Trust my wife's life to a Kel-Tec?

[dsw3131]

So I've heard lots of the goods and bads about the Kel-Tec brand, and have been researching the P3AT for my wife. We were perusing the gun shop a few days ago looking for her first carry gun. She absolutely fell in love with the P3AT. I can't get her to consider anything else. She likes the price, concealibility, and caliber. Obviously I want her to get something she likes and will carry consistently.

So, should I trust my wife's life with a Kel-Tec? I know you Kel-Tec and former Kel-Tec owners are out there. How reliable is this little gun, really. I've got no prejudice against the brand, just want to make sure it's good enough for her.

 

[Babalouie]

I trust mine with my life. Its my stick it in my pocket gun on the very rare occasion I actually go into a 7-11. Its easier to shoot than my Keltec PF9.

 

[AndrewGWU]

I have a P3AT and I would trust my life with it, or anyones close to me. Like all machines it can fail, but mine never has...

 

[j_charles]

I have no problem relying on my PF-9 for HD/SD. They get a bad rap, and no, maybe they aren't a Colt 1911, or a Glock, but they're not supposed to be. Tak care of it, and it will take of you (or in this case your wife) .

ETA: You don't mention how much handgun experience your wife has, or if she's had a chance to fire the 3AT yet (if not, try before you buy!). The PF-9 is not bad in recoil (I thought it was much better than people made it sound), but the 3AT was terrible (in my hands, mind you YMMV). It's a 380 designed on a 32 acp frame. It was very snappy, and whipped back like crazy. It felt like it was going to fly out of my hand every time I pulled the trigger. Who knows... she may love it, and if so more power to her. Just make sure she knows what she's getting.

 

[Valkman]

I had a couple in my last CCW class - they trusted her life to a Jennings! I think you're OK.

 

[EHL]

Just check it for function and reliability. I'd have your wife shoot it before you buy it though. My wife absolutley LOVED the Keltec P3at when she saw it, but despised the little beast the first time she fired it. After that, getting her to practise shooting was like pulling teeth. I soon bought her an XD 9mm Sub compact. it was bigger in size, but also a more powerful cartridge, so I relented and bought her that one too. She still carries both though, depending on her attire, she'll either sport the Keltec or purse carry the 9mm. I trust her life with both pistols, since I would feel secure with either one as well. (she can rack the slides on both pistols too)

 

[marklbucla]

Definitely have her shoot it first. Kel-tecs are single shots for me because I have a problem with limp wristing.

You might want to consider the Kahr line as well.

 

[PT92]

I trust mine with my P-11.

-Cheers

 

[Rex B]

sure 'nuff

+1 on have her shoot it first.
Plenty of them around, you probably know someone who owns one or two.
As for controlling it, I consider the pinky extension on the mag a must. One more finger on the grip at the right spot pays big dividends in controllability.
You may also want to make sure she can rack the slide. My wife can't, so she has a revolver.

As for reliability, I trust mine every day. Mine is the hard chrome slide over navy blue grips.
Kinda purty

 

[dsw3131]

She has shot one. A friend of ours carries one. She didn't seem to mind it. It does kick like a mule though. I tried to get her to shoot a 50 round box. She got through 40 and quit. She still wants it though. It just hurts her hand after 40 rounds. Her perspective: "It may hurt my hand after 40 rounds, but in a self-defense situation, I probably wouldn't shoot more than 2 magazines worth tops..."

This is her first time shooting a pistol, and she's not a bad shot, especially considering the accuracy of such a small gun.

 

[skinewmexico]

It does kick like a mule though. I tried to get her to shoot a 50 round box. She got through 40 and quit. She still wants it though. It just hurts her hand after 40 rounds. Her perspective: "It may hurt my hand after 40 rounds, but in a self-defense situation, I probably wouldn't shoot more than 2 magazines worth tops..."

Sounds exactly like my wife, except mine said "if I ever need to use it, I doubt I will notice any recoil anyway". She will always carry the Kel-tec, she rarely carries her special purse with the G17.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

So, should I trust my wife's life with a Kel-Tec?

