I'll finally will trust my life to the 3AT

[berk7351]

Got the new gun went to range a few times and because in part to limpwristing for the first 200+ rounds couldnt even finnish a clip without a spent case getting stuck halfway out between the hood and the next round.
I called Kel-Tec & described the problem and they said they'd send out a new extractor, while I was waiting for the parts I got me dremmel and did the Flyer's hood mod & polished the hell out of it. After a few days I recieved my new extractor which was MUCH more agressive than the previous, apparently kel-tec relalized that sharpening up that baby to really bite on the casing would help the extraction processes. Also enclosed was a new screw and an extractor spring with a whole hell-ofa lot more curve (not sure if it was just cause its new or maybe they also figured putting more pressure on much sharper extractor would help out as well). Installed the new parts - Its RANGE TIME BABY!!!
Went to the range and kept shooting the little thing till my wrist and hands litterally couldn't take it no more- 200 + rounds two handed, left hand, right hand, INTENTIONAL limpwristing! NO FTE, NO FTF, NO PROBLEMS period. I tried everything I could to get that gun to jam up (not to mention after that many rounds the gun was filthy) and my improved 3AT would have no part in that, she just kept on bangin!
For a minute there I thought the little backup that I fell in love with at the store would have to be retired but now, she never leaves my side. Its just too bad in my mind that Kel-Tec can't do this straight out the box.

[berk7351]

Just an additional note, my SA XD-9 has 3500 rounds thru it with not one single problem, and as many as 900 rounds thru with no cleaning and still shot a 2" 32rnd group offhand at 25' THAT is what I feel out of the box reliability should be! (too bad It doesnt dissapear in the pocket of my work pants like the 3AT)

[nomad1500]

Got the new gun went to range a few times and because in part to limpwristing for the first 200+ rounds couldnt even finnish a clip without a spent case getting stuck halfway out between the hood and the next round.
I called Kel-Tec & described the problem and they said they'd send out a new extractor, while I was waiting for the parts I got me dremmel and did the Flyer's hood mod & polished the hell out of it. After a few days I recieved my new extractor which was MUCH more agressive than the previous, apparently kel-tec relalized that sharpening up that baby to really bite on the casing would help the extraction processes. Also enclosed was a new screw and an extractor spring with a whole hell-ofa lot more curve (not sure if it was just cause its new or maybe they also figured putting more pressure on much sharper extractor would help out as well). Installed the new parts - Its RANGE TIME BABY!!!
Went to the range and kept shooting the little thing till my wrist and hands litterally couldn't take it no more- 200 + rounds two handed, left hand, right hand, INTENTIONAL limpwristing! NO FTE, NO FTF, NO PROBLEMS period. I tried everything I could to get that gun to jam up (not to mention after that many rounds the gun was filthy) and my improved 3AT would have no part in that, she just kept on bangin!
For a minute there I thought the little backup that I fell in love with at the store would have to be retired but now, she never leaves my side. Its just too bad in my mind that Kel-Tec can't do this straight out the box.

What ammo did you use 200+?

[Bob O.]

Great to hear you have two winners!

I really like my P-3AT as you do, and I concur that it would be much better if they all worked reliably NIB.

They are much better lately. The odds are much higher that you'll get a good one NIB.

The image that I had of Kel-Tecs and the P-3AT in particular, kept me from buying one for a long time. I was just on the verge of buying an NAA Guardian instead, just when they started to get the second generation P-3ATs working pretty well NIB.

Even so, I wish they would shoot 100 rounds of potentially troublesome ammo through each gun before shipping, and throw the ones that don't pass the test into a repair cycle.

I'd be willing to pay the extra cost up front in order to avoid the hassle, lost time, and lost money to get it right myself.

It seems to me it would also be beneficial financially for Kel-Tec to do so.

The general image would go from Kel-Tecs being a cheap, potentially troublesome and unreliable gun; to being an inexpensive, quality firearm, and a great value - even at the slightly higher price.

I know their present marketing strategy works well (they probably sell more guns than anyone else), but I also believe that a more reliable gun NIB at a slightly higher price would sell even better.

They could do a marketing test...
Offer two versions; a "tested" version and a "take your chances" version as they do now. Sell the tested version for a higher price. Then see which version most people buy and are happy with. Personally, I would definitely buy the tested version if it was say $50 more than the iffy version. How about you? Maybe we should do a poll on this forum and give Kel-Tec some free marketing stats.

Sorry for the rant, didn't intend to kidnap the thread - it just frustrates me when I see a very good product that could become a really great product with just a bit more effort.

