shooter.45
Member
I am seriously thinking about getting one to add with my P32. The question is I know this is not a range gun but how is the recoil??
Keltec .380
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BamBam
Member
Recoil is less than a .38 snubbie.
I've shot 150 rounds on several range trips and was a bit sore, but mostly from friction, not impact. An NAA finger extension fits the P-32 and really helps with this problem. Shooting 50 rounds or so without the extension causes no discomfort.
All of the above is while shooting one-handed.
Kel-Tec's P-3AT (.380) is nearly identical to the P-32 and has a bit more kick.
Few people on the KTOG board complain about the kick of their P-32:
http://www.ktog.org/vbulletin/
I've shot 150 rounds on several range trips and was a bit sore, but mostly from friction, not impact. An NAA finger extension fits the P-32 and really helps with this problem. Shooting 50 rounds or so without the extension causes no discomfort.
All of the above is while shooting one-handed.
Kel-Tec's P-3AT (.380) is nearly identical to the P-32 and has a bit more kick.
Few people on the KTOG board complain about the kick of their P-32:
http://www.ktog.org/vbulletin/
G33InMyPocket
Member
As BamBam says the recoil isn't bad but I did get little friction sores from the recoil the first 100 rounds, then I put an AGRIP on it and now it doesn't bother me at all.
I just picked up a P-3AT today. I got the last one literally 10 seconds before someone else entered the store and asked for one. They seem fairly hard to get in central KY so far. I haven't shot it yet but hope to do so this weekend. I'll report back if I can still find this thread.
benewton
Member
Anybody want to compare the recoil to the, hopefully defunct, .380 Sigma?
This weapon is on my "this year" purchase list, and I'd like to hear any and all owner comments!
Thanks, in advance, of course.
This weapon is on my "this year" purchase list, and I'd like to hear any and all owner comments!
Thanks, in advance, of course.
shooter.45
Member
Russ,
That would be great I cannot pick up mine until next week
That would be great I cannot pick up mine until next week
Just picked mine up on Monday; cost was $221.00 plus tax. Fired a box of Federal Personal Defense with no failures; I did have one failure to feed in 50 rounds of my .380 handloads (perhaps they were loaded a bit soft).
Accuracy was similar to my P-32 (they shoot better than they have any right to, given their size and short sight radius).
As noted above, recoil is more than the P-32, but in no way unpleasant. The P3AT's action lessens perceived recoil considerably compared to a blow-back action like a Sig P230.
Why did I wait so long to buy one?
Accuracy was similar to my P-32 (they shoot better than they have any right to, given their size and short sight radius).
As noted above, recoil is more than the P-32, but in no way unpleasant. The P3AT's action lessens perceived recoil considerably compared to a blow-back action like a Sig P230.
Why did I wait so long to buy one?
Kor
Member
I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree - after shooting over 300rds through my own P3AT, I'd have to describe its recoil as "emphatic." The recoil isn't hard enough to be painful per se, but when you combine the relatively stiff recoil with the small, narrow grip frame and the ultra-light weight, I find the gun tends to squirt up and out of my shooting hand. You don't notice it much in deliberate, aimed slow-fire, but it becomes a problem when you start doing rapid-fire drills. By contrast, shooting my S&W Airweight Centennial yields about the same felt recoil, but the Lasergrips I have on the gun are substantial enough that the gun doesn't shift in my hand at all.
I have, however, found that two things help to tame the P3AT:
- A rubber grip-sleeve, made by Hogue or Pachmayr, gives me enough added traction on the gun that I can rapid-fire the entire 6-rd magazine in under 3 seconds without any shifting or re-gripping. (Thanks to WhoKnowsWho for donating the Hogue to the cause!)
- The gun is actually MORE controllable when you shoot it one-handed; though it seems counter-intuitive, I find that a solid two-handed Weaver stance is actually TOO stable, so that when you fire the gun it keeps moving back while your hands stay still, and with almost every shot it feels like the gun is trying to squirt out of your hands. It also doesn't help that the grip frame is SO small, that your shooting hand completely engulfs the grip-frame; therefore, your support-hand can't actually touch the gun except for MAYBE the side of the thumb - the only thing your support-hand can do is to hold your shooting hand. By contrast, when you shoot the P3AT ONE-HANDED, your hand moves with the gun in recoil, and it does not shift within the shooting hand.
