So I just picked up a P3AT.
The P3AT is a .380 pocket pistol. It's semi-automatic locked breach and holds 6 +1. The mag release is located on the grip like a big-boy gun and take down is achieved by removing a pin that also serves as the thing that unlocks the breach when the gun cycles.
The slide does NOT lock back.
Initial impressions:
This thing is small and light. You see the pics. This gun is the same size as my Droid 2 and weighs about the same loaded.
Gave it a good cleaning last night. There was frass all over the place - they didn't do the greatest job cleaning it up so if you are buying one new be SURE to clean it before shooting.
Out of the box, the trigger is stiff as hell.
This is a DAO gun. When the slide racks the hammer goes to a half-cock position. It has a long double-action pull which brings the hammer back fully and then releases. When the hammer is down or at half cock it doesn't protrude past the frame. In half-cock the hammer is off the firing pin making it relatively safe to carry with one in the chamber.
A cut-out in the chamber serves as a loaded chamber indicator.
There is no mechanical safety other than the long DA pull.
I cleaned and lubed it last night and dry-fired about a dozen times. I could feel the trigger smoothing out as I went along.
Went to the range and put about 40 rounds of Remington Golden Saber through it.
Shooting Impressions:
This is not a comfortable gun to shoot. The trigger guard does bite a little on recoil. There is nothing much to this gun so felt recoil is surprisingly heavy given it's a .380.
The first 10 or so rounds were all over the paper at 21 feet however they tightened up considerably after that (either the gun was breaking in or I was getting used to it or both) so that by the end of 40 I was getting fairly consistent 4 inch groups. The trigger smoothed noticeably as well. I didn't measure it but I'm guessing it's about 6 pounds.
No FTF's and the casings eject straight up.
Conclusion:
It's an ugly gun. It's not a joy to shoot, but it's not horrible either. It's the size & weight of a cell phone and easily disappears in your pocket. It is fairly accurate given it's size. While a .380 round it marginal at best, 7 .380's in your pocket are better than nothing at all.
I've seen the gun selling for upwards of $400 in MA. I paid under $300 - which is what it lists for. IF you can get the gun for what it's SUPPOSED to sell for, it's a good deal and well worth having. This isn't a range gun, it's a CCW. Period. For what it's designed for, it works well.
The P3AT is a .380 pocket pistol. It's semi-automatic locked breach and holds 6 +1. The mag release is located on the grip like a big-boy gun and take down is achieved by removing a pin that also serves as the thing that unlocks the breach when the gun cycles.
The slide does NOT lock back.
Initial impressions:
This thing is small and light. You see the pics. This gun is the same size as my Droid 2 and weighs about the same loaded.
Gave it a good cleaning last night. There was frass all over the place - they didn't do the greatest job cleaning it up so if you are buying one new be SURE to clean it before shooting.
Out of the box, the trigger is stiff as hell.
This is a DAO gun. When the slide racks the hammer goes to a half-cock position. It has a long double-action pull which brings the hammer back fully and then releases. When the hammer is down or at half cock it doesn't protrude past the frame. In half-cock the hammer is off the firing pin making it relatively safe to carry with one in the chamber.
A cut-out in the chamber serves as a loaded chamber indicator.
There is no mechanical safety other than the long DA pull.
I cleaned and lubed it last night and dry-fired about a dozen times. I could feel the trigger smoothing out as I went along.
Went to the range and put about 40 rounds of Remington Golden Saber through it.
Shooting Impressions:
This is not a comfortable gun to shoot. The trigger guard does bite a little on recoil. There is nothing much to this gun so felt recoil is surprisingly heavy given it's a .380.
The first 10 or so rounds were all over the paper at 21 feet however they tightened up considerably after that (either the gun was breaking in or I was getting used to it or both) so that by the end of 40 I was getting fairly consistent 4 inch groups. The trigger smoothed noticeably as well. I didn't measure it but I'm guessing it's about 6 pounds.
No FTF's and the casings eject straight up.
Conclusion:
It's an ugly gun. It's not a joy to shoot, but it's not horrible either. It's the size & weight of a cell phone and easily disappears in your pocket. It is fairly accurate given it's size. While a .380 round it marginal at best, 7 .380's in your pocket are better than nothing at all.
I've seen the gun selling for upwards of $400 in MA. I paid under $300 - which is what it lists for. IF you can get the gun for what it's SUPPOSED to sell for, it's a good deal and well worth having. This isn't a range gun, it's a CCW. Period. For what it's designed for, it works well.
