Kel Tec P3AT .380

David LaPell

David LaPell

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I am looking for a small auto pistol and being on the limited (almost nonexistant) budget that I am, I looked around and spotted a used Kel Tec P3AT .380 today. It's about $100 less than the cheapest other .380 I have seen. Has anyone used these or been around them before? I have heard good and bad with Kel-Tecs but never owned one, it does feel good in the hand.
I have also been looking at a surplus Polish P64 in 9mm Makarov which is about the same size, same round count.
 
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I have had one for years, and have had great luck with it. it runs like a top, and has been toted many a mile, especially when I'm running, mowing the lawn, etc...

My mother and her husband both had one that were newer than mine (they were constructed slightly different), and I had a heck of a time getting hers to run. The 2nd new extractor I put in did the trick. While I can't say anything bad about the one I've owned, I think I'd be tempted to spend a few more dollars for a used LCP.

And if you say it "feels great" in your hand, you must have some funky lookin' mitts!
 
I've had a couple of Kel Tec firearms and have had great luck with them. When I wanted a pocket pistol though I spent a few extra bucks and got a Ruger LCP. It was 100% out of the box and has been since.
 
I should clarify and say that if I didn't have one already that worked, I'd get an LCP. As it stands, I'm more than happy with mine. It's an indispensable CC gun for me. It would be one of the last guns I would get rid of.
 
When thinking about these new small .380s I usually refer back to an
issue of the American Rifleman magazine, which I can't find right now
of course, that featured a test of several small .380s. A Taurus TCP
738 was on the cover and it performed very well in the tests and was
one of the lowest priced guns. The Kel Tec did not fare well. I bought
a TCP recently and fired 250 trouble free rds of FMJ through it. I have
seen them on sale recently as low as $180.00 and they have a life
time warranty. Seems like a better deal than about any used gun.
 
I have a KT P3at that I bought new..I have had zero issues with it..I had a P32 before the .380 came around..Sold the P32, but that was one soft shooter...
I might be a bit Leary on buying a used P3at, because those of us that have one that functions well would not let them go..
KT as a company has really clamped down on their lifetime warranty policy..In the past if you needed a small part you would call and request the part and they would ship it free..Fast forward to the present..Now, even if it is a small screw or spring, you have the option of buying the part and paying a ridiculous shipping fee or sending the pistol/rifle back to KT on your dime, along with a copy of the original purchase receipt, and they will repair and send it back..
I have bought my last KT, but I still have a P3at, PF9 and a Sub 2000.... :(
 
litenlarry said:
I have a KT P3at that I bought new..I have had zero issues with it..I had a P32 before the .380 came around..Sold the P32, but that was one soft shooter...
I might be a bit Leary on buying a used P3at, because those of us that have one that functions well would not let them go..
KT as a company has really clamped down on their lifetime warranty policy..In the past if you needed a small part you would call and request the part and they would ship it free..Fast forward to the present..Now, even if it is a small screw or spring, you have the option of buying the part and paying a ridiculous shipping fee or sending the pistol/rifle back to KT on your dime, along with a copy of the original purchase receipt, and they will repair and send it back..
I have bought my last KT, but I still have a P3at, PF9 and a Sub 2000.... :(
Click to expand...

I must have got my extractors right before the "clamp down" you refer to. They sent a set of springs with it that I didn't even ask for. Answered emails, and returned a phone call within 15 min. Sorry to hear that doesn't happen anymore. That was the one thing they really had going for them.
 
petepeterson said:
I must have got my extractors right before the "clamp down" you refer to. They sent a set of springs with it that I didn't even ask for. Answered emails, and returned a phone call within 15 min. Sorry to hear that doesn't happen anymore. That was the one thing they really had going for them.
Click to expand...

There may be exceptions to KT's new rule, but for the most part, it is pretty impossible to speak to someone..Online ordering is their preferred method..:mad:
 
The P380 has a mixed reputation. The guys on the KTOG (Kel-Tec Owners Group) used to discuss "fluffing and buffing" them all the time, getting them to run right. The P32 had a much better reputation. The P380 also had a reputation for being "snappy."

