[GreyBeardedOne]

I have a P3AT that I bought used earlier this year. After I learned how to put it back together properly, it has been dead nuts reliable. I've fired a few hundred rounds through it without a hicough. The ammo has been "whatever is cheap." Remington, Winchester, Tula. Doesn't matter it works.

The gun only came with one magazine so I ordered a couple of factory mags from Brownells. Then the problems started.

With both new mags, on the next to last round I'd get a failure to extract/eject. I thought that it might be the new ammo so I ran 50 rounds of it through the old mag without a hitch.

The new mags don't have the "finger grip" baseplate. I did notice that changes the controllability of the little gun, it bucks quite a bit more or I feel it bucking quite a bit more.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[moetallday34]

Are they Mec Gar mags or promags?

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

I'm going to try this again. I've tried posting a response three times and I keep getting "database error."

They are Mec-Gar mags.

ETA: fourth time was the charm.

 

[boomerweps]

There have been several posts on magazines problems caused by the spring being installed upside down. Maybe in your case?

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

What? Italian craftsman putting springs in upside down!??! That's incredible.

I'll take them apart and check.

 

[jpshaw]

Still waiting to see if that spring was upside down or backwards. So far I've never had an issue with a KT mag.

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

I took all three mags apart. The original to see how it was configured and the other two to see if they are different. All three have the spring oriented the same way.

Back to the drawing board.

I contacted Kel-Tec and Mec-Gar a week ago. Mec-Gar got back to me in a couple of days to say that they can't help me because the design of the mags is Kel-Tec's.

I haven't heard from Kel-Tec at all. I never heard back from them the last time that I sent an email. Great customer service.

 

[haugrdr]

Email isn't always the best way to contact them. Try the phone, as close to 9am as you can.

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

Email isn't always the best way to contact them. Try the phone, as close to 9am as you can.

That's a silly way to run a business in the twenty first century. I work and usually can't be making phone calls during the day. One of the great things about email is that, like letters, you write when you have the opportunity.

 

[michael t]

Put a finger rest on the new mags. . Your not holding the pistol same way as with finger rest

Just switch the finger rest to a new mag and see. I use Bersa finger rests on my 32 and 380 KT mags.

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

Put a finger rest on the new mags. . Your not holding the pistol same way as with finger rest

Why would that cause a failure to extract/eject on the next to last round?

 

[michael t]

Better grip. I had that happen on my PF-9 next to last round on factory mag with no finger rest. Finger rest mag never happened Now finger rest on all and no more trouble.

Years back when bought my 1st P3AT 1st thing I did was install a finger rest . My P-32's all have finger rest mags from Bersa pistols . They were cheapest back then.

Like I said just switch only take a minute and might solved the problem . If not out no money and just little time .

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

I heard back from Kel-Tec. Their answer is for me to ship the gun back to them and let their techs get it working. FedEx is $50 for next day. Nah.

I'll try switching the floor plates on the mags but I really hate to throw more expensive ammo downrange to fiddle with this.

 

[michael t]

I heard back from Kel-Tec. Their answer is for me to ship the gun back to them and let their techs get it working. FedEx is $50 for next day. Nah.

I'll try switching the floor plates on the mags but I really hate to throw more expensive ammo downrange to fiddle with this.

Your dealer can ship USPS for a few bucks .Then you pay him .

I beginning to think you just looking for a excuse to dump the pistol rather than try a couple possible fixes . P3AT are great pistols Mine is a early Gen 2 and not been a problem. My PF-9 gets more carry now . But the P3AT still gets some back up duty.
Don't give up on the pistol Nothing real serious wrong . Ive had more problems out of Taurus and Para than any of my kelTecs.

 

[Steve912]

I've heard of pistols MALfunctioning with finger-rest mags.

Hmmmm...

Did the misfeeding actually follow the non-finger rest floorplate, as you moved
it from mag to mag? Maybe the mag catch is worn in such a way that only
finger-rest floor plate'd mags get the right angle?

Weird, but wouldn't be the weirdest.

 

[jpshaw]

I use Bersa finger rests on my 32 and 380 KT mags.

I might try that and see if they fit the pocket OK.

 

[michael t]

All my mags for 32 or 380 have finger rest and I pocket carry I my jeans . in a old I think uncle mike pocket holster I bought years back. When bought my 1st 380 KelTec. . Guess will be determined by size of you pants and size of pocket

 

[JR37]

P3AT with pinky extension and armalaser in a number 2 Uncle Mike holster in front pocket with no problems. In some of my dress pants the pistol will fit into the small pocket inside the front pocket.

 

[GreyBeardedOne]

Magazine problem solved

Or so I think . . .

I had an idea about something that could be causing the feeding problems so I took the gun apart, yet again.

I laid the slide/barrel group on the table and started looking at whatever my thought was about in the frame (don't remember now). "Ba-ping!" I hadn't bothered to remove the recoil spring and guide from the slide and they decided to go walkabout. I found the guide rod but still haven't found the spring.

So I went online and started looking for springs. Much to my surprise the P3AT uses a double recoil spring. I didn't recall it having two springs when I bought it. Maybe if I ever find the original spring I'll know.

I couldn't sell the gun without a recoil spring so I ordered a set from Wolff with an extra power firing pin spring.

Finally, the weather cooperated and a sunny day coincided with my day off and I got to take it to the range along with my newish AR.

I'm not sure how much ammo I put through it because I was shooting up some partial boxes but I put at least 100 rounds through it, rotating through all three mags. Not a hiccup. Whoo-hoo!

Then things got more interesting . . . . I'll start a new thread for that.