opinions on kel-tec pistols?

[SkaerE]

saw from a SHOT show report that kel-tec is introducing a 3AT (380) the size of the P32. never much cared for the 32, too small of a round. the 380 may make a good backup though.

obviously id like to let them work out the kinks of this new pistol for a couple months, but how about they're general overall quality of all of their pistols?

they seem cheap to me, but then ive never owned one

opinions from those who have owned them?

 

[ambidextrous1]

I have the Keltec .32 auto, and have had very satisfactory results with it. It does what I bought it for: It's a very lightweight, "better than nothing", reliable pistol.

I have fired it enough to have confidence in it, and put a few rounds through it every month or so, to rotate the "carry ammo" and make sure everything is okay.

I do not intend to put 4000 - 5000 rounds a year through it, as I do with my 1911, and doubt that my little "pocket pal" would survive that rate of fire very long.

When loaded with Cor-Bon hollow points, the P32 should give a reasonable account of itself; I'm not in a hurry to buy the 3AT; YMMV.

 

[boing]

They are cheap. My chromed P11 has zero pride-of-ownership value. When you buy a KelTec, you aren't spending a dime for "nice-ness", just for function. It really is "a tool".

Mine works great.

 

[SkaerE]

hey, as long as a tool works, im happy.

 

[DDGator]

Hmmm, this is thread is starting out pretty negative by Kel-Tec owners -- which is fairly unusual.

I have a Kel-tec P-32. It is the lightest, thinnest .32 available. It shoots very well and has never stopped on my for any reason.

Do I think it would survive being shoot several thousand rounds per year.... Yes. But even if it didnt, they are guaranteed for life and Kel-Tec customer service is top notch.

Check out www.ktog.org -- you tend to hear about problems becasue that is why people go there sometimes -- but you will also find a lot of people very happy with their guns.

I am sorry some people thing the guns look ugly or cheap -- they work very well. I will be getting a P-11 -- which is the smallest, lightest 9mm around -- very soon.

 

[cratz2]

Yep, I have the P32 and have owned two others that I've given away. Nice, small, thin and reliable. The 380 should be even better. I'll be getting one hopefully sometime late summer. The bugs should be worked out by then.

The only problem I've had with any of mine is the edges of the trigger are a bit sharp. Rounded them down a bit with sand paper. If that's the biggest complaint I can come up with, I have to give them a pretty enthusiastic 'thumbs up'.

 

[Catbird]

I have a Kel-Tec P32 and I used to have a P11. I have over 40 handguns and it's extremely rare for me to sell one. I made an exception with the P11 and I don't miss it at all. YMMV.

 

[sm]

My Niche gun is a...

...P-11.

Never missed a beat, best we can figure I have over 6K rds through it. Gunsmith does my reloading,and I assist with he and some instructors, this really is a guess, since we have no idea of how many factory loaded rounds I've run. I have more than once ran 500 rds in one afternoon. I've run lead, FMJ, JHP, Standard, +P , +P+ ... being curious, I mixed the mag trying to get a failure...yet to get one.

Purchased from gunsmith/friend I've known for -dunno-30 yrs. He tweaked the trigger, and whatever else he does, I just buy, and he fixes me up, I shoot. The gun fits me, is reliable, and fills a niche for me. I do like the fact (though I hope I never have to get in this situation) it will fire out of battery. I have shown students by pushing out of battery against the target the gun will fire, and naturally without a mag ( another situation I don't want to have happen).

I have tried to tear it up before I trusted it before carrying. 1K rds, Then 750 rds of carry loads. Left in freezing temps, blistering summer, shot it in rain, mud, snow...taken 1 squirrel and numerous groundhogs...

Fits my personal needs as a niche gun, or as a Bug for my preferred carry-a 1911 style.

 

[Blackhawk]

Kel Tecs are inexpensive because George Kelgren is, IMO, ethical.

Take a P-11 or P-32 apart, completely apart. Count the parts, then figure out how to make them.

There are very few parts in Kelgren's excellent designs, and they don't require tight tolerances to work as designed.

