Dogbite
Member
OK guys, If you had to pick one of these two pocket pistols, which one would you pick and why?
Ruger LCP or Kel tec p3at?
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Geezer Glide
Member
The P3AT. Ruger still hasn't gotten all the bugs worked out of the LCP. The Kel Tec has been around long enough that most of them are pretty much problem free.
eng23ine
Member
+1 for the P3AT, it has the bugs worked out and it's the original design instead of a copy.
Plus Keltec's customer service is second to none.
Plus Keltec's customer service is second to none.
I don't own either. I have researched the P3AT and KT owners seem to really like it and are very happy. The only thing I know about the LCP is the recall stuff. Also, since you seem to be in the market for a 380, I would suggest looking into the Bersa Thunder 380. That's another gun in the same class. The Bersa I almost bought, but decided on a S&W 9VE. Bersa felt really natural in my hand.
Of the two you asked about I would pick the Kel Tec. If you threw in the Bersa to the mix, I'd have a tougher decision!
Good luck in your search!
Ben
Of the two you asked about I would pick the Kel Tec. If you threw in the Bersa to the mix, I'd have a tougher decision!
Good luck in your search!
Ben
HowardCohodas
Member
skeptiq said:
One could learn a lot about the LCP on the forum devoted to the it, http://LCPforum.com/.
Of the two, the LCP and P3AT, I chose the LCP because it has superior fit and finish. Like it or not, external quality translates into a perception of internal quality. Also, the LCP had a bit more heft and I felt that Ruger had made effective use of the additional weight. Mine has worked perfectly without any of the issues of ammo finickiness reported by many. I did have trouble engaging the slide hold-back. Ruger sent me a new one with higher ridges and I was able to easily exchange them even though this was the first gun I worked on that required more disassemble than that required for field stripping.
The canard that the LCP is just a copy of the P3AT confuses me. Once you decide on the caliber and overall form factor, I don't know how much variation is possible, let alone how much is required to avoid that reaction.
Of the 50,000+ plus that have been sold, three ADs from dropping on a hard surface resulted in the decision to establish a recall. The recall was done out of an abundance of caution.
The LCP was hard to find before the recall. Now the distributors and most retailers have returned their inventor to Ruger rather than sell them to customers with the overhanging recall. Since I've still found several stores still selling LCPs, I don't think it was a Ruger decision to do this. Also, the price has held up through the recall, so it has not dampened customer enthusiasm.
I like shooting my LCP and it is my EDC BUG.
Howard is right on the money, per my experience. No complaints. I have this sneaking hunch that there are many guns out there that would fail the drop test. Nonetheless, I was never one to pass up an extra magazine.
I'm not an early adopter--I waited a respectable period until I thought the initial bugs were taken care of. I picked up my LCP at a reasonable price from my local gun shop. Three weeks later I got the recall notice. I'm glad Ruger cares about my safety, will ship the gun both ways and give me a new mag for my trouble. Bottom line is I like the gun. I also like my Star BM which seems similar to the 1911. Is that a bad thing?
I'm still waiting for the recall letter for my 1861 production Colt navy revolver.
I'm not an early adopter--I waited a respectable period until I thought the initial bugs were taken care of. I picked up my LCP at a reasonable price from my local gun shop. Three weeks later I got the recall notice. I'm glad Ruger cares about my safety, will ship the gun both ways and give me a new mag for my trouble. Bottom line is I like the gun. I also like my Star BM which seems similar to the 1911. Is that a bad thing?
I'm still waiting for the recall letter for my 1861 production Colt navy revolver.
earlthegoat2
Member
Id take the LCP, it fits my hand better and I bet I could knock it around all I wanted to and it wouldnt go off without me pulling the trigger.
It would be my backup backup pistol though.
It would be my backup backup pistol though.
Lone_Gunman
Member
I would go with the LCP.
If you are lucky and get one that is involved in the recall, you will score a free magazine, which is a 25 to 30 dollar value.
If you are lucky and get one that is involved in the recall, you will score a free magazine, which is a 25 to 30 dollar value.
HOLY DIVER
Member
i carry my lcp with me 24/7 i've never shot a hole is my butt so.....lol
i like the lcp it fuctions great also
i like the lcp it fuctions great also
mgregg85
Member
I prefer the P3AT, I won't give my money to a company that can't design it's own pistol.
