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I never really thought about a BUG before. I bought a Glock 30 to carry when I get my license and thought that was that. But I've been browsing and hear alot of people talk about pocket pistols, and the little Keltec .380 comes up alot. Well, I went by the gun store yesterday because I had the itch to look at one. It really seems pretty cool, I like the feel of it and it's starting to seem like a good idea to have one more option. How does everyone who has one like theirs? How do you carry it? I like the idea of a pocket holster best to protect the trigger since there are no external controls, but I'm open to options. I also like to shoot all of my guns on a regular basis. I'm not talking putting 500 rounds through during every range trip, but I'd like to put 50 or so through every couple of weeks. Does the Keltec hold up to that? Maybe it's because it's so small, but it just felt too light to be really sturdy to me. But I've never owned anything but a full sized gun until recently, so it may be that I'm just not sure what to expect. Thanks all.

While a BUG is nice to have, a bug isn't always that. I believe you'll find yourself using it as primary carry on occasions that make carrying your G30 difficult.
I hear good things about the Kel-tec pistols but have never owned one myself. You could get a Kahr PM9 which is just a bit bigger but uses actual 9mm ammo instead of .380. You could also get a 5 shot lightweight revolver like a S&W j frame or a Taurus 85.
You have a lot of options when it comes to a BUG. Personally, I am not comfortable with anything less than a 38spl +P or a 9mm. Especially with the likelihood of drugs or alcohol coming into play in the event of a deadly encounter. But of course, shot placement is key with any handgun regardless of caliber. A hit to the central nervous system with a .22 beats a miss with a .44 every time.

My .02

HighVelocity wrote:While a BUG is nice to have, a bug isn't always that. I believe you'll find yourself using it as primary carry on occasions that make carrying your G30 difficult.

I agree - and that is why I bought my BUG first. I picked a S&W 642 (5 shot .38Spc +P). Then I went out and got a 3.5" 1911 for a primary gun almost a year later. But now I carry either one (or both) and feel covered.

I will be first. (edit: you 2 guys are fast. Or mine is long) You are going to get either I like them or they are nothing but trouble. There is no one inbetween. The .3AT has had reliablility issues from day one. At least two of us on this forum have had nothing but TROUBLE w/ them & w/ Kel-Tec getting them worked on to reliability. If Flintknapper does not jump in today get a PM to him asking his dealings w/ them. He & I are on the NO, NEVER, WON'T OWN ANOTHER ONE END. There are others here that will tell their story of Good backup. I do have a P32 that is reliable & has been from the beginnning. The vast majority of the LEO's here in Lufkin carry the P32 for their backup. That is a good recomendation for the .32. Now for the 3AT. This Will be the short story I assure you. Bought one of the 1st generations for my Mom. Had extraction trouble from the beginning. I was ignorant of how you can ship arms then because I had never in all my yrs needed to. Service rep I delt w/ would only take it back if I shipped it from FFL & they returned it that way BOTH at my expense. They never budged on that. Finally got the parts after much haggling. They did not want to do that even buying them to start with. If I had it done here they were going to void the warenty unless I had a KT service smith do it. Not one here. They finally agreed to ship the parts no chg. I had it done here at my expense. That was still cheaper than the freight both ways. After the 2nd generations came out I thought they had all issues attended. Bought one for me. Less than 200 rds & the trigger fails. Wont reset after fire. This time they will let UPS pick it up at my house. But no set date. I just have to be here. Take off work & if they don't pick it up today then take off another day. That puts nearly double the $$ in the gun. They agree to send a shipping label & I take it to UPS. Label will be in your email tomorrow. Wrong. Next day email them what happened to the label. Next day, "You did not give us your physical address." I sent them a copy of the email where I gave that info 8 days before. They had it either on a desk somewhere or at least in the comp on a previous email. Finally they get me a label so I can take it to UPS. When they get the gun back to me 5 weeks later It has a P32 magazine in it. They don't believe it is the wrong Mag until I tell them to count the indicator holes in side of the 3AT. 6. The mag I am holding in my hand has 5. Ok We will send you another & you send the wrong one back. My short story. There was a lot of haggling over the phone & in email not in here I assure you. I will say it has run flawless since I got it back now. About 50 rds. I will not carry it until I have at least 200 through it. I still put the .32 in back pocket. For the holster issue, Yes you need a pocket holster to cover the trigger. There are several out there that are good I made mine & it works fine. The odds seem to be about 50/50 out of the box running good or no problems. Get a lot of oppinions. Then decide. Have a great day & tell us how you came out. I will never send another dime to Florida.

