[denfoote]

I took posession of my new (to me) Kel-Tec P3AT today!!!!
I have four words that describe it: "DAMN, I mean DAMN!!!"

Kel-Tec has a winner here!!!

A vest pocket pistol that is capable of single hole groups at 21 feet, which I consider to be the effective range of the weapon.

It is chambered in what I consider to be the most effective caliber achivable in such small a gun: 9mm kurz.

It fits into the palm of my hand and fits comfortably in a shirt pocket. It is scarcely bigger than a pack of cigerettes, but packs a more immedately deadly punch than the cancer sticks!! :eek:

I have have been waiting for this pistol for a week now due to a strange anomoly in AZ law which says that a FFL dealer must wait 10 business days from the time he buys a used gun till the time he can actually transfer it to a buyer. I found this gem languishing in the case last week and have been waiting for my chance to take it home!! Believe me, it was worth the wait!!!! :D

Strangely, I consider mine to be worthy of primary carry!!!! In light of that, I have two spare mags from Kel-Tec and a pocket holster from KD holsters already bought and paid for, awaiting shipment!!

Stephen, you have to aquire one of these and do one of your excellent range reports!! I think you will be pleasently surprised!!!!! :D

[Min]

While I would like one of these also, I would not use it as primary carry. It is so small and light it would be my backup gun, in case the perp asks me to hand over my primary CCW at gunpoint for instance.

[denfoote]

You know Bub, I've carried everything from a Springfield 1911A1 loaded to a Glock 36 and I'm tired of lugging the weight around!!! ;)

I carry in excess of three pounds of keys with me at my job, and I'm not interested in hoofing that weight around with me when I carry a gun for personal protection!!! For me, small and light in something that will do some good is a blessing!!! :D

The P3AT is an answer to prayers!!!

[Min]

Well, I get your point, but my main point is having two carry guns for the scenario I described above.

The KT would make a great back-up gun.

BTW, my main carry is either a SW 642 J-frame or a Kahr PM9, so I understand wanting small and light. :)

[10-Ring]

Congrats! ;) But no pics? :confused: :scrutiny:

[denfoote]

10-Ring,

I am posting this on a friends machine. He has no scanner and I left my digital camera at home.

Min, I appreciate your concern. But, I have never carried what is commonly refered to as a back up gun. Most gun battles are over so quickly and at a distance that the use of a BUG is impracticle. As Col. Cooper said, mindset is what wins gun battles!! When my gun is drawn, I intend to stop with as much violence as I can muster!! If that is not enough, then I shall be at peace, in the arms of my maker!!!

[wardog]

Denfoote,

I just got one too, on Monday.

The size/weight is fantastic! I'm going to do the "fluff & buff" tomorrow, and get out to the range soon. From what I've been reading it seems like they have the bugs worked out on these now. We'll see.

[denfoote]

Here are my beloved mice.


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/429771/Twomice.jpg

The P3AT is on the right. :D

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

My wife got one. I was skeptical. Surprise, surprise.

She will not let me have it for range work cause she carries it everywhere. She feels safe and confident (she does range time too). However, she is not printing groups as tight as you are. That little thing likes to "squirt" out of my hand (I have large hands, and that little buckaroo does pop vigorously).

I too pack a 1911 or .357 revo and sometimes I am tempted to have one of these in a pocket! rather than tote the heavy.

.380 has <200 ft/lbs. That worries me. Does anyone have the 9mm version?

[denfoote]

Another pic. This one is the first target. My poor tired middle aged eyes had a hard time picking up the front sight...at first!!! ;)



http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/429771/P3ATfirstshots10yards.jpg

[Bowlcut]

oooh hush i dont need to hear this
cause i want one

and i promised one to dad, so first one i get wont even be mine :(

[Bren]

I can't shoot one hole groups with mine, not with those sights.

However, I did find the perfect backup and after sitting on it for many hours a day, it still works perfectly.

