My Kel-Tec P32 broke again!

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I bought one new and it had many FTEs, I sent to the factory and it worked perfectly for 300 rounds. I shot it on WED and had no problems but today I tried to shoot it and the trigger felt like it was not contacting anything! It is like it is freely moving back with without engaging.

Does anyone have an easy fix? I hate to have to send it back again. Will Kel-Tec reimburse me for shipping this time? I am loseing faith in this gun and I don't know if I can trust it even if it does get fixed.
 
My experiece with Kel-Tec Customer Service has been good, I would recommend calling and explaining that you would like to have the gun FIXED: not worked on, but ALL internal frame parts replaced and checked for reliability... (the P-32 is a GREAT gun, I have Owned 2, and found them to be reliable with ALL TYPES of ammo, right out of the box...

Good Luck, and just be firm that you want a basic "replacement"
of the internals, not just rework on old/defective parts...

JMHO,

Howard
 
Just in case a newbie is reading this thread and might get scared away... this gun has 750 or 800 rounds of ball ammo, 300 rounds of Speer Gold Dots, 20 rounds of SilverTips and 20 rounds of CorBon. It has only had two failures total. It failed to return to battery one time on the first outing and failed to eject one time after that but I think that one could very well be my fault as I was being sloppy.

I've had two others and had maybe five failures total between them. One I put about 500 rounds plus maybe 1through before giving it to a female family member and the other one I bought specifically for another female family member and put 200 rounds of ball ammo through that one and 40 rounds of Gold Dots.

Nothing ever broke on any of them... not yet anyway. ;)

DCP_0936.jpg
 
FWIW P95Carry, mine has been flawless for over 200 rounds (not that that's an amazing number or anything, but it's all I've run through so far). I don't find it to be as accurate as some folks say theirs are, but it's heck for strong.
 
I really wanted to like it but I can't excuse it breaking like that for no apparent reason. I have defended Kel-Tec since I got it back the first time and it worked but now I feel that there are just too many things that can and do go wrong with their products.

It should not be remarkable that a pistol go 400-500 rounds without breaking any parts or jamming but it seems like that is the exception rather than the rule for Kel-Tecs. I don't have any hard feelings but I can't see ever trusting this pistol again after seeing how prone to problems they are. They break like the cheaply made guns they are. Anyone who has one has to admit that the are made very cheaply but that doesn't mean they can't work. It is just clear that there are plenty of parts that could break if given half a chance.

It breaks my heart to have to give up on the P-32 because it was a dream to carry but I just see being able to rely on a gun that breaks so easily.:( I guess I have to find another carry piece, Kahr PM9?
 
I've been lucky with my P32. It's about three years old, and I've put a case (1000 rounds) of carry ammo through it. It has been very reliable, and hasn't broken yet.

However, after reading many many threads about KelTecs breaking here and previously on TFL, I have made the decision to fire only 50 rounds through the thing a year. I feel like the Keltec is basically a back-up to my primary, so practice isn't necessary anymore. I just don't want to push my luck any further by adding any extra wear. I don't want to experience KelTec customer service, no matter how great they are.

Simply stated, the P32 is not going to be an heirloom, as it's life expectancy isn't going to be up there with full-sized pistols.

That said, I'm glad I own one.
 
If AMT was still in business and had the customer service that Kel-Tec does, we'd see 5 threads a day about how wonderful AMT backups are instead of P32's and that when they break after 50 rounds at the range to test them out or just from rattling around in your pocket, no worrys! as you can just send it back to the factory for $30 shipping and hopefully it will be fixed to fire another 50 rounds (when you get it back 2 months later) without problems until you have to send it back again :rolleyes:

In fact, from what I've seen and read, the AMT backup seems to be a more reliable gun than the P32.

My suggestion to P32 owners....fire one magazine through the gun and if it works hang onto that peach, but don't dare fire it anymore or carry it in your pocket as they are prone to spontanius breakage :rolleyes:. Oh wait, that kinda defeats the purpose of a pocket gun!

A gun that needs regular trips back to the factory is not a gun I would want to trust my life on, no matter how good the customer service is :barf:

I don't have any hard feelings but I can't see ever trusting this pistol again after seeing how prone to problems they are.
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I have hard feelings towards Kel-Tec just reading your posts and the posts of many others on here, TFL and Kel-Tec forums. I think I'm going to reconsider my possible P-11 purchase.

I've handled both the P-32 and P-11. I agree with you that they appear very cheaply made and feel "highly breakable" in my hand. At least the P-32 felt that way.
 
Just an observation not intended to start a big controversy but I find it interesting that there are so many proponents of the P32, particularly when someone asks what "mouse gun" they should get and still have so many posts about how many P32's need to be sent back for warranty work. I'm not knocking KelTec, I owned a P11 and a P32 at one time, its just that you would think that there would be a lot more cautionary statements in regard to purchasing one. I am certain that if these many posts regarding Sigs, Berettas, H&K's, S&W's etc. dealt with defects people would really be having second thoughts about getting one. After all, it may be a mouse gun but you may wind up relying on it to save your life. Mike
 
Don't worry, if you're being robbed and you reach into your pocket for your *wallet* (P32) and you feel the hammer wiggling back and forth you can just tell the bad guy that Keltec has excellent customer service and that you're going to send it back to the factory for repairs. Just politely let him/her know that it would be more convenient if they stick you up at another time. :scrutiny:

:) :) :)
 
I'd get one makdaddy03. I'm going to get a P-3AT as soon as they come out to go with my 2 P-32s and P-11s. KT has sold almost 110,000 of these in the past 4 years, that's probably more than any other pistol over that period to the civilian market. The more out there, the more that have problems. I'm sure the percentage of those that have problems exceeds that of say, Glock. But then again, you don't see Glock making a 6.6 ounce pistol. I also carry an Autauga .32 quite often but I like the P-32 a bit more.
 
