Hot ammo and the Kel-Tec P-3AT

[ZeSpectre]

Bought a (barely) used Kel-Tec P-3AT a while ago from someone who was utterly frustrated with it. I have to say, it was an especially rough example of this pistol and it required a LOT of "fluff n' buff" work but now (finally) I have it ticking along like clockwork.

From reading other threads I understand that the P-3AT is a pretty strong action and will take fairly stout loads but I have to admit to a lack of knowledge with regards to knowing what a "stout" load actually is for a .380 ACP. When I mixed some American Eagle range rounds and Cor-Bon (conventional JHP) I can easily tell when the Cor-Bon rounds go off but I have no idea how close to the limit that ammo is actually running.

(Cor-Bon claims that the .380 AUTO 90 GR. JHP is moving at about 950 FPS with about 200 FT/LBS of energy).

Almost needless to say, I'd like to have as much punch in my pocket as I can safely manage at those times when all I have is the P-3AT.

Thanks for any input.

(P.S. I know all about the JHP vs FMJ argument, that's not what I'm talking about here. I just want to know about power limits for a .380 and what is considered normal, hot, and really hot).

 

[ront]

I spoke with the service dept at Kel-Tec a week or so ago and asked about the hotter ammo in the P3. It is ok too shoot and make sure that it works well with your gun, but don't give it a steady feeding of the stuff. A lot of places will tell you not to even shoot it out of the P3, but that is simply not so. It is ok on a limited basis.

Ron

 

[ZeSpectre]

Right, I know that the P-3AT is supposed to be a "carry a lot, shoot a little" gun and once I feel I've mastered it I probably won't shoot it very much because it's kinda unpleasant to shoot, but am I correct in understanding you to say that the Cor-Bon rounds ARE considered pretty hot for a .380 whereas the "American Eagle" stuff is probably closer to a "standard" round?

 

[GlenJ]

The Cor-Bon is the hottest ammo to run through your Kel-Tec. Just shoot enough to make sure it functions in it.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Got it, thanks. Yeah it all feeds just fine -now-. Before the FnB the damned thing hung up on FMJ fer cryin' out loud!

 

[Bobo]

I use Santa Barbara for my FMJ carry and have shot quite a bit of it through my P-3AT with no ill effects. This is the hottest FMJ round I've found and it is almost impossible to get now.

Federal American Eagle is the second hottest FMJ I've found and have shot many 100's of rounds of that as my range ammo. Also with no I'll effects.

I haven't tried any 90g Cor-Bon JHP, but would not be at all concerned about shooting it.

The only .380 ammo that I know of that is NOT recommended for the P-3AT is MagSafe. MagSafe has wording on the package that says not to use it in a P-3AT.

The P-3AT was designed to be carried a lot, and shot enough to be reliable, efficient, and accurate as a close-up self-defense gun. It was not designed to shoot many thousands of rounds through it, although many people have. I have over 1400 rounds through mine, it still runs great, I carry it 24/7, and it's never been back to the factory. The lifetime warranty allows as much shooting as you want - if it ever breaks just send it back.

 

[Bobo]

Before choosing carry ammo for your P-3AT you might want check out some of these tests. They are not the definitive answer, but they show a trend as to which rounds seem to perform the best in various circumstances. You may have to register at some of these sites, but all are free.

Links to .380 Caliber Ammunition Tests.
(Some links may require user registration.)
=========================================

OG & Friend's Ballistic Test Results
http://www.ktrange.com/articles/a10/a10.html

2d Gen P-3AT Analysis Part 2 (includes wet pack test)
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=4534&view=next&sid=4935fcafa65b7bfa384953776a49d0df

The Last Crusade - .380 Wet Pack Test
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=4791&view=next

The Box O' Truth #26 - Little Guns vs. The Box O' Truth
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot26.htm

Ballistic gelatin testing results : .32NAA 90 grain Sierra JHC
http://www.thehighroad.org./showthread.php?t=199435&goto=nextnewest

DPX/Gold Dot Raccoon test.
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1148245402;start=

Head-to-head test: DPX vs. Ranger-T
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1149377730;start=