Maybe that "gas test" is something Gas-ton never considered. :o Bren

[GunGeek]

Just bought one too, was tired of lugging around the weight of other guns. I still carry a larger gun with this as a backup at times were risk may be bigger then normal, but this is great for times I really don't expect trouble but don't want to go "naked".

[denfoote]

Gee, with all you guys buying them, no wonder I had a hard time finding one!! :D

[Newton]

We start talking about the excellent P-3AT, then someone goes and posts a picture of their 25 yard buckshot test target just to confuse me :D

[W Turner]

I bought one in early November and finally got to shoot it the 3rd weekend of that month.

I shot 75 rounds of Georgia Arms FMJ and Shear Power Plus Gold Dot HP's.

All things considered it is accurate. I did not do as well with slow deliberate trigger pulls as I did when I was doing defensive drills with it(starting at arms distance and dumping the mag into one or two targets). The accuracy was actually better in the defensive drills even though I did not use the sites at all.

Reliability was 99%. The only reason it was not 100% was because the very last round required two trigger pulls to fire. In between both attempts to fire I pulled the round out and inspected it. The firing pin mark was deep and normal looking so it may have been due to the ammo.

Ejection/Extraction was excellent and positive. I had other shooters try it out and all of the brass was going over their right shoulder, so KT seems to have fixed the problem with the brass hitting you in the forehead. All brass was in reloadable condition.

I paid $269 for mine, which was about $20 more than I wanted to pay for it, but it was well worth it.

The only change I have made is that I added a factory 1rd. mage extension to it to allow me to get my ring finger on the grip. Be forewarned though, it is expensive (~$20 with shipping) some people have been using the NAA Guardian extensoins on theirs with godd results. Other have also been using the factory Bersa mag extensions with good results.

Mino

[Badger Arms]

I had a NAA Guardian I carried but the recoil on that thing was wicked and the brass hit me between the eyes. I bought a 32 caliber KT and love it. I can't hit anything with the sights on that thing... I do better point shooting with it. I can hit a milk jug at ten feet all day long.

I use the KT 32 as my primary carry gun because I ALWAYS have it. I'm a big guy and don't like luggin anything heavy around. I'm MUCH more likely to take the KT with me.

Next time I have an order coming, I'm going to add a P3AT to it.

[denfoote]

Hey Newton. I had to "find" the front sight first!! :D

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

So THATS what I was doing wrong. Aiming and all. :D

[made_in_the_south]

I fired a friend of mines P3AT this little gun is in a word "AWESOME"

[wardog]

made_in_the_south,

Welcome to THR!

[big_lead_ballz04]

I cant wait to pick mine up.

[made_in_the_south]

War Dog Thanks for the Welcome.

[Mr Jody Hudson]

It is hard to believe just how good, accurate, small, light, cheap and wonderful these little babies are!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! My third one is ordered. My son loves his too.

Just a note, there is a lot of military surplus and police surplus ammo in .380 around right now!

[dawg23]

I paid $212 for mine about two months ago.

Mine has already been back to the factory for reliability work - new slide, new barrel and new ejector. Seems to run fine now.

These things will NOT shoot "single hole groups at 21 feet." However keeping all shots on an 8.5"x11" piece of paper at 10 yards is no problem.

Sights are terrible, trigger is pretty, bad but concealability is outstanding. I would never use this as a primary weapon, but is an excellent BUG.

Has anyone seem any ballistics tests on hollow point ammo expansion with these short barrels ?? I'm still wondering if I should be carying hollow point or ball ammo.

[Badger Arms]

Maybe it's time to accessorize your P3AT's guys!

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=621469
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=620886

[cidirkona]

LOL

Somebody had too much time with photoshop....

-Colin

[Slowhand]

So, nothing bad to say from anyone? I may get one, my shop has them available. Sure is lighter than my Seecamp, and al ot harder hitting.

