Kel-Tec .380, what are the FACTS?

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My opinion is the gun is junk.

I shot 100 rounds and had stovepipes, FTE and stuck cases in the chamber.

Out of 100 rounds I didn't make it through ONE magazine without a jam.

Needless to say it got sent back to Keltec the next day going on about 3 weeks now and haven't heard a thing.

I actually took it back to the dealer and was going to tell him he could throught the useless paperweight in the trash for all I cared but he talked me into giving Keltec a chance to fix it.

Did I mention this is the wosrt POS I have ever bought.:cuss: :cuss: :fire: :barf:
 
Did you F&B? Did you do a bore break-in? Use recommended ammo? I suspect one or more of the previous as that seems to sum up those that had simular experiences.

Sorry but not doing the above is like never changing the oil in your car (read user error).
 
Wolfy,

What ammo did you try?
Not all ammo will function in every auto.
Revolvers are more forgiving when it comes ammunition.

If S&B won't work, then it may be a problem, but most small autos are picky when it comes to ammo.

Also, most small autos need a 200 - 300 round break-in period.

KelTec will fix any real problems, but you have to do your part.

For instance, Wolf ammo won't function in most P3ATs that will shoot all other ammo just fine.

Why should I have to do a Fluff and Buff?

Well, you shouldn't have to, and yes, a gun should work out-of-the-box.
But, since you are posting here, you must be aware that, if you buy a KelTec, fluff-and-buff might be necessary.
 
The July 2004 "American Rilfleman" arrived today, and there on page 68
is a review of the Kel-Tec P-3AT.

"The result of this clever engineering and high-tech material is a .380
ACP-cal. pistol that weighs a mer 8.4 ozs. unloaded. That is not a
misprint. The gun weighs little more than half a pound. Moreover, it
is only 0.77" wide. The signifigance cannot be overstated."

What does it all mean?
With my hot rod loads, I have a 7 shot [9mm power] that fits in my shirt pocket.
It is so light, I can't feel it is there.

The downside?
It is a cheap looking little piece of plastic that kicks so hard with
those loads that my hand hurts for hours.

Or you can carry a brick all day.
 
The result of this clever engineering and high-tech material is a .380 ACP-cal. pistol that weighs a mere 8.4 ozs. unloaded. That is not a misprint. The gun weighs little more than half a pound.

Actually, that is a misprint! The P-3AT only weighs 7.2 ounces empty.
See the specs here: http://www.kel-tec.com/p3at_pistol.htm
 
The 8.4 oz may include the unloaded magazine. KT typically gives pistol weights sans magazine. Mine weighs 11 oz. with 6 rounds of Gold Dots according to our office's highly accurate [sneer] postal scale.
 
Good point - maybe they did include an empty mag. Mine weighs 10.9 ounces with 7 Gold Dots, as weighed on my home digital postal scale. It's pretty accurate, as I recall one time matching the Post Office's scale on a package I sent. Not much of a difference from yours, and probably due to scales.

In any case, a 10-11 ounce, fully-loaded .380 can't be beat! I carry it in a pocket holster, and don't even notice it's there.
 
In the interests of full disclosure, the Am Rifleman article also notes serious concerns they had re functioning problems with their sample P-3AT.
 
p3at

i feel the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages and working on the gun is both educational and informative. any gun i own, i want to know the intricacies of how it works. i've had malfunctions in any number of things over the years. if someone won't work to over come their problems don't cry to me.
 
mini14jac

I tried 3 different brands of ammo. WW box, Federal and Silver Bear and none of them functioned without jamming the most I fired was 3 shots in a row before jamming up- that is out of 100 rounds. My opinion is that is subpar performance.
 
Thanks, but ordered a Seecamp

Thanks for all the information that was posted here. But I ended up ordering the Seecamp .32 for the following: 1.) Reliablity out of the box 2.) They've been in business longer 3.) All stainless 4.) You get what you pay for (paid $410 w/ shipping).

Then of course the downside is the smaller caliber, and ammo limitations along with cost, :eek: ouch!
 
I have two P-3ATs and both required some minor work when new. One had the assembly pin problem that KT fixed. The other had a filing in the transfer bar channel that prevented the trigger from cocking.
Today at the range one of my P-3ATs passed the 800 round mark.
This pistol has not had a failure since I cleaned out the transfer bar channel about 750 rounds ago.
The other pistol has not had a failure since KT fixed the assembly pin problem, except for some problems with Wolf ammo not feeding!

I have never fired a Seecamp but expect it will have more recoil if it is a blowback action.

Here is a review of the Seecamp. Notice that the Seecamp was not perfect out of the box and at the end the reviewer states he would buy the KelTec over the Seecamp!
 
I had an unreliable Seecamp some years ago. Very disappointing. It is a fine pistol though but not all are perfect.
 
Thanks, but ordered a Seecamp
Thanks for all the information that was posted here. But I ended up ordering the Seecamp .32 for the following: 1.) Reliablity out of the box 2.) They've been in business longer 3.) All stainless 4.) You get what you pay for (paid $410 w/ shipping).

Then of course the downside is the smaller caliber, and ammo limitations along with cost, ouch!

Ouch is right!!
You do know that the Seacamp will only feed Winchester SilverTip, don't you??

So, not only are you limited to the smaller caliber, but only one brand of ammo as well!!
Good luck with it!!
Tell us how it works.
How long are you gunna have to wait for it??
Personally, I would better have spent my money on something a little bit more potent, like a Kahr MK9!! But, that's just me!!! :D
 
Sounds like some of you guys are using your P3AT for range practice. Yikes! I picked one up today and put 6 rounds thru it. It worked. It was brutal. And it will now go in my pocket, probably to never be fired again. It's a pocket gun and nothing more. If you ever have to use it, place it to the bad guys head and pull trigger. Repeat as necessary.
 
I still like mine. It does kick a bit but its fun. Accuracy is getting better but what can you expect from a pistol like the P3AT. As long as it hits COM under 7 yds then it serves its purpose.

All for only $200. What more can I ask for.
 
Brasso,
I worked up some hot handloads for the P-3AT with 115 gr JHP and 800X.

The recoil is so bad, one magazine of rounds fired with a glove on, and I can feel it in my hand for hours.

And I love to shoot 50 rounds of my 41 ounce S&W 29 with 240 gr at 1450 fps.

I am no recoil wimp.

The P-3AT is brutal.
 
The gun should work out of the box I don't think that is to much to ask.

You mean you'd CCW an unfired, uncleaned gun straight out of the box? :uhoh:

Not sure about you but most people research thier purchases before hand and know the trouble thier getting into. As such a Kel-tec is alot of work even before the first round is fired.

No insult to you Wolfy, but firing a 100 rounds through a Kel-tec straight out of the box will probably ruin it.
 
Sounds like some of you guys are using your P3AT for range practice. Yikes! I picked one up today and put 6 rounds thru it. It worked. It was brutal.

This is interesting.
My P3AT had to be shot with a glove on.
Others stated that the recoil of their gun was not bad.
Before my gun was rebuilt, 50 rounds without a glove would leave my hand stinging for 30 minutes.

Since the hard chrome treatment, the recoil is no worse than our P32.
????? :confused:

What's the dif?
 
No insult to you Wolfy, but firing a 100 rounds through a Kel-tec straight out of the box will probably ruin it.

What needs to be done other than cleaning it and properly lubing it? That's all I did and 1000 rounds later, it still functions fine. No F&B, no trips back to sunny Florida, etc.

Chris
 
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