P3AT back from KelTec

Boxerglocker · 10-20-2010, 23:33

I sent my P3AT out to KT cause it was having light primer strikes, failure to fire issues.

Today, exactly 8 weeks later it arrived back. They basically sent me a new gun utilizing the original serial number. New everything!

I have to say though in a way pleased... I'm not at all... the P3AT I sent in had over 700 rounds in it and up to that particular point when I sent it in was broken in and reliable. Know what I mean?

They didn't even send an explaination of what the problem was and when I called, the gentleman that answered said "well we don't keep record of that stuff, if it was broke... that's why we replaced it".

At this point I'm debateing selling it off and getting another 9mm SS such as a Kahr PM9 or a if sticking with a .380 a SIG P238.

alwaysshootin · 10-21-2010, 05:12

Just shoot it again until you are once again confident with it. There is no value in trading or selling the 3AT. If you aren't satisfied, send it back, they'll make it right!

bobandshawn · 10-21-2010, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

I sent my P3AT out to KT cause it was having light primer strikes, failure to fire issues.

...was broken in and reliable. Know what I mean?

How can a gun have light primer strikes and failure to fire issues be reliable and broken in?

~Bob

Rusty Shackleford · 10-21-2010, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobandshawn

How can a gun have light primer strikes and failure to fire issues be reliable and broken in?

~Bob

I was wondering the same thing, but I believe he meant to say that until it began having light primer strikes, causing a failure to fire, it had been reliable.

In any case, they gave the guy a brand new pistol with the same serial number at no charge and he should shoot it enough to verify its reliability and be happy.
The light primer strikes could have been from a number of very minor problems with worn out or damaged parts, and they may have found something else that prompted them to do a full replacement.

Frankly I sold my Kahr PM9 to fund a P32 and P3AT, which have both been 100 percent reliable. The Kahr, despite it's beautiful fit and finish, and general overall appearance of quality, did not function 100 percent, and I won't accept anything less for self defense. Basically it seems like more money spent on a pocket pistol gets you a prettier one rather than one that is necessarily more reliable.

Boxerglocker · 10-21-2010, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

I was wondering the same thing, but I believe he meant to say that until it began having light primer strikes, causing a failure to fire, it had been reliable.In any case, they gave the guy a brand new pistol with the same serial number at no charge and he should shoot it enough to verify its reliability and be happy.
The light primer strikes could have been from a number of very minor problems with worn out or damaged parts, and they may have found something else that prompted them to do a full replacement.

Frankly I sold my Kahr PM9 to fund a P32 and P3AT, which have both been 100 percent reliable. The Kahr, despite it's beautiful fit and finish, and general overall appearance of quality, did not function 100 percent, and I won't accept anything less for self defense. Basically it seems like more money spent on a pocket pistol gets you a prettier one rather than one that is necessarily more reliable.

That's exactly what I meant... I bought it new and up to the point of the last 20-25 rounds of the 700 all of a sudden every other was a light strike, thus failure to fire. Of the 700 rounds about 500 were my reloads the remaining factory. Once the problem surfaced it didn't matter what it was fed, same issue. Talked to a number of guys at KTOG and we couldn't get it troubleshot thus my sending it in to KT.

I know exactly what you mean about relaibility that is why having a gun with up to a point 700 rounds through it and not having an explaination as to why it broke bothers me. Though 100 percent reliable is just a percentage pending the amount of use your gun gets. I shoot 2K a month of 9mm, my carry guns the EMP9, Glock 19 and PF-9 get about 1/4 of that every month and the G34 (36K plus rounds) and Spartan the remainder for competition and practice. I will not carry a gun that has not been flawlessly cycled at least 300 rounds and at least a quarter to half would be my chosen SD ammo or a simulated SD ammo that I reload myself. I carry 147 GDHP factory and load the same bullet at the same OAL with Power Pistol at the same velocity and power factor do the same for the 124+P HST I carry but use a MG 124 JHP for practice SD loads.

Generalcarry · 10-23-2010, 12:47

According to KT, mine was received 10/23 and I'm still waiting.

Boxerglocker · 10-23-2010, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generalcarry

According to KT, mine was received 10/23 and I'm still waiting.

10/23 today?! or 2009?!

