? Kel-Tec p3at for my wifes purse gun ?

Kel Tecs are a crap shoot, when the work-they're great, but there are a fair number of lemons out there.
I say go for it, take it to the range and put 300 rounds through it, if its a POS, kel tec has fantastic customer service and will make it right in no time.

Try a Kahr p380. My Keltec sits in my "scrap gun parts and other assorted gun things" bucket as we speak.

Most toy Matchbox cars are built to better standards than a Keltec. I gave them a chance......

Most toy Matchbox cars are built to better standards than a Keltec

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LOTS of people say this about kahrs too.
I'm under the impression that all pocket guns are hit or miss, they need proper testing before they can be relied upon for defence.

I didn't mean reliability. My Kahrs fine, little work of art compared to my Keltec.

I meant overall finish and detail. Mt Keltec has the poorest machining I've seen in any gun ever. I was able to dehorn and straighten the slide out a little. Might send it in to get refinished when my others are due.

I've heard of a fluff and buff. Mine needed a fluff, buff, grind, file, hammer, bend, and polish. Junk.

To the OP:

Spend the extra $50 and get an LCP. Bud's has them $300 delivered.

Remember Rugers will pretty much shoot any ammo.

I say the Kel Tec P3AT is a superb gun. Why do you think Ruger copied it so quick.

I carry a P3AT because it's the lightest and smallest, but my wife's purse gun is a Sig P232. The P232 with Hogue wrap around grips is a good shooter. Can't say that for the P3AT, but that's not what it's for.

I would even consider a sub compact 9mm, since it doesn't have to be as small or light for purse carry, and you would have more options for IWB/OWB.

BTW, no problems ever with over 250 rounds in the P3AT and I have the extended mag when I'm carrying a spare .

saenzrich said:

I was thinking of getting my wife a p3at for her purse gun. She leaves for work before light every morning and mentioned she would feel a bit for comfortable having some type of protection easily accessible to her. She got to fire a mag at the gun range and liked it. Is this gun reliable for her to carry and rely on?

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Yes thousands of police officers rely on them everyday of the year. That's why they are in such high demand and hard to find. I carry one as a bug every day.

Can she rack the slide, a lot of women can't.

Why all the keltec hatred are they really that bad? I have handled them but don't know If I would buy them based on the trigger.

The P-11 and P 40 had 12 pound triggers in the beginning but were reduced to about 8 pounds as part of the design evolution. The P3AT saw an innovation of a trigger reset block where the spring tension could be reduced to a lower pull weight.

Sufficed to say the long trigger travel is a safety feature by design.

When the stuff hits the fan you are never going to notice or care about the trigger pull in a CCW. You would not even feel a 30 lb pull. You will shoot the gun. Kel Tec and Kahr make CCW weapons and not range toys

unreal45 said:

Can she rack the slide, a lot of women can't.

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For woman that can't rack a slide, the Beretta Tomcat .22/.25 are an excellent choice. The barrel tips up to ready the chamber and removes racking the slide to charge them. My daughter carries a Beretta .22 and can put 6 rounds in a 6 inch circle at 7 yards. I am very comfortable with that for her.

Why all the keltec hatred are they really that bad? I have handled them but don't know If I would buy them based on the trigger.

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like I said before, they are very hit or miss in terms of quality and reliability.
there isn't really anything inherently bad with their designs, its just that due to the lower price, they have what most would consider lower quality control standards.

Some of us don't agree with that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNRbkOdUgms

Can she rack the slide, a lot of women can't.

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Exactly. Very stiff for the 380s, make sure she can do it, and do it with ease else she won't use it.

Let her choose what she wants if she wants to carry. Suggestions:

Beretta P21a (.22LR) or the .25 version have a tip up barrel. No need to ever work the slide. Worlds batter than a gun she won't carry or won't use.

Kel-Tec P32 is much easier to operate than the 380s.
Quality, defined as conformance to requirements, is excellent.
100% reliable through 400+.
9 - 10 oz. loaded, nothing lighter or slimmer.
Much lower recoil.
Stick with ball to avoid rim-lock. It can happen with short ammo.
You can smooth away the plastic molding flash and sharp edges easily with a sharp knife or sandpaper.
Also file lower the mag. release button.
Put hi-viz paint on front sight. Practice to get used to the trigger - 100 rds will develop startling accuracy at useable ranges.
Inexpensive enough to not care if something happens to it.

A gun in her purse isn't going to help as much as a gun on her body. Consider the different ways in which women get assaulted and then ask yourself if you want that gun in her purse or on her body. It takes some re-thinking of things but if she really wants to carry, help her find a way to keep it on her. www.corneredcat.com is excellent for working this through. I have no comment on the gun, just the carry method.

My wife carries her KelTec every day I carry one and my oldest daughter is getting one
At present their are 4 in my house and have yet to have one not fire. When you pull the trigger or jam in any way. I must really be lucky guy. To have bought 4 over period of 3 years and not one bad one in the bunch. I know my dealer must have a deal with KT. They only send ones that work to him. I have never saw one returned to him to send for service. He does that and pays shipping as part of doing business If a new gun needs warranty work.
I don't think she should carry in a purse to slow and that might just be first thing BG goes for Should be on her body.

buy the KelTec.