Kel Tec, The Next Generation

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Hello all,

I'm seriously considering giving a Kel Tec another try (either a P3AT or a P32). Now that the 2nd Generation of these guns have been in users hands for awhile, I'm wondering what the feed back is. Are they more reliable then the 1st Generation? Anything to watch out for? Also, are they still available in multiple colors and slide finishes?

Thanks!
:eek:
 
Two weeks ago I bought a KelTec P3AT second generation from CDNN for $210 - OD green grip.

I fired approx 300 rounds thru the gun.

It had ZERO failures to feed with either hollow point or full metal jacket ammunition.

It had ZERO failures to eject.

It had 2 failures to extract - both failures left the empty casing pulled halfway out of the chamber and the gun jammed.

OK.....2 failures out of a very small gun....I can live with that. Im also not going to argue that the failures may have been caused by me limp wristing....but the point is that IS an acceptable failure rate for me from one of these little pistols.

What wasnt acceptable was the barrel was pitted throughout with one really nasty spot. A quick check over on KTOG (KelTec Owners Group) revealed this is common and hardly ever effects accuracy to the point its worth a return. I overlooked it

until......

I busted the plastic grip frame....yep, 300 rounds and the thing had a crack clear thru the rear frame pin on the right side.

I promptly called KT and they sent UPS to pick it up on their dime. Im getting the barrel issue resolved while Im at it.

I know these are small, light and cheap guns....I expect a few failures. That didnt disappoint me. The barrel was slightly disappointing but this thing really was pretty accurate....more than I expected.

Im confident they will fix it timely and to my satisfaction...overall Im still on the fence.

Great customer service though....cant complain about that.
 
I have two 2nd gen P3ATs. They are now my primary CCW pistols. They have been reliable & accurate for me. Only issue I ever had was when using cheap Russian bi-metal ammo which caused a few failure to extract problems (don't it could damage your gun). I've had no issues with brass ammo, I've used several brands both FMJ & JHP.

IMO these are the best guns available for their intended purpose. Easily concealable, light weight, reliable and accurate out to 15 yards (some say 25). My experience with a few 1000 rounds down range is that they are very accurate 10 yards or less (3-4 inch groups).

However they are definately not fun range guns. I can usually shoot 50-75, sometimes 100 rounds comfortably but no more. Some claim that shooting more than a few magazines is uncomfortable. Actually, they are becoming more comfortable the more I shoot them. They are now comparable in comfort to my Walther PPK/S.

I'd have no hesitation recommending one (2nd generation that is).
 
Get one P3AT for each hand

And you still wont know you have them on you . I carry rear pocket in Levis that-fit-and it says "wallet" Thats an awful small package to be full of 9x17's . Extra thin and it runs good too . Only modification was the metal mag catch button . All things considered they could get twice what they are asking for them . Maybe if they called it 9mm Kurz ?

One univesal experience - Keltec understands that guns and parts are relatively inexpensive , its customers that cost a lot of money . If something is amiss , it wont be that way for long .

I know some are wondering , and no, this isnt John Reid bragging on his Keltec. He gets good accuracy though . Good reading for someone interested in one .
http://richmonddemocrat.blogspot.com/2006/01/is-delegate-jack-reid-telling-truth.html
 
My 1st gen. p3at never did run good, even after a trip back to Kel-tec, fluff and buff, you name it. My 2nd gen. runs fine!! Same with a 2nd gen. p-32.
 
Lots of Kel-tecs live at my house including two P32's and a 3AT. How do I tell which "generation" these belong to? Is there a serial number break or a distinguishing characteristic? One of the P32's is about 6 years old, the others are maybe 18 months.

Thanks.

Coyote8355
 
My pocket knife is deadlier and more reliable.
Click to expand...

Find another forum for your junvenile quips.


I have a 1G P-3AT (very early serial number) and a recent 2G. The 1G had a few issues in the first 100 rounds but has been fine since. The 2G just has 50 rounds but worked just fine. I have a P-11 and a couple of 1G P-32s well.
 
My pocket knife is deadlier and more reliable.
Click to expand...
Curare, what Kel-Tec(s) did you own? What type of failures did you have? Did you do anything yourself to try to remedy the problem? Were they sent back to the factory? Please provide any other pertinent info. Thank you.
 
My 2gen p3at is 100% reliable so far. Yes, they do come in mutiple colors and finishes.
 
My pocket knife is deadlier and more reliable.
Click to expand...

Subcompact Kel Tec pistols tend not to tolorate limp wristing. If you limp wrist the guns, they will not work. If not, they tend to be pretty reliable for small, inexpensive autoloaders.
 
Wifey has a 1G p32 that has always been great. We have had it about 2 years or so, 200 or so rounds (all kinds of ammo) down range from both 10 rounder and standard mags. No problems.

I got a 2G 3AT and had no problems. 50 or so rounds down range with standard mag. I traded with my son for his 1G P32 because he wanted the 380, mine now uses the same ammo as wifey, she did not want to upgrade, and we both like slidelocks, which 2G's do not have.

