Need the Bottom line on a Mousegun

[twyacht]

Need to know the skinny on a P3AT Kel-Tec, in .380. Love the size, (especially here in the hot summer months). Will not carry with anything less than Gold-Dot .380. No 32's etc,...

I already own a Walther PPK/S .380 but its a wee bit heavy in shorts.

I know some members have praised them and others complain about the 1st vs. 2nd generation models.

If the Ruger LCP works out; is that a viable option? Why do the reviews about smaller handguns seem so 50/50?

You might get a good one, OR a bad one. Previous Posts attest to that....

As always, the forums .02 cents always assist, Also, Kimber has an option, but the size of the P3AT is nice.

Thanks again.

[MikeBjerum]

Had one and did not like it to the point that I donated it to a Friends of NRA event.  Guy that got it was so excited ....  I have not talked to him since, but I hear he still has it and carries it.

The two issues I had with it was

1.  It was way way to small for my hand.  I could almost hide it by closing my hand around it.

2.  I am a safety nut, and this gun has no safety.  It was a single action with a light trigger pull, so if I carried it ready to go I was always afraid of putting a round in my femoral artery.

Just my two cents.  I like my hammerless J-frame, my Beretta 9000s (double action), and my 1911.  The Beretta is going to be replaced by my XD-9 compact soon for ergonomic reasons (big fat hands are bigger than the grip). 

Don't know about the slimness of the gun.  I quit wearing spandex ... never wore spandex, so my loose pants and shorts are ok with a revolver in the pocket.  And the extra padding I carry year round keeps my torso covered for the enjoyment of others, so holstered guns are only restricted to the never ending battle to find a good holster.

[DDMac]

I have owned two. Liked them both and still carry one in a weightless Fobus paddle holster. I have experienced an occasional (1 in 25 rds)failure to feed, solved by a quick slap on the bottom of a mag. Also have it fitted with the factory side clip and can wear it appendix with T-shirt tucked in, undetected but still easily available. I am, however, retiring it for a 9mm as soon as it comes in. Just feel under-gunned with the .380, and can carry a little larger even in the NC Summer.
Although is has no mechanical safety, the trigger pull is so extraordinarily long that I feel safe with it. Big hands probably won't work with this gun.
Mac.

[Hazcat]

I'm only 5' 11" but I can palm a basketball and I have no problems shooting the P3AT.  I carry it always, shoot it weekly and know it will work when I need it.  I carry Win Silver Tips in it.  It is a 2nd Gen and has never had a ftf no matter what ammo I feed it, including reloads.

[uhpretired]

I have both KelTec P3AT and the Ruger LCP.  I put 50 or more round through both with no problems.  Because of the negative reports that I have heard about the P3At, I have tried to create an fte and/or ftf and could not.  I carry the P3At (like it better) everyday.
Just my two cents.         

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

Go buy a Glock 26 in 9mm or a J Frame sized revolver in .38 special or .357

The Glock is easy to carry and to conceal (I usually carry mine IWB with nothing more then a t-shirt untucked) and the 9mm gives you twice as much punch as a .380 - not to mention 10+1 capacity. The J-Frame is an easy carry too, and .38 is also about twice the punch as a .380 - and we all know .357 will put the bad guy on his ass with no problems!

Mouse guns are fine if you really have to have deep concealment, but for everyday carry (or atleast nearly everyday) a little larger 9mm or J-Frame gives you a lot more bang for your buck (Pun intended)!



P.S. I have seen or heard nothing in all my days to assure me 100% that those micro auto loaders wont have at least some possibility of a jam or failure to feed. I know with out a doubt that my Glock 26 will go bang each and every time I need it to. Thats a big plus for a carry gun in my book. 

[2HOW]

If I was going to buy any small caliber pistol it would be a KelTec, I know many who have them and rave about them and the customer service if needed. A good little pistol.

[Ulmus]

My wife has a P3AT and loves it!  I've shot it and bought a P-11 for myself, instead.

The P3AT fits fine in any pocket while the P-11 is a little bulky for jean-shorts.  (Great in cargo-styles, though.)

My wife can shoot the P3 just fine, but I found it "jumpy" in my hand.  (Hense the P-11.)

The triggers are long and heavy compared to S/A semi-autos, but remind me of a good ol' revolver trigger.  (Which I like.)

Remember, these are personal protection guns, not Gold Medal Target Master Range Pounders.  They're made for up close defense.  (Even KTOG's postal match is set at 5 yards and 10 yards respectively for this gun.)

If I had to go with either KelTec's P3AT or Ruger's LCP I'd go with Kel Tec.  (Sorry guys.)  It might not be a "finished" as the Ruger, but Kel Tec has years of experience with this type of gun an will easily fix any problem you might have.  (I lost the teeny-tiny ejector piece on my wife's P3AT while cleaning it and Kel Tec shipped out a new one free no problem.  PS:  The LCP has the same teeny-tiny piece.)  The LCP is a new design for Ruger, and the owner's are still getting used to the compromises that come with it.  They're getting good, though.  Kel Tec also has a huge group of people with tons of knowledge about these guns.
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

If I had a choice between the P3AT and the Kel Tec PF-9, I'd go with the PF-9.  Yes it would be harder for me to shoot than the P3AT (Roughly the same size and weightas the P3, but with a larger kick due to the 9mm round.) , but the cheaper cost of the 9mm round will afford me the opportunity to practice more.

To be honest, if you are out and about in shorts, you are not going to go wrong with either choice of P3AT or LCP.  They may not have the magical "4" on the caliber case, but they get the job done.

[twyacht]

Picked the P3AT .380 up today. Bought the +1 mag extensions from Kel-Tec and xtra mags.

Haven't shot it yet, plan to do so this weekend.
Here's a pic, I like blue. Thanks again for all the advice and tips.

[Hazcat]

I think you'll like it.

TIP... Check the trigger for a seam down the middle.  If it is raised sand it down.