I am going to be a bit philosophical here, but you aren't trusting your wife's life to a Kel-Tec any more than I trusted my life to no weaponry for the better part of 30 years. By the way, the no weaponry was 100% effective.

What you are asking if if the gun will be reliable and be able to perform when your wife needs it. There is the other aspect, touched upon briefly, as to whether or not she will be able to wield it in such a way that it will be able to perform to its potential and then also be be able to perform in an effective manner. Then there is the issue of whether the caliber will be sufficient as well as the bullet choice for the job.

So you are thinking a .380 is good enough to protect your wife's life? Is that what you would choose for yourself to protect your wife's life? Unless she is has some physical issues, you can get a more effective 9mm handgun like a Kahr PM9 that will will have less felt recoil than a P3AT and also be a gun with which she can practice with on a regular basis and not worry about wearing out. She is going to practice regularly, right? If she thinks the P3AT kicks like a mule, she isn't likely to practice much with it and as such, not become proficient with it.

So in getting back to your original trust issues, why would you get your wife a gun on which her life might depend and lower her ability to use it to defend her life because you bought her a gun with which she won't practice? That just would not make sense, would it?

This is her first time shooting a pistol, and she's not a bad shot, especially considering the accuracy of such a small gun.

The P3AT is probably far more accurate than your wife is a marksman. The problem with the P3AT and a lot of little guns isn't that they aren't accurate or aren't very accurate. The problem is that that short sight radius, small size, and crappy-heavy triggers make them difficult guns with which to be a good marksman...the gun being capable of much better accuracy than what a lot of shooters are capable of doing with it.

So once again, are you going to hamstring your wife with a P3AT?

 

[jocko]

go to the kt forum and read for yourself. that is the best way to see what is going on.

 

[M16A2]

I have had a p32 for several years and it has been 100% . i do not shoot it as much as my other carry weapons. The p3at may be to much recoil for her and not practice with it and may have malfunction problems due to limp wristing. a .38 snub steel frame turned out to be a better for my wife

 

[rklessdriver]

I have a P11 and its been 100% for quite a long time now (I bought it in 2000). I also had one of the .40S&W versions and it was 100% for me until I sold it to a friend; its now been 100% for him even thou he carrys it alot more than he shoots it...

I agree with what some one else said, that no tool is completely trustworth but IMO properly maintained a Kel Tec is as reliable as anything else in the same caliber. Check it out first at the range and keep it clean, then make sure she practices with it at regular intervals.
Will

 

[MICHAEL T]

Mine has carried a Kel Tec 32 daily for last couple years she doesn't like the 380. Its her carry weapon in her store. I loaded it with Corbon HP .
It has proven relieable and better she carries that none at all.

 

[John Wayne]

I would suggest renting one and letting her try it out if at all possible. I'm convinced some guns are made as marketing gimmicks rather than serious shooting pieces, like the airweight Taurus .357 snub with the pink grips.

If she doesn't like the P3AT, a NAA Guardian offers milder recoil (because of heavier weight) in a similarly-sized pistol.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would try to talk her into an Airweight. However, it's more important for her to WANT the pistol than what I think.

Getting a test fire in with one is a great idea as others have mentioned. After that, if she still wants one just be sure to fire it enough for you both to have faith in it. If it has issues, send it back for repair and try again.

I think the Kel-Tecs are fine. I would look at the Ruger LCP also if you're in the market for that type of pistol.

 

[BullpupBen]

Personally I would never trust my life to a cheap plastic pistol (unless it was the only option i had)

But some gun is better then no gun, always.

 

[Mountie855]

While my wife enjoys shooting all types of firearms, she (like many women) doesn't want the possibility of someone, especially a client, knowing that she is armed. Not ashamed of being armed, just nobody else's business, in her mind.

Thus, she has retired her J-frames to nightstand and range use, and normally carries a P3AT, which has been 100% reliable from day one (as has mine). When outdoors, she is more likely to pack a 640/357 due to the many predators in our neck of the woods.

I would prefer she carry something a bit more potent than the 380, but since she has it 24/7, I'm not going to criticize her choice. We live in a rural, low-crime area, where animals are more of a threat (rabies is a big problem) than people.