I think you will enjoy shooting your P32 more than you will enjoy shooting the P3AT, but I won't discommend the P3AT to you; aside from its nominally more effective caliber, you'll probably find that .380ACP reloads and Wolf practice ammo are significantly less expensive and more readily available than comparable .32ACP ammo.
I have, however, found that two things help to tame the P3AT:
- A rubber grip-sleeve, made by Hogue or Pachmayr, gives me enough added traction on the gun that I can rapid-fire the entire 6-rd magazine in under 3 seconds without any shifting or re-gripping. (Thanks to WhoKnowsWho for donating the Hogue to the cause!)
- The gun is actually MORE controllable when you shoot it one-handed; though it seems counter-intuitive, I find that a solid two-handed Weaver stance is actually TOO stable, so that when you fire the gun it keeps moving back while your hands stay still, and with almost every shot it feels like the gun is trying to squirt out of your hands. It also doesn't help that the grip frame is SO small, that your shooting hand completely engulfs the grip-frame; therefore, your support-hand can't actually touch the gun except for MAYBE the side of the thumb - the only thing your support-hand can do is to hold your shooting hand. By contrast, when you shoot the P3AT ONE-HANDED, your hand moves with the gun in recoil, and it does not shift within the shooting hand.
I think you will enjoy shooting your P32 more than you will enjoy shooting the P3AT, but I won't discommend the P3AT to you; aside from its nominally more effective caliber, you'll probably find that .380ACP reloads and Wolf practice ammo are significantly less expensive and more readily available than comparable .32ACP ammo.
Shooting my wife's .38 cal. Airweight, with 158gr fmj, usually leaves my hand throbbing for several days. Even though we seldom shoot more than 25 rounds through the little beast.
My first outing with the P3AT, I probably shot 50 rounds.
Again, my hand throbbed for 3 days.
I sanded down the sharp edges on the bottom of the trigger guard, and on the trigger.
The gun may have "settled in" or something.
It is still quite lively to shoot, but I no longer have lingering pain after a range session.
I seldom shoot more than 50 rounds at a time.
I've got over 300 rounds through it now.
It does recoil more than the P32 in my opinion, but then my P32 was always easier to shoot than my wife's P32. Explain that.
Apparently each of their guns has a distinct personality.
It's hard to explain until you shoot one.
Every time I shoot the wife's S&W, I think "Man, if that was my gun, I would sell it.", because I like to shoot my guns a lot.
(And I have no desire to shoot a 15oz. .38 with heavy bullets very much. In all fairness, with 125gr. bullets, the Airweight is much more shootable.)
Maybe the fact that the P3AT is so accurate and concealable influences my decision, but I never think of selling it after a range trip.
My first outing with the P3AT, I probably shot 50 rounds.
Again, my hand throbbed for 3 days.
I sanded down the sharp edges on the bottom of the trigger guard, and on the trigger.
The gun may have "settled in" or something.
It is still quite lively to shoot, but I no longer have lingering pain after a range session.
I seldom shoot more than 50 rounds at a time.
I've got over 300 rounds through it now.
It does recoil more than the P32 in my opinion, but then my P32 was always easier to shoot than my wife's P32. Explain that.
Apparently each of their guns has a distinct personality.
It's hard to explain until you shoot one.
Every time I shoot the wife's S&W, I think "Man, if that was my gun, I would sell it.", because I like to shoot my guns a lot.
(And I have no desire to shoot a 15oz. .38 with heavy bullets very much. In all fairness, with 125gr. bullets, the Airweight is much more shootable.)
Maybe the fact that the P3AT is so accurate and concealable influences my decision, but I never think of selling it after a range trip.
mountainclmbr
Member
Just to start out I would like to say that I wouldn't want to be shot by one, but the .32 and 380 are below my self defense threshold. The recoil is pretty weak for me. The worst recoil I have experienced was a 2-inch derringer in 45 Long Colt. Two feet high at 25 yards and the target pully system came crashing down on my head. Sold the Derringer after two shots! My current carry guns are in .40 and .45ACP. I might drop down to a 9X19, but I would never feel compelled towards a mouse gun.
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