I agree with HighVelocity......a backup gun quickly becomes your first choice when clothing is limiting of comfort is a factor. I have a little Ruger SP101 .357 and I carry it when I am going to be sitting for long periods of time (I am not skinny and love handles get sore) as I find it is more comfortable than my Glock 26. I appreciate the capacity of the Glock and the speed in which I can reload, but I do not feel "naked" when I only have my revolver. I have practiced with both a great deal.
I do not carry more than one gun at a time, I can barely keep my pants up with the stuff I carry now! ....if I am in a hotel or away from home I take a shotgun.
Jason

txinvestigator, it looks like you and I need to hold a remedial class in proper armament for the righteous Texan, regardless whether you’re wearing a heavy parka, or just your “tighty whities.�

Primary handgun = 5" 1911 in .45 ACP;

BUG = 5" 1911 in .45 ACP;

Ankle gun, if necessary = 4 3/4" Commander in .45 ACP.

Just kidding folks - be kind to an old man.

Chas.

Thanks. I plan to look around some more. My mom actually has a Taurus Model 85 I may try. I'm not picky or brand specific. I generally like most guns and enjoy trying different things. I also have no problem buying a few extra guns, in the name of diversity of course! And Chas, please at least give me a chance, it may not be a 1911, but at least my Glock 30 is .45 ACP! My brother is an officer here and he carries a Para C645 with the LDA trigger. It's a great handgun.

Cahrles, I thought you were serious until I got to your last line. WNall, that 85 Bull is a good little gun too.

Well, I must be one of the lucky ones. I have a P3AT gen2, and have had no problems with it at all. Except for the first time I had it at the range, and had a couple FTF's due to not holding the little thing firm enough. After learning that lesson, I have had no probs. It's a good little gun in my experience.

I can't carry yet (packet in process), but I have a couple options to do so.

1. Galco U.S.A. IWB (left)
2. Don Hume J.I.T. belt slide (right)

longtooth wrote:. If Flintknapper does not jump in today get a PM to him asking his dealings w/ them. He & I are on the NO, NEVER, WON'T OWN ANOTHER ONE END. . I will never send another dime to Florida.

I'm gonna pass on taking the opportunity to rant. No need in making my blood boil twice in the same month.

I realize products that are mass produced can sometimes have quality issues, so I don't get bent out of shape over that.

But, poor service and ATTITUDE is another matter altogether!

Yes, my dealings with Kel-Tec was quite a fiasco (on several levels), but the real reason I will NEVER do business with them again..is because of the patently indifferent attitude they took. I'm not talking about just one time. Heck, I allow everyone a bad day. I'm talking about being down right indignant over a period of about two months.

Anyway, I said I wouldn't rant. Well, maybe just a "mini-rant".

I hope everyone else receives a good product and good service from them. And I pray that their management has changed since I had to deal with them.

Flint.


Edit: I need to point out that my contact with Kel-Tec happened several years ago. Proofreading my post, it may sound like this was a recent event, and I want to be fair to the company. Still won't send another penny their way though.

Yours several yrs ago & mine just finished!!! No evident change that I can find. We agree on a lot of things including KT

longtooth wrote:Service rep I delt w/ would only take it back if I shipped it from FFL & they returned it that way BOTH at my expense. They never budged on that.

Longtooth, either you have totally p***** someone off or you live under the darkest cloud in the world. I have more P-3ATs than I can count using both hands and almost two dozen Kel-Tec guns, so I am familiar with Kel-Tec and their products.

The Kel-Tec booklet that comes with each gun informs the owner that no authorization is need to return a gun for warranty work, just send it in. I have never used a FFL to return a gun for warranty work. I ship UPS ground with $300 insurance to Florida for under $9. (No I do not tell UPS there is a firearm in my pre-wrapped package as the 1986 Gun Control Act says I don’t have to when shipping to an “other than�. I also address the package to CNC Inc., omitting Kel-Tec from the address) If the gun was new, Kel-Tec has never refused to kick in an extra magazine to reimburse me for my shipping cost. I have never paid for Kel-Tec to return a gun in need of warranty work even though they return it next day air.

