LCP v. Kel-Tec

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Two new guns that met government safety standards, two recalls in the same spirit that continues back to the recall on the Single Action Army - which is horribly unsafe if dropped.

The recalls are not a quality defect issue, they are a product improvement safety issue, and free. Name one other maker who does that.

Kimber, Glock, S&W, Colt, HK, ad infinitum have had issues with firearms for the last 50 years, but fixed only the ones sent to customer service. Ruger advised all their customers and bore the costs. Which gunmaker would you trust more in the long run - the one who lets you know up front, or the one who lets the problem slide to bolster their marketing image?

The LCP is a great small carry pistol, and like any other, needs break in, cleaning, and shooting to verify it's reliability. Given that Keltec had the exact same problems with the P3AT, and that LOTS of posters caution that ANY new gun can have teething problems, there is no point now in saying the LCP is problematic. Those pistols have been repaired and upgraded, the new 371 series don't seem to be the problem.

What seems to be the problem is old news passed off as the latest data when it's not relevant any more.
 
Two new guns that met government safety standards, two recalls in the same spirit that continues back to the recall on the Single Action Army - which is horribly unsafe if dropped.

The recalls are not a quality defect issue, they are a product improvement safety issue, and free. Name one other maker who does that.

Kimber, Glock, S&W, Colt, HK, ad infinitum have had issues with firearms for the last 50 years, but fixed only the ones sent to customer service. Ruger advised all their customers and bore the costs. Which gunmaker would you trust more in the long run - the one who lets you know up front, or the one who lets the problem slide to bolster their marketing image?

The LCP is a great small carry pistol, and like any other, needs break in, cleaning, and shooting to verify it's reliability. Given that Keltec had the exact same problems with the P3AT, and that LOTS of posters caution that ANY new gun can have teething problems, there is no point now in saying the LCP is problematic. Those pistols have been repaired and upgraded, the new 371 series don't seem to be the problem.

What seems to be the problem is old news passed off as the latest data when it's not relevant any more.
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Well said!

I never cease to be amazed that some people cannot understand the good-will that a company is putting forth when a VOLUNTARY recall is issued. As was stated previously, Kel-Tec had the exact same issue and NEVER issued a recall. They simply made a change to their manufacturing process and allowed all affected firearms to stay in the hands of customers. Which of these two companies inspires more consumer confidence? I suspect that if one still believes that Ruger is the lesser of the two companies, then that person is predisposed to think that way.

When the City of New York, or the Portland police department, or the Illinois State police or the Indiana State police demand that Glock exchange thousands of faulty firearms... Does Glock then offer a recall or and exchange program to the general public? NEVER!!!

Why is it that companies like Kel-Tec or Glock get a free pass from most of the public, but responsible companies like Ruger seem to take it on the chin? I guess that my advise to Ruger, is that they should ever issue safety recalls and put more emphasis on their profits, like other fine upstanding companies do.
 
Fired when dropped off a work bench onto a concrete floor while cleaning other weapons. Stupidity on my part for having to many guns on the cleaning table at a time.
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Wow... I bet that was scary. :eek:

Tirod and gglass, well put. :cool:
 
i am interested in the LCP as an alternative/replacement for the Kel-Tec

LCP recall issues aside, what is the opinion of those that own or have experience with both on the relative size, quality, ease of use, accuracy and reliability of these two pocket pistols

i know there are other "pocket" alternatives available, but in my opinion, none of the higher priced alternatives could justify the additional cost, weight and size vs. the kel-tecs (mediocre quality and all), but i am open to persuasion on that point
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I have a P3AT that I've carried for several years now and it has proven itself to be a reliable and trustworthy companion. I've owned other Kel-tec handguns and currently have a SUB-2000 and a PLR-16 in addition to the P3AT and none of them are of "mediocre quality".

A friend of mine has a LCP, I've shot it on a couple of different occasions and all it is is a dressed up P3AT. The fact that it says Ruger on it does nothing for it's reliability, nor does it enhance it's quality.