I never had one of the little ones, but the Kel-Tec P-11, 9mm I had worked just fine.

IF I was going to get something like it, I'd go with the Ruger LCP. My local dealer, and a lot of online places have been running sales on them for $200-250.00 NIB since Black Friday. They're usually the pink frame models, but that's not a big deal, at least not to me. I think the last price I saw was $214.00 for the LCP.
 
CajunBass said:
The P380 has a mixed reputation. The guys on the KTOG (Kel-Tec Owners Group) used to discuss "fluffing and buffing" them all the time, getting them to run right. The P32 had a much better reputation. The P380 also had a reputation for being "snappy."

I never had one of the little ones, but the Kel-Tec P-11, 9mm I had worked just fine.

IF I was going to get something like it, I'd go with the Ruger LCP. My local dealer, and a lot of online places have been running sales on them for $200-250.00 NIB since Black Friday. They're usually the pink frame models, but that's not a big deal, at least not to me. I think the last price I saw was $214.00 for the LCP.
Click to expand...

Just a FYI, the standard LCP wholesale price is around $185, so that is your dealers real price to him..
 
I would absolutely go with a new, lower priced LCP. The deals are still to be found. A quick search shows KY Gun company still has the standard blue model for $216 w/ free shipping. I'm sure many other places as well. Just use one of the search engines such as gun watcher to find them.

I just took delivery of a stainless LCP from a different supplier for $225 OTD. With deals like these, I wouldn't even think about buying a used Keltec for a self defense gun unless I could test the specific gun for reliability.... before paying.
 
What he said!!!

alwslate said:
When thinking about these new small .380s I usually refer back to an
issue of the American Rifleman magazine, which I can't find right now
of course, that featured a test of several small .380s. A Taurus TCP
738 was on the cover and it performed very well in the tests and was
one of the lowest priced guns. The Kel Tec did not fare well. I bought
a TCP recently and fired 250 trouble free rds of FMJ through it. I have
seen them on sale recently as low as $180.00 and they have a life
time warranty. Seems like a better deal than about any used gun.
Click to expand...

What he said!!!

I have a Taurus TCP 738 380. It is the "D" series. It runs great but will not run aluminum cases very well. Other than that there is only one issue: If you intent to use this as a range toy they are known for the take down pin backing out. Just one of those foibles you have to live with.

The reasons I like and bought it were:

Last round fired hold back,

Loaded chamber indicator,

The best trigger of any of the micro 380s I tired. Beats the Smiths hands down IMHO,

And the price!!!

American made,

Lifetime warranty!!!

Like he said!!!

My two cents worth.

rd
 
Last edited:
the keltec p3at is spotty, p32 seems to be the better of the 2. if you get a good p3at, you get a great one. if you get a spotty one... it goes back to keltec. i know its been said before, i pocket an lcp custom daily. if you can afford it, pop for the lcp. if you can't, try to test fire it bofore you buy it. we have several used here at the lgs i part time at and they dont move. only seen a couple of lcps and they don't last...
 
I have 3 of the P3AT's in 380. All of them run, never a problem. They are snappy though, wouldn't want to shoot them all day long.
 
I have 2 P3ATs and both have been 100%. I did polish the feedramp so it would feed hollowpoints smoother but I never had an issue, I did it out of an abundance of precaution. I have even feed mine a dozen Buffalo Bore +P loads that were snappy to say the least. The KT never missed a beat. My carry load are gold dots.
 
TeaDub said:
I just took delivery of a stainless LCP
Click to expand...

Stainless? I was going to mention the slide is hard chromed, not stainless, when I thought I better check Ruger's web site. I guess Ruger went to a stainless slide with the gen2 LCP. Cool! I've got the hard chromed slide on mine. Still looks new!
 
I went with the stainless for a little extra corrosion resistance and to cut down on holster wear. The summers here are brutal. Hard chrome would do both as well. It's interesting that most of my other autos are black while all my revolvers are stainless.
 
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