Son likes the 2G 3AT (works great), wifey likes the 1G P32, and I like having ammo and mags that interchange for the two of us (son is on his own in another city). If I am carrying spare mags, she can use them too.

I have read about problems others have had, most of which got fixed promptly by the manufacturer. This family is sold on KelTec as long as you take it to the range and "prove" it by sending 100 or so rounds of your carry ammo down range before you trust your life to it. Come to think of it, that is a good practice for any brand of gun.
 
With the exception of a couple of light primer strikes, my 2nd generation P3AT has been 100% reliable.

I think the light primer strike issue was due to the ammunition (it only happened with one brand). All of the rounds in question fired after being reloaded and struck by the firing pin again.
 
I have an OLD 9mm from kel-tec - i've never once had a problem with it - the only problem ever encountered with this gun was when I lent it to a friend who limp wristed it and got a couple of jams - otherwise it has worked great - dont let anyone fool you - they are a good gun for the money - when I cant carry a full size gun the little 9 is what i go with - its smaller and lighter then most of my snubbies and has 10 rounds with it - throw an extra mag in the pocket and i feel quite confident in this "cheap" little gun. No complaints here!
 
I had a 2nd gen P3AT that ran fine after the
first 100 rounds,before that i would get a
failure to feed every other mag full.
 
Could have picked up a P32 at a gun show this weekend for $199, but i found a revolver i wanted worse. Besides, I don't want a .32. I'd rather have the .380.

The P3AT has a good rep and I have no doubt it'd run smooth. If it didn't, KT has the best customer service this side of Dillon and they'd make it right. I never had a problem with my P11 9mm. It's been a little gem.

BTW, I don't consider any failure rate "acceptable" in any firearm I carry for self defense. If it countinued to have extraction problems and I couldn't pin it to limp wristing (more that likely the problem), I'd send it in. If it were true that little guns suffered failures as a matter of routine (and it's not) just because they're small, I'd just carry a revolver. I have much maligned Grendel P12 that still runs flawlessly if you feed it what it likes. I've had that thing for 15 years or so. It's a little bigger than the P3AT, but hides well and carries 12 rounds. It doesn't like those WWB flat nose .380s, though, hang up on the feed ramp now and then and require a tap. That's okay for practice, but not for carry. I have preferred handloads that run 100 percent and hit to POA for that gun that I carry. So, if you're not limp wristing the gun and it's having extraction problems, try something else in it. Guns have preferences.
 
Whirlwind,

Thanks for the information. I shoulda checked the KelTec page. All three of my KT's are 1G. We don't shoot them a lot, but have had no problems with reliability. I did do the KT fluff and buff on them right out of the box.
 
I own Several and nary a single hiccup from any of them...

P32 - 1995 vintage - Dead-On Accurate
P11 - Long trigger smooths with time
P-3AT - 100% SMOOOTH out of the box
PF-9 - 100% after over 650 mixed rounds
SU-16C - Great Shooter! Great Fun!!!

What more could you ask for???
 
I bought my P-32 in the fall of 2001 and took it to the range along with 2-50rd boxes of round nose fmj ammo. I had 1 failure to fully eject or chamber each time I fired a fully loaded magazine for 4 of the first 5 mags. All the remaining ammo fired in the pistol and it functioned 100%. I returned to the range the next week with 1-50rd box of round nose fmj and 2-25rd boxes of trunicated cone fmj ammo. All 100rds function 100% and when I got my CHL the next year I started carrying the P-32. Once every fall I fire the ammo in the pistol,clean it,and load it back up for carrying.
So I guess I don't get the 1G vs. 2G controversy.
 
P3AT

I have a new one. Shot 42 rounds the other day, first time out. Had 4 FTFs. The round nose fmj round was getting hung up on the feed ramp. Does it need polishing, or do I just need to shoot it much more to break it in? All in all, I am happy with it. It rides around in my pocket all of the time when I cannot carry my G26. Oh, whenever I did get a FTF, all I had to do was touch the back of the slide with my them and it went home.

If the P3 can't get r dun, my back up knife, pepper spray, and several years of fighting experience (mixed martial arts) will compensate somewhat.
 
Well I became a beliver early this year I know have 2 P-32 and 1 P3AT. all are at 500 or more of S&B ,Corbon and are fine. I am eventhing about another 380 I like to keep even numbers. For my children you know.
 
My 2nd Gen had to go back to the factory (FTE, FTF). Since then, no problems whatsoever, sav a kablooied recoil spring. They got me TWO SETS (with guide rods) priority, in two days, FREE.

Keep it CLEAN. :)
Keep spare springs on hand. :scrutiny:
Don't even try for the X. :D
Use DPX if you are brave :evil: and/or have a prosthetic hand :D .

Like the old OJ "loafers" joke: So comfortablle, you won't even know you own it. :D
 
Can't speak to the 1st gen other than what I have read but my 2nd gen KT has been 100% reliable with the exception of one "rimlock" issue that I attribute to the ammunition.
 
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