PBR Streetgang
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I have a big selection of carry guns to chose from,and my Kel-Tec P3AT goes with me the majority of the time...
Kel-Tec as carry pistol? Opinions?
- Thread starter vongh
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MCgunner
Member
Kel Tec has warned against dry fire without snap caps, at least on the P11 and I've had mine for 19 years, because the hammer is zero inertia, relies on the speed of the hammer to fire reliably. There is as much weight on the bottom side of the hammer pivot as there is on the hammer side. This insures against drop fires which I have accidentally tested on a few occasions. 
Anyway, the velocity at which the P11's hammer works would damage parts if repeatedly dry fired without snap caps.
Anyway, the velocity at which the P11's hammer works would damage parts if repeatedly dry fired without snap caps.
GBExpat
Member
Not necessarily. I have been carrying my blued PF9 since 2007 and it has never rusted ... and I have never babied it.Styx said:
Well, after sweating my ass off working in the yard, when I come inside I will usually take it out of my back pocket, remove it from the DeSantis Nemesis and lay them in front of the fan on the table for several minutes to dry out. But I never follow that up with a cleaning/oiling ... after I shower I put them right back in my pocket.
When I do clean/oil my PF9, however, it gets an Eezox treatment, so perhaps that along with my not-particularly-corrosive-perspiration explains its rust-imperviousness.
Gun Master
Member
I have the KelTec P-32 with optional belt clip. In usual carry mode, it is the standard 6 rd. mag. for concealment. For reloads an additional 10 rd. mag., which gives the shooter an extended grip and four more shots. This makes it a lot easier to control, which can be felt by simply grasping. To prevent "rim lock", use FMJ only.
It is advertised as the lightest .32 ACP ever made. Not fun to shoot, but no malfunctions.
Usually carry S&W Model 638, but P-32 otherwise.
It is advertised as the lightest .32 ACP ever made. Not fun to shoot, but no malfunctions.
Usually carry S&W Model 638, but P-32 otherwise.
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JBB
Member
I've had a P32 a PF 9, and a P3AT. All worked well with no problems. The P32 was my favorite and I will buy another one day.
Armybrat
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My 1st generation hard chrome P32 is very reliable & great little shooter, but the P3AT gave me too many problems so traded it off.
Styx
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Mine would show blotches of surface rust from being stored in a dry temperature controlled bedroom. I've also had surface rust on my Rem 870 and 10/22. Now, I REFUSE to buy blued guns. I prefer to buy stainless or guns with a more durable rust resistant finish so I don't have to worry about it.Not necessarily. I have been carrying my blued PF9 since 2007 and it has never rusted ... and I have never babied it.
Well, after sweating my ass off working in the yard, when I come inside I will usually take it out of my back pocket, remove it from the DeSantis Nemesis and lay them in front of the fan on the table for several minutes to dry out. But I never follow that up with a cleaning/oiling ... after I shower I put them right back in my pocket.
When I do clean/oil my PF9, however, it gets an Eezox treatment, so perhaps that along with my not-particularly-corrosive-perspiration explains its rust-imperviousness.
Out of the 5 blued guns I've ever purchased, the Kel-Tec Blued finish looked the cheapest and thinnest compared the the Ruger, Rem, and Taurus Blued pistols and long guns I've owned in the past. I also had a P11 that was in OD Green Caratoke, and it was like night and day compared the the durability of my PF9. The Blued finish on my PF9 basically looked as if it someone painted the bare metal with a black permanent marker.
GBExpat
Member
<chuckle> Oh yeah, the bluing on both my P3AT and PF9 looks like crap ... but even with extensive carry neither of mine has shown any propensity to corrode.
From what I have read at http://www.thektog.org/forum/ over the years, it appears to me that the finish quality has not always been consistent.
From what I have read at http://www.thektog.org/forum/ over the years, it appears to me that the finish quality has not always been consistent.
MCgunner
Member
Mine either and it has lived most of its life along the Texas coastal bend in a humid, sweaty pocket.
