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A lot of people ask me why I never recommend Kel-Tec pistols and why I actively discourage anyone from ever trusting their lives to one. Several people have noticed that I am pretty forgiving of most brands but seem to have it out for Kel-Tec. I will relate this story again as an example of why I feel the way I do about these cheap little guns. This is not my only bad experience with them, but it was one of the most educational ones.
I went to the range early one morning to get some shooting in before I spent the day working in the back yard.
When I got there I spent a couple minutes talking to one of the employees. I noticed that they had a Kel Tec P-3AT in the case. I asked about it since the owner of the range had told me before that the Kel-Tec guns were really not suitable as rentals since they break too easily. He said they got a really good deal on a few new ones so they ordered four of them since alot of people ask for them. He said they were good little "get off me guns" but that they have only had them for less than a week and one had already went to the big gunsmith in the sky. I asked about warranty repair and he said for what they paid for them it probably wasn't worth the hassle or expense but they were checking into it.
I myself have actually considered buying a Kel-Tec (hard chromed slide with grey body) and there seems to always be alot of talk about them on the boards so I thought I would rent one and see how it felt. The fact that one had broken under rental use did not discourage me because I would rarely be shooting it. It would most likely be a "slipped in short pockets when I have no other option at the beach" type of gun. I would not worry about practicing with it too much since it would be, just as the guy had said earlier, a "get off me gun."
I usually shoot my own guns at the range. I have rarely rented. Today I was going to be shooting all .45colt revolvers. I decided what the **** and rented the Kel-Tec. I figured it would be fun and I could see how I liked it.
To try and keep an already long story from becoming a dreadfully long story I will keep the rest as short as possible.
I decided to load six into the mag each time and shoot five round groups...leaving on in the chamber each time.
After about 30 rounds with the first pistol the trigger stopped functioning. It would pull back with very little resistance and would not fire. I took it back into the front desk and after taking a look at it the guy replaced it with another one.
I took the second one figuring I at least wanted to finish the remain 20 rounds I had purchased. I loaded up the mag, chambered a round and started firing. I forgot my little system of leaving one in the chamber and fired all six. All six went off fine. Then I reloaded the mag and attempted to chamber a round. The slide did not move smoothly. It felt very wrong and nothing like it did the first time. I moved over into some better light and looked the gun over. The grip frame had cracked right down the left side. I assumed this was causing the problem.
At this point I was afraid they were going to think I was either a jinx or I was purposely killing these poor little pistols. I took this one back inside and showed it to him. I was very happy when he said that is what happened to the first one. He asked if I wanted my money back or to rent something else instead. I decided what the **** and looked in the case for something else.
Needless to say I do not think I will be buying a Kel-Tec. I am not passing judgement on the entire line. I know tons of people have flawless ones but they either just don't like me or I have very bad Kel-Tec mojo.
I went to the range early one morning to get some shooting in before I spent the day working in the back yard.
When I got there I spent a couple minutes talking to one of the employees. I noticed that they had a Kel Tec P-3AT in the case. I asked about it since the owner of the range had told me before that the Kel-Tec guns were really not suitable as rentals since they break too easily. He said they got a really good deal on a few new ones so they ordered four of them since alot of people ask for them. He said they were good little "get off me guns" but that they have only had them for less than a week and one had already went to the big gunsmith in the sky. I asked about warranty repair and he said for what they paid for them it probably wasn't worth the hassle or expense but they were checking into it.
I myself have actually considered buying a Kel-Tec (hard chromed slide with grey body) and there seems to always be alot of talk about them on the boards so I thought I would rent one and see how it felt. The fact that one had broken under rental use did not discourage me because I would rarely be shooting it. It would most likely be a "slipped in short pockets when I have no other option at the beach" type of gun. I would not worry about practicing with it too much since it would be, just as the guy had said earlier, a "get off me gun."
I usually shoot my own guns at the range. I have rarely rented. Today I was going to be shooting all .45colt revolvers. I decided what the **** and rented the Kel-Tec. I figured it would be fun and I could see how I liked it.
To try and keep an already long story from becoming a dreadfully long story I will keep the rest as short as possible.
I decided to load six into the mag each time and shoot five round groups...leaving on in the chamber each time.
After about 30 rounds with the first pistol the trigger stopped functioning. It would pull back with very little resistance and would not fire. I took it back into the front desk and after taking a look at it the guy replaced it with another one.
I took the second one figuring I at least wanted to finish the remain 20 rounds I had purchased. I loaded up the mag, chambered a round and started firing. I forgot my little system of leaving one in the chamber and fired all six. All six went off fine. Then I reloaded the mag and attempted to chamber a round. The slide did not move smoothly. It felt very wrong and nothing like it did the first time. I moved over into some better light and looked the gun over. The grip frame had cracked right down the left side. I assumed this was causing the problem.
At this point I was afraid they were going to think I was either a jinx or I was purposely killing these poor little pistols. I took this one back inside and showed it to him. I was very happy when he said that is what happened to the first one. He asked if I wanted my money back or to rent something else instead. I decided what the **** and looked in the case for something else.
Needless to say I do not think I will be buying a Kel-Tec. I am not passing judgement on the entire line. I know tons of people have flawless ones but they either just don't like me or I have very bad Kel-Tec mojo.