In for a penny

[Remington19]

My girlfriend and I took our P3 AT's to the range for break in. After firing 200 - 250 rounds of 3 different types of ammo, both pistols are curently at Kel Tec for the next 7 - 8 weeks for them to decide how to fix the jamming problems. Both pistols jammed literally every single mag full. We would never trust these pistols as a CCW and one of us is a LEO.

Guess I'll just wait it out and see what the factory comes up with as a solution. One is a parkerized finish (which had to be refinished right out of the box), one is hard chrome. My guess is both of these pistols will be up for sale once I get them back.

Origianally liked the idea of a pocket pistol but now we own two paperweights unless Kel Tec can straighten them out.

Not impressed at all, in the absence of these two "problems", I picked myself up a Glock 23 Gen 4 and am awaiting some Trijicon night sights.

[EvanD]

Is what you mean by "jammed" failure to eject?

[EvanD]

Sorry, found your other post.

[TxCajun]

The P3AT is typically a reliable little pistol. Out of the box, it needs to be cleaned and lubed, and broken in with decent quality brass-cased, FMJ ammo, 100 rounds or so, before cleaning again and trying JHP. The odds of buying two that don't work are very slim. These ultra-light pistols have a high power to weight ratio and can be easily limpwristed if you are only accustomed to pistols of conventional size/weight.

Another member just returned from a personal visit to Kel-tec. Among other things, he said this:

He also told me the number one problem across the board is what he calls "limpwristing"...they get a pistol in and it shoots fine for them.

I'd suggest you read this: Limp wristing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bottom line? This light weight, snappy little pistol needs good shooting technique that can be learned, a firm support in order for the slide to cycle properly. If you allow the muzzle flip of the gun to "break your wrist," energy is bled off from the cycling of the slide. Do NOT bend your wirst. Use a firm grip, lock your wrist and bend at the elbow. A two-handed grip is best until you have figured it out and mastered the gun.

[Remington19]

Just heard from the factory. The pistols are on their way back to me. According to Tyler, the parkerized pistol received a new slide, new barrel, new grip and polished feed ramp, the hard chrome received a new slide and polished feed ramp (polishing the feed ramps was done to both pistols on my first visit to the factory when they were both brand new, never fired, along with a new trigger mechanism). After owning 6 other pistols from .25 to .45 for over 30 years, I really don't feel like I have to be so particular with these guns just to get them to shoot a mag full of ammo. My new Glock shot perfectly right out of the box and is more accurate than I am. I have had nothing but issues from day one with these P3AT's and am regretting buying not one but two of them.

I let a friend with limited handgun experience sway me into buying one with the lure of the small, lightweight size for a .380. I also own a Interarms Walther PPKS ans it shoots great but is a much larger and heavier handgun than the P3AT, BUT IT WORKS.
We'll see how great Kel Tec's reputed customer service is when I recieve the pistols back. I'll remain guardedly optimistic until then

[magman454]

I let a friend with limited handgun experience sway me into buying one with the lure of the small, lightweight size for a .380.

By that statement, are you inferring that only someone with a lack of knowledge or experience would recommend the P-3AT?

I too have shot and owned handguns of all manner and caliber: From a Cap & Ball 1860 Army kit gun that I built when I was a teenager, to revolvers (Both double and single action) and semi-auto pistols in calibers from .22 LR to .454 Casull, and I would recommend the P-3AT to anyone looking for a personal carry piece as a deep cover primary, or a back-up to a larger firearm. From what I've read, it would seem that the first generation guns seemed to be easier to get to 100% reliability than than the second generation. I think that if Kel-Tec would go back to the original extractor, a lot of their issues would disappear.

I also get the feeling that quality control may be less than what It used to be, but their tech's will fix anything for free, so eventually, it will be right.

As to guns being 100% right out of the box: In most cases, they are. The ones with the problems are the ones who seek out sites such as this to do research and complain. Those without issues tend to just do some research about possible modifications or aftermarket parts, if they do anything at all. I've seen $99 Phoenix Arms .22's and $115 Hi Point 9mm's that shot everything fed to them from the very first bullet. I've also seen an $1800 Les Bear that had to go back 3 times before it would allow ANY hollow point to travel from the magazine to the chamber without incident. The price paid, and the reputation of the manufacturer, while useful gauges, are no guarantee of a trouble free product. Even the best of them have a lemon slip through every now and then.

The fact is that all firearms are mechanical mechanisms that are built by humans. As such, there is the possibility for flaws in all of them. The good news is that being such also means that there is nothing that can go wrong with a firearm that cannot be fixed.

[TucsonMTB]

. . . The fact is that all firearms are mechanical mechanisms that are built by humans. As such, there is the possibility for flaws in all of them. The good news is that being such also means that there is nothing that can go wrong with a firearm that cannot be fixed.

+1 . . . Well said, sir!

[Longhair]

Yea...I'm new on here and just got my .380 July/26/2012 and it FTE...Over ans over,200 rounds one at a time and needless to say I'm p!ssed....Kel-Tec just sent me a ectracter-kit and it didn't do any-good...I'm still p!ssed...The shells are expanding in the Barrel and can't be pulled-out...You can look at the spent brass cassing and see-it's the problem...It don't take a rocket scientest to see this...Come on Kel-Tec...If your going to sell these Frickin-Guns...Fix-Them...DAMN....And yea I'm a Frickin-Jurk...For saying what no-one else-will.....

[mr surveyor]

Yea...I'm new on here and just got my .380 July/26/2012 and it FTE...Over ans over,200 rounds one at a time and needless to say I'm p!ssed....Kel-Tec just sent me a ectracter-kit and it didn't do any-good...I'm still p!ssed...The shells are expanding in the Barrel and can't be pulled-out...You can look at the spent brass cassing and see-it's the problem...It don't take a rocket scientest to see this...Come on Kel-Tec...If your going to sell these Frickin-Guns...Fix-Them...DAMN....And yea I'm a Frickin-Jurk...For saying what no-one else-will.....

I think you've made your point...more than once

[Longhair]

O K.....I'll shut the Fr!ck-up..........