Kel-Tec P3AT

I really like mine. This gun is made to be carried a lot and shot a little,go easy on the +P ammo. Yes there is some recoil with this little gun but it shoots very well for a "belly" gun.

It's not a "fun shoot" gun. It's a gun designed to be about the smallest package for the caliber around. It's fun to shoot with Dynomite-Nobel ammo but don't expect it to be a 25 yard target pistol. At least that has been my experience.

I've got a P3AT - it is my "when I can't carry a larger gun" gun. I wouldn't call it fun to shoot. When I shoot it, I usually go through 50rds. or so, and sometimes that is pushing it. 200 rounds? Not my definition of fun!

P3

+1
I am not recoil shy, it will rub you raw in the web of your hand by your thumb if you shoot it enough.
This is a dandy carry gun. It is not easy to see the sights unless you paint them and then you will find it ok for 7 yds.

This is a close up defense item. At times I have put 100 through it.
One note about reliability....keep the gun CLEAN & LUBED.
I have done a good bit of reading, own one, and have a good feel for the P3 now. This is pushing design limits of size/weght and a clean chamber is improtant for reliable feed and extraction. (even if you have polished a bit)

I can save you a lot of reading as far as the reliability---- due to variations in cleaning habits, ammo used, and mechanical condition of it all being variable per owner, I clean it about every 50--70 rounds.
YMMV Yes others may disagree, remember what I have stated is my conclusion after looking at the experience of many not one.......

It's a neat little pistol. The first few mags are fun to me, but rarely do I run more than 50 or 100 rounds thru it at a time. I shoot Winchester White Box FMJ from Wal-Mart in mine and it does fine. I've function checked it with Speer Gold Dots and they ran just fine; though I'm seriously thinking of switching to Cor-Bon DPX for my carry load. I think they're great little pistols though. Between a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster and a Comp-Tac Centerline neck holster the little bugger goes everywhere and I forget it's even there. Absolutely great power for such a small and light pistol that you can always carry, especially when you can't carry a larger pistol for whatever reason. At a price under $300 they're a good value too, in my opinion.

Install the 13lb wolff recoil spring ( catalog says for P-32 same springs ) add a Bersa finger extension and fire away I shoot S&B and Corbon in mine It eats like candy and with the 2 mods above very controlable with the Corbons. Their are no approved +P in 380 as SAAM has no +p standered. MagTec isn't +P Just ad hype Corbon blows it in weeds from a KT or a PPK/s

How many of you own this gun?? What is your opinion of it?? Is it fun to shoot?? Thinking of getting one, I shoot every gun I own on a regular basis. Because of its small size, does it bite your hand after 200 rounds??

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I own one and think very highly of it. It is perfect for its intended use. I carry it just about every day, for at least a part of the day (when a larger gun is impractical). Its small size gives it a snappy recoil and makes it a bit tough on the hand. As others have said, it isn't exactly pleasant to shoot, but I go through about 50 rounds with it during a range session.

I guess 200 rounds was a bit much, would probably be more like 100. Just got carried away.

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Nothin wrong with asking.

As for it wearing on the hand I dd two things with mine. First I took the pen knife blade on a little Swiss Army Clasic and shaved off and smooth down the rough edges. After that I added a Hogue Hand-all Jr. grip sleeve and trimmed it to fit. A couple tweaks here and there and it they'll really grow on ya.

After firing a few rounds my impression was
It has a long an awkward trigger which makes accuracy impossible. Better to go for a snubbie.

It has a long an awkward trigger which makes accuracy impossible.

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It does take some getting used to. However, accuracy is not impossible. I routinely hit coke cans and chase them up the dirt berm where I shoot with my P3AT. Take a couple 50 round boxes of WWB and get adjusted to it. It's a tiny gun, so you have to experiment and find a good grip. Also remember, it's a close in self defense gun, not a target pistol.

I'm very happy with my 1st gen P3. I'd guess to say I've fired about 800-900 rounds thru it with only a few stovepipes (limpwristing) ZERO other malfunctions. The only drawback IMHO is the finish. I carry mine mexican IWB and have been having problems with rust specks, but its in texas getting hard chromed as i type.
The size and trigger will take some getting used to, but I'd bet that if you take the time to get to know your lil P3 it will surely keep up its end of the deal.

