New Kel-Tec P3AT range report

[PhilR.]

I posted this on handgunforum.net, and thought I would put it up here too.

Hello all,

Went to the Houston gun show yesterday, walked by a dealer's table that had about six KT's. I heard a tiny little cry - "Phil, please buy me!". I looked down and saw a piteous sight - a dull blue w/black frame P3AT (the none-too-pretty version). Evidently the hard chrome and colored versions were selling rapidly, but the ugly ones were not. I did the only proper thing a shooting enthusiast can do, and decided to take her (might be a him - I didn't look underneath...) home.

I did not do the full Fluff & Buff*. I just field-stripped it, polished the ramp with a Dremel, then cleaned and lubed with grease on the rails and slide/hammer interface, and oil on everything else. Disassembly was easy once I figured out how to pull the takedown pin. I had previously read about the small part that will usually fall out once you turn the frame over, and sure enough it did. Easy to put back in though, as it only goes in one way. Assembly was very straightforward and quite easy.

I am extremely happy at the results earlier this evening. I put 30 rounds each of regular Blazer, Blazer Brass, and WWB (all FMJ) through it without a single malfunction of any type. Even my limp-wristing wife had no problems, though she did remark at how snappy it is. I found it to be fairly comfortable to shoot, and it was less snappy than what I had originally estimated it to be. The empties were ejected quite far, with none of them hitting me or the S/O.

I did not shoot for accuracy as I was just trying to break it in, but it seemed to shoot slightly high at about eight yards. I shot many clips as fast as I could, again without any problems. The trigger pull is very long but not extremely hard, and I think it's fine given the pistols intended purpose.

Needless to say, I'm very happy and even a little bit surprised at how well it functioned. Can't do much better than 100%. I haven't taken it apart, so I can't tell you what the 90 rounds did to the inside, but I will of course post if anyting unusual is seen when I get around to cleaning it tomorrow. If I can run another two full boxes through it with as good a result, I might just put it into the carry rotation....

PhilR.

*"fluff & buff" is the term used to describe the procedures done to a new Kel-Tec to make them run reliably -- see KTOG.org for more details....

[corax]

I am glad you enjoy shooting yours. Mine is the most uncomfortable piece in the safe. It has also had reliability problems. When I got it, it would fail to eject about half the time (this was a couple of years ago so I forget exactly where the cases wound up). This took a trip to the factory to fix. Reliability is OK now.

I like to shoot what I carry, but I find it very uncomfortable to shoot - call me a wussie but the end of the trigger is sharp and uncomfortable. Also recoil is an issue with the tiny grip. I decided a Kahr PM9 was a better compromise except in extreme cases. Mostly I carry either the Kahr or a Steyr S9. Both are essentially 100% reliable, however I have concerns over the long-term reliability of the Kahr. The steyr I believe is bulletproof.

[mr surveyor]

welcome to the Kel-Tec addiction. My first was P11, then a Sub2000 which were both 100% flawless. My next was an early release secon generation P3AT which did have to make a couple of trips back to Cocoa. It is now 100% and is my "always" gun. My wife has her P32, which was flawless out of the box, and I have my newer PF9, also flawless out of the box.

The KT pistols are not intended to be range plinkers, but intended to be capable of sending as potent a round as possible downrange, considering size and weight of the weapon.

As for the "fluff and buff", the original version of the technique is not necessary on the later releases of the 2G P3AT, nor on any of the current releases that I know of. Polishing the feed ramp and chamber are still good procedures, as is inspecting the hammer interface, slide and frame rails for any machining burrs.

We all have different tastes

[PhilR.]

I decided a Kahr PM9 was a better compromise except in extreme cases.

I would agree, and in fact I have a PM9 as well. It is about to be my primary carry gun for most of the year. I have a Glock 26 and an H&K P7 that I can use when wearing thicker clothing, and a Seecamp for when I'm in dress clothes.

I'm not sure how the P3AT will fit into my regimen, but I might just use it for short "grab & go" trips, or perhaps a truck gun.

If the Steyr is bulletproof, how do you get bullets into it?

PhilR.