Kor
Member
So, okay, I've just finished selling a buncha knives at a local gun show on Sunday, and I've got about $300 more than what I brung in with me. If I don't re-invest it into a gun, it'll gradually evaporate as I spend it on silly stuff like rent, utilities, food, gas...so, I gotta buy something!
Well, I've had an itch for that new Kel-Tec P3AT .380ACP pocket pistol, and I've been hearing more good than bad about it here on THR, so I decide to go for it - I found one for $260 retail, which came to $280 out the door.
I just finished wringing it out at a local indoor range a few hours ago, and here's how this little pocket monster did:
- Reliability was EXCELLENT, with 100rds of commercially reloaded .380 100gr FMJ fired and ZERO malfunctions! I also tested Federal HydraShok, which fired and functioned flawlessly, and PMC Starfire, which had ONE bobble on the 2nd round fired(after the gun had already fired the 100rds of FMJ) - a firm slap on the magazine floorplate cleared the jam, and the gun fed/functioned perfectly for the rest of the session. The ejection pattern was pretty haphazard, but all the empties were thrown well clear - and, yes, I did get beaned in the forehead by a few empties, but it only seemed to happen once every 2-3 magazines, so I'm not unhappy.
- Accuracy was also pretty good, especially considering the long trigger and laughable sights - 3"-4" groups with everything at 15ft, printing slightly low and left of point-of-aim. Although the gun can deliver reasonable accuracy in deliberate aimed fire, it practically begs to be shot with Jim Cirillo's "Silhouette Point" method - just superimpose the rear silhouette of the slide on the target and fire. Place the whole gun between your eye and your target, and that's where the bullets go.
- Recoil was pretty sharp, but whaddya expect from a 7-ounce pistol? The gun could be controlled, but it was hard work shooting it. The pistol actually seemed to jump and squirm LESS when shot one-handed than when fired from a two-handed Weaver stance - I think that the Weaver stance is so stable, it actually causes the gun to torque upwards in recoil and slip around in my hands. Firing one-handed seems to allow the gun to come straight back in recoil, especially if I flex my elbow slightly, so that my whole hand travels back with the gun and doesn't allow the recoil to torque/twist the grip frame in my grasp. In two-handed deliberate aimed fire, I would have to re-grasp every 2-3 shots, but in one-handed Silhouette Point rapid-fire, I could dump the entire magazine into a 9" wide target sheet and the gun would stay locked into my firing grip.
So, I took a chance on the P3AT, and it came through with flying colors! Once I get a decent pocket holster and a rubber grip-sleeve for this li'l dude, it'll be ready to ride with...
Well, I've had an itch for that new Kel-Tec P3AT .380ACP pocket pistol, and I've been hearing more good than bad about it here on THR, so I decide to go for it - I found one for $260 retail, which came to $280 out the door.
I just finished wringing it out at a local indoor range a few hours ago, and here's how this little pocket monster did:
- Reliability was EXCELLENT, with 100rds of commercially reloaded .380 100gr FMJ fired and ZERO malfunctions! I also tested Federal HydraShok, which fired and functioned flawlessly, and PMC Starfire, which had ONE bobble on the 2nd round fired(after the gun had already fired the 100rds of FMJ) - a firm slap on the magazine floorplate cleared the jam, and the gun fed/functioned perfectly for the rest of the session. The ejection pattern was pretty haphazard, but all the empties were thrown well clear - and, yes, I did get beaned in the forehead by a few empties, but it only seemed to happen once every 2-3 magazines, so I'm not unhappy.
- Accuracy was also pretty good, especially considering the long trigger and laughable sights - 3"-4" groups with everything at 15ft, printing slightly low and left of point-of-aim. Although the gun can deliver reasonable accuracy in deliberate aimed fire, it practically begs to be shot with Jim Cirillo's "Silhouette Point" method - just superimpose the rear silhouette of the slide on the target and fire. Place the whole gun between your eye and your target, and that's where the bullets go.
- Recoil was pretty sharp, but whaddya expect from a 7-ounce pistol? The gun could be controlled, but it was hard work shooting it. The pistol actually seemed to jump and squirm LESS when shot one-handed than when fired from a two-handed Weaver stance - I think that the Weaver stance is so stable, it actually causes the gun to torque upwards in recoil and slip around in my hands. Firing one-handed seems to allow the gun to come straight back in recoil, especially if I flex my elbow slightly, so that my whole hand travels back with the gun and doesn't allow the recoil to torque/twist the grip frame in my grasp. In two-handed deliberate aimed fire, I would have to re-grasp every 2-3 shots, but in one-handed Silhouette Point rapid-fire, I could dump the entire magazine into a 9" wide target sheet and the gun would stay locked into my firing grip.
So, I took a chance on the P3AT, and it came through with flying colors! Once I get a decent pocket holster and a rubber grip-sleeve for this li'l dude, it'll be ready to ride with...
