Keltec P3AT or Beretta tomcat .32?

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megatronrules

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I realize both of these are small caliber guns but for thair intended purpose which one would you get? I've been thinking hard about a keltec .380 but don't think I can completely trust one I know that may sound stupid to some here. But god forbid I'am ever down to a bug or even as a primary clothing requiering it mind you I feel I know at least the beretta .32 will work. I know .380 offers more thump than the .32 but that don't mean a thing if the gun don't go bang proerly.

It just seems as if the keltecs are a crap shoot and every small beretta I've ever seen including my .25 jerfire run flawlessly,and I really don't wanna fluff and buff an $250 n.i.b. gun or send it back to keltec to get it to run right. What are your thought on this I was thinking inox tomcat? thanks for any opinions you might have for me.
 
I have heard some folks say they've had problems with their Tomcats. People I know, in person...whether they'll post here, I dunno.

KT's are definitely easier to conceal. And, they're not blowback.

Your choice.
 
Problems with M-16, problems with AK's...

I've seen no problems with the two P-3AT's I've fired, aside from empty cases ejecting to the next county.
 
Dear Megatron,

I've had a Tomcat for several years and am very pleased with it. It hasn't failed in any sense on me. It's very concealable. I particularly like having the DA/SA feature with one in the pipe. I bought the pistol for my wife, so she wouldn't have to rack a slide. The tip up barrel is great.

Our only problem is that the stock grips are diamond cut and not comforatble for her hands. My hands are rather large, causing me to be careful in my grip, lest the slide bite me.

Our Son has a Kel tec P32 that he's very pleased with. I recall no problems with it. My only problem with it is that the trigger guard is so close to the trigger, I begin to compress the trigger just putting my finger on it. If you have large hnds, you may want to consider that.

Be Well,

Scarface
 
Quite a few people had problems with the Tomcat when they first came out. I had two of them. One had a major problem and Beretta replaced it (after a 3-month delay.) The second one jammed so badly (slide came off the frame) that we had to slam it with a nylon hammer to get it back on. Worked fine after that.

These were early guns, and I think they worked out the problems in later models.

The Tomcat is unusually wide for such a small gun, and while pocket carry is possible, its not easy. (A pocket holster is critical; a slide or belt holster (IWB?) is better.)

The early Kel-Tec P-32s also had problems and that's the gun upon which the P3AT was based. Few problems with the P3AT, though.

I've had a Kel-Tec P-11 and it was a fine gun. I didn't like the trigger, but it was accurate and reliable and durable.

I would NOT hesitate to buy a Kel-Tec in .380, but I think the Tomcat is way too big for the caliber (.32 acp).
 
Just a rant here,but why does everything nowdays have to be small,lightweight and pack a punch of a 10ga shotgun?
Every auto maker for years has been designing small lightweight viehicles,and they were all the rage,untill someone said "Enough"
I want a Truck,no an SUV,no I want a HUMMER!!!
Big is Back.Carry 2 big guns,one primary,one backup:D :D :D
 
I have not seen any of those disgruntled P3AT owners yet!! :rolleyes:
Mine's been perfect right out of the box!! :D
It even fires dry (no lube) to the tune of 100 rounds!! (Yes Virginia, it DOES pass the Chuck Taylor test, formally reserved for only the vaunted Glock)
I'd recommend it over the Beretta any day of the week!! :neener:
 
My main problem with the Beretta Compacts is that they're not.

Also, springs and controls are stiff.

For your purpose I'd go with the P32 or P3AT. I'd carry a Mak before I'd go to a small Beretta.

BTW, I'm a big Beretta fan--just not of the little Berettas.
 
My experience with several small Berettas in the last few years is that they are unreliable, inaccurate, overly large, JUNK. Twenty years ago they were fine little guns, not recently.

My son and I have 5 of the Keltec 3ATs and one went back to the factory. The rest are shooting well and we've fired over a thousand rounds through three of them... Two of them are just resting for now but have shot about a hundred rounds each with no problems.

Many people think a 9mm is a mouse gun.

I personally would not like to be shot with a .380 anywhere... and the Keltec, with a few hundred rounds of practice, will put all the shots into an egg sized group at 30 feet!!!! For self defense and INSTANT CNS switchboard, short-circuit shots, that works. I would personally opt for fmj rounds according to my research, in order to insure penetration if you have personal self defense in mind.
 
"I'd carry a Mak before I'd go to a small Beretta."

Funny, I carry both (at the same time), Bulgie Mak in 9X18 and Jetfire .25 ACP.

My experiance with this small Beretta has been very positive so far, but I must add that I've only had it for a short time. It hasn't jammed on me at all, and it is very accurate for a pocket gun.
 
I'd purchase a a Kel-Tec P3AT instead of a Berretta Tomcat because it is thinner, lighter and shoots a more powerful round than the Tomcat. I own a P3AT and think it's an excellent gun for the money.
 
Another vote for the P3AT.

Mr. Jody Hudson, curious as to why you and your son have 5 of them. (Not asking you to justify it, as I have way more guns than I'll ever need/use, but just curious.)
 
Hate to sound like a broken record, but I have owned both and still have and carry the KT P3AT.

Like many here have said, for the caliber, the Beretta is way too thick. I do like the way the grip fills up my hand, but I was bitten by the slide way too consistently when shooting for my tastes.

The KT has been perfectly reliable and is so much lighter and thinner it is not a contest.
BTW- if you buy a KT be sure that the serial # begins with letters, not numbers. These are the newest ones with the fixed ejector.

Mino
 
BTW- if you buy a KT be sure that the serial # begins with letters, not numbers. These are the newest ones with the fixed ejector.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this fact. I'm currently shopping for a small 380 and decided kel-tec was the way to go for a pocket gun. I was about to ask what to look for with these guns, but I think you just answered it.
Thanks!
 
I looked hard at the Beretta when they came out.
For size, wt., accuracy, and trigger, the KelTec is the way to go.
We had two P32s, now we have a P32 and a P3AT.
I've got nearly 300 rds through mine, with no failures.

BTW, the Beretta Tomcat does not have a firing pin block.
The manual specifically warns against carrying with a round in the chamber.
It may just be lawyer-speak, but the KelTec guns were designed to be carried that way.
 
I just bought a P3AT and love it. No failures yet. Mine gets carried with Silvertips.


John
 
Well, I don't own a P-3AT yet...

But I think about it. A fellow just bought one from Tilford's and I was there. I asked him if I could have a look. "Sure"--big smile. I unzipped the little bag. (This bag was black.) And, to my surprise, it's the same size as the P-32. (Which I do own.) It didn't even look wider. The only thing I didn't like was the tool steel slide. In Kentucky, in MY pocket, that slide would rust. No doubt about it.
I realize that they're more expensive and even heavier than the stainless model--but I like the Titanium Tomcats.
If I was going to get a Tomcat, that would be the one.

Will
 
You can get the P3AT slide hard chromed for about $20. That will take the edge off your "rust" concerns. Kel-Tec will do it for you, quickly.

Visit the Kel-Tec Owners Group website for a place that will nickel plate it for about the same price, too.

(Last time I looked it was at http://www.ktog.org)
 
KT has said "sometime after the first of the year" for the P-3AT slide exchnage so that could mean next month or as late as June.
 
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