[jocko]

Got the new gun went to range a few times and because in part to limpwristing for the first 200+ rounds couldnt even finnish a clip without a spent case getting stuck halfway out between the hood and the next round.
I called Kel-Tec & described the problem and they said they'd send out a new extractor, while I was waiting for the parts I got me dremmel and did the Flyer's hood mod & polished the hell out of it. After a few days I recieved my new extractor which was MUCH more agressive than the previous, apparently kel-tec relalized that sharpening up that baby to really bite on the casing would help the extraction processes. Also enclosed was a new screw and an extractor spring with a whole hell-ofa lot more curve (not sure if it was just cause its new or maybe they also figured putting more pressure on much sharper extractor would help out as well). Installed the new parts - Its RANGE TIME BABY!!!
Went to the range and kept shooting the little thing till my wrist and hands litterally couldn't take it no more- 200 + rounds two handed, left hand, right hand, INTENTIONAL limpwristing! NO FTE, NO FTF, NO PROBLEMS period. I tried everything I could to get that gun to jam up (not to mention after that many rounds the gun was filthy) and my improved 3AT would have no part in that, she just kept on bangin!
For a minute there I thought the little backup that I fell in love with at the store would have to be retired but now, she never leaves my side. Its just too bad in my mind that Kel-Tec can't do this straight out the box.

I iagree, but they are getting better with out of the box performance . Glad u hve allthe bugs out of yours, kthey are just so nice when they work every time. now please just shoot it like you stole it and everyone will be happy...

[jocko]

Got the new gun went to range a few times and because in part to limpwristing for the first 200+ rounds couldnt even finnish a clip without a spent case getting stuck halfway out between the hood and the next round.
I called Kel-Tec & described the problem and they said they'd send out a new extractor, while I was waiting for the parts I got me dremmel and did the Flyer's hood mod & polished the hell out of it. After a few days I recieved my new extractor which was MUCH more agressive than the previous, apparently kel-tec relalized that sharpening up that baby to really bite on the casing would help the extraction processes. Also enclosed was a new screw and an extractor spring with a whole hell-ofa lot more curve (not sure if it was just cause its new or maybe they also figured putting more pressure on much sharper extractor would help out as well). Installed the new parts - Its RANGE TIME BABY!!!
Went to the range and kept shooting the little thing till my wrist and hands litterally couldn't take it no more- 200 + rounds two handed, left hand, right hand, INTENTIONAL limpwristing! NO FTE, NO FTF, NO PROBLEMS period. I tried everything I could to get that gun to jam up (not to mention after that many rounds the gun was filthy) and my improved 3AT would have no part in that, she just kept on bangin!
For a minute there I thought the little backup that I fell in love with at the store would have to be retired but now, she never leaves my side. Its just too bad in my mind that Kel-Tec can't do this straight out the box.

I agree, but they are getting better with out of the box performance . Glad u have all the bugs out of yours, they are just so nice when they work every time. now please just shoot it like you stole it and everyone will be happy...

[BuckeyeRy]

I'm glad for you that things are looking up, berk. It is a good feeling to have the little gun firing the way that it needs to in order to be reliable. I wanted mine to do just that, and I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for the guys on this site helping me along the way. I've been fortunate that I haven't had to send anything away. Mine was just a matter of fine tuning and using the proper ammunition. Going to the range that final day when things worked well was worth all of the research, all of the work. I know, and I understand all of the points about the gun working flawlessly out of the box, and many do. I'd have to agree with Wilson that any polls done here are going to be skewed to the bad, even though we're all Kel Tec lovers. It's like Jesus said, it wasn't the well that need a doctor. Those of us needing help with our Kel Tecs came here for help.
Putting my own resources into a gun made right here in the US of A is worth a little tinkering, a little patience and a little elbow grease in order to keep my dollars here in America where they belong. I know there are many firearms made with quality in other parts of the world, but ultimately, it was the Made in the USA that took me from the XD-9 compact I had eyed for so long to the 3AT that does not leave my pocket until I go to sleep.

[jeepjon]

I just called up Kel-Tec, as I had to do a bit of polishing on my 2nd gen to get it to work 100%...and they sent me a new extractor, screw, and spring! SO..hopefully it will be a redundancy of reliability.
-Jon

[berk7351]

The ammo that I was using in the 3at for the jamless 200+ string was Fiocchi 95gr, consequently when I was still having problems with it FTE's I had tried Winchester ball and the flat nosed FTF, Remington, Magtech, Fiocchi and I think one other I cant remember offhand to see if the problem was ammo and at that time I still had the best luck with the Fiocchi. I know it doesnt have the stopping power of a hollowpoint but its fed so much better thru the gun that for now until I can get to the range and have a string as good as that with something else its the 6+1 of the Fiocchi for my carry.

[berk7351]

To BuckeyeRy
I'm glad to see your interested in placing ur dollars in america but thanks in part to the lawsuits, and cheap foriegn labor my guess is in the not too distant future not 1 damn gun will be made in the U.S.
Remington Spartan - made by baikal in russia
Springfield XD - HS industries in Croatia
Winchester over under shotgun - used to be japan I think, now Belgum


thats just to name a couple off the top of my head b4 I have to git to work, sad but true

Also to note its nothing new american named guns made overseas, The Browning A-5 was mostly made in Begium as well as a lot the Browning High Power Pistol.

Truth be told tho if the new Smith and Wesson M&P nine was out when I bought the XD I would've probably went with that gun instead