Kel-Tec has come a long way!

[Maxinquaye]

I just got a new P-3AT and I have to say I'm damn impressed! I've had a couple P-32's iin the past, one purchased new when they first came out and another I bought about a year ago. Both needed work initially, but matured into reliable carry guns. I decided it made sense to carry the largest available cartridge in the same size package, so I sold the 32 and just picked this up today.

The slide finish is far, far better then their old (crappy) bluing in appearance. Looks to be some sort of baked on finish. Time will tell how it wears, but I think it will probably provide better rust protection which is important in a weapon carried on hot summer days with a belt clip.

The overall machining is smoother...far fewer burrs. The feed ramp is already polished. The trigger feels out of the box like my P-32 did after 2 hours of buffing and polishing. Steel guiderod instead of plastic, and a massively re-engineered extractor. The front of the slide is also beefed up; looks like they have replaced hex rod as their blanks. Of course no Kel-Tec would be complete without some tiny, essential part to lose while cleaning; instead of the loose rod guide in the front, now it's some mystery part that falls out of the left side of the frame.

I put 100 rounds of FMJ thru it to break it in. Got a nice 2" group at 10 yards with it. Then practiced point shooting double taps at 7 yards strong hand, weak hand, limp wristing, you name it. Nice hits to COM, *not one* failure, hiccup or anthing else. After that, 2 boxes of Speer Gold dot. Once again no failures or problems.

Now it's in my pocket and I'm one HAPPY customer for ~$240!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Given Kel-Tecs sporadic quality control issues and without more information, it very well may be that you just got lucky by getting a random good one.

 

[Bob79]

Kel-Tecs for the vast majority of the time are good quality guns for a good price. I've got a P-11 and P-32 that I've got no plans to get rid of. Personally the only negatives I've heard first hand is with the .380 model (including my own), which I think is pushing it as far as power to the weight/size of the gun.

Too many people listen to "internet gun experts" who write them off as junk. And you have to remember that Kel-Tec sells many more times the guns than anyone else does, so yeah they're gonna have more returns. 2% of 1,000 is 20, but 2% of 10,000 is 200, but it is still 2%. Now these aren't the actual figures, I'm just using them to make a point.

People like to knock things that don' cost a lot, like Taurus/Rossi in the gun world as well. A lot of people say Fords are junk, I had a Ford Ranger than ran great, no problems.

So, I don't think you got lucky, nor do I think that Kel-Tec has sporadic quality control issues.

 

[TimboKhan]

Double Naught Spy,

It is also possible that the people with the bad guns got unlucky and just happened to pick a bad one....

 

[marshall3]

The ideal pocket gun

In my opinion, the Kel-Tec P3AT is the ideal pocket gun.
http://www.mouseguns.com/ideal2.htm

 

[mtnbkr]

I've owned two P32s. The first one lasted for about 1200 rounds before developing a small crack in the frame, a crack that did not affect functioning. Keep in mind that most of that 1200 had been hot Euro 32acp (Dynamit Nobel, etc) and 300 rounds had been my own +P+ handloads. Was the crack related to hot loads or bad manufacturing? Dunno. I sent the gun back to Kel-Tec expecing them to change the frame and charge me. They replaced the entire gun.

The second gun has had about 150rounds through it and has been flawless in it's operation. I only shoot factory ammo through it now.

Neither gun got a fluff and buff.

Chris

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Kel Tec's quality control is no longer spotty.

Back in the day, I wanted to buy a P11. The shop owner talked me out of it, saying that sometimes they weren't reliable, and he wouldn't sell unreliable defense tools.

I was in the shop a few months ago and saw an entire shelf devoted to KTs. I mentioned it to the owner (same guy who told me not to buy one afew years ago). He said KT has gotten its act together. The KTs were now some of the best concealement guns in his inventory. Said his customers rave about them. He sells them by the boatload, and has never seen any problems with quality control or reliability.

So I bought a P3AT right then and there. I've been very pleased with it.

 

[A Cleaner]

+1 for quality on Kel Tec's P3AT

.

 

[1 old 0311]

Their quality has improved. The first models scared the heck out of me. Something about buying a gun with 'some assembly required' that turned me off. People who have them seem to like them.

Kevin

 

[axmurderer]

My P3AT is with me most all the time. Hard to beat it for power versus concealability.

 

[procomps]

My P-3AT has 350+ rounds through it with no failures. Excellent little gun. It's with me all my waking hours.

 

[cosmonick]

I've been wondering what people thought of the re-designed P-32 & P-3AT. I've been hoping it would be good news, because I'm about ready to give Kel-Tec 1 more try. Unlike some of you, I've had less than favorable experiences with the four previous Kel-Tecs that I've owned.

Looks like (with my fingers crossed) I might just have to pick up another.

Mo

 

[alamo]

I have 4 Kel-Tecs. A P-11, 2 P-32s and a P-3AT. I carry the P-3AT most everyday. I'll be getting another one before long to have as a back-up.

 

[Longbow]

' never have a problem with mine. I have an old model P3AT and P11.