MONSTER WET NEWS MULTI-GUN-TEST
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1148670025;start=

P3AT CHEAP JHP WETPACK TEST
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1166124717;start=

Smilies and Wet Newspaper Test
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1116435642;start=

Wet Newspaper Test: Corbon DPX .380 HP
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1147392682;start=

Wet Newspaper Test: Santa Barbara 87g.
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1123002383;start=

Wetpack Test: DPX, GD, GS, Ranger-T, etc.
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1158344941;start=

WINTER/SUMMER WETPACK TEST DONE
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1158537757;start=

Wetpack test with a NAA Guardian 380 pistol, 2.5" barrel.
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5869&view=next&sid=29288dc77d5ef27334713759e42546ac

Fly&Og Revisit DPX with GS, GD, and more!!
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5320&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

More Smiley Tests with a 1G P3AT
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5725&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Smileys Revisited
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5416&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

THE FLY AND OG .380 DPX WETPACK TEST WITH 4 PISTOLS!!
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5183&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Cor-Bon .380 DPX "Wet Pack" test with LWS380
http://www.seecamp.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1148012398/0

Cartridge Performance: .380 ACP
http://www.geocities.com/bersa_thunder/cartridges.html?20054

Selecting a .380 Cartridge
http://www.geocities.com/bersa_thunder/cartridges2.html?20054

Bersa Thunder .380 with Cor-Bon 80-gr. DPX Ammunition
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Bersa Thunder.htm

Brassfetcher .380 ACP Tests
http://www.brassfetcher.com/380ACP.html

Cor-Bon .380 70 gr PowRBall
http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10020

Cor-Bon .380 80 gr DPX
http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10021

.380 ACP at StevesPages
http://stevespages.com/page8f380acp.html

Preliminary .380 wet pack report for your amusement
http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=232

Gel test today!
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1167146283;start=

.380 Ammunition & Barrel Lengths at recguns.com
http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IVG10.html

UMC JHP/ AE FMJ ACCURACY SHOOT OFF
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=104;action=display;num=1169330024;start=0

Simulated "Bone" Wetpack for Sternum
http://usrange.org/smf/index.php?topic=804.0

Setback due to recoil - .380 Seecamp
http://usrange.org/smf/index.php?topic=839.0

mouseguns.com - Ammunition and Ballistics
http://www.mouseguns.com/amball.htm
Scroll down to the .380 section.

 

[Frank4711]

I use Rem GS 102gr jhp for SD , my 380 likes it.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I use Santa Barbara for my FMJ carry and have shot quite a bit of it through my P-3AT with no ill effects. This is the hottest FMJ round I've found and it is almost impossible to get now.

I have a hard time recommending hot loads in the P3AT....especially the Santa Barbara.

I shot about 21 rounds thru my P3AT before it cracked. Cracked right thru the frame pins......not cool.

 

[kokapelli]

I have a hard time recommending hot loads in the P3AT....especially the Santa Barbara.

I shot about 21 rounds thru my P3AT before it cracked. Cracked right thru the frame pins......not cool.

Where did it crack?

KelTec had a production run of P-3AT pistols with bad grips. Maybe you had one of these and it was not the hot ammo.

 

[ZeSpectre]

You have all given me a lot of good information and I appreciate it. Every time I get interested in a new caliber it's like kindergarden all over again :banghead:

 

[aaronrkelly]

Where did it crack?

KelTec had a production run of P-3AT pistols with bad grips. Maybe you had one of these and it was not the hot ammo.

Rear most frame pin on the right side of the pistol. Clear thru the pin up to the top of the grip.

It was a Nov 2006 production gun.....the bad grip guns were much earlier.

 

[kokapelli]

Rear most frame pin on the right side of the pistol. Clear thru the pin up to the top of the grip.

It was a Nov 2006 production gun.....the bad grip guns were much earlier.

Yep, that's where they where cracking!

It probably was not the hot ammo, but just a bad grip.

 

[tinygnat219]

Hot ammo is fine to run through this pistol, just don't do it on a regular basis. BTW, that 200 lbs of energy is about as hot as you will get for a short-barreled .380. Don't beleive the 250 ft lbs that KT advertises.