Ruger built a better looking P3AT but did nothing to improve the design or function of the pistol. Asthetics aside, the Ruger has nothing on the Kel-tec, it's not more accurate, it's not more reliable, it's not smaller or lighter, it doesn't have a better warranty, and Ruger doesn't have better customer service. I suggest sticking to the original and getting the Kel-tec.
 
If you are worried about reliability...as you should be...you shouldn't carry it.
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The revolver guy that posted this obviously does not have any experience with either of these guns.

As a person that does have experience with them I would say that both are worthy of carrying for self defense. Around here, the LCP is going for almost $400, and for that price, I would rather get the P3AT for $125 less.
Considering that both are very reliable, equally compact, and relatively similar in function, I think that either one will suit your needs.

S&W 442 revolver is my choice. I would never carry a suspect 6 shot semi-auto vs. a 5-shot revolver. Are you looking for carry convenience or reliability?
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-rogerjames

The 442 can't even come close to the carry-ability of an LCP or P3AT. Furthermore, if you actually try these guns you will find that they are both convenient and reliable. This is nothing against revolvers, but pocket autos certainly have their perks.
 
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If you are worried about reliability...as you should be...you shouldn't carry it.
The revolver guy that posted this obviously does not have any experience with either of these guns.

As a person that does have experience with them I would say that both are worthy of carrying for self defense. Around here, the LCP is going for almost $400, and for that price, I would rather get the P3AT for $125 less.
Considering that both are very reliable, equally compact, and relatively similar in function, I think that either one will suit your needs.

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S&W 442 revolver is my choice. I would never carry a suspect 6 shot semi-auto vs. a 5-shot revolver. Are you looking for carry convenience or reliability?
-rogerjames

The 442 can't even come close to the carry-ability of an LCP or P3AT. Furthermore, if you actually try these guns you will find that they are both convenient and reliable. This is nothing against revolvers, but pocket autos certainly have their perks.
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KB, you're right, I have never shot either of them. You are also right that they are much easier to conceal. I have just read from previous posts about the kel-tec that there seemed to be an abnormal amount of malfunctions compared to other autos, and that would make me nervous. Except for maybe a bad primer, the revolver will never fail to go bang. That being said, maybe I will consider a Kel-Tec or LCP for those rare occassions when it is inconvenient to carry either my XD-9 or 442. Didn't mean to hi-jack the thread :)
 
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First P3AT was junk. I can't remember all the problems - basically would not feed or eject reliably.

KT has a good warranty and replaced the pistol.

Second P3AT seems that it won't feed Wolf ammo reliably, but regular brass ammo okay. Verdict is still out.

Never shot the Ruger, but annoyed that they apparantly stole the design from KT.
 
First P3AT was junk. I can't remember all the problems - basically would not feed or eject reliably.

KT has a good warranty and replaced the pistol.

Second P3AT seems that it won't feed Wolf ammo reliably, but regular brass ammo okay. Verdict is still out.

Never shot the Ruger, but annoyed that they apparantly stole the design from KT.
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This is exactly what I'm talking about. Maybe as a back up or last resort, but never as primary carry.
 
WHy doesn't it annoy you how many companies have stolen the design of the 1911? or the AR15? Or how similar the design of the Taurus Pt-111 is to the P-11? or the M&P to the GLock? Or the design features Glock took from Steyr and H&K?

Imitation is a form of flattery and its a matter of regular practice in the firearms industry. Ruger hasn't done anything different than its competition has done a dozen times already.
 
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My LCP is a 371 series. And I've been carrying it for about 2 weeks now (I've had it since SHOT I didn't start carrying it until my pocket holster, and CTC came in). I bought the LCP as a go anywhere, gun, slip into my pocket regardless of what clothes I am wearing. I can't go to the gym with a S&W revolver of any type, they are too large, but my LCP goes unnoticed.

As far a reliability, mine has had no issues. The recall had nothing to do with reliability, it had to do with the gun being drop safe. So in essence it's so reliable that it will go off sometimes when you don't want it to.

