Kel-Tec disappointment

[harthamm]

I recently purchased a new P3AT as a carry gun. Took it to the indoor range where I bought it and every shot was a FTL/FTE with good ammo, both FMJ and JHP.
The gunsmiths there noted Smileys on the ammo and said there were burrs on numerous parts. They did some polishing with some improvement after about 150 rounds.

The next day I went to load a magazine of JHP's and the ammo would not chamber when the slide was racked.
I sent it back to Kel-Tec last week.

The workmanship of this porduct was obviously poor. I called Kel-Tec today and they said the turn-around for it should be 4-6 weeks. 4-6 weeks for a new gun which should work from the get-go seems a little ridiculous.

Any similar experiences?

 

[robinkevin]

No matter who it makes it, there is bound to be lemons as many point out on the sight. Thats actually the longest turn around I have ever heard from Kel-Tec.

I bought my Kel Tec new last year, got it home and clean it real good and polished the feed ramp along with deburr the slide. I must say I can't complain, only 1 fte and the pistol was very dirty when this happen due to cheap ammo.

Personally I think Kel Tec is spotty in the QA department I am just happy that I got a good one.

 

[97guns]

i have a p32, firsat time out the slide locked closed and i had to send it in. i got it back and it still didnt run 100% so its been sitting in the safe for the past 10 years. i just took it out last month and gave it a break free treatment and its been running 100% since. i dont know if it was the breakfree or the break in period but its running great now, im guessing around 400 rounds through it.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

My first Kel-tec was an early P11 and I had to send it back.
My second Kel-tec was an early P32 and I had to send it back.
My third Kel-tec is a Sub2K with no problems.
My fourth Kel-tec is a Pf9 with no problems.

All 4 work fine, with no problems now that they are broken in.
Some folks like to "fluff & buff" to smooth things out instead of breaking them in the hard way; google "fluff & buff" for options.

Sorry about the delay, but Kel-Tec will treat you right in the long run.

 

[Japle]

I’m fortunate to live ten minutes from the Kel-Tec plant. I bought a P3AT when they first came out and people were having trouble with extraction. Kel-Tec came up with a good re-design right away and replaced the extractors free. I wasn’t having problems, but I called them and they mailed one out to me the same day. I installed it and the gun runs perfectly.

I bought a Sub-2000 and it wouldn’t feed anything. Not one round. I called them and was told, “bring it in”. I did and they fixed it while I waited. I was in and out in 20 minutes. They’d had a bad run of feed ramps. Small company, new design. It can happen. The point is, they stepped up and took care of it, free.

 

[orionengnr]

I went oh-for-four with KT. One second gen P3AT, followed by a P32, and then a first gen P3AT, and finally a P11.

I spent a lot of time on KTRange, became pretty well qualified on F&B, got pretty well acquainted with Bill at KT, who sent me a fair number of free parts (most of which did nothing to resolve the issues) spent some good money on new mags and ammo...and finally gave up on KTs altogether.

 

[MCgunner]

1 P11 fifteen years old and still a tack driver and 100 percent reliable after 11,000 plus rounds.

 

[jmstevens2]

I bought a new P3AT fired fine from the start. It was during the great .380 famine, so I shot anything I could get through it, never did a thing to it.
Bought a .40 S&W Sub 2000 and it though used, same thing.
Not a 1911, but they work in the things they are designed for.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I see nothing wrong with a cheap gun, that works after a simple fluff & buff.

If you are having emotional, or philosophical, hangups with the nature of mechanical devices then I suggest you ease your mind and send the offending weapon to me.

 

[StrikeFire83]

I see nothing wrong with a cheap gun, that works after a simple fluff & buff.

If you are having emotional, or philosophical, hangups with the nature of mechanical devices then I suggest you ease your mind and send the offending weapon to me.

Nope, some of us just expect brand new products that we paid good money for to work right out of the box. Any company that expects me to pay for a weapon and then have a poop-eating grin on my face as I take a Dremmel and sandpaper to it so that it functions properly...well, that company ain't gonna get my business.

That said, I once owend a P3AT and the thing had a crappy trigger and I couldn't shoot it for snot...but it was utterly reliable.

 

[Farb]

I've had my P3AT for almost two years and the only FTFeed was with a limpy first round chambering. I can 100% guarantee a jammed cartridge if I nonchalantly tried to chamber the first round. I learned that I needed an 'aggressive' racking to ensure the first round made it fully into the chamber. After that, no problems at all with this gun or it's subsequent rounds.

 

[Pukindog12]

Bought a PF-9 being sold on consignment at a gun show with two extra mags OTD for $250. Sold a P-3AT to buy it which performed flawlessly over the several months I owned it.

The PF-9 had several FTE when I put it through it's paces. Called Kel Tec and they sent me a new extractor and extractor spring which I received and installed last Saturday. In the meantime while I waited for the parts I polished the feed ramp and chamber.

Yesterday I test the pistol with 115 gr., 124 gr., and 147 gr. FMJ and JHP. Five different brands of ammo. Over 150 rounds fired and not a single problem.

Kel Tec CS and the folks over at KTOG are top notch! Much kudos to them!

I would not hesitate to buy another Kel Tec.

