Kel Tec .32s and .380s?

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These small pistols seem to have made every other small pocket gun obsolete. (at least in number of sales!)

They are just so small and flat that it's hard to NOT want to carry one.
I have a P32 which has been good to me for about 5 years now. I'd like to get the P3AT for the larger caliber and I would also have ammo common to two handguns. (Colt Pony)
 
My .380 has trouble feeding rounds. A little tap on the back of the slide and it goes on home. I am sending mine back to kel tec tomorrow to get it fixed. I carry mine every day at work. Disappears in my pocket. No one has a clue that I have the little pistol in my pocket.
 
My Buddy has a Kel-Tec .380 don't know the model, but it's tiny. I've seen the same gun, or one very similar on Gunbroker for a little over $200.00 NIB.

Anyhow, he let me shoot it at the range the other day, and I was very impressed, and :what: HOLY CRAP DOES IT KICK!! I've fired 9mm, 45ACP, 44 Mag, and several other pistol calibers, and this little thing kicked harder than any of them. I almost lost it on the first shot, damn near jumped out of my hand :mad: I just wasn't expecting the recoil. After a few shots though I figured out a decent grip (I've got big hands) and shot very well with it. Fits perfectly in a pocket, so well in fact that really almost forgot to give it back to him when we left the range, I REALLY forgot it was in my pocket.

I'm going to buy one. Soon.
 
I purchased a 3AT the other day for $200 otd and I must say I've become obsessed with this pistol. I have only fired about 200 rounds but haven't had a failure. Accuracy leaves a little to be desired, but it's not made for shooting competitions. The only problem I have is remembering that I'm actually carrying it. It is addicting, I've already purchased the PF-9, and the plr-16 and .308 bullpup (if/when it ever arrives) are next!
 
I shot my KEL TEC P3AT (.380) today, using my carry load which is Remingtons 102 grain "Golden Sabre" JHP's. I found it too be really
snappy; and after several rounds the recoil will begin to numb your
hands. I had 0 failuers of any kind, and was able to keep all of my
shots inside an 8" pie plate from the seven yard line~! :scrutiny:;):D
 
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I believe my wife is getting me one for my birthday. I think the .380 round is pretty snappy anyway - I have an old Beretta Model 1934 (35?) and it has a lot more recoil than some of my compact guns in larger calibers.

I recognize that KT may present some reliability/QC issues, but there really isn't any other gun readily available that's as small. My experience with Kimber is similar to an earlier poster's - costs a lot, but still has "issues".
 
I have one of each, and a P11.
I daily carry the P3AT. The P32 is something I drop in a shorts pocket when I'm messing around outside.
I don't have any problem with the recoil, even though I don't have a heavy build. I was able to shoot it accurately enough for a carry gun immediately.
I do like the magazine pinky lips, have them on all mags for both guns. But they make them harder to draw from a pocket because they will tend to snag. The lip makes the gun about 1/2" wider coming out of the pocket. Not sure what I need to do about that. I'll probably try some different profile lips, and then trim that. The NAA mag lips I'm using now don't lend themselves to trimming. If all else fails I'll try making some from aluminum.
These little guns are hard to beat, and I'll probably buy more. I think the wife needs one, but I don't want to part with any of mine ;)
 
"after several rounds the recoil will begin to numb your hands"

Once they go numb they won't hurt anymore, so keep shooting.

My first time out with my Rohrbaugh I shot 101 rounds of WWB and S&B. OTOH, I don't think I'll do that again. ;)

I like the Rohrbaugh, but I'm not selling my old trusty P-32.

John
 
I've got a P3AT and love it.... mine is the hard chromed and its been 100% reliable out of the box.

My wife has a parkerized P3AT and loves it... again 100% reliable out of the box.

My son has a blued P3AT and loves it... his did take a little "fluff and buff" to get it working well and later required a new extractor & spring, which Kel-Tec sent promptly and at no charge, with no hassle.

A client of mine (after seeing mine) got a hard chromed P3AT and loves it... pretty new at this point, but reliable so far.

There's nothing else out there even close at anywhere near the price of the Kel-Tec.
 
I had the .32 for a while. It worked perfectly.
I carried it with ball ammo for better penetration, and I'm looking for another one.

Call CDNN Sports 800 number...I think they sell the .P32 for under $200 NIB.
They also have the 3AT for $230 or so.

Mark
 
I put 150 rounds through my P3AT the first day, no problems whatsoever. I cleaned it and carry it everywhere, clean out the lint once a week, put a couple of mags through it every month or so, and I can do far better accuracy-wise with this than my snub .38 revolver.

I also don't find the recoil to be the least bit unpleasant :uhoh: I mean, my 8 inch model 29 with moderate hunting loads (not even the full-house .44 mag) kicks waaaaay more. Maybe it feels like a Glock 26 (9mm subcompact) but less than a Glock 27 (.40 subcompact).
 
I found a P3AT after a bit of looking. It was the only KelTec in my area. I love it, but if the only one I found was a .32, I'd have no problem with that either!
 
10rd. magazines

John,
Yes, bought the 10rd. magazine the day I got my P32. The one I purchased functions well but I bought the gun for pocket carry and with that long magazine I struggle getting it out. Nice little gun and I'm sticking with the 32.

triguy
 
I've had a P32 for about 4 years now and it has been completely reliable. It was my primary concealed carry weapon until I got my Taurus PT145 a year and a half ago. I still carry the Kel-Tec a lot, primarily if I'm just making a quick trip somewhere...it's easier to throw in my pocket (in a pocket holster) than strapping on my Smartcarry and my Taurus.
 
Had both a P-32 and a P-3AT, sold the P-3AT after numerous attempts to fix it.

Heard this same sad tale from a lot of shooters.

The P-3AT is the superior concept, but the P-32 appears to be the superior weapon.
 
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