I just got off the phone with a range/gunshop/training center. He said he did not have a keltec 380 for rent because it would not last long as a rental. OK, maybe this is true. Then he said it has a life expectancy of 500 rounds. The Keltec website says a life expectancy of 6000 rounds and I believe it has a lifetime warranty doesn't it? If I buy a P32 or P3AT can I expect it to die after 500 rounds?
Life Expectancy of P3AT
- Thread starter NewShooter
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I'd say thats crap. I have about 500 total rounds through mine and it functions just as fine as the day i bought it. There is no sign of cracking, splitting or weakening anywhere.
The guy criticizing the Kel-Tec P3AT probably has never shot one, nor had one for rent. (When was the last time you saw a small gun like that for rent?)
Chances are, he was hoping to steer you to something they had for sale...
They're good solid little guns, with life-time warranties. Even if the functional life was 500 rounds -- it isn't -- you could get anything that fails replaced free of charge.
Chances are, he was hoping to steer you to something they had for sale...
They're good solid little guns, with life-time warranties. Even if the functional life was 500 rounds -- it isn't -- you could get anything that fails replaced free of charge.
They don't make good rental guns. Little pistols like this one are made for carry and not all day plinking. They generally need to be kept clean and well-lubed to function properly, something not typical of a rental gun.
500 rounds? CRAP!!!
I have over 950 rounds through mine and not sign of any problems.
and yes, they have a lifetime warranty.
I have over 950 rounds through mine and not sign of any problems.
and yes, they have a lifetime warranty.
I have heard that if it doesn't smoke, enjoys one glass of red wine everyday and spends the majority of its time outside in the fresh air then the life expectancy is something like 77 years, but only if it doesn't get shot!:banghead:
Over 450 rounds through mine and it is still in excellent condition. It could probably go at least ten times that many without a problem.
sounds like he is associating kel-tecs with saturday night specials of days gone by that were made out of zinc. from what i hear those actually would batter thenselves to uselessness, but i couldn't guess how many rounds were necessary for that.
That is a relief. I just finished my first case of 32 out of my P32, so I have over 1000 rounds through the gun and it is still going strong.
I was afraid for a minute that it should have died 500 rounds ago.
Charles
I was afraid for a minute that it should have died 500 rounds ago.
Charles
At approximately 300 rounds my gun required a new grip and Kel-Tec was more than glad to send one my way to let me replace it. They even let me swap my OD grip for a black one like I originally wanted but the store didn't have. After a few minutes of hammer taps on pins we have a new grip and the gun is back to working order.
I doubt the number is as low as 500, but I wouldn't want to have one as a rental gun either if I owned a range. Very few (if any) tiny guns are built to stand up to an endless pounding and that's exactly what rental guns get.
Personally, I think that if your plan is to work through cases of ammo with a P32 or P3AT, you'd be well advised to have more than one. One to wear out at the range and the other to carry and to shoot a box or two through once a year or so.
Not a knock on the Kel-Tecs--my wife carries one. Just the reality of ultra-small carry guns.
Personally, I think that if your plan is to work through cases of ammo with a P32 or P3AT, you'd be well advised to have more than one. One to wear out at the range and the other to carry and to shoot a box or two through once a year or so.
Not a knock on the Kel-Tecs--my wife carries one. Just the reality of ultra-small carry guns.
Good points, JohnKSa.
Only good for 500 rounds!
I have three P-3ATs.
I stopped counting after 3000 rounds on the first one.
Because the slide is so light,
a good stiff recoil spring is important in these little guns and I replace the recoil springs at aproximately 500 rounds.
The second P3AT I puchased became my carry piece and gets two magazines through it every month.
The third one I purchsed is just kind of a backup that has about 200 rounds through it just to be sure it is reliable.
Only good for 500 rounds!
I have three P-3ATs.
I stopped counting after 3000 rounds on the first one.
Because the slide is so light,
a good stiff recoil spring is important in these little guns and I replace the recoil springs at aproximately 500 rounds.
The second P3AT I puchased became my carry piece and gets two magazines through it every month.
The third one I purchsed is just kind of a backup that has about 200 rounds through it just to be sure it is reliable.
Well if i owned a range i would have 3 of the little beasts to rent and change springs every 1k rounds or so , they will sell themselves assuming you can keep them in stock . I personaly have about 250 thro my 2nd gen p3at , and the only complaint is on the finish , it is pocket carryed , sometimes without a holster .. It is soon to have the slide blasted and parked hopefully that will be more durable , it looks like hell but shoots fine still lol .
I've been shooting Kel-Tec's heavily for 10 years. During that time I have shoot 2 P-11's and 1 P-32 to destruction. The slide cracked on the non extractor side at the breech face in each case, but only after thousands of rounds and at least four years of heavy use. I wasn't keeping count then, but 6,000 sounds about right, esp if you are using +P rounds. In each case I boxed up the slide and sent it to Kel-Tec. In each case they replaced the slide without charge under their warrenty program.
While the gun does have a limited life- you are sacrifacing some duribility for light weight and power- their warrenty essentially means that the gun will last your lifetime. Don't worry about it.
Regards-conwic
While the gun does have a limited life- you are sacrifacing some duribility for light weight and power- their warrenty essentially means that the gun will last your lifetime. Don't worry about it.
Regards-conwic
I've got two P-3ATs. One has over 1,200 rounds through it. The other has about 800 rounds. No problems with either one.
BTW - I've shot a lot of the VERY HOT Spanish Santa Barbara ammo through both my KelTec with no issues.
Best regards.
BTW - I've shot a lot of the VERY HOT Spanish Santa Barbara ammo through both my KelTec with no issues.
Best regards.
Thank you all for confirming my suspicions. He did say that it was a great design and then he said "Its what we all carry when we're not carrying real guns" 
His words, not mine 
His words, not mine No offense taken. I have a Kahr P9, a Para Hawg 9, and Sphinx Compact (9mm) and a P3AT. When the situation doesn't allow me to carry one of the real guns, I also carry the P3AT. I like'em all.
You can contact KelTec for springs.
Several times in the past I have asked to buy recoil springs for my P3AT. KelTec has sent them free of charge. Great customer service.
Best regards.
Several times in the past I have asked to buy recoil springs for my P3AT. KelTec has sent them free of charge. Great customer service.
Best regards.
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