Kel Tech .380

[critter]

I got to handle one of the new itty bitty teeney weeney Kel Tech .380's today. Talk about a 'hideout' gun with better ballistics than the .32, it LOOKED like the 'bees knees'. Anybody had one, fired one? Wonder how the tiny tupperware frames will hold up to the .380?

 

[larry408]

I have a couple hundred rounds through mine with only minor problems. I have shot PMC and UMC FMJ and Magtech JHP through it.

 

[Blackhawk]

Go to www.ktog.org and check the bulletin board for the P-3AT/P-32 forum. There's also a lot of info about it here on THR.

 

[saddlebum]

critter, i bought one 3 weeks ago. it took about 60 rounds to get brokein and running smooth, but no problems since. i carry it in a pocket holster in right front pocket and you forget its there. saddlebum

 

[New_comer]

Do a search using "P-3AT" and "locked"...

 

[dawg23]

Critter:

I bought one about a 10 days ago. Couldn't get it to feed reliably and had quite a problem with cases ejecting back ino my forehead (not arcing up and landing on my forehead - I mean straight back hard enough to draw blood).

Called the factory and spoke to a nice fellow in "customer service." He asked me the serial number, and when I read it to him he said I have an "early model" that needs a replacement slide & barrel. Sent it back 4 days ago ( Kel-Tec is paying shipping).

Great little pistol (I think). I recommend calling the factory with the serial number before you buy one. I have always been told that Kel-Tec stands behind their pistols - so even though their initial QC is pretty loose, their customer service and low price make up for it.

Heck, I only paid $212 NIB for the pistol. Hard to go wrong even if it has to go back.

 

[DMK]

Called the factory and spoke to a nice fellow in "customer service." He asked me the serial number, and when I read it to him he said I have an "early model" that needs a replacement slide & barrel.

dawg23, are you referring to the P32 or P3AT? I thought the little Kel-Tec .380 was a brand new model?

 

[alamo]

Probably referring to the P-3AT, they made a few changes after a few thousand had been made.

 

[Sam Fisher]

I bought one about a month ago and shot 200 Winchesters through it the first time out. I only experienced one stove pipe. It packs a pretty impressive punch but I only use it as a BUG. Definitely a "close up and personal" gun and not a primary gun. S/N is 0027XX. Well worth the $229 I paid for it.

 

[dawg23]

Dave wrote: dawg23, are you referring to the P32 or P3AT? I thought the little Kel-Tec .380 was a brand new model?

This is the P3AT.

 

[DMK]

Probably referring to the P-3AT, they made a few changes after a few thousand had been made.

I see, thanks for the clarification.

Gotta love how companies these days use their customers for QA.

 

[9x19]

Gotta love how consumers, these days, allow themselves to be used...

 

[tiberius]

I have an early one (S/N 006XX) I've put about 500 rounds through it since July. It had some feed problems with hollow points at first, but a polishing of the feed ramp took care of that nicely. Since then, it has been 100% reliable. There is no guarantee that the one you buy won't have any problems, but they are easy to work on and KT has outstanding customer service. This is a cutting edge design that is intended to be very affordable, so there sometimes problems.

As recomended above, defintely go to www.ktog.org. There you will get all the dirt about the precieved problems and solutions that the early adopters have come across.

It is an outstanding pistol, but one that you should test heavily and really familiarize yoursef with before you rely on it for self defense.

 

[mini14jac]

About 300 rounds through mine.
Feeds fmj and hollow points fine.
More accurate than my P32 was.

I'm a happy camper!

 

[Hawkman]

I bought the first one in the store a couple of months ago. I bought one box of every kind of .380 the shop had and fired it through the gun. I did not have a single malfunction with any brand. Gotta admit the Cor-Bon was a handfull...