, but I'm not going to bet my life on how long it's going to be until the next failure... |
And what about the next time? If it happens at the range, it's an inconvenience. Otherwise.... |
+1 my 9mm shot fine, but trigger pull and recoil were a bit much for me. my 32 runs great with winchester ball, makes head shots at 10 feet, and is not uncomfortable to shoot. It does take some research to learn to shoot and feed it right. not for the lazy or easily distracted. |
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Have a P32 that's had close to 500+ rounds through it. Only malfunctions were with S&B .32FMJs - hard primers every few rounds - but no other problems as yet. Just purchased a P3AT (bought it as an upgrade to the .32ACP) and had FTE errors right off the bat. Turns out I'd accidentally dropped the ejector out of the frame during my pre-break-in shooting session. Apparently, this is a known issue - there's no means of retention for the ejector. If you remove the slide and turn the frame upside down, it'll drop straight out. With all parts in the gun  , it's run like a champ since. Only up to ~130 rounds but so far, so good. It is a backup/"buck-nekked" gun, though, chambered in a less-than-perfect defensive round. Be conscious of its limits when making a decision.
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