Ruger LCP or KELTEC P3AT

[mizzou]

Suppose I could also throw in the alternate KelTEC P32

I have drawn down to these two models as my best CCW option, but still on the fence. Alot of real life people tell me Ruger is the way to go, they never heard of Keltec, but so many places online and online reviews say there is not a darn thing wrong with the keltec even when compared to the RUGER LCP.

Only reason i'm throwing the 32 ACP version of the keltec is because, well, it's cheap! and I can find 32 ACP! I def want .380 though...


Anyway, anyone here have personal opinions on the matter? Keltec appears to be a legit american company w/ a swiss engineer at the head....doesn't seem so wrong to me! Father in law warned me of the "ring of fire" gun manufacturers and he thinks keltec is one


Price
RUGER LCP only $300-$310
P3AT $259
P32 $239

for all three I can get $20 off w/ a coupon

Not in any huge rush right now, prices have been pretty stagnant over the last 1/2 of the year since I've been monitoring the cost of these weapons.

 

[olds]

Duh. Get the P3AnandTech.

 

[pontifex]

I've heard that Keltecs are decent guns for the price. Obviously there are better quality guns but you're going to spend a lot more.

I've never used either gun you mentioned but I do have a Bersa Thunder .380 which is another inexpensive .380. It's compact but I think the Ruger and the Keltecs are smaller.

 

[sourceninja]

I love my wife's ruger LCP. It's easy to control, easy to clean, and super small. She loves it too.

 

[mizzou]

yeah, I have a compact .40S&W already so I think a nice tiny little .380 would be awesome for me to have when it's just not practical to carry a larger weapon.

I'm totally sold on the whole pocket gun thing, I think its great! Again...more positive opinions about the keltec, it's almost like i'm having problems justifying spending more $$ on the ruger

 

[jlee]

They are basically the same gun. You might see slightly better quality out of the Ruger, but I don't know for sure. I'm probably getting an LCP in the near future.

 

[PliotronX]

I would get the KT and spend the savings on ammo/mags. KT has a long proven track record while the Ruger can use P3AT mags interchangeably. Can't really lose with either though.

 

[Slapstick]

Kel tec's are fine, the Ruger LCP is actually a copy of the P3AT with some minor improvements. Kel Tec tried to sue over the design but didn't win since they basically copied the design themselves. That being said, I went with the Ruger for the simple reason the the LCP has a manual slide catch so cleaning is easier, (neither will hold the slide open on the last round). Spare magazine are priced about the same as are most accessories so it's a wash there. When I was looking at them I thought the quality of the Ruger was slightly better but not enough to turn me off to getting the Kel Tec. In fact I'm looking at picking one up since it's cheap just to have one along with the Kel Tec PF9. They're on next years toys list.

 

[Slapstick]

Forgot to add regardless of which you chose if you intend to pocket carry I high recommend the Recluse line pocket holsters https://www.recluseholster.com/index.php Great design that helps keep an accidental trigger pull from happening. It allow a quick and easy draw but he downside is to secure after pulling you need to remove the holster from your pocket to secure it but it is one of the safer designs when you carry one in the pipe.

 

[sourceninja]

If you want a 9mm or 40 that is almost as easy to carry, check out the walther pps.

 

[pontifex]

If you want a 9mm or 40 that is almost as easy to carry, check out the walther pps.

Gotta love ATOT...

OP: I've decided to go with either the brown t-shirt or the black t-shirt. What do you think?

ATOT: You should go with the pink sweater.

 

[mizzou]

I think the manual basically sold me on the keltec, it's american made, and has a lifetime warranty.......

With that said, when I go in to purchase the weapon in the next few weeks if the ruger is within $50 I will jump for that but I'm not going to budge more.

With more research looks like the ruger just has a bit more fit + finish

 

[boomerang]

Have you looked into the availability of .380 ammunition? I keep reading that it's nearly impossible to find.