Generalcarry · 10-26-2010, 16:17

Mine P-3at came today. KT replaced the grip, mag. catch, slide (parkerized not the blue that was on it), barrel and internal parts. While cleaning it I noticed the frame says it P-32. I tried the .380 cartridge and it chambers tight so I guess the frames are interchangeable.
I'd like to be sure before I test it out. Anyone know for sure???

Ran 51 through it with no problems!

Boxerglocker · 11-01-2010, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generalcarry

Mine P-3at came today. KT replaced the grip, mag. catch, slide (parkerized not the blue that was on it), barrel and internal parts. While cleaning it I noticed the frame says it P-32. I tried the .380 cartridge and it chambers tight so I guess the frames are interchangeable.
I'd like to be sure before I test it out. Anyone know for sure???

Ran 51 through it with no problems!

Mine came back with a .380 marked frame. They also sent it back as a parkerized slide as opposed to the blue. I'm fine with it as, I was gonna duracoat the slide anyways.

Generalcarry · 11-02-2010, 02:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

Mine came back with a .380 marked frame. They also sent it back as a parkerized slide as opposed to the blue. I'm fine with it as, I was gonna duracoat the slide anyways.

I am very pleased with the treatment I received from KT. I run 50 more rounds through it yesterday with only one problem, the take down pin (that holds in the slide) started coming out on the last round and held the slide open. I had to drop the magazine, return to battary, and push the pin in.

Caver 60 · 11-05-2010, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Generalcarry

I am very pleased with the treatment I received from KT. I run 50 more rounds through it yesterday with only one problem, the take down pin (that holds in the slide) started coming out on the last round and held the slide open. I had to drop the magazine, return to battary, and push the pin in.

WHAT!!!! Kel Tec was supposed to have fixed that problem years ago. Check this link.

http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/assemblypin.htm

Hope the link works. If not, check the sticky right above this thread on basic fluff and buff and look under Mucho Info for the assembly pin link. In fact if you haven't read the fluff and buff sticky you might want to spend some time with it. There's tons of good info there.

The assembly pin walking is a serious malfunction. If that pin comes out very far it will batter your frame and ruin the pistol. Check your assembly pin and make sure it is the new type.

My old first generation pin walked a few times until I fixed it and then later replaced it with the new style pin when they came out with it. Every time the old pin walked, I caught it before it did any damage.

The new first generation pin has never walked since I replaced it, and the pin on my second generation has NEVER walked out at all.

Don't fool around with it. It will ruin the pistol if not corrected.

ETA Also look here at the first problem addressed about the assembly pin.

http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/pcs.htm

Rusty Shackleford · 11-07-2010, 09:45

Forget the pin, I'd be on the phone with them ASAP asking why your P3AT is marked as another caliber and model.

The important parts must be right, because you can't fit either slide onto the wrong frame, but still - using grips from a P32, marking the gun as ".32ACP" is wrong. They can fix the pin walking out at the same time (and it may well be related to the use of the wrong grips)

Generalcarry · 11-10-2010, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

Forget the pin, I'd be on the phone with them ASAP asking why your P3AT is marked as another caliber and model.

The important parts must be right, because you can't fit either slide onto the wrong frame, but still - using grips from a P32, marking the gun as ".32ACP" is wrong. They can fix the pin walking out at the same time (and it may well be related to the use of the wrong grips)

Phone was busy so I e-mailed. Should be 2-3 days for a reply.
I'll keep you informed.

I called about the grip and was told they were the same size and test fired before they sent it back. I can live with the grip, but the pin walking, that was a real good point and I am going to call now.

Generalcarry · 11-17-2010, 04:10

KT is sending me a grip (my choice of color), a new pin and directions on how to swap out the grips. I ran another 50 through it with no problems, so I doubt if the new frame will see any use.

XNDR17C · 11-19-2010, 17:40

A friend was having a problem with light strikes in his P-3at. We removed the pin retaining screw, extractor spring and extractor and was able to get the firing pin and spring out. The pin, spring and channel were pretty gunked up, so we cleaned everything and throughly washed out the channel and slide. Put it all back together and the pistol worked fine. Don't know if this would have helped with the problems in this thread, but it worked for us.

mesteve2 · 12-11-2010, 08:42

Don't sell.

Add a PF-9 and you will Love it.