[cidirkona]

Christmas bonus = new p3at.

-Colin

[customfret]

I bought one too, put 300 rounds through it without any problems while trying it out, but made the mistake of showing it to my wife...... haven't seen it since... :(
Guess I need to see if I can find another somewhere......

[cidirkona]

Has anyone ever tried fur-coating one of these little guys?

-Colin

[Diesle]

I like mine but I sure wish there was extended mags. with 3rd finger rests available...


Diesle

[mod12]

i have the kel-tec p11 9mm.great little gun! 21 oz. loaded. 12 rnd. S&W mag. plus one up the spout. belt clip carry and it dissappears under a bloused shirt. you'll forget you have it with you. not a bit of trouble with it. adequate sights. long trigger takes a bit of getting used to and it smooths out with use. blued slide isn't the best looking job i've seen but pretty is as pretty does so this qualifies as a miss america. recoil not a problem. p32 and p3at have awfully small grips so they aren't my cup of tea. if you're looking for a small, light weight, dependable pistol i think you ought to give this one a try. havn't had any dealings with customer svc. but understand it's quite good. lifetime warranty even to subsequent owners. if you buy a used one, send it to the factory and they'll make it like new. accuracy com 7/10 yds. around $250.00. all kinds of add ons available. try www.ktog.com or www.ktrange.com

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

S&W mags for 12 rounds? Need...more...info:what:

You are saying that the grips are significantly larger on the P11? Than the 3At and 32? Is it comparable to the Taurus PT111?

[mod12]

kel-tec p11 can utilize S&W series 69 (15 rnds) and series 59 (12 rnds.) pre ban mags. the p11 is marginally slimmer and lighter than the taurus pt111 which i am very familiar with as a good friend owns one. he wishes he had a kel-tec. the best description is that the taurus is "blockier" and weighs more. i can't get my middle, ring, and little finger on the grip on either. without a finger rest mag. floorplate. i have to curl my little finger under the grip. i have skinny fingers, large bony hands. the S&W 12 rnd. mag. does away with the need for the add on finger rest due to the added length. the over all heighth is less than the heighth of the p11 with a standard finger rest floor plate sold by kel-tec. go to:


http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/index.htm


this has a better description than i can give + pictures. you'll have to hunt thru the index for mag. reference. there's a bonanza of info. in this article.


i think it adds to the stability of the gun. just hate to have my pinkie waving around in the air. adds to controlability during recoil too. :)

[Hazwaste]

So far I've put only 50 rounds through it, but not a single failure to feed/extract/whatever. I'm taking it to the range tomorrow so I can work on my ability to shoot somewhat accurately using those paint splotches they call sights. :scrutiny:

[Badger Arms]

kel-tec p11 can utilize S&W series 69 (15 rnds) and series 59 (12 rnds.) pre ban mags.It's the other way around. The 69 series has a standard capacity of 12 while the 59 series has a standard capacity of 14 or 15 round depending on the vintage of the magazine.

[denfoote]

These things will NOT shoot "single hole groups at 21 feet." However keeping all shots on an 8.5"x11" piece of paper at 10 yards is no problem.

Alright!! A slight exaggeration!! Chalk it up to the exuberance of a big boy with a new toy!! :D

Update: I ordered and recieved a pocket holster from K & D holsters (http://www.kdholsters.com/) and I have two spare mags on order from Kel-Tec!!

If I get a chance, I'll get some more ammo and continue to work on those groups this weekend!! :D

Pics when the rig is complete. ;)

[dawg23]

The "pinky" extensions on the Bersa Thunder .380 mags will work on the Kel-Tec 3AT mags. They cost about $2 each and can be installed in about 30 seconds.

My little finger still hangs below the grip, but at least I get two full fingers wrapped aorund it.

I'm hoping Kel-Tec will start selling the extra capacity mags like they have for the P32's. Then you can get a full grip with all fingers (plus get a few more rounds in the weapon).