Kel-Tec Comparisons

[akanotken]

I've got the P32 and a P3AT

Jim,

Nothing else as small and light as the baby keltec's. For pocket carry, they can't be beat in my mind. Even tho you might be able to stuff the others in, they'll never be as convenient, so there will be times they are left behind, or you feel "overloaded".

I believe it's because of pocket carry they have no slide stop. No worries, likely more reliable because of it, and I don't think guns are reloaded too often in the real world street shoots? Especially pocket/BUG guns. Nothing says you have to shoot to empty chamber anyways, but I'd admit that's the norm.

If you are looking for a belt mounted gun, IMO the size/lightness game is played by many and it would be worth looking at a full capacity doublestack, or larger caliber. This because size and weight isn't as critical once you go to a belt mounted gun.

Don't read this Jim
For instance I handled the Ruger SR9 for the first time today, that's a very skinny gun, polymer/lightweight and lots o bullets! nice price too.

Start again here Jim
I've got a P3AT you are welcome to get some range time with if you ever get down to Richmond. I carry a P32 as I believe in the deeper penetration that I expect the 32ACP to give. Maybe I'll need to work a trade for one of your CZ's if they didn't sell ?

I don't know what to say about the spectacular accuracy of the baby kt's. Little grip, long DA trigger, tiny/non existant sights (little bumps don't hang up on the trip out of a pocket) ... it's a point shooter IMO.

 

[gb6491]

BTW, the PF9 got an F in Gun Test magazine. There is a trigger reset issue. During rapid fire, it may not.

The issue was operator error, the tester was short stroking the trigger (not allowing it to fully reset)

From another board: "GT gave it the F because they could fully depress the trigger, release it until they heard a click, and it would not fire, just click (light strike). "To avoid the problem, when you are resetting the trigger you must continue to release the trigger past the first click and listen for the second click, then you can pull the trigger again and the gun will fire."..."

 

[MachIVshooter]

The P3 is the true pocket gun. The PF9 is more of an IWB gun that really disappears. Of course, I wear Wranglers that fit, so my definition of pocket gun may be different than yours.

I have and love both.

 

[Navy87Guy]

The Kel-Tec would definitely be a BUG - I carry a Beretta PX4 storm in an IWB as my primary. For a couple of hundred bucks, I figured it would be worth having a little something extra - or something I can throw in my pocket when I have to pop out the door for something.

Thanks for the offer, akanotken - although there was sort of a "blurry" section in the middle of your post that I couldn't understand.

Now I just have to talk the missus into another gun....

Jim

 

[Soybomb]

The issue was operator error, the tester was short stroking the trigger (not allowing it to fully reset)

From another board: "GT gave it the F because they could fully depress the trigger, release it until they heard a click, and it would not fire, just click (light strike). "To avoid the problem, when you are resetting the trigger you must continue to release the trigger past the first click and listen for the second click, then you can pull the trigger again and the gun will fire."..."

I don't like it but its the same way with the p3at. From what I've seen some of gun test's testers aren't so bright. I believe they were thoroughly confused by a DA/SA gun, the p99.

 

[Clipper]

Those idiots at GT gave the P3AT a rave review, even though it has the SAME action and trigger as the PF-9...They're using the trigger to excuse their lazy shooting habits. Release the trigger between shots, and there is no problem. Take shortcuts, and the gun doesn't like it.

 

[Glockman30]

Jim, I had a P3AT and got rid of it to get a PF9. I like the 9mm loads versus the .380. The main concern for me was when I shot the .380 it hurt my trigger finger. I have big hands and that little gun did not fit my hand. It was uncomfortable to shoot even once. I traded and got the PF9 and for me it shoots more accurately and I like the slide stop as well. I bought a second mag for $28 shipped and hogue wrap around grips to make the grip more comfortable. I think it is a great carry gun. I have about 200 rounds through mine and have had 1 FTE which I believe was my fault. Here are some pictures.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s146/scohen817/Keltec002.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s146/scohen817/Keltec001.jpg

 

[Green Lantern]

Thanks for the info on the GT review of the PF-9. I was thinking that it must be operator error, glad to hear it confirmed. Not in the market right now, but wouldn't rule out a PF-9 in the future.

To the OP - my only KT thus far has been a P-3AT, and I LOVE it! It's been 100% flawless out of the box, no "F&B" required. (Well, save for ONE case of limp-wristing, which unlike the GT crew I'm man enough to admit was an operator error on MY part!).

For a pocket/all-day-every-day/deep-cover gun, I don't see how it can get any better than this. I carry mine in a Desantis Nemesis.

You might want to spring the extra $$$ for a chromed slide - or maybe not. Mine is blue (had a HECK of a time finding one in ANY finish when I bought mine!) and have had no rust troubles yet (knock on wood). I treated it with BullFrog rust inhibitor, and wipe it down with CLP when I pocket carry it for a bit.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Well, since I had the day off I made the trip to my local "guy" to check out his collection of Kel-Tecs. It ended up that he only had P-32's and PF-9's in stock -- he sold the last P-3AT on Saturday.

