Who's Kel-Tec P-3AT has been 100%

[the naked prophet]

Mine has. Before I shot it, I read up about the common problems, and pre-emptively fixed those. Haven't had a problem yet in hundreds of rounds. I'm aware that this pistol won't run forever like a Glock or 1911 should - it's too small and light, and will eventually beat itself to death. I knew that when I bought it, and for the price, I find that acceptable. Before 5000 rounds, I expect the pistol to be unrepairably damaged (though Kel-Tec may completely replace it at that time).

I would expect the Ruger to last for many thousands of rounds, indefinitely, really.

 

[DawgFvr]

Carry one in a pocket holster for a few days and then try to fire it at the next range...almost guaranteed FFE.

Mine works ok...if you clean it and use slide-glide on it just prior to carry...each and every time mind you. Look...they really are cheap plastic things...I really doubt even Ruger can make these into Glocks. If I don't wear tight jeans...I'd much prefer carrying my S&W 642 in a Mika pocket holster...but the P3AT does work in my Tuxedo.

 

[GBExpat]

My 2nd Gen has been reliable ... I purchased it in Dec'05.

 

[StrikeFire83]

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

For those of you who gave a response, here's how it's stacking up:

100% from day 1..................................16 guns

Fine after 1 trip to Kel-Tec.....................2 guns

Fine after 2 trips fo Kel-Tec....................2 guns

Disastrous failure, platform abandoned......2 guns

It seems like a lot of people are getting good Kel-Tecs, however in retrospect the positive spin of the thread title may be attracting mostly those who've had good experiences.

However, out of this tiny, non-scientific sampling, 6 guns have had some kind of problem which necesitated a trip back to the factory, often more than once. Others with 100% guns have stated that they did the "fluff and buff" prior to using the gun at all, which I consider a modification in of itself.

My policy with firearms, especially CC guns, is that they should work 100% out of the box (after any maunfacturer break in period, if applicable). If there's a problem that lingers past break in, the company gets ONE chance to rectify it and make the gun 100%. Any gun not totally turned around by a single trip to the factory, to me, has lost any semblence of dependability and is disqualified from being a concealed carry piece.

Let's keep this going and see where it goes.

Best.

 

[sonyhoppes]

Any gun not totally turned around by a single trip to the factory, to me, has lost any semblence of dependability and is disqualified from being a concealed carry piece.

I know this is a small sampling, but it's indicative of a larger scale. You'd think the KT fanboys would be posting in DROVES in this thread.

Anyway you look at it, 37.5% failure rate, according to this thread, is pretty damned bad in my book. According to you, if it's not fixed the first time it goes back, then we're looking at a 25% failure rate. Sorry, 1 in 4 guns needing more than one trip back just ain't cuttin' it. Again, you'd expect this number to be FAR smaller with the fanboys rushing to defend their plastic fantastic, but that doesn't seem to be the case now, does it? At least until the word gets out and all the KTOGers start posting just for posterity.

Look at all the other P3AT problem threads and even ENTIRE forums devoted to fixing all things KT. And people, don't bring up the "gunsmithing" forum at Glocktalk, either, as done before because that isn't the same thing. That forum is NOT limited to Glocks, but addresses every single manufacturer that wants to be discussed. Despite the name, Glocktalk, by in large, does not have the majority of guns being discussed made by Glock. In fact, on the main page, there's only ONE forum dedicated strictly to Glock and the owner (Eric) of that board doesn't even own a Glock.

 

[jsconnelly]

I'm guessing you put mine in the bottom category since I haven't sent mine back yet. I won't be abandoning the platform once I get a gun that works. I have too good a holster for it. : ) I knew what I was getting into before I bought it. I was a fairly active member on the KTOG board and read about all of the issues. I too did the fluff and buff on mine out of the box.

 

[sonyhoppes]

Well, it's been said time and time again that some people are gluttons for punishment!

 

[DerbyDale]

I have been going back and forth about either tading my 5" XD in for a 3" XD or getting a Kel-Tec PF-9.

However hearing things like They are great pistols just as long as you don't shoot them much. Doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I think if you are going to have a pistol for CCW, you should practice/shoot it more than any other pistol you own. If the Kel-Tec won't hold up to regular range trips, then I think I should go with the bulkier XD, since shooting it wont break it.

