Gotta give credit where credit is due (Kel-Tec)

[unisonic12]

What a wonderful American gun manufacturer. Over the years, I've had nothing but excellent customer service from them, but what I received in the mail today was the tops! I had an old hard chromed first generation P3AT that I could never get running reliably. It had been back to Kel-Tec more than once. I basically gave up on it when I purchased an excellent/reliable second generation P3AT. Well, after sitting for years, I thought, "What the heck... Let's send it to Kel-Tec and see what they'll do." Well, they trashed my old pistol and stamped my old serial number on to a brand spankin' new hard chromed second generation P3AT. I got an entirely new gun with a free magazine because there wasn't a mag in it when I sent it in. Excellent LIFETIME warranty service! And, I'm not an anomaly by far. I've read tons of posts about Kel-Tec's excellent customer support. Glad to see this from an American company.

 

[WardenWolf]

Wow, I'm impressed.

 

[YZR]

That's incredibly impressive. Make's me proud to own one!

 

[MikePGS]

Just don't tell Ruger that they have to give kel-tec credit where credit is due

 

[againstthagrane]

makes me wish i had a kel-tec. that's awesome

 

[Ed N.]

I had similar problems getting a P32 running right. Eventually I spoke with their shop manager on the phone, and we agreed to just call the gun a lemon and KelTec would replace it. I drove over to Cocoa, dropped off the gun, and went out to lunch. Came back an hour later and they had built me a new gun, stamped it with the s/n from the old one, and let me run 200 rounds through it on their range using their ammo.

Any company can occasionally have a quality problem. At least KelTec makes it right.

Ed

 

[unisonic12]

Well, finished baking some Militec gun conditioner on the metal parts, lubed her up and I'm running some snap caps through her right now. Very smooth out of the box. The trigger is a little stronger than my other 2nd gen P3AT that's been shot a lot. I expect this trigger will smooth out and lighten up some like the other one did. Excellent machining and nice polish job on the feed ramp and chamber, which was notoriously problematic with earlier P3ATs. No tool marks, burrs, polymer flashing, etc. Nice to see Kel-Tec has matured their products. Long way from the early pistols.

 

[unisonic12]

And, here's another kick ass feature of the new 2nd gens. You know how it's possible to short stroke the trigger if you pull it after the first click and don't let it fully reset? You then had to rack the slide to re-cock the hammer that fell from half-cock without the energy to fire the round. Now, if you short stroke the trigger, the hammer doesn't fall from half-cock and all you have to do is let the trigger fully out to reset and pull to fire. No messing with the slide at all with the updated hammer block. This could be very useful in a self-defense scenario.

 

[unisonic12]

Came back an hour later and they had built me a new gun, stamped it with the s/n from the old one, and let me run 200 rounds through it on their range using their ammo.

Wow, that's interesting that they let you use their range. I used to live in Sanford, FL, just north of Orlando. I drove that same problematic 1st gen P3AT to KT myself as we were also going to do the Kennedy Space Center tour. I got the dog and pony show on the factory tour, but when I asked them if I could test fire it myself on the range, they said it wasn't allowed because of insurance purposes. This was in 2005

 

[mgregg85]

Just don't tell Ruger that they have to give kel-tec credit where credit is due

Nice.

I love my P3AT, never had any problems with it.

Kel-Tec was quick to send me a new rear sight for my sub-2000 after I broke it while trying to modify it.

 

[unisonic12]

As I'm running snap caps... How do you tell when they are worn out? These are the all metal Azoom ones with a rubber/silicone insert in the primer pocket. They all have a definite firing pin dent. How long can I uses these until the dent gets so deep that it would be like not using them at all?

 

[Ed N.]

Unisonic12, it was probably 2002 when I used their range. Sounds like lawyers got hold of 'em since and said "No no no."

Seems pretty silly. If their gun blew up in my hand, they'd still have some serious liability whether I was on their range or somebody else's. And if the gun's safe, how much risk is there really in just popping off some rounds on their range with their guy supervising?

 

[Brian Dale]

Thanks for posting your report, unisonic12. That's good news.

 

[JoeShmoe]

I like to hear these stories. I picked up my first Kel-Tec (a P11) on Saturday. Their reputation for great customer service was a big factor. I'm very impressed with how accurate it is. I think I'm gonna like this gun.

 

[Blue .45]

I bought a used 1st gen. P32. After about a year, I began having a problem with the trigger. I sent it to kel tec and they sent back a new second generation P32. I finally had a chance to test fire it this week, and it ran great. You can't beat Kel Tec's customer service.

 

[Kind of Blued]

That's incredibly impressive. I'll be buying a P3AT someday I bet.

I'd buy a friggin' RFB if they'd release it too!

 

[MarkDido]

My first carry gun was a 10 round P-32. My current one is a PF-9, and the P-32 is still around as backup.

Great customer service, and I live within driving distance

 

[craig]

i lost a little pin and spring when cleaning my sub2000 last year. called them for some replacements and they sent me 2 of each for free.

 

[CoRoMo]

...an hour later and they had built me a new gun, stamped it with the s/n from the old one, and let me run 200 rounds through it on their range using their ammo.

That's it! I'm buying another P11. (after I buy an AR15)

 

[Speedo66]

I lost a nut from the front sight of a Kel-Tec Sub2000 when adjusting it the first time at the range a few weeks ago.

I called them for a replacement nut, and they sent me a little kit including the complete screw and nut, sight adjusters, and a new front sight insert, all free.

Great customer service, and very happy with the gun itself.

 

[66GTO]

+1 for KelTec from me also. Not because of great customer service, but because I've never had to use it. My 2nd Gen. P3AT runs like Swiss watch (even though it doesn't look like one!)

 

[PT92]

That is great to hear. I have a P11 and two Sub2K's and they are solid and reliable.

-Happy Holidays

 

[KBintheSLC]

My P32 2nd Gen has always run flawlessly, but if I ever need their service, I feel that they will come through for me. Thanks for posting.

 

[krs]

They've had a 3Pat from me since Sept 8 and no estimate for return.

The pistol is one that I originally bought from Bud's then used as part of a trade with a local guy who was selling a Colt I wanted. He tried to do a buff and fluff along with lightening the trigger spring, but he got it all screwed up and called me to see if I knew how to put them back together. I told him to bring it over and he did, all parts loose in a box.

He'd gotten the pins unusable and enlarged the holes in the frame badly. He'd put a gouge in the slide, had lost the trigger springs, and I'm not sure what else. It was a mess and he was pissed at me for giving him the link to KTOG's instructions and telling him that he could make the gun smoother.

So I gave him $100. to get rid of him and threw the mess into a box for a month. I was thinking to throw it away.

Finally I sent it in, not really hoping for much, with a note that must have sounded incoherent describing the whole story.

I inquired last week and they sent a computerized readout from their shop that the gun is still there.

I'm just happy that they didn't give me a bunch of grief over it. We'll see what comes back.

 

[jerkface11]

Now if only they'd get the RFB out.