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opinions on Kel-tec P-3AT 380 pocket pistol w

3K views 29 replies 25 participants last post by  JDinTX 
#1 ·
My 9mm Glock is collecting dust in my dresser drawer. I just find it to much of a hassle to try to carry. I was at the gun shop and saw a true pocket pistol last night. The Kel-tec p-3AT 380. Ay opinions on these or possibly a another similiar size pistol that I should be looking at? Are the Kel-tec's any good?

Thanks
 
#5 ·
I bought two KT's the past month: a P-32 and a P3AT.

The 32 is a bit easier to shoot (recoil-wise), has a slide lock, holds one more round, and simply disappears on your person.

The P3AT is chambered in the more common and powerful .380, doesn't have a slide lock, holds one less round then the P-32, but is still pretty damn small and lightweight.

I gifted the P-32 to a good friend's wife for CCW and kept the P3AT for myself. However, when I find a good deal on another P-32 I'll buy it since I thoroughly enjoyed the first one so much.

Both of mine shot extremely well for both accuracy and reliability. Never had a problem with either putting a bit over 400 rounds through each. Remember to keep a firm grip when shooting these peanut-sized guns or you can generate your own malfunctions because of "limp wristing."

For forget-about-it carry there's nothing else that even comes close for the money, compactness or weight.
 
#8 ·
I have owned two of the P-3ATs both jammed so often that I gave them away with the warning not to trust your life to them. I have my J frame in my pocket, a little heavier but a lot more punch and I don't worry about reliability.
 
#10 ·
If you decide to purchase one, make sure you look for the "second generation" model. It can be identified by the larger extractor (when viewed from side), and wider flat surface on top of slide when compared to first generation. I was surprised at how accurate the one I shot was from a reasonable self defense distance of 10 yds. and in. I opted for the Sig P230, which is a bit larger than the KelTec, but still comfortable to carry.
 
#11 ·
I like mine just fine! Small, light, and concealable. I have put about seven boxes of full house .380 rounds through it with out a hitch. I have tried the CorBons and they did fine also. The recoil is a bit sharp due to the light weight and small size. My P-32 is a little easier in the recoil department. I'm looking at the new 9MM PF-9. It's a bit Smaller than the P-11 and is a full house 9MM, which I would consider the very least necessary for serious social work.
 
#14 ·
I have a Kel-Tec P-11 9mm. To me, it is maximum pocket gun size. I really don't carry it much. It is reliable enough if you hold it tight and pull the trigger firmly. I am considering exchanging it for a P3AT. I know the .380 will be carried more.

My local FFL is a police officer as well. He carries a P3AT as a pocket backup gun. He says he had to pull it one night and it saved his life. That's seems good enough for me.

A pocket CCW gun is made for short-range self-defense. If bad people are 7 yards away and not closing, I'm probably headed the other way anyway. Within 7 yards, my plans are to be accurate enough to incapacitate, not just make someone mad. Longer range firefights would require a full sized .45 or 9mm, and those aren't pocket guns, or even easily concealable.

Danny
 
#17 ·
Federal Personal Defense (Hydra-shock) ammo will get anyone's attention. I believe that the type of ammo used in a defense situation can make all the difference in any caliber (hardball/FMJ vs. hollow point), but is particularly important with the .380 and 9mm.

The stuff is expensive, however I would still strongly encourage you to shoot at least a magazine or two of it through whatever you carry to make sure it cycles reliably in that particular firearm.
 
#18 ·
I have a P-11 with a belt clip. I can carry it wearint a bathing suit and a dark t-shirt. It you buy a Kel-Tec. go to the links and you will find all you need to make your gun a reliable shooter. It took me less than 3 hours to do mine and it is 100%. Good Luck,

scott
 
#19 ·
Smith and Wesson .38 442. 13 oz revolver. Its an aluminium airwieght model. No safety, no hammer, no wondering if the chamber is loaded, no magazine to come loose and no jamming. You can fire it in a jacket pocket if needed. The downside: it only holds five and it is load and recoils a good bit. I reckin if the tussle last more than five rounds, I'm not doin' too well anyway. It also comes in a 9mm(moon clips) and I think .32 and a 8 shot .22(weighs 10 oz.). They mkke them in titaniom also. They weigh 2 oz less and cost twice as much I shot the ti one and it kicks alot. I'm no fan of the .22 for self defense but I'd probably stop whatever I was doing if shot with 8 of them..
 
#20 ·
i like mine, my friend shot mine and liked it so much he bought one for his wife and one for himself between us have put over 1000 rounds through them no problems. they even shot 500 rounds wolf steel case for the break in. based on experiance with them i bought a P11 9mm that is 11 rounds of 9mm in a very small package, recoil is very sharp but controlable. still like to carry the .380. jmho
 
#21 ·
I've been tempted to buy the .32 version, but never sprung for one.

I usually end up carrying an old S&W Bodyguard when I do carry; and sometimes
a Charter Bulldog in .44 SPL. I live about 15 minutes away from where they are made and have met Nick Ecker a couple of times in person. In fact, I knew his dad, Dave, who ran the old Charter Arms on Sniffens, Lane in Stratford behind the old
defunct AVCO tank engine plant across the street from the old side of Sikorsky Memorial airport. I got to work there one summer when I was in college when the Remington Gun Club was still open, and got to assemble and test fire Bulldogs and undercovers, then spend the money I made shooting targets at Remington after work!