My GF has one and she shoots it well... probably 3" one handed groups up to 15 feet or so if I had to estimate. Recoil is not bad. Wish she would use HP's in it, but she loads just regular ball ammo. Never seen or heard of a jam when she's shot it.

I can't shoot it for ####. I can't get but one finger on the trigger and one finger on the grip and it's like trying to shoot a rubber band from a can opener with one hand. I just can't do it, not with my big hams.

Cheap though. Seems to feed well. The belt clip is nice and easily concealable. You can get decent loads for it. Reliable. It just doesn't work for me, I would be better throwing rocks.

I do own a P3AT. I also own a P32. Of the two, I prefer the P32 because it has a slide stop, something KT should have included in the AT.

Ah!.....................Never mind.

I have a P-3AT. It's not a range gun, it's a highly concealable, comfortable to carry a lot, close quarters defense gun.

It's surprisingly accurate at the defensive range it is intended for.

It has a bark and can have a bite. I shoot 50-100 rounds through it twice a month. It bothered me at first, now I'm used to it. I can shoot hundreds of rounds now with no problem.

I added a slip-on grip, deepened the back strap, and added finger extensions to the mags. This combo helped a lot with shooting comfort and control.

With the addition of the ArmaLaser it is the best defensive package available for my intended purpose and carry preference.



This is a video of someone shooting it (not me, I found it a while back on the internet.) I'd give credit, but don't remember where I got it.
http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a34/r_oremland/Self-Defense/?action=view&current=corbonjhps.flv

I have a 1st gen, and have over 2000 rds thru it. It is my Every where gun

I have both a 1st gen 3at & P32. These are the guns my wife and I carry nearly everywhere. I don't think of it as a fun gun to shoot. Useful, yes. Reliable, yes. Always handy, yes. Maybe the perfect backup or deep conceal gun, but not fun to plink with. For what it's worth, I prefer the 32 over the 380 as well.

P3AT

I picked up a hard chromed version a few months ago and have about 500 rounds down range (a mix of ball and HPs) with zero malfunctions. The verdict? Well, like has been mentioned elsewhere, it is not a 25 yard target gun. The sights leave a good bit to be desired. But, having said that, I can't complain about a gun that small that I can dump 7 rounds into a group smaller than my fist at 15 feet as fast as I can pull the trigger.

My P3AT has not had a hiccup in 300 rounds and its a joy to carry. I really do not find it that hard to shoot but its a last ditch gun anyway. Steve 48

I have a P3at. Like others have said it does its a good gun, but not something you want to shoot all day. If your looking for something that you can shoot all day, and your ok with the caliber drop, get a P32. A friend of mine has one and he has no problem running 100 rounds thru it every time we are at the range.

I have several KelTecs, the discontinued P40, two P11's, 2 P32's and a 3AT.

None of them are "fun" to shoot, the trigger pull has been described as similar to a staple gun. But for the price and purpose, I like them. I carried the P40 with a belt clip a lot before I moved to the Kahr P9. Carried the P32 in a pocket holster until the 3AT came out. The 3AT is now my daily backup in a DeSantis pocket holster. I carry the Kahr IWB. Travel or badlands duty brings out the Glock 23 with 2 extra mags.

Fun shooting is my STI Limited Gun with the 1.5 # trigger pull.

I have one and don't find it fun to shoot at all. I shoot pretty hot ammo but the web of my hand gets sore after a hundred rounds or so. Its very light.

That said I love it. Its a defensive gun thats super easy to drop into your pocket and forget about, not an all day range toy.

"Nasty Little Tool of Desperation"

How I once described mine. But a tool it is. My least favorite, but the one I'm "in contact with" the most. Get the belt clip for it, park a cell phone next to it, and it's accessible and invisible.

(Mine had to go back to the shop when it was new. Slide replaced. Now, fine.)

Keep an eye on the recoil springs. They can get kinked. Not a bad idea to replace them , hmm, maybe every 500 rds. KT sends 'em out free, along with a new guide rod. (Person I spoke with at KT also admitted that, yes, the P-3AT works more dependably with "zippier" loads, but that it gets taken out on those poor little springs. Oh --- and your hand, too.

Federal Hydros, Silvertips work OK with mine. Magtechs are iffy, for me.

The thing cleans up in five minutes. Be religious about it. There's so little of it to work, it doesn't take much, proportionately, to make it not work.