Now between KT, and Ruger. The Ruger IMO is a more refined designed, a better overall extractor, a smoother trigger, and a better company backing it.

Anyways I may have other guns on me, but I will always have my LCP in my pocket.
 
My LCP shoots perfectly. I have 5 mags of both designs and all shoot flawlessly.

You have serious issues you need to work out if you won't use a gun as a primary if it has had any kind of issue with it. It would seem that must not carry any type of firearm at all then. Absurd. Considering that the recall was about the firearm discharging when dropped, I find your opinion seriously flawed.

But I do use my lcp as a backup for my G-19...but maybe I shouldn't carry that since there are some people somewhere who have had an issue with the glocks.
So maybe I'll carry a 1911....oops, looks like that one's out too.

Perhaps an xd? nope..

maybe a _____...


After thinking about it, I'm down to carrying a slingshot and a Bible.

But the Bible has over 3,000 denominations, so I guess that is out too.

Down to just the slingshot, I guess.
 
The LCP is of much higher quality than the Kel-Tec. All of Kel-Tec's guns just feel cheap to me. I shot a friends PF-9 and it felt like crap in my hand. Jammed several times, mag fell out and it only comes with one mag. LCP all the way.
 
When I buy carry guns I buy two at a time. That explains the 7 kel tecs I currently own. Only one not duplicated is the PF9. I could only find one when they first came out. My wife's happy with a P-11 and P.32 so guess one PF9 will be enough. I've been buying and carrying these guns since they first became available. Mine are reliable and accurate. I feel no need for an LCP. Seem to be good little pistols, made on a proven design, and look slicker than the KT's. Fit and finish mean nothing to me on a gun of this type. There are certainly no bragging rights with either one.
str1
 
+1 Shooter............ I some times carry a P3at in BOTH pockets (just because it's easy and I can) :neener:
 
Name ONE problem that Ruger is still working out on the LCP, Donny.
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Sure I can tell you one.

It's bullet smilies that may cause bullet setback in the casing and probably effect bullet expansion with hollow points.

The Kel-Tec P-3AT also has the same problem.

It's one of the reasons I purchased a Micro Desert Eagle that along with being a high quality gun, does not have the smilie problem.

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i am interested in the LCP as an alternative/replacement for the Kel-Tec
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I own a Kel-Tec and have handled the LCP. They seem really similar to me. I think either one could be an alternative/replacement for the other. If you already have a Kel-Tec and are having reliability issues with it, you could probably get it corrected for less than an LCP would cost you. For example, this gunsmith http://www.goldenloki.com/ offers "Reliability Preparation of Kel-Tec handguns".
 
Both are good guns, Ruger knows a good design when they steal one.:neener:

I've got the P3AT, I like it better because its the original article, and its got a more durable hard chrome finish instead of just bluing.

Does anyone know if the LCP's slide is molded like other ruger products? I know the P3AT's slide is machined from good 4140 steel.
 
Now if you want a REAL pocket gun go with the Seecamp .32ACP (and yes, I also have an LCP)...:)
 
I wanted an LCP but could never get my hands on one. So last month I bought a P-3AT instead. I've run a couple hundred rounds through it flawlessly, so I have no complaints.
 
Bought a new PF9 yesterday instead of another S&W J frame and only paid $278 OTD with a box of CorBon 125 gr +P ammo. The S&W 442 would have cost me $450 OTD so upon seeing the little KT 9mm was $200 less I thought I would give it a whirl, besides all the cops around here carry them.
 
I own and have used both the S&W 642 and Ruger LCP for pocket carry. I've not found one to be more reliable than the other. I was planning to purchase a P3AT when the LCP came out. I just found the Ruger more aesthetically pleasing.

A friend has a 642 he purchased within the last two years that has failed to fire on a few occasions with factory ammo. I understand Smith now uses a shorter firing pin than they had in the past and failures to fire has been a result in many examples.

Two other friends have P3ATs and they are very pleased with them.
 
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