 

[1 old 0311]

The wierd thing about firearms is some like a model, some don't. With Kel Tec it seems there is a big group that HATES them. On the Kel Tec owners site there are mentions of guns falling apart during firing. After owning 42 handguns I have never heard of this with any other gun but Kel Tec. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. For a $200.00 gun you get exactly that. Me? I saved my money and got something that ALWAYS works.


Kevin

 

[Wilson 17&26]

I have a bunch of First-Generation P-3ATs and a couple of Second-Generation P-3ATs. All will repeatedly fire 50 rounds without fail. That’s all I expect from a featherweight pocket pistol. Maxinquaye, if you plan on extended range sessions with Santa Barbara or Cor-Bon ammo, might I suggest finger extensions. Your hand will that you

(click to enlarge)

 

[marshall3]

Ain't no such animule...

Someone wrote: "Me? I saved my money and got something that ALWAYS works."

Ain't no such animule. I have a Kel-Tec P-11 and a Kel-Tec P-3AT, and neither has ever failed to feed, fire or eject. Same for my Taurus PT145 Mil Pro, and my SW 40GVE. That doesn't mean any of them won't break tomorrow, and the same holds true for any make of gun.

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Marshall,

Out of 17 replies to this topic 5 reply that they had problems. Those ain't the kind of odds I stake my like on.

Kevin

 

[alamo]

Like most things in life you get what you pay for. For a $200.00 gun you get exactly that. Me? I saved my money and got something that ALWAYS works. Kevin

You're a clever man Kevin. For someone that doesn't own a Kel-Tec, you're awfully eager to dispense uninformed advice. You seem quite determined to convince marshall3 that his Kel-Tecs are unreliable. Why don't you find a thread to reply to about something you actually own and/or know something about?

Hi Marshall,

Out of 17 replies to this topic 5 reply that they had problems. Those ain't the kind of odds I stake my like on.
Kevin

Yes, and 3 of the 17 were your postings.

 

[RonJon]

Maybe there is a reason that Kevin doesn't own a Kel-Tec:

Like, perhaps after doing his research, Kevin had the good sense not to buy a POS toy pistol and have to spend tons of bandwidth in trying to rationalize making such a bad purchase?

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Alamo,

No I don't own a Kel Tec. For the same reason 5 out of 17 people on here have stated. I may be old fashoned but I LEARN FROM OTHERS MISTAKES.
Does your Doctor only advise on the diseases he has had? I hope not. He also learns from others.
I am not trying to swing anyones purchase, notice I didn't mention my mouse gun?
Go to the Kel Tec club site and read the posts. I do. Thats why I don't get one.
Kevin

 

[albanian]

"Back in the day, I wanted to buy a P11. The shop owner talked me out of it, saying that sometimes they weren't reliable, and he wouldn't sell unreliable defense tools.

I was in the shop a few months ago and saw an entire shelf devoted to KTs. I mentioned it to the owner (same guy who told me not to buy one afew years ago). He said KT has gotten its act together. The KTs were now some of the best concealement guns in his inventory. Said his customers rave about them. He sells them by the boatload, and has never seen any problems with quality control or reliability."

I smell BS all over this. KTs are still unreliable and prone to parts breakage just like before. They haven't "redesigned" anything. The fact is, they are still cheaply made plastic junk. You can stake your life on one of these total jokes if you want but don't you dare insult people that refuse to do the same based on experience. I have experience with Kel-Tec so no amount of white washing their crappy products is going to make me think that trusting one with my life would be a good idea.

Hey, they may work. There are tales of some people shooting several hundred rounds without a single part breaking or malfunction. I wasn't that lucky and from the looks of it, alot of other people weren't as lucky either. They are gamble. If they work, you have the lightest and easiest to carry gun in that caliber. If they don't, you have a gun that is not reliable enough for self defense but isn't designed to do anything else.

I have been there and done that with the small autos. Sorry guys, no tiny auto out there is reliable enough for self defense yet. Maybe someday but not yet. There are exceptions, some people get lucky with a certain model but overall, none are on par with a snub nose yet.

I have no problem with someone that wants to carry a KT for self defense, just don't say anything to those of us that know better and try to warn others.

 

[alamo]

Hi Alamo,

Go to the Kel Tec club site and read the posts. I do. Thats why I don't get one.
Kevin

I been reading postings and participating there for 5 years. Mine work fine. To each his own.

 

[Darth Ruger]

Well, as long as we're counting positive and negative feelings in the first seventeen posts, let's see here...

I count a grand total of (drumroll please)... four negative posts in the first seventeen, the rest being positive. Two of those negative posts were Kevin's. It wouldn't be fair to count those two, since he's the one that brought up the number of negative posts as being a factor. That leaves us with two, one of which was more like "I've had bad experiences in the past but I'm willing to give them another chance". If he's willing to give them another chance, then he can't be counted until his next experience with them sways him one way or the other. That leaves us with a total of ONE valid post condemning Kel-Tecs out of the first seventeen.

Feel free to check my math if you wish, the specimens will remain in the laboratory for your closer examination until closing time (paraphrased from the movie "Frankenstein", 1931).

(Can you guys tell I have nothing better to do with my time? )

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Darth,

Your math, or reading skills, may be different than mine READ THE ENTIRE LIST OF POSTS. How many are not satisfied now, OR were in the past???????

Kevin