I carry an LCP, simply because it felt better in the hand. I have read articles saying that the Kel-Tec is prone to jam, but as I have not shot one, can't say for sure.

 

I have the P3AT and love it. I've never had any jamming problems and picked it up used for $185. It's a great BUG or, only if you have to, primary carry.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. My only gripe with the P3AT is the lack of a slide lock.

 

Same gun for all purposes. Even the gripes are interchangable. One jams, one don't, then the other jams for someone else. One person says one is junk, then the other says the opposite.

If you liked your P32 I would stick with the P3AT due to familiarity.

I have been carrying the P3AT for nearly a year as my primary CCW and I am quite happy with it. If someone told me I had to swith to the Ruger tomorrow I would probably never know the difference. If they told me I could have neither I would be upset.

I like these small guns in .380. Back-in-the-day we were stuck with .25 acp or .22 short if we wanted something this small.

 

I have a P3-AT and a P32 from Kel-tec. Love them both. shot the rugers and wasnt pleased with them. Also it had a recall early in production for firing problems. Ruger is really one of the only companies I know of that can copy a design almost identically and mess it up.

 

i would say a 3-AT, they run cheaper around here, and are basicly the same gun.

 

buy the new taurus .380.....its better than both of those.

 

Either the LCP or Kel Tec what ever fits you hand better. Have not shot the Taurus its a little bigger but does come with two mags.

 

(and that's the Kel Tec next to a Glock 26! - makes the G26 look huge)

I'm 200 rounds on the Kel Tec out of the box with zero jams. Its a pocket pistol, back-up to the G26 or primary depending on clothing. --more often in the heat of summer.

things to consider:

Comes with only 1 mag (I bought 2 more for it)
.380 is still hard to find but getting better

-- I went with the cheaper Kel Tec because its a back-up and light-use pocket gun. (and the clerk had one tucked in his pocket and had been carrying it for a LONG time.)

 

taurus MILLENNIUM PRO™ 138 .380
Weight: 18.7 oz
Width: 1.232"
Height: 4.917"
Length: 6.125"
12 rds
MSRP: $441.00

Kel Tec PTA3
Weight: 8.3 oz.
Width: .77"
Height: 3.5"
Length: 5.2"
6+1
MSRP $ 318.00

Ruger LCP
Weight 9.40 oz
Width .82"
Height 3.6"
Length 5.16"
6+1
MSRP $310.00

I have the Kel Tec went with it because it is small and lighter and fit the bill for biking or walking down the beach in a bathing suite what ever the need. Never had any problems with it.

 

This is the new taurus .380Model: 738B Finish: Blue Steel Status: Available
Caliber: .380 ACP Grips: Checkered Polymer UPC: 7-25327-60696-3
Capacity: 6 +1 Weight: 10.2 Barrel Length: 2.84"
Construction: Steel Frame: Compact Action: DAO
Front Sight: Fixed Length: 5-1/4" Trigger Type: Smooth
Order #: 1-738031 MSRP: $336.00
to me it feels better in the hand. its a little heavier but it was way more accurate than any of the LCPs and Kel-tecs i have shot. very nice pocket pistol.

 

KelTec P3AT

KelTec P3AT is the smallest lightest 9mm ACP (380) on the market. It is very light and concealable. The option I like is the stainless barrel.

I would not want to do any long distance accuracy shooting with it. For that matter I would not use any floating barrel for accuracy.

You want a long fixed barrel auto or revolver for true accuracy. But for close up emergency shooting the KelTec P3AT fits the bill.


There's no frills with this gun:

• 6 shots plus 1; there is an aftermarket 9 round magazine; there is an aftermarket pinky rest for the 6 shot magazine.
• It is purely double action.
• The hammer half cocks when loaded so it does not rest on the firing pin.
• No safety; the trigger pull is long for saftey.
• It does not lock open after the last shot; so you might dry fire it after emptying the magazine.
• You have to pull a pin to get it apart but you just use a shell for that; there is a little spring that holds the pin in place; a lot of KelTec are like this.
• If you have a BIG hand you might not want this.
• It's very affordable!
• Overall it's OK.

:upsidedown:

 

KelTec P3AT is the smallest lightest 9mm ACP (380) on the market.

9mm ACP? Do you mean 9mm Kurz or 9mm Short?

I've never heard of a 9mm ACP...

 

Whatever

I said 380.

Technically a 380 ACP is a 9mm, hence my reference to 9mm ACP.

I was just wanting to make it clear that the P3AT is a 9mm weapon and not something like a 22.

The reason it is called a 380...? The casing is 0.375 which is close to 0.380 is the only reason I can see. The projectile itself is 9mm.

The 380 ACP has also been refered to as a 9mm Short.

Anyway we're not discussing cartridges or ballistics but whether the P3AT is any good, and it is OK for what it is intended for - a light weight close-in self defense weapon.

Anyway unless you get a head shot a person isn't going to drop like in the movies. Not unless you're using a 44 Magnum fully loaded HP. Even the Clint Eastwood movies the 44 Mag he used was a lite load.

And if the person is a hyped up drug addict you will probably have to empty the magazine just to get their attention.

:upsidedown:

 

I like Kel-Tec pistols and have had good luck with them. However, Ruger has had a long history of building reliable and durable guns. I haven't fired the LCP yet, but if it lives up to Ruger's reputation, it would definately be my pick over the Kel-Tec.

 

Not trying to get you off topic, but you should give the Taurus 709 SLIM a look. I bought one and have no complaints. It's not a "combat" gun, but none of the others listed here are either. It is very concealable being less than 1in wide, and is still a 9mm. My big selling point was that it has a safety. A pistol with no safety creeps me out to carry.

Sidenote: The first person here who says "the best safety is your brain" can go &*$% themselves. I am sick to death of idiots parroting that. Hasn't happened here but it seems like I've heard 100 morons tell me that like they were Yoda.

 

Safety is keeping your trigger finger off the trigger. :- )

 

I prefer:

Keeping your booger hook off the boom lever

but its basically the same thing


----------

In other news a P3AT and an LCP are basically the same gun, the Ruger has a slide lock, but the slide doesn't lock back on the last shot. Thats the only difference I could see, I handled both at the store. They are the exact same size, same shape, same everything.

I bought the LCP due to the Ruger name. I do NOT enjoy shooting it. Its small, kicks like a mule, and hurts my hands. I still shoot it to get practice though and would use it if I had to.

 

I've owned both the P3-AT and the PF-9. I've owned a Glock 26. But I was never satisfied.

I now carry a S&W 642 and am completely pleased. The .38 +P just has a nice handful of punch that I didn't find in .380ACP or 9mm. And without the sharp corners usually found in semis this baby simply disappears.

 

I made the same decision. I abandoned the pocket .32 after bad expereinces with jams on a Beretta Tomcat which was lauded by the gun magazines.

The Ruger looks like a great design.

 

I own a P3AT for a BUG and absolutley love it. Have around 500-600 rounds through it without on jam, FTF, FTE or any other such mishaps. Hasn't seemed picky or finicky about the ammo I've run through it either.

The Ruger is the same design with a recall in the production, but also has a slide lock when the last round is fired. I know guys that have the Ruger and enjoy it as much as I enjoy my P3AT.

To each their own.

 

Why not get a Kahr PM9 or CW9? Then you get a 9mm that is still super concealable.

DD