Does anyone have an easy fix? I hate to have to send it back again. Will Kel-Tec reimburse me for shipping this time? I am loseing faith in this gun and I don't know if I can trust it even if it does get fixed.
Click to expand...

Check the trigger pin - it runs vertically up from underneath the trigger. Same thing happened with mine last week and it was because the trigger pin had backed out. I tapped just tapped it back in, but haven't shot it again since to see if it will continue to happen.

Rocko
 
Awful lot of "wiggling and fixing" going on for something your willing to bet your life on. I ditched my P32 when it refused to let off when the trigger was pulled. I did the same with my Glock when it did the same. Must be me and plastic guns. Its one thing to have a specific part break or fail, especially after a lot of use. But to have a "recuring" problem, especially after being repaired, that aint a happening thing.
 
AK103K,

I know what you mean... The loudest sound in the world is a "CLICK" (or just total silence) when you pull the trigger...

I`ve had NIGHTMARES about desperately fighting a "Bad Guy" off, only to finally get a shot, you point your gun desperately at the B.G. and squeeze the trigger and NOTHING HAPPENS...! :barf: (makes you sick with anxiety/dread/fear)

Howard
 
Please take the advise of a (former) p.32 owner. When it comes back from the factory (again), dont waste the $25.oo in ammo to see if it works, to see if you can TRUST it, sell it-- SELL IT and get a Tom cat. Keltec's quality control is some priest that says a prayer that it will work over the box before they seal it and ship it out.

A great concept but a crappy little piece of junk. If only a quality company would take the concept and perfect it (sigh). You can fool some of the people some of the time is the P32 motto.

Just my experience, I could be wrong.
 
Now that more and more states have resiprocity regarding concealed carry permits, I've been thinking about getting one of these as my airline travel gun, that can be declared and locked in checked bagage when I'm not traveling for business (I can travel armed if I'm working).

Most importantly, should it turn up missing when you go to the bagage claim you aren't out your favorite and expensive carry gun.

Although I think the Beretta pocket guns are better made, they suffer from anemic calibers like the 22 and 25. Worse is their lack of extractor. Whether its a jam from a fired round or a round that won't go off, the lack of extractor really slows down the process of getting the gun back in action. I believe the lack of extractor puts a defensive handgun at a disadvantage before you ever put the gun in your pocket and leave the house.

Kel Tecs if they work, with their extractor, DAO and 32 caliber make a potentially first class option for a disposable off duty carry gun. And lets face it, with the amount of theft associated with airport bagage handlers at every airport, anything going into checked bagage has to be potentially disposable. Contrary to popular believe, thats why LEOs always want to carry their guns rather than check them on business travel, you can't do much business if you arrive without the tools of that business.
 
As a retailer , I have had quite a bit of experience with firearm service issues . I write every letter that accompanies a gun going back for repair .
We have sold over the years many P-32's . They are a fine little pistol . The trigger issue has come up in our store before . We have sent back several for the same problem since their introduction . None recently though . Based on numbers sold , the percentage of P-32's we've sent back is no greater than most other guns . I wouldn't be afraid to carry one myself .

As for the Tomcat , we have sent a few of those back also . Percentage wise , I don't see it being any less likely to break than the P-32 .

Mitch
www.oldeenglishoutfitters.com
 
it's all in the percentages.... just remember how many they have sold, for every 1 person that compains here there are 100 that work fine, and don't even know about these boards.....

They have sold a lot of guns...
 
We don't sell as many Guardians . I'll guess because of cost .
I can't remember sending any back except when they first were introduced .
I have had good luck from my Seecamp LWS-32 . Got it new about 7 yrs ago . I fire a magazine or 3 every year . It's always been 100% with Win Silver Tips .
 
I have had good luck from my Seecamp LWS-32
Click to expand...
Guy ..... showing my ignorance here ...... unfamiliar with this one ..... any useful link you could point me to? I'll do a search in meantime.

Edited to add ..... OK no sweat ... found some info. man!!! Are they ever expensive!!!
 
P95

The Seecamp 32 has been around since the mid-80's . Once a very exclusive and elusive pistol . It was common to wait 2 yrs to get one . The mfg suggested retail price has been $425 for as long as I can remember . Because of more demand than supply , the scalpers price has been as high as $800 . They were THE deep concealment pistol . Then the NAA Guardian , Tomcat and Kel Tec came out . Demand went down and supply has actually increased over the years . Now I see prices at a more reasonable rate . Anywhere from $450 - 475 is common . Not cheap , but it's a very well made all stainless pistol .
More refined than the Guardian . IMO .Nothing against NAA .

tron

I have a 1957 Jetfire . They are a cool little pistol . I have had several including a .22s Minx . They are surprisingly accurate for such a tiny gun . Mine feeds any kind of .25 including Blazer . My wife has an M21 EL in .22lr . It will scare the dickens out of a pop can at 25 yds .
Great guns !

Mitch
 
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