JWH321
Member
Since this thread started, I just HAD to go get the PF-9 out of the safe and shoot it. It hadn't been out in a couple of years. I loaded it and shot 50 of my junky reloads through it. It worked. I had no reliability issues with it at all. It still hurts my hand. I remember now why it is not a gun that you will take to the range for a day of fun.
But at least this thread made me go out and get it dirty so I could clean and lube it. Its back in the safe. There's nothing wrong with it - never has been.
I may go out and get a SCCY to see if its better. Both guns are made within about 30-40 miles from here.
But at least this thread made me go out and get it dirty so I could clean and lube it. Its back in the safe. There's nothing wrong with it - never has been.
I may go out and get a SCCY to see if its better. Both guns are made within about 30-40 miles from here.
MCgunner
Member
My P11, what the SCCY clones, is wider on the grip at the back. I don't find recoil objectionable at all. Funny thing, I got this Radom P64 in 9x18 and it kicks a LOT harder than my 9x19 Kel Tec. I used to practice with a shooting glove, tamed it down so it didn't hurt, at least. Now, it's got Marschal grips on it and a Wolff spring kit in it and is manageable without the glove, but it still kicks harder than the Kel Tec and it weighs more, over 20 ounces vs 14 for the Kel Tec. The Radom is a blow back gun, though, but it's just odd that it should kick to the point of hurting with a much lower power/pressure load and in a heavier gun. The P11 is very easy on my hand. Another thing about it, there is a .22lr conversion I've considered for it in the past, but I handload and cast my own bullets and have a Dillon square deal set up for 9x19. Heck, 22lr is a might harder to get now days than it was when I was considering that conversion, too.
I did have trouble with the slide on my P11 rusting so I wound up painting it. I bought a can of engine paint, degreased the slide & baked the paint on after spraying it. The paint has worn in a couple of spots from being holstered but I'm not to worried about it. The P-11 isn't a showpiece or a fine collectable. It is an inexpensive firearm that fills a useful niche.
I haven't shot a Sccy but a salesman got me to dry fire one & the trigger actually felt a little better than my P-11's to me. I believe it was as heavy or heavier than my Kel Tec but it felt cleaner.
I haven't shot a Sccy but a salesman got me to dry fire one & the trigger actually felt a little better than my P-11's to me. I believe it was as heavy or heavier than my Kel Tec but it felt cleaner.
RustyShackelford
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Bob Cogan...
Reportedly, Bob Cogan, the guy that owns & runs Accurate Plating & Weaponry in AL carrys 2 Cerakote coated Kel Tec pistols with him all the time.
He apparently likes & trusts the Kel Tec brand.
Reportedly, Bob Cogan, the guy that owns & runs Accurate Plating & Weaponry in AL carrys 2 Cerakote coated Kel Tec pistols with him all the time.
He apparently likes & trusts the Kel Tec brand.
Styx
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I had the same issue with my Blued PF9. One thing that I failed to mention is that if you mail Kel-Tec your slide and barrel, they will parkerize, cerakote, or hard chrome it for a very respectable price. I emailed them a year ago, and this was their response:
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MCgunner
Member
As I understand it, same design; however, not sure this kit would fit the SCCY, is made for the P11..... http://gallowayprecision.com/kel-tec/pf9-and-p11/rtk-short-stroke-trigger-for-kel-tec-pf9-p11/
Current thread running here.... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=772467
nearlynormalmike
Member
My experience with Kel-Tec seems to differ from many. Mine new would jam about every other or every third round, HPs more so than ball. After two trips back to the factory it was no better. I destroyed it not wanting any one else depending it.
I do know people who swear they have had no problems.
In was hoping Kel-Tec would fix it or give me a new gun. They did neither.
I do know people who swear they have had no problems.
In was hoping Kel-Tec would fix it or give me a new gun. They did neither.
Gun Master
Member
The HP's, most likely, were the problem. Some guy has invented a paper clip like devise, to slip in back of the magazine for this problem, called rim lock.
The short cut is to use FMJ ammo, since the JHP's are shorter. The longer FMJ's were what the P-32 was designed for.