 

[sonyhoppes]

I hear ya, Derby... I've never bought into the "carry a lot, shoot a little" mindset with a defensive/CCW pistol that's an "always gun". A person NEEDS to train a LOT to be proficient with a carry piece. It seems the smaller ones are the most carried ones as well. Hence, the KT fanboy decree of "XXX gun/caliber is better than the one left at home because it's too big/heavy/etc." But, the KT fanboys have a solution to this dilemma. Have multiple copies of them so you'll have something to carry when one has to go back to KT for repair. Nice solution.

ToughGuyLevi over on Glocktalk has over 12,000 rounds through a Kahr PM9 which isn't really that much bigger and heavier than a P3AT and fires a more powerful round (+p 9mm). It is still smaller overall in dimensions than the PF9. I have several thousand rounds through my PM9 and it just keeps ticking. I changed the recoil spring assembly (free from Kahr) about 500 rounds ago for preventative maintenance. I was NOT having any failures that caused me to do so.

The PF9 is, in fact, less expensive than the PM9, but hey... You get what you pay for.

 

[glove]

P3at

Hello
500 rounds and counting. No FTF or FTE. This is a 2nd. Gen. pistol. Clean after every 100 rounds.
Dave Z

 

[orionengnr]

Nope.
One Gen 1 and one Gen 2, neither has been 100%.
Sold the unsatisfactory Gen 2 yesterday with full disclosure, and while the Gen 1 is "somewhat" better, it's not reliable enough to carry, and if I can't trust it enough to carry it, I have no reason to own it...

I also owned (note the use of the past tense) one P-32 and one P-11. Neither was trustworthy, although I eventually got the P32 working. Both are now gone.

Oh-for-four with KTs here, and there won't be a fifth.

 

[alamo]

Before 5000 rounds, I expect the pistol to be unrepairably damaged (though Kel-Tec may completely replace it at that time).

I would expect the Ruger to last for many thousands of rounds, indefinitely, really.

Curious to know why you would expect the Ruger to last forever no matter how many rounds through it when they are roughly the same size and weight and made of the same materials? Is Ruger's polymer more durable or their steel stronger?

 

[rhubarb]

My Keltec 380 has 100 rounds through it. It has failed to return to battery 4 or 5 times. I've never shot more than 20 rounds through it without a cleaning.

 

[romeo212000]

After the first 25 rounds to help break it in mine has been %100.

 

[Master Blaster]

Once in a while my hammer strut fails to connect requiring a rack of the slide, occasionally there is a ftf. When I was cleaning it the ejector/slidestop spring jumped out of place and wedged itself between the frame and the grip. My P-32 is a gen 1 and hasnt been back to keltec yet.

I carry it only when I can't carry a larger gun which is rarely. 642 and Glock 26 are my preferred carry guns.

 

[Craig M. Arnold]

I have two first gen P3ATs. One has 1300 rounds through it. The other one has 800 rounds through it. Both have been 100%.

Best regards.

 

[Bullet]

Anyway you look at it, 37.5% failure rate, according to this thread, is pretty damned bad in my book.

Yea, but that means if you were using one to protect your family or yourself most of the time you’d be OK.

Not good enough for me. I’ll look at the Ruger.

 

[ranger351w]

I have had my p3at for almost a year now and a couple hundred rnds through. I had a couple ftf in first couple of mags then it is perfect since. I carry it in my back pocket as I do lawn care and that is the best place. I would buy another.

Have a pf9 and carry it iwb 4:00 ss it was flawles from the start except when I bought some reloads at a gun show. Had a few ftfire but that was in the loads. Love it.

 

[golfdog]

Kel Tec P3AT

Carried first gen over 4 years every day. As a backup and off duty weapon. Polished feed ramp with felt tip dremel tool and Flitz. I have done this for 5 other Kel tec friends have purchased. Recommend magazine rotation every 2-3 months, Use Corbon Powrball for carry, any cheap hardball for practice. I never use wolf ammo as commercial extractors were not designed for steel cases. Keep 5 in mag one in chamber. I use a compressor to clean the lint from the barrel and hammer area weekly. Full cleaning after range use or with mag rotation.

After at least 500 rounds no FTF or extraction issues.

After examining several other older kel tec magazines where the owner loaded 6 for extended periods of time, I found the spring was very weak.
Compared to mine original two which were rotated and only loaded with 5.

Best Regards

 

[jackstinson]

Mine has been 100%.....out of the box....no fluff'n'buff.
I broke it in with 100 basic Remington FMJ's. Since then I've shot several hundred 88 grain Remington JHP's through it, not one hiccup.
I saw the Ruger online, it is nice looking. I won't be replacing my P3AT with one though. The P3AT in a Nemesis fits comfy in my pocket and goes bang when I pull the trigger. Mine works for me.
Jack