I performed the "fluff and buff" on mine and shot them a lot before I carried them. I even had to "f&b" the mags. They required a lot of break-in and proper lubrication with grease. They eventually were reliable, but then I bought my first Kimber and put the P40s away.
When I dispose of the P40s the dinero will go towards a Kimber in 40S&W. I like the 40 cal.
Anygun
Trusting your life to Kel Tec
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anygunanywhere
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John F,
I'm not here to bash KelTecs, or debate the merits of them with anyone, just to answer your original post.
Both KelTecs I've had the occasion to shoot have broken while shooting. One, my P11, had gone through 200 trouble-free rounds on 2 or 3 occasions when one day I had a misfeed. The round fired hadn't been extracted, and the pistol tried to feed a new round into the already occupied chamber. The extractor hook had broken clean off, and disappeared. To their credit, KelTec repaired it pretty quickly, but I sold the gun on it's return.
A friend had acquired a P32, and had reported it as a nice shooter. He lent it to me along with a couple boxes of different loads. I'd gone through 3 magazines without a problem, and had decided I was going to get one. Then mid-magazine, the slide locked back, and nothing I tried could get it to go back into lockup. It sure was embarrassing returning it to my friend in that condition. He sent it back in that state, and it was returned fine.
So for me, I wouldn't carry one if somebody gave it to me, not that that's likely to happen.
I'm not here to bash KelTecs, or debate the merits of them with anyone, just to answer your original post.
Both KelTecs I've had the occasion to shoot have broken while shooting. One, my P11, had gone through 200 trouble-free rounds on 2 or 3 occasions when one day I had a misfeed. The round fired hadn't been extracted, and the pistol tried to feed a new round into the already occupied chamber. The extractor hook had broken clean off, and disappeared. To their credit, KelTec repaired it pretty quickly, but I sold the gun on it's return.
A friend had acquired a P32, and had reported it as a nice shooter. He lent it to me along with a couple boxes of different loads. I'd gone through 3 magazines without a problem, and had decided I was going to get one. Then mid-magazine, the slide locked back, and nothing I tried could get it to go back into lockup. It sure was embarrassing returning it to my friend in that condition. He sent it back in that state, and it was returned fine.
So for me, I wouldn't carry one if somebody gave it to me, not that that's likely to happen.
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Skiprr
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Since the Topic was revived... My P3AT has returned to Texas after a month with the manufacturer in Florida. I'm sure it has a nice tan. I have to pick it up at UPS in Stafford today, and will hopefully get a chance to try it weekend after this (class at PSC Saturday, then Easter Sunday; no extra shootin' this weekend). I'll report back after that trip to the range.
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NRA Benefactor Life Member
reality check
Most of the problems I see reported with Kel-Tecs or other guns read something like "I fired 400 rounds through it yesterday morning and the SOB jammed up on me 8 times - on rounds 67, 78, 162, ...etc".
I've fired several boxes through all three of mine. The P11 jammed a couple of times until I realized what limp-writisting was all about, then it worked fine.
The P3AT jammed once, on the 48th round, and the chamber was filthy with powder residue. Don't know if it was crappy ammo or what, but I cleaned it and it worked fine.
Now, I keep my carry guns pretty clean, and I use good factory ammo.
If I ever need to use it, I figure I need it to deliver at most 10 rounds without jamming. That would include a 2nd magazine. I have never had any of them fail within the first 40 rounds. I am confident that the probablility of of any of my Keltec pistols failing on the first 10 rounds is a number approaching zero.
I could probably get slightly better odds with a revolver, but then it doesn't conceal as well so I might not have it with me when I need it. And then I'd only have 5 rounds, because I'm not going to carry a speedloader .
call me an optimist if you like.
I've fired several boxes through all three of mine. The P11 jammed a couple of times until I realized what limp-writisting was all about, then it worked fine.
The P3AT jammed once, on the 48th round, and the chamber was filthy with powder residue. Don't know if it was crappy ammo or what, but I cleaned it and it worked fine.
Now, I keep my carry guns pretty clean, and I use good factory ammo.
If I ever need to use it, I figure I need it to deliver at most 10 rounds without jamming. That would include a 2nd magazine. I have never had any of them fail within the first 40 rounds. I am confident that the probablility of of any of my Keltec pistols failing on the first 10 rounds is a number approaching zero.
I could probably get slightly better odds with a revolver, but then it doesn't conceal as well so I might not have it with me when I need it. And then I'd only have 5 rounds, because I'm not going to carry a speedloader .
call me an optimist if you like.
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“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
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spud
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I have gotten a lot of guff over carrying a P3AT on a daily basis. Since the day I bought it, I have gone though about 425-450 rounds with out a single issue. I shoot it every other month to make sure it is good to go and get a good bath. The day I bought it I ran 150 rounds though it without a hiccup.