The guns are just plain inexpensive to make compared to the high tolerances and tight fitting required of more complicated designs. It wouldn't be ethical, IMO, to charge what the guns are worth, nor would it be smart. Even wholesaling the guns at way less than $200, KT makes a bunch on each one, which results in having the money to fund an unchallenged customer service department and 100% lifetime warranties. "Find a need, fill it, and make a reasonable profit" seems to be KT's business philosophy, and I'm a great admirer of the guns, the designer, the principals, and the company.

IOW,

 

[alamo]

I'm with Blackhawk, I've got 2 P-32s and one P-11. Will have a P-3AT before long, hopefully May or June when they come out.

 

[JohnBT]

I bought a P-32 in the 12xxx range. I had to send it back to have the trigger axis replaced, but have had no other problems with it during the past few years. FWIW, I believe the P-32 serial numbers are over 100,000 now.

Now for the new news...

I'm Number One on the waiting list at the gun store for the P-3AT. They'll call me when it arrives. I remember how hard it was to find a P-32 the first year.

John

 

[Badger Arms]

I only have one problem with my P-32 now. The trigger pinches my fat finger when it returns. After 100 rounds, I used to get a blister. Now I just remember to pack a band-aid and wrap my finger before I shoot. Wouldn't need it if I were to have to use the gun for self defense. Don't carry it during winter as I don't trust the .32 but that will change hopefully before next winter with the P3AT. Until then, the P11 does everything I need during winter.

Problems with the guns, yeah. The P32 slide stopped locking back. I took the gun apart and noticed that the little tang that engages the notch in the magazine wasn't sticking out that far. I gripped it in a vice with the tang sticking up above and whacked the tang a few times with a hammer and punch. I then bent the thing up a little bit, reinserted in the gun and checked for fit. After two more rotations, I reassembled the gun, It's as positive as a 1911 now. The P11 has been flawless. The slide release was cracked from the factory. I sent it back and they sent me another cracked one, although this one wasn't as bad. Not bad for $180 if you ask me. The trigger pull doesn't bother me.

 

[22luvr]

I've owned both the P11 and P32

I'm a real fan of George Kelgren's ingenious little autoloaders. They "look" cheap but I think they're a lot more durable than most of us think. I especially like the way the aluminum block frame is mated up with the polymer handle; a superior method for accomplishing that.

I've got my $$$ set aside for a P-3AT already. I'm a type-"A" personality and it will be hard for me to be patient but I'll just wait until the initial hysteria settles down, then buy one once they finally get into a normal distribution pattern with retailers.

(That SU-16 sport rifle is a pretty novel design, if you haven't noticed, not to leave out the SUB-2000)

Somewhere in the future, when the furor dies down over the P-3AT, Ol' George will design and build the thinnest, lightest, most affordable 9mm autoloader ever offered. Count on it.

 

[tatters]

I have a P-11 and P-32. I have had a couple of problems with each. Fixed immediately.

After the fixes, many rounds, no problems.

The service dept. goes above and beyond.

The P-32 is next to me as I type.

I will be looking at the P3 AT.

 

[ranger7]

I currently have two P-32s and a Sub-9 carbine. All work great now but they all had problems. I bought a used P-11 and it functioned great (the dealer sent it back to the factory before I bought it.) I couldn't get used to the trigger so I sold it.

I already have a P-3AT on order and will probably get a second one too. (I like to have a duplicate of my carry guns in case something happens to the one I'm carrying.)

Alan

 

[clange]

I got a P32 that i though was new but apparently wasnt. It would FTE more then extract and the slide would lock back prematurely. I sent it in to get repaired and a hard chrome upgrade. On the 6th day i got the gun back. Every part except the numbered frame was new. I've only put about 70 rounds through it since then, had one FTE. Big improvement already IMO. When it gets warmer i'll finish breaking it in and see what happens. Whatever happens though, you cant beat kel-tecs service.

 

[Leadbutt]

I had one of the very first 32's and it gave me some problems after about 500 rounds of Cor-bon, sent it back and the very nice lady at Kel-tec fixed as good as new and the only cost was shipping.

I am waiting for the first 380's to get to my neck of the woods, it will become my pocket and vest guy,

 

[jwrussell]

I've had my Kel-Tec P-11 for 6 months now and absolutely love it. Only problem I've had was TWO jams the first day I shot it using StarFire. That's it! Like the others have said, KT's customer service is awesome. I will be looking for the P3at as soon as it comes out!