Only four of my P-3ATs were NIB with the others picked up for pennies on the dollar from folks that didn’t want to take the time or trouble to use the lifetime warranty. As I usually don’t want to wait the three or four weeks for Kel-Tec to do the repairs, I frequently have Kel-Tec send me the parts and install them myself. I have yet to invest more than two hours on any of my bargains to make them 100%.

With a lifetime warranty, there is no such thing as a real Kel-Tec gunsmith. There is however tons of information and dozens of folks that frequent Kel-Tec Bulletin Boards that offer advice, for those that prefer to repair Kel-Tec pistols themselves. While I wouldn’t dream of tearing into one of my $500 guns, I don’t think twice about taking a simply designed $200 Kel-Tec apart.

Sorry you had such bad luck, maybe thing will be looking up with your current pistol

WNallG30 wrote:I'm just not sure what to expect. Thanks all.

Kel-Tec pocket pistols require frequent cleaning as they collect more lint than a belly button. A pocket holster will reduce that frequency but I still advise cleaning ever couple of weeks. At 8oz you will find some recoil. Install a NAA (gray) or Bersa (black, requires no alteration) finger extension on a P-3AT magazine for break-in. I even use extensions during front pocket carry but some billfold style holsters don’t permit them.

(click to enlarge)


PS I have more than one P-3AT with over a thousand rounds through it.

I have only 1 P3AT. In the beginning i had a few FTE's. Got on a forum for Kel-Tec and learned to do a fluff and buff. Over 1000 rounds later, not one problem.

Wilson wrote:

longtooth wrote:Service rep I delt w/ would only take it back if I shipped it from FFL & they returned it that way BOTH at my expense. They never budged on that.

Longtooth, either you have totally p***** someone off or you live under the darkest cloud in the world.

And a mighty big cloud too! It found me as well.
Here is a repost of something I entered awhile back. Absolutely true!

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Nope, you're not the only one. My "fiasco" happened about 5-6 years ago when I purchased a P-40. It absolutely would not "run". I sent it back to them, waited 3 weeks. Called about it, got the run around, waited another 2 weeks, called again. They acted like it was a big bother to them, but they finally shipped it.

Pistol had not been touched that I could tell. It still wouldn't feed or eject more than 4-5 rounds before a stoppage. Sent it back again (on my nickle), waited 2 weeks, no word from them, e-mailed them with polite request for information. No response! Called at the end of the week, they said they'd check on it and get back to me. 5 days go by, no word. Called again, they act its just killing them to find out what the status is of my gun. Finally get it back 3 days later. Still "no dice", thing won't run.

Well, no point in sending it back to them, they obviously can't or won't fix it, and act all "put out" about it anyway. I decide to send it to Jack Fuselier to see if he can get it "up and running" and have him nickle plate the slide and magazines while he's at it. Comes back from Jack running slick as you please. He fluffed and buffed it, dehorned it, polished the bolt face, chamber, trigger job, etc...and now I'm happy with it.

Mistake number two: I want to have night sights put on it, and Kel-Tec has their own version that the folks at (org.) are saying is good.

So.......exercising extremely poor judgment, I send my slide off to Kel-Tec for the sights. This time, they get it back to me in two weeks (not bad at all) BUT one side of the rear sight has no tritium at all in it, the front sight is crooked and so dim it made me think I was going blind. I had several friends at work check it out. They said "what night sight"?

I call them back (oh dread), and they say "send it back" (big sigh). I send it back (again on my nickle), they install new sights and ship it off.

This time.. the thieving #$%^&^*'s at UPS ripped open the end of the box and steal the slide! I call Kel-Tec immediately to have them file a claim. They agree to do this and then tell me they will be sending a blued or parkerized slide to replace it. I told them that was not acceptable, that I had sent them a highly customized slide. They acknowledged as much, but still refused to send anything but a regular slide back. At this point I lost it. I told them I would be sending the rest of the pistol back to them, and they could reimburse me or not, I really didn't care. I told them that I would not make it my life's mission to "slam them" but if anyone ever asked my opinion or brought the subject up....I would happily share my experience. They sent me a check for the amount I purchased the pistol for, and I just had to "eat" the cost of the "smithing".

Folks, you couldn't give me a Kel-Tec, and frankly... I wouldn't bother sending one back for repairs either. I read of people praising their service department and can only surmise that someone else must be at the helm now. Doesn't matter, 'cause I'll never deal with them again.

Sorry for the rant, it still makes my blood boil, (and anyone that knows me will tell you thats a hard thing to do).

Flint.
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Now, maybe they have changed, but too late for me.________