Fun with a Kel-tec P3AT

[Grey Bearded One]

Well, after months of hemming and hawing I got a Kel-Tec P3AT. The one that I first asked about wound up getting sold the day that I decided to go to the LGS and buy it. When I walked in, a guy was doing the paperwork for it. Rats. Then I wound up the surprise winner of one on GB.com. I picked it up at the FFL and headed to the range. Bam, bam it seemed to work fine.

Then the problems started. I went home and took it apart and cleaned it. A week or so later, Blond Beardless One and I went to the range and the danged KelTec was giving me FTFs and FTEs and the pin that holds the whole thing together was backing out.

After fiddling, investigation and more fiddling, I discovered that the spring that holds the takedown pin in place had gone adrift. The manual says to apply pressure to the frame by the takedown pin when you are removing the takedown pin. DO NOT IGNORE THAT ADVICE. If you don't do that, the springs moves out of position even though it looks like it's where it belongs and it won't do its job of holding the gun together.

I had to pop the pins that hold the sub-frame in and remove the guts of the gun. That gave me a chance to a detail cleaining and while I was at it, I did the fluff and buff with my Dremel.

Put it back together and headed to the range. Did half a box of Tulammo, half a box of Remington FMJ, and half a box of Winchester white box with no problems at all.

I did find that at 21 feet I could keep all the shots in the black of a 50 ft bullseye target but only if I didn't use the sights. Strange, no?

All in all, I'm pretty happy now that I know what's going on. Now, I'm going to put on my black tie and dinner jacket, head to the casino and hope that I run into some agents of Smersh.

[gummy jones]

probably not the ideal gun for some yuppy who wants to throw it in their pocket without any range time
but for the rest of us its a useful tool (kinda like ungawa)

glad you got it working
i love mine

[PA1936MN]

Never had that issue with any of the brands of handguns I've owned. Springfield, Ruger, BERSA, Stoeger, Glock. Didn't have that issue with the KelTEC I had either, but that was a POS for other reasons.

[Grey Bearded One]

probably not the ideal gun for some yuppy who wants to throw it in their pocket without any range time

I know a retired state trooper who carries a Kimber that he's never fired.

[Remington788]

Well, after months of hemming and hawing I got a Kel-Tec P3AT. The one that I first asked about wound up getting sold the day that I decided to go to the LGS and buy it. When I walked in, a guy was doing the paperwork for it. Rats. Then I wound up the surprise winner of one on GB.com. I picked it up at the FFL and headed to the range. Bam, bam it seemed to work fine.

Then the problems started. I went home and took it apart and cleaned it. A week or so later, Blond Beardless One and I went to the range and the danged KelTec was giving me FTFs and FTEs and the pin that holds the whole thing together was backing out.

After fiddling, investigation and more fiddling, I discovered that the spring that holds the takedown pin in place had gone adrift. The manual says to apply pressure to the frame by the takedown pin when you are removing the takedown pin. DO NOT IGNORE THAT ADVICE. If you don't do that, the springs moves out of position even though it looks like it's where it belongs and it won't do its job of holding the gun together.

I had to pop the pins that hold the sub-frame in and remove the guts of the gun. That gave me a chance to a detail cleaining and while I was at it, I did the fluff and buff with my Dremel.

Put it back together and headed to the range. Did half a box of Tulammo, half a box of Remington FMJ, and half a box of Winchester white box with no problems at all.

I did find that at 21 feet I could keep all the shots in the black of a 50 ft bullseye target but only if I didn't use the sights. Strange, no?

All in all, I'm pretty happy now that I know what's going on. Now, I'm going to put on my black tie and dinner jacket, head to the casino and hope that I run into some agents of Smersh.

I've had no problems at all with mine. I carry it when I need deep concealment. Other times I carry a KelTec P11, 10+1 9mm.

Never had the spring problem you did, but watch out for a little tiny piece of metal at the real of the frame. I think it is the extractor or ejector, not sure, but I do know that it can and will fall on the floor if your aren't carful when cleaning it. I know from experience.

The fluff and buff is an important 15 minute task with a Dremel soft buffing wheel. Sure, Ruger does It at the factory but those cost a lot more.

As far as the sights, hah! What sights? Just like a cheap camera, point and shoot. Not much different than my S&W J-frame After some practice, you just get the hang of it.

[Bang]

The take-down pin should come out, using the fingernails, just enough to use the rim of a .380 cartridge to lever it past the retaining spring. Have never had a problem with the takedown pin.

The ejector slides into a sort of dovetail. Dropping it a few times and searching for it muscle-memorizes the mind to get ahold of it immediately after removing the slide. Some have super-glued it in place and claim it is a successful answer to the errant piece.

My pee three eight y needed the fluff and buff and has functioned fine since.

The sights can be brightened up with a dab of white paint and after that dries, a dab of neon orange. (Neon paints need a white base to glow). Aligning the sights in a way of checking alignment while point-shooting proves quite sufficiently accurate for its intended purpose.

[ar15jules]

I had one years ago and sold it. It functioned fine, but was too small for my hands.

[phillyd2]

but was too small for my hands.

Nobody likes a braggart.

[gummy jones]

I know a retired state trooper who carries a Kimber that he's never fired.

may just save a dogs life

[Gunsnwater]

I had one years ago and sold it. It functioned fine, but was too small for my hands.

You really wouldn't like my Bauer.