My 2000± round report

My 2000± round report

Just thought I would share my overall range report and ownership data thus far with my P3AT. This is by no means scientific or precise and real facts are supplemented with "best recollections" where necessary.

•Time Period Covered: February 2007 to January 2008
•Price paid for weapon: $268 (including tax)
•Model Description: Blued slide over black frame

•Total Rounds fired: 2000 (2200 actual total; 2000 fired personally by me)
•Number of JHP Rounds: 250
•Number of FMJ Rounds: 1750
•Brands of JHP fired: Cor-Bon DPX, Winchester USA, Winchester Ranger, Remington Golden Saber, Federal HydraShock, and a few others
•Brands of FMJ fired: Winchester USA, Remington UMC, Fiocchi, American Eagle (Federal), and several others

•Number of Failures to Fire(FTFi): 0 (nil)
•Number of Failures to Eject (FTE): 1 (one)
•Number of Failures to Feed (FTFe): 63
•Percentage of FTFes resulting from "limp-wristing": 80%+ (most were early in weapon ownership)
•Percentage of FTFes resulting from poor ammo: 5%±

•Number of mechanical failures: 0 (nil)
•Times firearm was cleaned: 14
•Cleaning chemical used: BreakFree CLP
•Lubrication used: BreakFree CLP and Militec-1 Grease
•Number of parts replaced: 0 (nil)
•Recurring issues: Inadvertent magazine release during firing (probable cause: user error)

•Modifications made: Entry level "Fluff & Buff"; added AGlaser Recoil reducing pads and grip sleeve; added Kel-Tec sold pinky magazine extensions to two of three magazines; applied Testor Fluorescent Orange paint to front sight and Green Fluorescent paint to rear sights; sanded down magazine release button

•Average size groupings for first 1000 rounds (5 shots @ 7 yards): 8"
•Average size groupings for second 1000 rounds (5 shots @ 7 yards): 4"
•Best grouping (5 shots @ 7 yards): 2.25"
•Preferred grip through first 1500 rounds: Two-handed thumbs forward combat grip
•Preferred grip through last 500 rounds: One-handed

Despite some concern early on about the weapon's "reliability" stemming from many FTFes (cured by properly gripping the weapon, i.e. eliminating "limp-wristing&quot, I have come to feel a high level of trust in the weapon.

I would like to acknowledge three things at this time. One is that my results are not to be taken as typical. I understand from reading posts hereon and from personal email conversations I have had with others that my unit may be closer to an "exception" than a "rule" and that many have had numerous "go back to K-T" level problems with their weapons (often multiple times to no eventual resolution). I sympathize with them and truly wish they had not had those bad experiences. However, my experience has been great. It has been educational, at times troubling and mostly enjoyable.

Secondly, I would like to state for the record that the P3AT and in particular the .380ACP round, is my personal threshold for a personal defense weapon. No offense to those who feel well armed with a .32 or even a .25, this is just my personal feelings based on the data I have accumulated (experienced and read). The .38SPL round, especially in +P is a superior man-stopping round, IMO. However, a loaded, broken-in, well-lubed P3AT loaded with Cor-Bon DPX rounds is in my opinion, nearly a match in some categories and actually exceed the .38SPL in others (most notably expansion).

And lastly, even a broken-in, well-lubed P3AT is not as mechanically reliable as a revolver. I rate my primary three concealed carry firearms this way:

•GLOCK 30 = 95% reliable
•S&W 642 = 95% reliable
•Kel-Tec P3AT = 90% reliable

In summary, I am very pleased with the Kel-Tec P3AT with nearly a year of ownership and 2000+ rounds fired. I would not hesitate to recommend them to a friend and I would consider buying a second (additional) unit.

Happy shooting folks and I wish you all success and accuracy with your weapons. Here's to another 2000 rounds!

 

Re: My 2000± round report

Thank you!

 

Re: My 2000± round report

I appreciate you saying so.

 

Re: My 2000± round report

Very nice of you to say. Thanks. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

 

Re: My 2000± round report

Thanks. I tend to be obsessive. Plus, the best way to know where you are is to know where you started. And as I said at the outset of the report, it's "mostly" factual, with "recollection" filling in any gaps.

I second your emotion here. If it ain't broke, Kel-Tec should not be "expected" to fix it. As obsessive as I am I will probably order some replacement springs from K-T and pay for them since, "One is None and Two is One".

Carry on.

 

Re: My 2000± round report

You bet! No problem. For long posts like that I type them in WordPerfect (yes, WP, not Word) and then when I'm finished I just copy to the Windows clipboard, start the post and paste the clipboard contents in. It allows me to type some, do something else, come back and type some more, etc.

Still time consuming, but it makes it a little easier.

 

Re: My 2000± round report

Thanks.

Having only recently switched to one-handed, I began as though I starting fresh with a new weapon and I am currently only shooting @ 4 yards. Currently I am averaging 3 to 4 inch groups @ 4 yards shooting right-handed (note that there is very little difference in my left-handed and right-handed sets as I am ambidextrous). One more consistent range session and I will probably starting pushing out to 7 yards for all of my one-handed shooting. Curiously, my first shot when shooting two-handed is always better than my first shot shooting one-handed. However, the following shots are equally accurate regardless of them being shot one- or two-handed.

I shoot all of my FSP practice @ 4 yards. I will occasionally squeeze off a magazine @ 7 yards, but not very often. I figure anytime I will be utilizing the FSP method I will most likely be in a "close & quick" scenario. I average 5"± groups @ 4 yards utilizing FSP (FSP or Front Site Press, for those interested, is when you shoot using only the front site as your acquisition directive; that is, you do not "line up" your rear and front sites before shooting, you simply place the front site over the intended point of impact). I try to shoot my sets at a rate of at most one round every two seconds.

What kind of groups are you printing, riverkeeper?