New Kel Tec P3AT report

TxFire · Post by **TxFire** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:04 pm

Saturday at Market Hall the dear wife bought me a Kel Tec P3AT for an early Christmas gift. Today I went to The Bullet Trap for a test run. For about 35-40 rounds it ran FLAWLESS. Then it had a FTF, I cycle the slide and notice the small inner recoil spring is hanging out the guide rod hole. Fix that and resume shooting. Went another 15-20 rounds and same scenario. Fixed and then it does it again quite soon. Ran a total of 84 rounds through it w/ 3 FTF's with the recoil spring issue.

Other than the problems it is a fun little gun to shoot and is accurate enough for what I intend for it. I does make shooting my Glock 23 feel real nice though.

Called Kel Tec and it will be going to them tomorrow for a new slide. Then we try again. I knew the possibilities when I bought it and was under no false impression that these guns have a spotless record. So I'll see what happens after the return trip.

MrDrummy · Post by **MrDrummy** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:21 pm

Hey TX-

Keep us all updated.

I've been eyeing one of those little suckers too, and I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into before I commit!

casselthief · Post by **casselthief** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:29 pm

you know, I really thought about them thar Kel Tec's, as I had seen several there, for purdy cheap, too.
I'd really like to hear more about it, whenst you get it back from the "peoples"

spud · Post by **spud** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:22 pm

Love my P3AT, Only had 1 FTE but that was my fault. I have noticed it shoots like crap after 35-45 rounds, but its not a range gun.

Check out KTOG.org. good site with alot of info. Also I just posed up a few Topics back about a local place to get DPX ammo. That is as good as it gets in .380.

Enjoy your new mousegun.

TxFire · Post by **TxFire** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:09 pm

Yeah I've found KTOG and do fully expect to enjoy the gun once fixed. When it was running, it was a fun gun. I also plan to find some DPX once it prove reliable enough to carry. This was intended to be my gun to take running with me.

Venus Pax · Post by **Venus Pax** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:02 am

Keep us posted. I've had this little gun in mind for quite awhile.

Boma · Post by **Boma** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:37 pm

I actually have this gun, and it's a fun range gun and great carry gun.

I bought mine 4 months ago, and it's a 2nd generation P3AT blued.

It had numerous fail to ejects (30 ftes) within the first 200 rounds, but I did not experience the spring popping out.

After putting another 200 rounds through it (400 total), the gun became more reliable with 1 fail to eject per 85 rounds shot. I only cleaned the gun one time at around 200 rounds.

I expect the gun to increase in reliability as it gets broken in. It's as comfortable and convenient as it gets in a desantis pocket holster.

The value of the gun holds really well.

Braden · Post by **Braden** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:51 pm

I'm planning on buy the P3AT in the very near future. I intend to use it for church carry or other times when concealing my Glock 22 just isn't feasible. I've actually been wanting one for a while just for that purpose but I've never gotten around to actually buying one. I'll probably pick one up after Christmas. Right now we're spending all our money on Christmas presents.

casselthief · Post by **casselthief** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:30 pm

You know, off-topic, but very related, I have to thank the FTE's with KelTec.
why, Mr CasselThievin'hoffer, would you say that?

some of you read my little intro thing in the Welcome to Tha Board thread.
well, the guys that were trying to break in had a KelTec .380 (I remember, cause it was pointing at me) and the guy only fired two shots. now, if I was inclined to do some damage to somebody, I sure as the dickens wouldn't stop shooting at two poorly aimed shots.
the other guy that was helping me hold the front door closed against our perpetrators said that he distinctly heard a -click- and no more shots, so I'm thinking he stopped shooting caused it jammed.
believe me, he and I have talked extensively about this. it's what happened.
so,
Thanks KelTec!!!

or at least Thanks, FTE!!!

back to pleasant thoughts, and the FireGuy's KelTec...

Post by **Skiprr** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:31 pm

the other guy that was helping me hold the front door closed against our perpetrators said that he distinctly heard a -click- and no more shots, so I'm thinking he stopped shooting caused it jammed.

Hm. I've been thinking about a Kel-Tec, too. I have required-dress situations that just won't allow for anything I else I currently own, even my Glock 27. Seecamp seems overpriced to me. Maybe I'd better look at an NAA Guardian again. Or I guess there's always that two-shot Derringer that fires 410 shot shells.

TxFire · Post by **TxFire** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:35 pm

Like I said earlier, I went into this transaction eyes wide open. I had done my research and knew the possibility of a lemon. But at $200 and the clear winner in concealment/weight, I figured it was worth it. With the lifetime warranty, they will eventually get it right. If not I'll sell it and move on. I was under no illusion that it would be flawless like my dear Glock. I had also done the Kel-Tec Fluff and Buff treatment prior to the range trip. It definitely smoothed the slide action.

Post by **carlson1** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:06 am

I have had two Kel Tecs. A .32 and now a .380. I have only had the first generation. They both ran flawless. 100% every time. I think everyone creates a Lemon every now and then.

casselthief · Post by **casselthief** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:22 am

yeah, I didn't mean to drum any sort of vision of bad engineering or anything with your KelTec. I mean, I was seriously thinking of buying one at the show the other day!!!
Just all this talk about jamming and what not brought back a memory that now is kinda humorous!
enjoy.

DaveT · Post by **DaveT** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:22 pm

My P3AT is the latest generation with the Hard Chrome slide.

Only had it for a couple of months and just three trips to the range, but so far it has been shooting without any problems at all. Round count is just 150, but so far I really like it.

I have the Desantis Nemasis pocket holster, but I prefer to carry it in the clip on Desantis case that makes it look like I'm carrying a CD player or something like that. It can be totally out in the open that way and no one knows what it is.

The drawback to that method of carry is that time to draw is reduced because the case has to be unzipped first.

http://www.desantisholster.com/n65.html

TxFire · Post by **TxFire** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:19 pm

Well the UPS man stopped by today with a return shipment from Kel Tec. I had requested that Kel Tec contact me regarding the possibility of upgrading to a Hard Chrome slide since they were replacing it and there we none available in Hard Chrome when I made my purchase, but they did not contact me. I opened the box the find the gun with a new blued slide. The paperwork states slide and/or barrel replaced, feed ramp polished, replaced guide rod and springs and test fired. The apologized stating that Hard Chrome is not available at this time.

The gun looks good so far. I can tell that the barrel was replaced as I had performed the cursory fluff and buff prior to firing and this one does not look as fluffed. The feed ramp is very smooth though. Now I just need some free time to make it to the range. I'll report back after the test firing.