[zagger]

A few years ago we had several discussions about the P3AT issue where the feed ramp smacks into the top bullet in the mag - hitting hard enough to make a "smiley" shaped dent and even partially crush hollow point rounds. I came up with a solution using kevlar tape on the mag and modifying the ramp profile. But I'm wondering if anything more permanent has been developed (like making mags with a lip that is raised up a little) over the past few years when I've been out of communication.

I'd appreciate hearing anything about this issue. Thanks.
zag

 

[CJP32]

Nothing I've heard of. I've been carrying the Lehigh Defense XP bullets so it's not much of an issue. My P3at spends most of its time in the safe anyway.

 

[michael t]

I remember that problem Ruger copy cat had that problem also. My 380 never experience the problem . Guess I used hardened HP. Believe I checked several times. Back then.

 

[zagger]

Well - that's too bad. Maybe Keltec just figures that a dented bullet (or partially smashed in the case of hollow points) can manage to travel 10 or 15 feet without going completely off course.

Thanks for the replies.
zag

 

[haugrdr]

I believe the barrels were modified at the factory years ago. And that took care of the problem. I haven't heard anyone mention it in a long time. Maybe call KT?

 

[Steve912]

I came up with a solution using kevlar tape on the mag and modifying the ramp profile.

What is "kevlar tape"?

My P3AT dates back to 05-06, no problems with mashing
HydraShoks or Buffalo Bore JHPs.

 

[TxCajun]

It was mostly found on 1st gen guns. Some time after the 2nd gen was releases, we stopped seeing reports.

 

[zagger]

What is "kevlar tape"?

My P3AT dates back to 05-06, no problems with mashing
HydraShoks or Buffalo Bore JHPs.

Kevlar tape is just really strong tape made with kevlar (the stuff in armored vests). Other attempts were made to raise the lip on the magazine using other things that were suitably thin and they simply tore apart.

My source for the kevlar tape was an industrial catalog company called McMaster Carr. I used the one which is 1/2 inch wide (and looks nothing like their illustration).
http://www.mcmaster.com/#kevlar-tape/=14hb4wx

zag

 

[zagger]

It was mostly found on 1st gen guns. Some time after the 2nd gen was releases, we stopped seeing reports.

Can you give me the approx. date when 2nd gen models were released?
Thanks.
zag

 

[TxCajun]

Hmm... I think spring 2005.

http://www.thektog.org/forum/showthread.php?t=197491

For some reason the link goes to P 27 of the thread. Click back to P 1 for info on gen 1 vs gen 2.

 

[haugrdr]

Dale, your link took me to the first page/first post. Don't know why it didn't for you?

 

[TxCajun]

Still lands me on P 27. Don't know why... Anyway, those posts from 6/05 show us discussing the "new" 2nd gen pistols.

 

[zagger]

Well - if the 2nd gen P-3AT's were released in 2005, then the two I own are 2nd gen. Both were purchased in 2011. I also checked the 1st gen vs. 2nd gen pictures and mine match the 2nd gen model pictured.

Both had the "smiley" issue until I ground back the feed ramps and put tape on the magazines. Seems odd to me that interest in this issue has faded away. Oh well, guess it doesn't matter now. I can live with my crude fix since I only use them for concealed carry and don't often shoot them at the range.

http://www.thektog.org/forum/f87/my-fix-smiley-problem-246043/

I'm gonna guess that lots of folks have the issue and don't know it since you have to remove a round from the gun after firing the previous round. Probably not something normally done. Maybe it doesn't really matter very much for a short range pocket pistol.
zag

 

[TxCajun]

I do recall early on that there were a few reports of smileys with the gen 2 guns, but at some point, that ceased. They may have done some small tweak to the feed ramps or some such. They have made many such tweaks on all models over the years. They don't normally publicize such info. We may occasionally hear about them thru contacts with the mother ship or we just figure them out by comparing different specimens of the same model.

 

[michael t]

I remember KT fixed the problem I think they shortened the feed ramp slightly. Been to many years and why worry about it now . If you original owner send it in to be fixed or maybe buy a new barrel .