I took a lady shooting with her Kel Tec P3AT

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jrdolall

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this weekend and it was a nightmare! The gun had stovepipes and FTEs nearly every other round. We tried several different ammo types, all FMJ, and the results were all similar. We went through over 100 rounds, probably 75 or more by me, and could not get it to run.
If you look at my past posts I am a huge fan of KT and own several, including a P3AT so I am not bashing anyone but this one would not run! I did a field strip and check along with light lube before we started shooting. I took it apart yesterday and did a thorough cleaning. but found nothing obvious. I did not have my KT with us so I couldn't check the mag interchange possibilities.

She shot the Bodyguard and the DB-9 with no problems. We also blew through a bunch of 22 mag with a KT PMR-30 as well as some 22 LR pistols.

I am taking her gun back to the farm tomorrow, along with my gun, and will try it again but it was pretty frustrating for her since the gun was a gift from her son. She said he had shot it some but it didn't appear to have been used much.
 
Well I have a keltek P3AT and it has given me no problems , keltek says to put two hundred rounds through it to break it in. It also doesn't like hollow points I shoot Corbin power balls in mine and they work great!
 
If k/t would testfire their guns this would not happen so often. They have had problems with the p3at since it's introduction.
 
My wife had similar issues with her P3AT. Including one malfunction where the brass of the fired round would get pushed partway down the barrel instead of extracting. We sold the Kel-tec and neither of us will ever carry them again. Absolute junk.

In your case, try sending it back to KT. May get fixed, it may not.
 
Hope you can get the P3AT running smooth. Hopefully making it through the +/-200 round break in plus fluff & buff will smooth it out. I pocket carry one for EDC; bought it used and it's always run well. But it is picky on ammo; it likes Hydro Shoks but will not feed Critical Defense.

I have a P11 that needed a serious fluff & buff plus new mags with stiffer springs (probably could have just replaced springs) to make it reliable.

I also had & sold a P32 (ran fine) and a PF9 (needed fluff & buff) since they duplicated the function of the other two. KT's aren't for those who don't like to tinker on their guns - I do, so they suit me fine. They are the Bic pens of the handgun world; solidly built tools that do the job at a minimum cost, are nothing fancy, and won't impress anyone.
 
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I put over 100 rounds through the gun today and it seems it is, mostly at least, a magazine issue. I used my mag in her gun and it had only a couple of FTEs. I intend to call KT tomorrow and see if they will send her a new one.
After 200+ rounds of FMJ, mostly Federal 115g, the gun ran relatively smoothly with my mag. It still needs some work but is WAY better than it was this weekend.
She decided she wanted to shoot the Anaconda today. She was timid but was grinning from ear to ear by the third shot. P3AT to .44 Magnum, 9"barrel. Just a wee bit of difference in the two.
 
I had a Keltec P32. For a $250 gun I could not have asked for anymore. I found it to be easy to carry. Easy to shoot accurate and reliable (except cheap ammo). Im sure Keltec could take a little more time to improve things but then they would have to increase the price. I think running 200 rounds through a gun is a small price to pay to break a gun in and I wouldn't want to carry a gun from anyone I had not run at least 200 rounds through. That said I would guess the ammo it choked on was the cheapest ammo that could be found? I bought some cheap off brand 32acp one time and it essentially made it a single shot. I cycled that box and went back to Winchester white box and it never hiccupped again.
 
After 200+ rounds of FMJ, mostly Federal 115g

I hope you meant 90 gr Federal. 115 gr Federal would indicate 9mm, not 380.

I have had 4 P3At's and P32's (2 ea) and all have been very reliable. If you continue to have FTe's after 200-300 rds, I highly suggest you send it back to KT. Their customer service is generally recognized to be excellent.
 
I had a Keltec P32. For a $250 gun I could not have asked for anymore. I found it to be easy to carry. Easy to shoot accurate and reliable
Click to expand...
The P32 was the predecessor to the P3AT, scaling it up from .32ACP to .380ACP seems to be the root of the problems with the P3AT. Ruger seems to have largely fixed the issues with their LCP "knock-off" of the P3AT.
 
Standard 380 ACP loads are usually 90 gr. Federal just came out with a new load designed for the small pistols like the P3AT which is an HST at 99 grains. All reviews that I have seen on it are very good. Remington offers a 102 gr Golden Sabre load but reviews I have seen do not show good expansion. I think Buffalo Bore may offer a 110 or 115 Gr +P+ 380 Hard Cast load but I would not shoot that in a P3AT or LCP.

For practice use the 90 gr FMJ loads. For self defense there are varying opinions between FMJ and HP rounds. Expanding rounds usually only penetrate 8-10 inches which some view as inadequate. For me, I will go with a good JHP round like a Federal Hydrashok 90 gr, Federal HST 99 gr, Speer Gold Dot 90 gr, Hornady XTP 90 gr. These are about as good as you can get in expanding loads.

YMMV
 
I have 4 P32s that worked just fine. I had 1 P3AT that broke its trigger with the first magazine load. Had it fixed, then sold it.

My 380 micro recommendations are the Sig P238 and the Kahr P380 and CT380.
 
When I started shooting I had the same thing. I had a limp wrist that caws my gun to stove pipe. I man next to me told me what I was doing. So I change the way I was holding it and it stop stove piping and I shot a lot better. Watch her when shooting!
 
I looked and we were running 95 grain Fiocchi and 95 grain Tula Brass Max.
This was definitely a gun/mag issue as the ammo ran fine in other guns and she did fine with other guns. Limp wristing is the first thing I look at and I have been guilty of it myself in the past.
 
I've had pretty good luck with three of them. One did die sometime after 3000 rounds, but KT quickly replaced it with a new updated version at no cost to me.
 
I have 4 P-32 in house 1 P3AT with a couple 1000 trouble free rounds. and a PF-9 that over 600 now . I have never had one bit of trouble from my KelTec's .(still haven't won lottery) I brought each one home, removed from box . Made sure barrel was clear . Oiled the slide rails and went outside shooting 50 rounds. Then took inside and broke down and cleaned. I never heard the 200 round break in till now . Its a machine It should run from box if not send it in. At price of today ammo If want break in they should supply ammo with the gun. No matter what company. My Dan Wesson /Colts /Bersa /American Classic all were fired same way . Oil 50 rounds then break down and clean.
 
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