My Bulldog had to go back for a refitted crane - which Nick had one of his better employees put in, tweak, test and shoot. I was having headspacing misfires on two chambers on the original crane which was out of spec as new.
I called Nick, he invited me into the new plant in Shelton, I walked in - met Nick, got my revolver fixed in ten minutes on the spot and got to examine and handle a rack of TWELVE OUNCE .38s! with Nick while I was waiting.

My Bulldog now has 300 rds with no problems. They aren't as accurate as the old ones used to be twenty years ago when I worked there (the bores aren't as good), but for 7 yard self defense - hard to beat - especially when you have
a round equal to .45 ACP from a 2.5" 19 oz gun you can drop into a large pocket!

One word of advice - the BEST round to shoot from the Bulldog is the Federal
200 grain LSWC-HP. 246 gra LRN is ok, but Federal designed the 200 LSWCHP specifically for the Bulldog. Avoid the Remington 200 grain LSWC - it's loaded too hot for the Bulldog. (The Remington version is basically a ballistic twin of the old, .44 Magnum "medium velocity" police load they used to have until the early 1980s - loaded into a .44 SPL case rather than a .44 Mag case)- it's fine for the slightly larger Taurus, or S&W L-Frame "696" or larger, but will
torque your hand right off at the wrist in recoil and will cause stiff opening and extraction in a Bulldog.
 
#22 ·
Steve: Thanks for the Bulldog info. Very interesting. I've given them a lot of thought. Never heard any dependability concerns, and I agree about the .44 Spl. (though I mostly carry a Kahr P40 now.) I'm surprised the new ones are less accurate. I believe the old ones didn't have a front lockup? I'd always assumed that would make them inaccurate, and so avoided them. Shoot well & often. Phil E
 
#23 ·
Had a P3 and it was great to carry. I got rid of it for the .38 S&W. Heavier, but fit my hand better so I had better control when shooting. I have a pocket holster and carry it in my suits everyday.

It is a little big for my jeans so it is my Kimber Ultra Carry II in .45 in a pager pal and I hardly know it is there.
 
#24 ·
I don't buy anything smaller than the 40 S&W because I consider the 9 MM inadequate. Anyway, Keltec makes the P-40 that is very small- smaller than most 380s. I also have a Glock Model 27 in 40 cal that is nearly as small as the P-40. It's a whole lot more expensive though.
 
#25 ·
PhilE - you wouldn't happen to be Phil Engeldrum of "Pistolero" magazine from
the lates 70s and 80s?

The newer Bulldogs lock up the same as all Charter designs. The difference
is the current generation BD has a one piece barrel, not the steel tube within an aluminum jacket shroud like the old, BD pug did in the mid to late 80s.

The rifling is still the eight groove, but the tooling isn't the best. The new barrels have considerable "chatter" in the bore, which you can plainly see held up to bright light when looking at the grooves. The old ones were slick
and I demonstrated how good they were at late 1980s "Shooting Fairs" at Blue Trail Range in Wallingford when the manufacturers exhibits came - I stopped by the Charter table and shot both the Bulldog and the Undercover at 100 meter rams with .38 wadcutters and .44 SPL semiwadcutters just to prove you could hit them. It was like lobbing a mortar round, raised the front sight half way above the rear notch - hold steady (single action) and BANG........1 Mississippi, two Missiissippi - "clang"

My old BD would print 1" at 15 yards. My current one prints 2" at 7 yards and 4" at 15. There is a review in the current American Rifleman (accuracy at 25 yards - 5.22" Avg for the BD; 7" for the Undercover and 5.75" for the .32 Mag

So, Charter accuracy has declined over the years and this is because the bore tooling is shot. They are not 25 yard guns at all. They are good 7 yard guns for last ditch self defense and I wouldn't hesitate to carry them once you determine you have a good crane.

On the ammo again, look at the ballistics of the Remington 200 gr LSWC compared to the Fed. The Remington is MUCH hotter with a velocity well in excess of 1,000 fps (from a 4" vented test bbl) and 475 ft lbs of energy.
The old ".44 Mag- MED VEL" police load used a 240 grain bullet with a similar velocity for 530 ft lbs from the same 4" vented test bbl) Remington tested
my ammo when I complained about problems in the Bulldog and their test report said "no problem" in their Ruger Blackhawk. (comparing Grapefruits to tangerines!)

The Fed round is in the 700-800 fps range and generates about 300 ft lbs; is much "cooler" much more controllable and practical for the Bulldog, which when you really look at it, isn't much bigger than a Colt "D" frame Det Special.

Stoke the five chambers with those when packing for CCW with a Bulldog and forget the rest.
 
#26 ·
Lavarock: Apologies on hijacking your Kel-Tec thread. Yes, do check out the Kahrs. They're pricey, but I believe a 9X19/.38 Spl is kind of baseline minimum for defense. Steve: No, I'm not Phil Engeldrum, innocent as charged! Yes, I'd read the A.R. article, and thought it seemed kind of pandering. Accuracy is not real good on these puppies, & worn-out bore tooling explains a lot, thanks. Yes, many folks don't know the inherent mechanical accuracy in good snubbies. I can go prone with my S&W snubbies & do fine at 50-100 yds. Phil E
 
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