I really like all the other ruger products, but the LCP is such a knock off, I'll take the real McCoy and I carry mine every day.
I really like all the other ruger products, but the LCP is such a knock off, I'll take the real McCoy and I carry mine every day.
Lone_Gunman
Member
That really limits your choices, doesn't it?
Do you own a 1911?
AR?
AK?
Bolt action rifle?
I would love to hear what brands you own.
MaterDei
Member
Ruger has demonstrated on many occasions that they are capable of original designs.
mgregg85
Member
I think there is a big difference in building a 1911 or AR variant or any of the other old designs and what Ruger did. Ruger built a copy of the P3AT and called it their own, effectively stealing tons of kel-tec's business and using their own good name to push their stolen design. Thats a bit different than building a 1911 or AR-15 and stamping Ruger on it.
I feel sorry for you if you cannot see whats wrong with that. Or if you choose to ignore it. Ruger took the low road with the LCP and I have no problem with pointing that out.
I like ruger's other products but I am amazed at the amount of THR members that are so quick to ignore design theft and defend a company with a nasty history of stabbing the RKBA cause in the back.
mgregg85
Member
Yes they have, many great designs that I love. But with the LCP they dropped the ball. That was downright theft.
Kind of Blued
Member
I think there are plenty of guys happy with LCPs that can explain why it's a good pistol, but there seem to be a lot more guys with P3ATs that don't need to explain that it's a good pistol. That might mean something.
I've never owned, shot, or even touched either one, but that is my main observation.
I've never owned, shot, or even touched either one, but that is my main observation.
jrou111
Member
I love my P3AT!
LightningMan
Member
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Can't say anything good or bad about the LPC as I don't own one, but mine Kel-tec P3AT runs great, no problems. LM
Geezer Glide
Member
Lucky? Why buy something that you know that you're going to have to return and be without it for who knows how long?
CDH
Member
I've been looking for a new LCP that has the "new and improved and fixed" serial number series beginning with "371..." (the recalls are all "370... series numbers), but any store I've asked at are totally out of stock.
The stores that had any of the "370's" have all sent them back to Ruger rather than sell them to the public. These will all be reworked and a delta symbol will be stamped on them to indicate that they have been modified to the new standards.
I don't even think that Ruger is shipping the new ones yet.
My conjecture is that since there are over 80,000 LCP's affected by the recall, that Ruger is diverting their production staff to all the repairs before building the new pistols.
Even then, lot's of the 370's that were new but returned by dealers will be available for sale as new again, so I don't see many of the 371's showing up until those are all gone.
I waited to see how the LCP would perform, and my wait was rewarded by not having to be a test mule for a new pistol.
But now with 80,000 pistols in play, and the very few glitches found and being worked out, I'm just going to patiently wait for a few months until all you who have one on backorder get yours and I can walk into an Academy and just buy one.
I don't really need one since I have an R9S Stealth for pocket carry, but I just want an LCP since I have all this .380 ammo to use up.
The stores that had any of the "370's" have all sent them back to Ruger rather than sell them to the public. These will all be reworked and a delta symbol will be stamped on them to indicate that they have been modified to the new standards.
I don't even think that Ruger is shipping the new ones yet.
My conjecture is that since there are over 80,000 LCP's affected by the recall, that Ruger is diverting their production staff to all the repairs before building the new pistols.
Even then, lot's of the 370's that were new but returned by dealers will be available for sale as new again, so I don't see many of the 371's showing up until those are all gone.
I waited to see how the LCP would perform, and my wait was rewarded by not having to be a test mule for a new pistol.
But now with 80,000 pistols in play, and the very few glitches found and being worked out, I'm just going to patiently wait for a few months until all you who have one on backorder get yours and I can walk into an Academy and just buy one.
I don't really need one since I have an R9S Stealth for pocket carry, but I just want an LCP since I have all this .380 ammo to use up.
woad_yurt
Member
P3AT! Mine's great and it's smaller, lighter and way more original than the Ruger.
DevilDog0402
Member
How is it any different?
The P-32 is the smart choice. The calibre is nearly as effective as the 380 with one shot, however with the P-32 you can get twice as many shots off with accuracy and with more reliability. If we were judging pistols by COM hits in 5 seconds the P-32 beats these 380's easily.
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