MedWheeler
Member
Gun Master, nearlynormalmike doesn't say if his was the P32, the only Kel-Tec product subject to rimlock issues.. I'd be curious if it was something else.
Also, in post 79, you say you carry yours with the "standard 6-round magazine." Why are you shorting yourself a round? The OEM (Mec-Gar, actually) magazine supplied with the P32 holds seven rounds.
Also, in post 79, you say you carry yours with the "standard 6-round magazine." Why are you shorting yourself a round? The OEM (Mec-Gar, actually) magazine supplied with the P32 holds seven rounds.
I have a couple of guns that have this issue but none of the KT's. I have a 1911 that is a jam-o-matic with any HP I have tried but will reliably feed any FMJ. Since it is a range gun this is okay with me. I have a Ruger P-85 that will reliably run only one type of ammo that has been tried so I keep that ammo for just that gun. Of course there are 22's that are extremely finicky as well.
I have never seen the KT 32 so I have no idea how it runs. I don't own a 32 or a 25 and probably wouldn't buy one unless it was almost a give away since I really don't need to keep another type of ammo on hand. The P3AT, PF9, and P11 that I have used are all very reliable with any ammo (I have only run FMJ through the P11).
have a pf9 that ive had many problems w/. in the end though, i stopped treating it like a glock. it needs to be cleaned and lubed a certain way. it'll shoot only certain brands of (usually high end) and it rewards you w/ being probably the most concealable 9mm's out there. i trust it.
btw if kimber made a pf9 and it had the same quirks people would rave about it.
btw if kimber made a pf9 and it had the same quirks people would rave about it.
Gun Master
Member
I am a leary of the "7 + 1" carry theory. I believe it is safer to carry the normal rds. the gun was designed for. Adding an extra rd. makes it too tight, subjecting it to jams and other malfunctions.
If anybody retorts that they never had a jam, etc. with their gun(s) in the +1 use, I'd say "go for it". They have learned a certain gun can accomodate this practice.
MCgunner
Member
Odd. I got rid of two 1911s as they wouldn't feed anything, but ball. But, my P85 and my P11 feed anything, never a problem. My light practice load in both guns is a 105 Lee mold cast SWC over just enough bullseye to cycle the slide reliably. This is a pointy looking SWC and very light. Never bobbles in either gun. It shoots a bit high in my P11, but not enough to bother my practice at defense ranges.
See, I trust that P11 with my life against mean animals as well as mean people......
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MedWheeler
Member
Gun Master, I'm pretty sure the owner's manual that came with my P32 does indeed state the magazine is a seven-round one. So does every other gun catalog I find that indexes the P32.
How old is yours that it came with a six-rounder?
Click here to review.. http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/p-32/pistol/
The similarly-sized P3-AT, however, does come with a magazine intended to hold only six rounds.
How old is yours that it came with a six-rounder?
Click here to review.. http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/p-32/pistol/
The similarly-sized P3-AT, however, does come with a magazine intended to hold only six rounds.
Cocked & Locked
Member
no problems here...
My wife has been carrying this .32 Kel Tec every since we bought it NIB...don't remember how long ago.
Never any problems with it with FMJ or JHP ammo. She likes the way Silvertips look so she carries those in it.
I've never had any issues with my PFP. Shot everything in it from various brands of 115 FMJ, Federal BP9 JHP , 124 grain Winchester NATO, 124 Golden Sabre +P, and Corbon 147 +P. Not fun to shoot with any of those really.
I like the PF9's small size and carry Federal 9BP JHP in it.
Posing with a Spyderco Persistence.
My wife has been carrying this .32 Kel Tec every since we bought it NIB...don't remember how long ago.
Never any problems with it with FMJ or JHP ammo. She likes the way Silvertips look so she carries those in it.
I've never had any issues with my PFP. Shot everything in it from various brands of 115 FMJ, Federal BP9 JHP , 124 grain Winchester NATO, 124 Golden Sabre +P, and Corbon 147 +P. Not fun to shoot with any of those really.
I like the PF9's small size and carry Federal 9BP JHP in it.
Posing with a Spyderco Persistence.
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