Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT?

[Stand_Watie]

I'm getting a truly mouse sized and weighted pocket pistol and Kel-Tec seems to be the way to go.

Anyone have any experience shooting both and know just how punishing the .380 Kel tec is to shoot compared to the .32? Does it have enough greater stopping power to make up for one fewer in the clip?

 

[pax]

I've shot both, and find the recoil of the 3AT to be snappy/nasty. Hate it. In my hand, it's also got a nasty bite or pinch to the trigger. No such difficulties with the P32.

However. It's a very subjective thing. Every other person to whom I handed the 3AT had no real difficulty with the recoil. I was the only one who really hated it. Several people opined that the recoil was kinder than an NAA .380 Guardian, which surprised me as the Guardian is decidedly heavier.

As for deciding between the two? What I would do is purchase both. Send 200 rounds through the 3AT to be sure it's functioning reliably, and then retire it honorably to the pocket or holster for carry. Use the P32 for regular practice. The two guns are close enough in size as to make no nevermind, the P3AT is a better defense round, and the P32 isn't as painful to shoot.

pax

 

[mtnbkr]

I own a P32 and have shot the P3AT. I personally don't find the P3AT to be all that punishing, though it is bit tougher to shoot than the P32, with factory ammo. I handload for my P32, so the recoil difference between my hot 32acp loads and factory 380 loads is small. Today, I'd buy the P3AT (wasn't available when I bought my P32) since, if nothing else, good ammo is very common for it. The lack of 1 round in what is a last ditch solution isn't a concern to me.

However, because of the P3AT, you might find a good condition used P32 for a low price. That might be worth considering...

Chris

 

[mtnbkr]

which surprised me as the Guardian is decidedly heavier.

It's also a blowback design.

Your idea to buy both and use the P32 for practice is a good one. You could possibly find both for less than $400 if you shop around.

Chris

 

[Onmilo]

I use a P-32.
I like the slide lock, the extra round in the magazine and heck, I just like .32 acp pistols.

Both pistols are as reliable as one can get with small frame centerfire pistols and both calibers will shoot with plenty of acceptable accuracy at 15 meters or so.

In my neck of the country one can buy .380 fmj ammunition for $6.50 to $7.00 a box of 50.
.32 acp runs $9.50 to $11.00 per box of fifty full metal jacket ammo so using the .32 as a practice pistol isn't practical.

Besides that, the shooter will become good with the .32 and then shoot terrible with the harder recoiling and louder .380.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I had the choice between the two and went with the 3AT. I've never shot the P32. I shot the 3AT for the first time this past weekend, and I posted a range report in the autoloader discussion board, along with pics. My impressions are that the 3AT kicks like a rented mule compared to my SA Champion .45. Honestly, after about 20 rounds, it's not very enjoyable to shoot. I put 120 rds through it, and that was enough for one session.

That said, it's not a range gun, it's the lightest .380 pocket pistol on the market, so the recoil is to be expected. I won't be putting 120 rds through it in a defensive situation, so I can live with the recoil in order to carry it in a jeans pocket unnoticed. I'm getting a Handall Jr. grip sleeve and putting the Bersa finger extensions on the mag, which ought to help some. That, and some practice and I think it'll be good.

Accuracy was very good at 7yds, it surprised me for such a little gun with not much in the way of sights. Check out the pic of my target in the other thread I mentioned, and you'll see.

I looked at the 3AT and the P32 at the local shop and compared, and they are just so similar in size, I knew I had to go with the larger round for carry. I've already got guns I like to shoot at the range, so once I get this one set up the way I want, I doubt it'll be shot all that extensively.

For more info, check out http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi

Or, go to mouseguns.com, and click on the "semiautomatics" link, you'll find a ton of review and write ups on both guns.

Here's a good link to some ballistic testing for the P32:

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm

 

[happy old sailor]

Keltec also makes/made a small light 9mm. P90 or something like that. been a few years since i was considering one for my woman. she shot it a few times and handed it back. i did not buy it, but now wish i had. i heard they made a .40 also, but had to drop that project as it was a bit much. was wrecking the little gun mostly, and was nasty to shoot. i can believe the nasty part. i was looking for a small pocket pistol larger than my P32. i tried a G27 in .40 and it was a little brute. i bought a G26 in 9mm and do indeed like it. but, nothing like dropping that midget P32 in a pocket. i do that all the time. i carry bigger guns, but the .32 is a "surprise". it even goes in my shirt pocket, however, not a handy place to draw from. it excells as an ankle gun, and the .380 would too. i have not tried the P38T, but will buy one, unfired by me. is a last ditch gun anyway and a good idea. prolly replace that little brick of a G26 in my right front pocket, If it works out.

as with the .32, i will cycle all rounds through it before loading for bear. i believe in this for all autos and visually inspect revolver ammo for the same reason. i had bought two boxes of Win. white box to waste and wear in a new gun. i started having failures to load. OMG, i bought a POS. in examining the ammo, i found that 10% had too thick a rim to slide behind the extractor. those rounds are in my junk ammo box somewhere, i have not had another prob with it. asking around, someone said it was made south of our border. the rest of it shot fine. i still examine and cycle and will continue to do so into the distant future. prob at the range is only aggravating, other scenarios is a no no. i think they are a fine little gun for their purpose, and at belly buitton range, they are as accurate as my target guns

 

[cidirkona]

I have a p3AT and although it is pretty dang snappy, I trust a 380 more than a .32... comfort takes a sidestep in this case. I'm sure if I got the grip and finger-mag thingo, it wouldn't be a problem at all. The .32 is quite a bit easier to shoot (for me), but I still prefer the .380.