 

[pockets]

Sorry if it disappoints the OP, but my experience with Kel-Tecs has been flawless.

My 1st Kel-Tec - 1st Gen P32 (3rd month of production)...no issues.
My 2nd Kel-Tec - 2nd Gen P3AT when they first came out...no issues.
My 3rd Kel-Tec - 2nd Gen P32 ...no issues.
My 4th Kel-Tec - a more recent 2nd Gen P3AT...no issues.
My 5th Kel-Tec - PF9...no issues.

I have not done a fluff'n'buff to any of them, never felt the need to.
I own a lot of pocket-size carry pistols, many of them are more expensive than the K-T's...but I normally have a K-T P32 on me.
While I really like the .380acp P3AT, I tend to shoot the .32acp P32 better.
As for rim-lock? I've never had it happen in any of the 14 .32acp pistols which I own. Load the magazine carefully, using the proper length ammo.
.

 

[JohnBT]

"Nope, some of us just expect brand new products that we paid good money for to work right out of the box. "

All of you need to adjust your expectations. It would be nice if every mechanical object made was perfect, but that's not reality.

My early P-32 was one of the ones in the batch with the defective trigger axis. The trigger break point kept moving farther and father back until it ran out of room and the gun wouldn't fire at all. I sent it back, they fixed it and it worked for ten years. I sold it eventually after getting a Rohrbaugh.

My uncle bought a new Savage/Stevens shotgun in the '50s and it soon broke. He sent it back and they sent him a new one. Two or 3 months later Charlottesville Hardware called him - the factory had sent him the repaired gun. He was honest and sent it back. He still has his 20 ga. SxS and it still works.

John

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I've had 2 P3ATs and still own one billfold brown model.

I've owned 2 PF9s and still own one.

I've owned a Sub2000. Sold it to fund something else.

I've owned a PLR-16. Sold it to fund something else.

All 6 Kel-Tecs where flawless from day one. Those smileys are nothing new and usually people do a fluff and buff to the feedramps as soon as they get them. I did this with my first P3AT and decided to do it to my first PF9 just for the heck of it. The second version of both guns have no F&B treatment and have performed just as well.

The P3ATs are harder to shoot well with due to the tiny 1 1/2 finger grip (2 finger with an extension) and trigger that breaks pretty close to the frame. My second set of KT handguns seem to have better triggers than my originals so I'm not sure if they improved them somewhat.

 

[Onward Allusion]

harthamm
Kel-Tec disappointment

Not unusual. I have 5 KT's and one of 'em had issues like the one you'd described. Took the usual "fluff & buff" and a few hundred rounds to "break in". Some will say that a pistol should work right out of the box, but there's perfect world and then there's reality. Give it 500 rounds. If it still give you problems, send it back to the factory.

 

[ATLDave]

I wonder if KelTec isn't one of those brands that offer a lot of gun for the money, but with the tradeoff that there are a higher % of lemons. If you get a good one, you get a good gun for a great price; if not, well, you could have spent twice as much for a similar gun.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have 5 all have worked right from box I bring home make sure barrel clear Lube slide rails and get to shooting . ( I have my own out side range) After 50 rounds I then break down and clean. Has worked on all 5 from P-32 to my carry PF-9.
I think their a great pistol for the price .

 

[Skribs]

This is ironic, considering on the first page of this very forum (specifically the autoloaders forum) there is a forum post "What is Kel-Tec's secret" where the OP is asking why is Kel-Tec far and above everything else.

 

[kokapelli]

If you follow all the threads here you find some kind of problem with just about every new pistol that comes out.

I don't know why but it is annoying that gun manufacturers can't seem to produce a new model without some kind of problem when auto manufacturers can produce a new reliable product that is infinitely more complicated than a pistol.

 

[leadcounsel]

Yes, mine was like that when I got it back in 2004. It was a 1st Gen. They replaced it with a 2nd Gen. That seemed to fix it. But I don't shoot it much because it is painful to shoot; or at least not enjoyable. I put a few rounds down range and call it good with that little hammer.

 

[ATLDave]

I don't know why but it is annoying that gun manufacturers can't seem to produce a new model without some kind of problem when auto manufacturers can produce a new reliable product that is infinitely more complicated than a pistol.

No kidding. I've wondered the same thing myself. It must have something to do with the fact that the vast majority of their target market are enthusiasts, rather than arm's-length consumers. Face it, 90+% of gun purchases are not about fulfiling some need, they're about indulging a hobby/habit/additction! Given that we're not necessarily being rationale consumers, I think that makes us somewhat willing subjects of abuse.

 

[kokapelli]

No kidding. I've wondered the same thing myself. It must have something to do with the fact that the vast majority of their target market are enthusiasts, rather than arm's-length consumers. Face it, 90+% of gun purchases are not about fulfiling some need, they're about indulging a hobby/habit/additction! Given that we're not necessarily being rationale consumers, I think that makes us somewhat willing subjects of abuse.

Sure seems that way.

 

[Jaymo]

I bought a P3AT brand new in 2005. How do I tell which generation it is?

 

[kokapelli]

I bought a P3AT brand new in 2005. How do I tell which generation it is?

Easiest way is by the extractor and the squared slide on the second generation. the one on the bottom is the first generation.