Has been nothing but great for me. And I know all you old timers
will get all huffy, But this Armalaser is something else. Always spot on, every trip to the range.
My main tip for anyone looking to get one. Get a finger extension ASAP. And its not a range gun, don't treat it like one.
Has been nothing but great for me. And I know all you old timers
will get all huffy, But this Armalaser is something else. Always spot on, every trip to the range.My main tip for anyone looking to get one. Get a finger extension ASAP. And its not a range gun, don't treat it like one.
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flintknapper
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spud wrote:I have gotten a lot of guff over carrying a P3AT on a daily basis. Since the day I bought it, I have gone though about 425-450 rounds with out a single issue. I shoot it every other month to make sure it is good to go and get a good bath. The day I bought it I ran 150 rounds though it without a hiccup.
Has been nothing but great for me. And I know all you old timers
My main tip for anyone looking to get one. Get a finger extension ASAP. And its not a range gun, don't treat it like one.
Got no problem with laser sighting devices, never have.
About 10 years ago Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn teamed up to make a few tactical VHS tapes. On one of the tapes they clearly denounced the use of lasers, but to their credit....both have changed their view of them today.
So, even us "Old Dogs" can learn (if we want to) a new trick or two.
Spartans ask not how many, but where!
P3AT--------300 rnds. fmj.........no probs......150 rnds. hp.........no probs.
.......cleaned and lubed and tucked in a back pocket holster......I have had this weapon for 3 yrs now and shes got @ 1000 rnds down range.
Except for spent brass dingin' me in the forehead from time to time.....no malfunctions of any kind.My Glock 27 is my #1.........the Kel-Tec is #2.
I will agree it is not the most pleasant gun to shoot....................
It is what it is............a "10 foot gun,sting 'em and run"
We have all seen the others malfunction at times...........none of em come with a no malfunction guarantee..........................
HOPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!.................out
.......cleaned and lubed and tucked in a back pocket holster......I have had this weapon for 3 yrs now and shes got @ 1000 rnds down range.
Except for spent brass dingin' me in the forehead from time to time.....no malfunctions of any kind.My Glock 27 is my #1.........the Kel-Tec is #2.
I will agree it is not the most pleasant gun to shoot....................
It is what it is............a "10 foot gun,sting 'em and run"
We have all seen the others malfunction at times...........none of em come with a no malfunction guarantee..........................
HOPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!.................out
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Skiprr
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Skip the following long, cautionary tale about UPS and firearm shipments if you don't want to suffer my ranting. But I want to rant somewhere, and it's at least germane...because I still don't have my Kel-Tec P3AT that went to back to the factory at the end of February. 
Plus, I learned something valuable for any future firearm shipments via UPS that may have to wait until I can pick them up if no one can be at home to receive them.
<rant on>
Kel-Tec had the pistol for almost exactly one month, and sent it back to me UPS Ground at the end of March (and although it would have been nice to get an email notice from Kel-Tec with a tracking number so I knew to expect it, I guess I can't complain too much). The first delivery attempt occurred on April 2.
I called UPS and had the package put on hold, and it was to be available for me to pick up as of April 4. The hold location is in Stafford, about 30 miles from my house...not an instantaneous drive in Houston traffic. On the morning of Friday the 6th I telephoned the UPS 800 number to confirm the package was there so I wouldn't waste a trip; they confirmed it was and all sounded well. I headed there at noon. After 45 minutes of driving and 30 minutes of waiting while the UPS folks searched, the verdict was that the package was no longer there, that for some reason it had been put back on a truck for delivery.
They gave me a direct telephone number to the delivery supervisor for my route. I called from my cell and he was very cooperative. I told him I could finagle the rest of the day off if I had to, and could drive back home by 2:00. He put me on hold to contact the driver; he came back on the line and told me he confirmed delivery today sometime after 2:00 p.m. All looked at least doable, so I drove home. And waited. And waited.
Knowing that 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. was about the latest deliveries are made, I tried calling the supervisor's phone again at about 6:45. No answer. At 7:00 I called the 800 number again. They expressed a complete lack of knowledge about any of this, saying that nothing was recently put in the system about the package other than a note at 10:00 a.m. that the item was waiting at will-call in Stafford (no doubt the result of my earlier call to confirm it was there before I drove down). Their only advice was to keep trying the supervisor's number, including calling on Saturday (which I couldn't do because I'd be in an NRA class at PSC), or to wait until next week and call again to have the will-hold-the-package-for-pick-up time extended.