 

[bucwylde23]

Have you looked into the availability of .380 ammunition? I keep reading that it's nearly impossible to find.

I saw one box of it in Walmart yesterday. It's randomly there. 9MM is harder for me to find that .380.

I'm also looking to get a LCP for an easier to carry gun... this thread actually motivated me to finally contact my local dealer.

My father in law has one and it is a much better looking gun than the keltec.

 

[Specop 007]

O' do the Keltec. Its what I'd give the wife if she wasnta raving lunatic who might at any moment snap and decide to start shooting trees or some stupid shit.

 

[Unheard]

Get the P3AT, have one, love it as a pocket gun. Also, as noted above, .380 is nearly impossible to find right now. If you want something a tiny bit bigger in 9mm check out the P11 or the PF9, both from KelTec. The P11 is a double stack, where as the PF9 is a single stack. The PF9 hurts like a bitch to shoot, but you aren't buying it for a casual day at the range.

 

[pontifex]

I think the manual basically sold me on the keltec, it's american made, and has a lifetime warranty.......

With that said, when I go in to purchase the weapon in the next few weeks if the ruger is within $50 I will jump for that but I'm not going to budge more.

With more research looks like the ruger just has a bit more fit + finish

Are you the same mizzou from RFC?

 

[SuperjetMatt]

I have the LCP and have been pretty happy with it as a pocket/backup gun.
It shoots surprisingly well considering its size and seemingly bad sights.
380 is not that hard to find around here for some reason (Pacific Northwest).

I am thinking about trading it for a Walther PPK (plus cash) at a show this weekend. My wife is a big fan of the PPK, and I don't think I need two .380 guns. The LCP is such a handy pocket gun, though. In a decent pocket holster, it is the same size as my wallet.

Things I don't like about it:
Cheap finish. It flakes & scratches easily.
No external safety.

 

[mizzou]

Have you looked into the availability of .380 ammunition? I keep reading that it's nearly impossible to find.

there were aisles of it at my cabelas near me a few weeks ago, so you can find it, but its pretty damn expensive

 

[sourceninja]

Gotta love ATOT...

OP: I've decided to go with either the brown t-shirt or the black t-shirt. What do you think?

ATOT: You should go with the pink sweater.

I already recomended the ruger lcp. But a lot of people don't even consider the walther pps.

 

[Atrail]

Taurus 709 slim

 

[QuantumPion]

I've had both. Functionally they are pretty much identical. However, the LCP has a much better refined frame and better trigger. Where I bought mine they were the same price so the LCP wins hands down. I also have a Walther PPS and it is a much different gun. It is much larger and heavier than either. It is basically a glock clone, but with a nice thin single stack frame. If you like the glock 19 but think it is too fat, the PPS is a good choice for IWB carry. The LCP though I find is a better overall carry gun because it is so small and light you will be more likely to actually carry it routinely.

 

[Fiat1]

Go for the LCP great pocket ccw. If you are looking for a 9MM pocket look at the EMP it will cost more but it is more in line with a pocket pistol at a larger cal. http://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/EMPvsMicroL.jpg

 

[boomerang]

there were aisles of it at my cabelas near me a few weeks ago, so you can find it, but its pretty damn expensive

There's a Cabela's an hour and a half from me. I should really run down there one day just to look around if for nothing else.

Everyone is talking about WalMart and I've never found any ammo in stock there - ever. I could go on. The point being that it's funny how availability varies so much throughout the country.

 

[mizzou]

There's a Cabela's an hour and a half from me. I should really run down there one day just to look around if for nothing else.

Everyone is talking about WalMart and I've never found any ammo in stock there - ever. I could go on. The point being that it's funny how availability varies so much throughout the country.

i've seen 40S&W at my walmart sparingly, but i think people hound that area pretty bad for ammo. Funny thing, there is a old sports authority near me that still has a license for firearms/ammo and nobody realizes it, the place is STOCKED all the time =D