Kel-Tek P3AT or S&W 642

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eric.cartman

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So, 7 rounds of .380, or 5 rounds of .38 Special +P ???

Which one would you feel more out gunned with ???

I have the P3AT, and am considering switching to S&W 642. Kel-Tek jammed few times to many on me to be comfortable carrying it :uhoh:

EDIT: I'm referring to everyday CCW, the usual SD scenarios.
 
I started with the Kel-Tec P3-AT and didn't realy mind the caliber. I loaded with Corbon's and figured that was not a bad choice. The gun was very easy to carry as well.

About a year later I switched to a Titanium small frame snub - It was a personal choice born out of my trust for revolvers and my ability to shoot them more accurately at distances behond where I felt comfortable with the little Kel-Tec. It wasn't a power level decision for me , nor did I ever worry about 5 vs 7 rounds . 5 Should be enough. ( mine happens to be a 6 shot in .32 Mag)

M642 is a great choice and I think would serve anyone well. I have nothing against the Kel-Tec, just a personal choice as stated above.
 
+1 to the 642.

5 rounds of .38 special +p should be plenty, and I feel more comfortable carrying the revolver.
 
The problem I have with P3AT, is that out of 300 rounds shot, it jammed 10 to 15 times. THAT, I'm not comfortable with.
 
Out of 1,000 rounds - my S&W 642CT has jammed a total of zero times and the 135gr Speer GDHP +P's hit like a truck....Food for thought....
 
I had one of the kel-tec 32's. Mine actually never jammed, and with practice I could hit decently with it despite the horrid trigger. I will say too that there is nothing like them for light and concealable. But then one day after not having shot it for a few weeks I stripped it to clean out any pocket lint and found the OUTSIDE of the barrel had rusted quite a bit! Never experienced anything like it and didn't want to have to be worrying about it all the time. Swapped it in on a j frame actually. I have both a 642 and one of the 32 mag 6 shots like an above poster mentioned--just feel more confident in them.
 
Another CCW holder here who is fortunate to own and shoot both handguns. They have both been reliable.

Definetly prefer the 642 when I can't carry anything larger.

I carry the KT when I can't carry a firearm, "period", due to dress considerations... which just happens to be the majority of the time.

Simply can't pack around 3 lbs of stuff like some say they can. It just doesn't work and I've carried on and off the job for 45 years.
 
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My experience mirrors yours. Bought a P3AT, found it wasn't that reliable. Sent it back to KT, but it still jammed with standard factory .380 ammo.

S&W 642 FTW!
 
Question what generation was your p3at?
Did you try different ammo?
What ammo gave you a problem?

I have both but end up carrying the kel tec more due to the size. I have a mag extension for a total of 8 rounds mine has been flawless since new but some ammo like wolf, wwb ext tend to jam. Mine kind of loves Remington golden sabers. I believe do the P3 is a 7 yard gun.
 
The Amigo,
I used 3 or 4 different kinds of ammo in mine. I can't remember which one though. I also shot Federal Hydrashok. All seamed flawed. The gun is 2nd generation, with the external "improved" extractor. The gun experienced FTF.
 
Eric some P3s tend to have a ruff feed ramp. As to kind of jam when you lay one in the chamber this kind of happened to at least 3 p3s Ive tinkered with. Yet once the gun fires they cycle fine. A fluff and buff took care of that when I polished the ramp. Does it jam while firing? perhaps a weak recoil spring? if its that bad Ive had excellent customers service from them and their lifetime warranty. Turn around time has been 2-3 weeks.

Here's 2 places where there's a lot of good info on Kel Tecs:

http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/index.htm

http://www.ktrange.com/phpbb2/index.php
 
My usual carry is a S&W M638. The rare times I can't carry my revolver I carry a KelTec P-32. I don't feel under-guned but I would rather have my revolver because I'm sure it will go bang when I pull the trigger.
 
I had bought both a KelTec .32 and a NAA Guardian .32 believing that I couldn't conceal anything larger in my front pocket. I wound up selling the KelTec not because of any issues, I simply preferred the Guardian. Sometime later I purchased a S&W 442 and found that I can carry it very comfortably and unobtrusively in my front pocket with almost any style of pants. When I absolutely cannot carry it I revert to the Guardian but those times are few and far between. I feel much more well protected with the 442 than I would with either a .32 or .380 in such a small gun as the Kel Tec. I think you would be amazed at how the 642/442 revolvers just seem to disappear in a front pocket. I find that the shape actually conforms more to a pocket than small autos.
 
I agree with WmCC and PaladinX13: Own both and dress around the gun. Everybody should own the 642...and...everybody should have the P3AT. I prefer the revolver but there are times, e.g., wearing a suit, Tuxedo, tight jeans, etc., where the 642 is just not comfortable...hell, you can place the P3AT in your bathrobe pocket or swimsuit. All autos jam...ay, there's the rub! I hate firing the P3AT, but must admit, I'm actually more accurate with it than the 642. Both are "last defense/last ditch defense measure type weapons. Hell, maybe they will make enough noise so that I can run back and get to the rifle and or shotgun.
 
A .38 is a FAR better cartridge ballistically speaking. That said, my fave has always been the 380. I'm a much better shot with it, and that translates into better shot placement and therefore stopping power.
 
I have a lot more fondness for the J-frame snubby -- the one time I tried a P3AT, I could tell it wasn't for me. Couldn't hit jack.

But really, they are two different guns for different CCW missions.

If you can carry a J-frame with adequate concealment (which isn't hard for most folks -- it's 15 oz), you should probably do so. The snubby is definitely "more gun" (some of the .38 Spl. +P ammo on the market is no joke). From most evidence, it is also a lot more reliable than the KT.

But there are some people who can't carry even a J-frame in the pocket. Maybe they're women who wear clothing with tiny pockets, or none. Maybe they live or work in an environment where they absolutely can't afford to be "made"; they need true zero-profile concealment.

If that's your situation, the P3AT is an amazingly light, flat, and small gun that is even more concealable than the (rather concealable) J-frame airweight snubby. It may be what you need.
 
Get both. While not exactly the same I normally carry a S&W Model 38 AND a Kel-Tec P32. The M38 justs works well for me in an ankle rig when wearing long pants and the P32 is perfect for pocket carry all the time.
 
Bought a P3AT. Jammed ALL the time, even after a few trips to kel-tec(at my cost). No, this was not user error. No limp wristing. The gun was junk. I ended up selling the gun at a big loss (after all the shipping) and I told the guy I had problems with the gun so I didn't get a whole lot for it.

340PD replaced it. I've never looked back.
 
ive got both, currently carrying the p3at. I love this gun.

it has been 100% for me, 100fmj and 20rnds of hp out of mine not a single problem.

they are both pocket carried, but kt has a clip draw.
 
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