 

[gtd]

"She has shot one. A friend of ours carries one. She didn't seem to mind it. It does kick like a mule though. I tried to get her to shoot a 50 round box. She got through 40 and quit. She still wants it though. It just hurts her hand after 40 rounds. Her perspective: "It may hurt my hand after 40 rounds, but in a self-defense situation, I probably wouldn't shoot more than 2 magazines worth tops..." "

She's right, as always. Quit arguing with her. C'mon, man, you know better than that!

I trust my P3-AT for my life, but not for my wife's. However, she can't carry a .50 cal machine gun and a half-dozen hand grenades like Rambo (that's my preference for her). So if she wanted a P3-AT, she would have one.

Yesterday after an incident, she said -- for the first time in 23 years -- that she wanted to go to the range this weekend. She wants to learn how to use her .32 revolver. I couldn't be more pleased! It's her idea, her gun, she's happy, she's safer, what more could I want?

Listen to your wife. Her needs are different.

 

[Ben86]

"Listen to your wife. Her needs are different."

That is very sound advice.

I have been looking at the kel-tecs as pocket guns for me and my wife for quite some time now. There are a few keyboard commandoes that spout off about how they hate them. But I've heard nothing but positive about them when I ask people who own them and talk to them in person. I'm still looking around at other brands but the kel-tec sounds like a good deal.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Listen to your wife. Her needs are different.

Yes, and finding a good fit for your wife means she has to find the gun that is right for her. It is like undergarments. You can't just randomly buy her a bra or underwear that looks good at the store and expert her to be happy with them anymore than you can do it with a firearm.

Given stereotypical sexual dimorphism - that generally men are physically stronger and bigger than women - I always have found it odd that men want to arm women with tiny guns, often called "ladies guns" and often said women are not skilled in shooting. Many of these so-called "ladies guns" are really much better in the hands of stronger people, more skilled people if they are to be used effectively because of the difficulties in handling lightweight and fire-ergonomically poor guns.

If part of the goal of a firearm for women is to overcome the disparity of force posed by sexual dimorphism (as most attackers are traditionally male), then logic would indicate that a more powerful handgun would be in line for women than less powerful.

I realize that there are all sorts of reasons that folks have tended NOT to try to arm women with more powerful guns, one of those being the women themselves who often express shock and dismay in holding up a whole 2 lbs of firearm as if it weighed 50...but yet heft a 8-25 lb kid all day long without such complaint.

Part is that men want to match some sort of gun size with sex when trying to obtain guns for their female significant others. Apparently, the smaller sex gets the smaller gun, like arming a child...only kids aren't allowed to conceal carry for self defense.

Personally, I think there is some deep down fear that SOME men have about arming women with comparable or better firepower. I think there are some women too who don't want to be seen in a primary protector light either. We don't follow either of these concepts in our household where my wife is my proverbial battle buddy and carries a 1911 .45 acp and her preferred HD weapon is a REM 870 12 ga.

Of course, my wife has taken the time to learn to shoot, practices, and remains proficient with her firearms...

 

[dsw3131]

So you are thinking a .380 is good enough to protect your wife's life? Is that what you would choose for yourself to protect your wife's life?

Would I feel safe with a .380? Yes. Do I carry a .380? No. I carry a .40 cal Ruger. I think a .380 is sufficient for self-defense, but a .45 ACP is better. I also think continuous air cover from an AC-130 gunship would trump a .45 ACP, but with gas prices so high...

It's all about preferences. I would LOVE for her to carry a 1911, but it's never going to happen. I tried to suggest a small frame 9mm, but she wasn't going for it. I'm smart enough to know that a woman is not going to carry a gun she's "talked into" buying. If she likes the P3AT and it's reliable, and I think .380 is sufficient, then that's fine. I'd rather her be armed 24/7 with the P3AT then inconsistently with a 9mm.

 

[dsw3131]

Oh, and on practicing, she's agreed to practice shoot about every 4-6 months with it. Of course, I want to go every weekend, but that's not practical. She's not a gun nut, and therefore doesn't long for range time like me, but at least she sees the wisdom in practicing on a regular basis.

I know some people think every 4-6 months is too long. It might be, but considering the Air Force only made me qualify every 20 months on the M9, so I'll count my blessings.