The PF-9 was definitely huge compared to the P-32 (well, I guess it's all relative). It just wasn't what I had in mind for a pocket gun.

The P-32 was just as advertised - small, light weight and no frills. One of my shooting buddies works at the store and he said the P-3AT is definitely "snappier" than the P-32.

So I ended up going with the P-32 for 3 primary reasons:
- The recoil of the .32 ACP will be a little friendlier for my wife
- Although it doesn't have a manual slide stop, the P-32 will lock back on an empty mag
- The P-32 has a 10-rd mag available with finger extension. I tried it and it really fits my hand well (hard to believe in such a small pistol!)

So I have the P-32 (Parkerized), two 7-rd mags and a Desantis Nemesis holster. Next stop -- the range!

I've attached a couple of pictures that show the P-32 side-by-side with my PX4, which is my daily carry gun.

Thanks for all the input!

Jim

 

[romma]

Way to go with the .32!!

 

[TimboKhan]

I have a P3AT, and it absolutely disappears when I carry it. Very, very nice to carry. As far as the gun itself? ...Well, it works. The trigger is abysmal, and accuracy is sort of a fleeting notion. That being said, I have no doubt in my mind at all that at 7 yards and under I can extend my arm and shoot, hitting every time. Past that, forget about it. It is definitly NOT suitable to primary carry.

 

[Clipper]

TimboKhan, my WIFE shoots 4" groups at 10 yards with her P3AT...I regularly hit those 12oz Ice Mountain bottles at 25 yards with mine. The sights may be rudimentary at best, but the gun itself is very accurate if one knows how to shoot it. And it is a fine primary carry gun for those who need small. It's the biggest/smallest pistol available, and I think a faceful of .380 will render most BGs hors de combat.

 

[TimboKhan]

Well, if you can work that horrifying trigger, then god bless you. I won't claim to be the greatest DA shot in the world, but friend, that trigger just plain sucks. I will concede that if you need small, then yes, it is a good primary carry gun. I guess what I meant by that was that if you have other options, I am not sure why you would carry the P3AT, or for that matter, any .380. Anyway, I should have stated that a little better.

But, you know, let me point out one thing that I did say that got overlooked or deemphasized: It works. I feel like I can trust this gun to work when I need it, and it fills the role that I want it to fill pretty well: Light, easy-to-hide gun for late night runs to the grocery store, or errands when I just want to wear shorts and a t-shirt.

 

[Wilson 17&26]

I guess it’s too late to warn you, Jim, Kel-Tec pistols are like potato chips, you can’t stop with one. I started with one, then two, then three . . . . and now more than two dozen. With diligent shopping, you can buy a NIB P-3AT, PF-9 and P-11 for under $800 for all three. After that comes the Fun Gun for about $500. It may be hard to believe but ever female that has shot my Kel-Tec .223 pistol (less recoil than a P-32) hasn’t stopped until they emptied a 30-round magazine

 

[MJZZZ]

I've had my PF9 about 10 weeks and it has been back for repair twice. The PF9 is a work in progress, some actually work, the majority have problems. Go to www.KTOG.org and read about them. I believe they will eventually get the bugs worked out, but they are not there yet. Wait a year. Mike

 

[Wilson 17&26]

Wait a year

There have been a number of improvements in the PF-9 since I purchased my first one more than a year ago. The last major change was about serial number R2Pxx uhoh: OOPS, that should be R3Pxx), so any PF-9 after that should be an excellent performer. After upgrading my 13mo old 5,000-round PF-9 I had sufficient confidence in the pistol to invest $170 in a mirror chrome finish.

 

[22luvr]

I've owned a P11, P32, and P-3AT. The P11, for me was much too large to carry in the pocket. The other two, however, were close to ideal in size. I carried the P32 in an Uncle Mike's size 1 pocket holster and the P-3AT in a DeSantis Nemesis.

My older model P11 had several issues; my P32 was flawless and shot anything; My P-3AT liked FMJ's and I carried UMC 95 gr FMJ's in it without incident.

The PF-9 looks like a winner for pocket carry in terms of size, 9mm power, and weight.

 

[Rex B]

Wilson who did that chrome job? That thing looks great!

Right now I have a P3At and a P11, plus an SU16.
But I miss that P32, might have to buy another one.

 

[MJZZZ]

Give it a year

My PF9 is R2WXX and it did not have the new frame or the altered mag and upgraded follower. All upgrades have now been done to my gun, along with a new slide, grip, barrel, guide rod and spring, and magazine. I just need to try out the new improvements. I've got my fingers crossed. Mike

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have 2 p32's which work just fine. They are hard guns to shoot accurately as the sights are hard to see. They are easy to conceal and are relaible if you get a good one.

 

[Wilson 17&26]

My PF9 is R2WXX and it did not have the new frame

OOPS, that should be R3Pxx instead of R2Pxx for the new frame number.