Kept trying the supervisor's number. At about 7:30 I got an answer, but the fellow I'd spoken to earlier had gone home. So I dove into the long explanation once again. The guy said he would check into it immediately and promised to call me back.
About an hour later, he did call back. The news? The package had indeed been in Stafford since April 4, waiting on me, and it had never left the facility. He said since the shipment had been marked a firearm, it was being held in a special "high value" locked room. He said that the personnel who "helped" me when I was in Stafford didn't know to look in the special holding area, and just assumed the package had gone back out for delivery.
So after driving 60 or so miles in about 90 minutes roundtrip, plus waiting 30 minutes in Stafford while the clueless UPS employee(s) searched in vain for my package, then taking a half-day off work to go home and wait on the promised redelivery, here I sit in exactly the same position I was in on Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday: the Kel-Tec is in Stafford and I have to take time out of my workday next week to drive down there (again) to get it.
<rant off>
Moral of the story: if you have every reason to believe your package containing a firearm is supposed to be waiting on you to pick it up at a UPS will-call desk, do not hesitate to disbelieve the line employee who tries to help you if the verdict is, "It's not here." Ask for a supervisor and do not hesitate to state that the package contains a firearm, that they should check all possible locked or secured areas where they might keep such an item.
At one point, the woman waiting on me came out from the back and asked me what kind of package it was. I replied it was small, probably no more than 6"x6"x4", and that it had shipped from Cocoa, Florida. I didn't want to say it contained a firearm, and I probably should have told her just that.
Plus, I learned something valuable for any future firearm shipments via UPS that may have to wait until I can pick them up if no one can be at home to receive them.<rant on>
Kel-Tec had the pistol for almost exactly one month, and sent it back to me UPS Ground at the end of March (and although it would have been nice to get an email notice from Kel-Tec with a tracking number so I knew to expect it, I guess I can't complain too much). The first delivery attempt occurred on April 2.
I called UPS and had the package put on hold, and it was to be available for me to pick up as of April 4. The hold location is in Stafford, about 30 miles from my house...not an instantaneous drive in Houston traffic. On the morning of Friday the 6th I telephoned the UPS 800 number to confirm the package was there so I wouldn't waste a trip; they confirmed it was and all sounded well. I headed there at noon. After 45 minutes of driving and 30 minutes of waiting while the UPS folks searched, the verdict was that the package was no longer there, that for some reason it had been put back on a truck for delivery.
They gave me a direct telephone number to the delivery supervisor for my route. I called from my cell and he was very cooperative. I told him I could finagle the rest of the day off if I had to, and could drive back home by 2:00. He put me on hold to contact the driver; he came back on the line and told me he confirmed delivery today sometime after 2:00 p.m. All looked at least doable, so I drove home. And waited. And waited.
Knowing that 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. was about the latest deliveries are made, I tried calling the supervisor's phone again at about 6:45. No answer. At 7:00 I called the 800 number again. They expressed a complete lack of knowledge about any of this, saying that nothing was recently put in the system about the package other than a note at 10:00 a.m. that the item was waiting at will-call in Stafford (no doubt the result of my earlier call to confirm it was there before I drove down). Their only advice was to keep trying the supervisor's number, including calling on Saturday (which I couldn't do because I'd be in an NRA class at PSC), or to wait until next week and call again to have the will-hold-the-package-for-pick-up time extended.
Kept trying the supervisor's number. At about 7:30 I got an answer, but the fellow I'd spoken to earlier had gone home. So I dove into the long explanation once again. The guy said he would check into it immediately and promised to call me back.
About an hour later, he did call back. The news? The package had indeed been in Stafford since April 4, waiting on me, and it had never left the facility. He said since the shipment had been marked a firearm, it was being held in a special "high value" locked room. He said that the personnel who "helped" me when I was in Stafford didn't know to look in the special holding area, and just assumed the package had gone back out for delivery.
So after driving 60 or so miles in about 90 minutes roundtrip, plus waiting 30 minutes in Stafford while the clueless UPS employee(s) searched in vain for my package, then taking a half-day off work to go home and wait on the promised redelivery, here I sit in exactly the same position I was in on Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday: the Kel-Tec is in Stafford and I have to take time out of my workday next week to drive down there (again) to get it.
<rant off>
Moral of the story: if you have every reason to believe your package containing a firearm is supposed to be waiting on you to pick it up at a UPS will-call desk, do not hesitate to disbelieve the line employee who tries to help you if the verdict is, "It's not here." Ask for a supervisor and do not hesitate to state that the package contains a firearm, that they should check all possible locked or secured areas where they might keep such an item.
At one point, the woman waiting on me came out from the back and asked me what kind of package it was. I replied it was small, probably no more than 6"x6"x4", and that it had shipped from Cocoa, Florida. I didn't want to say it contained a firearm, and I probably should have told her just that.
