Went to the range today at lunchtime w/ a friend who just got a new S&W 308 BG. Tried to talk him into a P3AT for days, he was determined to have the S&W b/c of the laser and our boss has one - such is life.
Anywho, this gave ME the perfect opportunity I had been meaning to do for some time to "real world function test" my P3AT which as others have stated and many of us do, gets carried a lot and shot a little. I am one of those who if I know I am going shooting ahead of time (and I always do) spend the day or night before cleaning and lubing everything to make sure all goes well. I had wanted to do one of these "walk in as it is and dump my carry ammo" sessions for a while now, but just kept not doing it, or wanting to shoot more than 100 rounds or so every time I went.
So we walk in, I set up my stuff (still took all my range gear anyway, just took my P3AT as it was though w/ it's 2 spare mags I always carry w/ it. Needless to say it functioned as was flawlessly and all ammo went off as planned / advertised.
Two interesting things though -
1. Going in "as is" w/ no pre-cleaning or lube as usual before, she got about 1/2 though a box off ammo (after 3 full carry mags to start with, so 40 some odd rounds or so) you could tell she was starting to get "dry", as the action was not cycling as smooth when chambering a round from a fresh mag. She STILL cycled fine when shot, and had no FTF or FTE. Just a little rough manual cycling, and nothing you wouldn't see out of properly lubed gun after a LOT of ammo anyway.
2. Again, these guns get carried a lot and shot a little. It is a little disconcerting when after lighting off 6 rounds to suddenly realize just how quick they go when you are used to handling larger guns or even rifles that hold a LOT more ammo. My HD gun and gun and leave in my car for work (not allowed CCW at work
) are Glocks, and I guess I am just used to the usual 10, 13 or 15 rounds w/ them before they run out when shooting them at the range, rather than just 6 little .380 rounds. As much as I like carrying the little P3AT and as easy as it is to do so, I think it is now going to become more a "back up" piece than a "main carry" gun it has been, b/c having a lot more ammo on hand is one of those comforting feeling kind of things. DON'T get me wrong, I do NOT plan on now or need one of those 33 round Glock 9mm mags in my carry gun, but just knowing there are a little more than just 6 rounds before I am out makes me for one feel better.
I recommend everyone to try this w/ their carry / HD gear if they have not. It gives you a real taste REAL fast of how well this set up you probably thought long and hard about will work at any given moment and if there are in flaws in your plan either.
HTH -
Eric
Anywho, this gave ME the perfect opportunity I had been meaning to do for some time to "real world function test" my P3AT which as others have stated and many of us do, gets carried a lot and shot a little. I am one of those who if I know I am going shooting ahead of time (and I always do) spend the day or night before cleaning and lubing everything to make sure all goes well. I had wanted to do one of these "walk in as it is and dump my carry ammo" sessions for a while now, but just kept not doing it, or wanting to shoot more than 100 rounds or so every time I went.
So we walk in, I set up my stuff (still took all my range gear anyway, just took my P3AT as it was though w/ it's 2 spare mags I always carry w/ it. Needless to say it functioned as was flawlessly and all ammo went off as planned / advertised.
Two interesting things though -
1. Going in "as is" w/ no pre-cleaning or lube as usual before, she got about 1/2 though a box off ammo (after 3 full carry mags to start with, so 40 some odd rounds or so) you could tell she was starting to get "dry", as the action was not cycling as smooth when chambering a round from a fresh mag. She STILL cycled fine when shot, and had no FTF or FTE. Just a little rough manual cycling, and nothing you wouldn't see out of properly lubed gun after a LOT of ammo anyway.
2. Again, these guns get carried a lot and shot a little. It is a little disconcerting when after lighting off 6 rounds to suddenly realize just how quick they go when you are used to handling larger guns or even rifles that hold a LOT more ammo. My HD gun and gun and leave in my car for work (not allowed CCW at work
) are Glocks, and I guess I am just used to the usual 10, 13 or 15 rounds w/ them before they run out when shooting them at the range, rather than just 6 little .380 rounds. As much as I like carrying the little P3AT and as easy as it is to do so, I think it is now going to become more a "back up" piece than a "main carry" gun it has been, b/c having a lot more ammo on hand is one of those comforting feeling kind of things. DON'T get me wrong, I do NOT plan on now or need one of those 33 round Glock 9mm mags in my carry gun, but just knowing there are a little more than just 6 rounds before I am out makes me for one feel better. I recommend everyone to try this w/ their carry / HD gear if they have not. It gives you a real taste REAL fast of how well this set up you probably thought long and hard about will work at any given moment and if there are in flaws in your plan either.
HTH -
Eric
