Kel-Tec P3AT .380 range report

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kthomk

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Bought one of these little guns on the weekend. Went to the range today and put 150 rounds of Blazer brass through it. Functioned well, never had a gun throw brass so far. Had 4 failures to go into battery during rapid fire. Anyone else had this problem?? Put it to the test, silhouette target at 5 yards, 7 yards, and 9 yards. Very accurate for such a little package. Could put all shots into center mass of target with no problem. Will continue to shoot it, first impression, awesome gun for discreet carry and accurate enough for defense.
 
The problem with out of battery is probably related to limp wristing. Its hard (for me at least) to keep a good hold of it.

Next time rapid fire first, then wear your hand out :p .

Jesse
 
I had some failures to go in battery with one new P3AT (but not the other). I think this problem will go away after some more use, or you can do the "Fluff and Buff" like I did to mine, and never have the problem again.

Lou
 
The P-3AT likes to be clean. If the ramp, hood, or chamber get dirty it can cause FTFe, especially when the gun is new. As you shoot it more it should go much longer before dirt causes malfunctions. 150 rounds is a lot for a new P-3AT without cleaning it.
 
Sorry but what exactly is this "Fluff and Buff" in regards to the P3AT. I am about to buy one as my always gun when, for reasons I'm not going to discuss here :evil:, I can't carry my main. Even when I have my main this will be a back up so I want to make sure its going to function.

Does a smith need to do this fluff and buff?
Do I need to start a thread to get different ideas as to what a fluff and buff is or is it always the same?
 
+1 on the tight grip, I like mine but if I don't concentrate I can still have a jamming problem. What was said above about the this gun needing to be kept clean is also true.
 
P3AT

never had a gun throw brass so far
Click to expand...

Ever shot a 10mm?

Fluff and buff just knocks all the rough edges off of sliding parts, then you polish the feedramp. That's the gist of it anyhow.
 
p3at

Wii
ll continue to shoot it, first impression, awesome gun for discreet carry and accurate enough for defense.
Click to expand...
YEah can't ask for much more!


Why can't I put light bulbs in the body of a post?! HUGE forum-flaw. HUGE.


:fire:
 
I got a recent made 3at too and it functions 100% now with over 250 rds fired. I even tried to limpwrist it and it just fired away.
So it looks like I got a good one.
Try using Ballistol, it dries to a nice film, wont collect dirt and has other properties which I like.
 
I got my P3AT yesterday.

Im not quite into the pain like you are so I shot a mere 50 rounds thru the gun.

They were 50 trouble free rounds - all Remington UMC FMJ.

I read somewhere that a little grease on the rails, hammer face, locking lugs and contact point where the slide meets the hammer does wonders on these little guys. I greased mine.....may or may not have helped your situations.

I suspect after a 150 rounds you have a very dirty gun......
 
I got a Keltec 32 a few months ago - nary a problem yet. Sorry U had issues. I had read that the 380s had a slightly higher incident rate than the 32 version - thats why I went with that...
 
Congrats on the NEW P3AT!

Mine is in my pocket everyday. I have a 1st gen model, SN 11xx.

It has been a GREAT little gun, I have over 2,000 rds thru it.
 
I'm still trying to figure if I wanna get one of these little things. I have my bases pretty well covered for carry guns. It's just so easy to tote that thing, though, in any attire. I'm still thinkin' about it. My old Grendel P12 still shoots fine and has more capacity, but might not be as accurate. At 9 yards, though, I can keep it center mass or on the head. It's not THAT inaccurate. 25 yards it puts 'em into about 5" at best and that doesn't make me very warm and fuzzy, but it is, after all, a pocket gun.

I might get one, I don't know. I'm just a tight wad I guess.
 
MCgunner,

I don't think you'll be any more accurate with a P-3AT than you are with your Grendel, but the P-3AT is smaller and lighter. Both are "close up and personal" type guns. If you can do consistent head shots at 9 yd. at "combat speed" that is over and above what I would expect for these short barreled wonders.

Bobo
 
MCgunner,

The Grendel P12 is similiar sized to the KelTec P11.....so the P3AT would be a good deal smaller and easier carried.

Rather or not you have use for a piece like that.....Im not sure.

Prior to my KT P3AT purchase the smallest useable gun I had was a Bersa Thunder or Smith J Frame.....this is certainly smaller than those.

I have a nice leather holster on order....hopefully it comes in soon.

I really like the OD green frame - right now CDNN has the black or OD green frames available in the .380 or .32 version. The P32 is even smaller yet then the P3AT....but I have had marginal luck with .32acp pocket guns so I passed on the P32.

keltec.gif
 
I've got an earlier p-3at and it has a different ejector mechanism than a brand new one I saw yesterday--like the one in the above photo the new one has spring steel ejector held in with torx fastener. Plus their are dimenshional differences on the outside, new one doesn't fit my holster very well (too large).
Mine feeds hydroshock hollowpoints perfectly, but cheap ball stuff jams about one every or every other clipful.
Does the new ejector mechanism improve feeding with cheap ammunition?
 
I doubt the extractor would aid feeding.

I think its odd your pistol will feed hollowpoints but will jam on FMJ - thats backward from what normally happens.

I dont even bother trying hollowpoints in mine, shoot Remington UMC FMJ - zero problems.

I think feeding problems are primarly dealt with in the recoil spring and feedramp. Either spring is weak or ramp is rough.
 
DynoTechJim: Try some different fmj rounds. Usually people will find there are a few kinds their p3at will feed all day and a few it wont even feeed a mag of.
 
I agree.

When buying FMJ ammo for the P3AT I actually opened up the boxes and looked at the rounds.

Winchester white box .380 FMJ actually had a flat nose, I didnt like the looks of that as far as reliabilty was concerned.

AMM-327.png

Reminton UMC had the standard rounded nose....thats what I bought.

AMM-323.png
 
thanks guys--cheap magtech round nose do not feed reliably but I have a second clip I havent tried yet, will check that first.
Then I will try other brands of inexpensive 380s to try with both clips.
For now I'm comfortable with my original clip and hydrashok, Ive run 10 boxes of them with zero jams.
Also my wife sewed on two 3" nylon belt loops onto the nylon storage bag, I bolted an aluminum disc onto the zipper handle to have something to grab onto to open the bag quickly. On my belt it looks like a blackberry or Ipod holder. No one ever questions what I have. Also she removed the keltek embroidered letters. Surely no quick-draw deal, but I have it with me everywhere every day all the time.
 
Silvertips and Hydros for mine.

Magtechs make it gag.

Keep it CLEAN and keep a spare set of recoil springs on hand. (KT freebie!)
 
My P3AT is her on desk Loaded with my #1 carry round Corbon DPX perfect round for this little pistol. Wife has the P-32 with Corbon and will be with here every day as she will open the new Jewerly store this week.(she won't carry anything larger 16+years of trying) My P-32 like the 380 has been perfect. All 2nd Gen and nothing done to them I keep cleaned and lubed. I don't fire more than 50 rounds at at time from any of my pistols. Went Iam in yard shooting .
 
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