Join the NRA or upgrade your membership today. Support the Texas Firearms Coalition and subscribe to the Podcast.
I’ve contacted my State Rep, Gary Elkins, about co-sponsoring HB560. Have you contacted your Rep?
NRA Benefactor Life Member
I’ve contacted my State Rep, Gary Elkins, about co-sponsoring HB560. Have you contacted your Rep?
NRA Benefactor Life Member
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flintknapper
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trvlgnome
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Love mine
This Thread is probably pretty well worn but I couldn't let it die without putting in my 2 cents.
I love my P3AT. The first time I took it to the range I put 6 different brands of ammo through it. Believe it or not it liked the cheep, dirty Wolf ammo best but ate everything I fed it after the first magazine, 1 FTF.
I don't like how difficult it is to chamber the first round with hollow points but it feeds fine after that. Still looking for the best JHP round for it though.
I think I probably made KelTec at least 2 or 3 sales just by taking it to the office (yes the office, several CHL's and very pro gun where I work). Everyone that has seen and/or shot it can't believe the bang for the buck.
Anyway, it is my daily carry and will remain that way.
Sorry to hear about the not so great to terrible experiences that some of you have had but after reading all the material I could before and after I bought mine, I think the plusses outway the negatives by a pretty good margin.
So, to wrap this up and possibly put this thread back into the crypt; YES, I would and do trust my life to KelTec.
I love my P3AT. The first time I took it to the range I put 6 different brands of ammo through it. Believe it or not it liked the cheep, dirty Wolf ammo best but ate everything I fed it after the first magazine, 1 FTF.
I don't like how difficult it is to chamber the first round with hollow points but it feeds fine after that. Still looking for the best JHP round for it though.
I think I probably made KelTec at least 2 or 3 sales just by taking it to the office (yes the office, several CHL's and very pro gun where I work). Everyone that has seen and/or shot it can't believe the bang for the buck.
Anyway, it is my daily carry and will remain that way.
Sorry to hear about the not so great to terrible experiences that some of you have had but after reading all the material I could before and after I bought mine, I think the plusses outway the negatives by a pretty good margin.
So, to wrap this up and possibly put this thread back into the crypt; YES, I would and do trust my life to KelTec.
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Mike from Texas
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Seems that most of the problems with the P3AT KelTecs were attributed to the 1st generation. 2nd generation seems to be darn near flawless.
I bought one about a month ago and currently have about 250 rounds through it with zero failures. This is a mixed bag of reload ball ammo, WWB ball, Hydra Shocks and Silvertips. Do I trust my life to it? It's in my pocket right now, so that should tell you something. I will carry my Ultra Carry or my Glock29 as primary carry most of the time, but the little KelTec sure is easy to slip inside a front pocket in a holster especially since summer is coming. You can also throw a couple spare mags in the other pocket and no one is the wiser.
Don't buy into the adage of the more you spend, the better the gun. Out of 250 rounds through my Kimber UC, I have had MULTIPLE failure to go into battery. I have recently installed a stiffer recoil spring, did a feed ramp polish and throat polish and bought a mixed bag of magazines in both KimPro and Wilson Combat. I have yet to be able to make it back to the range to see if it will work now. Kinda sad to spend that kind of money on a gun then have to spend more to get it to be reliable. I've also had 2 instances of failure to go into full battery with the Glock as well.
Of the guns listed in my signature the only 2 that are 100% reliable as of today are the XD and the P3AT.
I bought one about a month ago and currently have about 250 rounds through it with zero failures. This is a mixed bag of reload ball ammo, WWB ball, Hydra Shocks and Silvertips. Do I trust my life to it? It's in my pocket right now, so that should tell you something. I will carry my Ultra Carry or my Glock29 as primary carry most of the time, but the little KelTec sure is easy to slip inside a front pocket in a holster especially since summer is coming. You can also throw a couple spare mags in the other pocket and no one is the wiser.
Don't buy into the adage of the more you spend, the better the gun. Out of 250 rounds through my Kimber UC, I have had MULTIPLE failure to go into battery. I have recently installed a stiffer recoil spring, did a feed ramp polish and throat polish and bought a mixed bag of magazines in both KimPro and Wilson Combat. I have yet to be able to make it back to the range to see if it will work now. Kinda sad to spend that kind of money on a gun then have to spend more to get it to be reliable. I've also had 2 instances of failure to go into full battery with the Glock as well.
Of the guns listed in my signature the only 2 that are 100% reliable as of today are the XD and the P3AT.
A few Glocks, a few Kahrs, Dan Wesson CBOB 10mm, Dan Wesson CBOB 45ACP, Springer Champion Operator
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