-Colin

 

[cuervo]

If you haven't already, look here:
http://www.ktog.org and
http://www.ktrange.com

Each site has a bulletin board for these models.

Realize that a .32 can have rimlock. On the Kel-Tecs, this seems to be an issue only with HP ammo.

 

[Wilson 17&26]

I have several P-32s and P-3ATs. The P-32s are more fun for plinking due to the lighter recoil and slide stop. The P-3ATs have more recoil especially with Cor-Bon. During break-in you will enjoy the P-32 more with a NAA finger extension on your extra magazine. With the P-3AT, I recommend a finger extension (NAA my preference or Bersa, which fits without alteration, both pictured below) any time you fire more than a few magazines. Your hand will thank you.

 

[kngflp]

re

I have a p-11 and enjoy it but I thought about getting a 32 or 380 to go in a belly band snugged up under my left man teat to wear under a shirt and tie. With a button open under the tie it would allow great concealment and good accessability.

 

[aguyindallas]

I have a P32 that I carry daily. I really like it. My wife even got me to buy her one too.

Mine is not quite as cool as Wilsons, but I do have the Handall Jr. grip and the Bersa mag extensions on both of our guns.

 

[Stand_Watie]

Thanks for the input guys.

Next question, good price on a NIB p-32 or p3at? Assume I'm just looking at the bare bones models without any extras.

 

[ID_shooting]

I paid $250.00 for my NIB. I might have been able to hagle them down a bit but they gave me such a good deal the last few guns I bought I decided to give them asking price.

 

[Wilson 17&26]

Prices vary greatly by state. At the Big Town Gunshow (Dallas, TX) I can always find a NIB P-32 for $199 on the Bachman Pawn Table. P-3ATs vary somewhat based on demand. Last summer they were as low as $215 but last month the lowest price was $228.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I picked up my P3AT last year for $200.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

My wife and I were joking the other day about getting identical guns for "deep" concealment, especially since her S&W 5903 is rather large. I was thinking of the Kel-Tecs. I also remembered that they are offered in colors, so we started joking about which color we'd want. So, now my question......can you still get the Kel-Tecs in purple? It's my wife's favorite color, so she said she thought it would be cool to have one. I was thinking a blue one, so it would closely match my bluejeans. Anyone have a picture of the purple Kel-Tec? I saw one at a gun show recently, but she says she doesn't remember it.....must have been a show I went to and she stayed home.

 

[cidirkona]

The 32s came in pinkish purple, gray, green, black, blue and white (if I remember corectly) back right after they first came out, but I don't think I've seen and 3AT's in color yet. I also wanted to get my fiance a pink one. Every once in a while you'll see the grip frames go up on gunbroker.com, but I don't know if these frames would fit the 3ATs or not. Both the 32 and the 3AT use plastic grips over the receiver much like the walther p22, so the grip frame itself is not the numbered receiver.

Here in Tucson, new 32s go for about $240 and 3ATs for around $260. Legal Pawn has a 32 and a 3AT in stock...

-Colin

PS I remembered that for a little while here, you could only get p3AT's in gray because all the black were sold out.

Maybe there's a way you could bleach and redye the plastic/nylon/whatever it is ?

 

[Wilson 17&26]

Kel-Tec offered the P-32 in pink/purple at onetime but they are long gone. There are a number of colors still available but gray and OD green are about the only ones sent to dealers. About a year ago I ordered an ivory one for the wife to dye (Flyer process) pink but I’ve never got around to it. The P-11 and P-3AT are available only in black, gray and OD green. The gray grip can be dyed but the color could be unexpected wasting a $20 grip. Here’s a link to Sixty-Eight Electra’s on KTrange, if it’s still there. It was gray then dyed orange and turned out maroon/oxblood.

 

[mfree]

Good lord Wilson, you've stumbled upon the color "old truck primer" :-D

 

[cidirkona]

I saw a p32 about a year and a half ago that someone had actually gotten florecent pink... can't seem to find any pictures of it now though...

-Colin

 

[Lonestar.45]

I paid $265 for mine last week here in Austin at McBride's. It's the new version 3AT with the new extractor and squared slide top. Red's here in Austin has the old model 3AT for $287. Yeah, I *might* could have saved 20 or 30 bucks if I'd have shopped around, but probably not. And very few places locally have the new version 3AT in stock.

 

[cidirkona]

New Version? What's the difference? How do I tell what mine is?

-Colin

 

[RoyG]

They go for $240-260 new here. Haven't seen the gen 2 P3AT here yet.

I would go for the P3AT for CCW...

 

[Wilson 17&26]

Second Generation P-3AT

If it has the protruding hex screw (aka, Frankenstein Bolt) on the slide of the slide, it’s a Second Generation P-3AT. SG is also a bit bulkier and slightly heavier slide.