I have a P3-AT, I wrapped rubber tape on the nutmeg grater they have for a grip, helped a bunch, still cannot hit the side of a barn with it, from inside the barn.
I have already bought a Mikl's pocket holster for a 2" snubby, just need to decide on what I want, the aluminum framed S&W or Charter Arms are looking good.
Then the P3-AT, with Mikl's pocket holster will be up for sale or trade, very light and concealable but not my choice to continue with.
P3AT opinions?
Moderator: carlson1
If you're looking to sell yours, I may be interested. If it hasn't displayed any mechanical issues, I'd be happy to buy it used from you. That would help offset the price of buying a new gun that I'm not sure about, and would give my girlfriend a chance to see what it's like to shoot a P3AT before I get to the point deciding what to get her. I have a specific need for a small and light pocket gun myself, anyway.drinks wrote:I have a P3-AT, I wrapped rubber tape on the nutmeg grater they have for a grip, helped a bunch, still cannot hit the side of a barn with it, from inside the barn.
I have already bought a Mikl's pocket holster for a 2" snubby, just need to decide on what I want, the aluminum framed S&W or Charter Arms are looking good.
Then the P3-AT, with Mikl's pocket holster will be up for sale or trade, very light and concealable but not my choice to continue with.
"If you're looking to sell yours, I may be interested. If it hasn't displayed any mechanical issues, I'd be happy to buy it used from you. That would help offset the price of buying a new gun that I'm not sure about, and would give my girlfriend a chance to see what it's like to shoot a P3AT before I get to the point deciding what to get her. I have a specific need for a small and light pocket gun myself, anyway."
NcongruNt, IMHO ... Don't do it! If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would buy anything BUT the P3AT! Here's my story and suggestions:
A week after I was accosted (second time in two years ... first, by my lawn man in my back yard) in the Ladie's Room of the Dollar Cinema in Webster by an illegal (and frightened the little pervert away), my husband bought me a P3AT. The first time I fired it was to qualify for my CHL. I'm 60 yrs. old and hadn't fired a pistol since I was a teen.
My observations:
1. The fire coming out of the end so close to my fingers frightened me almost as much as the little perp.
2. It doesn't shoot where I aim.
3. The kick is so bad that it gave me Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the day I qualified with it, because I had to do the shooting part over, as I didn't get quite enough good shots. Almost doesn't count.
4. It flips up from the recoil, when it is shot, so it feels like it's going to shoot you in the forehead to a novice.
5. The back of the handle chewed up the web between my thumb and trigger finger, so my gun instructor (later) put mole skin tape on it to protect my hand. I had quite a rash after qualifying for the CHL.
My recommendations:
1. Take your girlfriend to Sharon at PSC. She has loads of guns that your GF can test fire, and Sharon is a woman and we speak the same language. She's also a great instructor and well worth the time and money to learn from one of the best, IMHO. The money it would cost you to find the right gun, while taking lessons with many different guns, would offset the price of a possible mistake. Win/Win!
2. Come to PSC, and I'll let her and you fire my P3AT, Baretta Cheetah, and Browning Buckmark .22.
3. Start with the .22, as it doesn't kick or scare us or hurt. That's important. Also, it is accurate, and fun to shoot. Fun to shoot is very important.
4. By all means, have her shoot enough to be comfortable, BEFORE she takes the CHL.
5. Remember, this is not competition between the two of you, and she really doesn't need you to fix her problems for her. She's a big girl and can make up her own mind. Please, don't think I'm trying to talk down to you. Please, take it for what it is ... Granny, with years of experience, who can see how much you care for her, and doesn't want you to mess it up by making the mistakes I've seen so many guys make. If that's not the case, then disregard #5 ... and forgive my interference.
I'll keep the KT, because it's cute, but I won't like firing it. I will, however, carry it, as it fits nicely in my skirt pocket and will do the job, if I'm ever accosted again. Now that I'm working on the Distinguished Marksman level of the NRA shooter's course, I'll be looking for a better target gun than what I have. The little jerk created a monster, because I have learned that I love shooting at targets! It's also the best cure for the Post Traumatic Stress that is caused by such an attack. Then, I found out that you can win prizes ... even guns ... well, I'm there! How's that for making lemonade out of the lemons that life throws at you?!! javascript:emoticon(':fire')
Smilies/G-ma Angel.gif
NcongruNt, IMHO ... Don't do it! If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would buy anything BUT the P3AT! Here's my story and suggestions:
A week after I was accosted (second time in two years ... first, by my lawn man in my back yard) in the Ladie's Room of the Dollar Cinema in Webster by an illegal (and frightened the little pervert away), my husband bought me a P3AT. The first time I fired it was to qualify for my CHL. I'm 60 yrs. old and hadn't fired a pistol since I was a teen.
My observations:
1. The fire coming out of the end so close to my fingers frightened me almost as much as the little perp.
2. It doesn't shoot where I aim.
3. The kick is so bad that it gave me Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the day I qualified with it, because I had to do the shooting part over, as I didn't get quite enough good shots. Almost doesn't count.
4. It flips up from the recoil, when it is shot, so it feels like it's going to shoot you in the forehead to a novice.
5. The back of the handle chewed up the web between my thumb and trigger finger, so my gun instructor (later) put mole skin tape on it to protect my hand. I had quite a rash after qualifying for the CHL.
My recommendations:
1. Take your girlfriend to Sharon at PSC. She has loads of guns that your GF can test fire, and Sharon is a woman and we speak the same language. She's also a great instructor and well worth the time and money to learn from one of the best, IMHO. The money it would cost you to find the right gun, while taking lessons with many different guns, would offset the price of a possible mistake. Win/Win!
2. Come to PSC, and I'll let her and you fire my P3AT, Baretta Cheetah, and Browning Buckmark .22.
3. Start with the .22, as it doesn't kick or scare us or hurt. That's important. Also, it is accurate, and fun to shoot. Fun to shoot is very important.
4. By all means, have her shoot enough to be comfortable, BEFORE she takes the CHL.
5. Remember, this is not competition between the two of you, and she really doesn't need you to fix her problems for her. She's a big girl and can make up her own mind. Please, don't think I'm trying to talk down to you. Please, take it for what it is ... Granny, with years of experience, who can see how much you care for her, and doesn't want you to mess it up by making the mistakes I've seen so many guys make. If that's not the case, then disregard #5 ... and forgive my interference.
I'll keep the KT, because it's cute, but I won't like firing it. I will, however, carry it, as it fits nicely in my skirt pocket and will do the job, if I'm ever accosted again. Now that I'm working on the Distinguished Marksman level of the NRA shooter's course, I'll be looking for a better target gun than what I have. The little jerk created a monster, because I have learned that I love shooting at targets! It's also the best cure for the Post Traumatic Stress that is caused by such an attack. Then, I found out that you can win prizes ... even guns ... well, I'm there! How's that for making lemonade out of the lemons that life throws at you?!! javascript:emoticon(':fire')
Smilies/G-ma Angel.gif
G-Ma I agree with everything you say except the part about starting with a 22. I had a 75 year old tiny woman come to me to learn to shoot the guns her husband left her. She was sure she wanted to keep the 22 and sell the 1911 45. I suggested before she decides she should shoot the 45. Now understand I really liked that 45 and would have bought it myself but she fell it love with it. She liked it far better than the very nice Ruger 22 and shot it better.
Also, in Sharon's and my monthly women class at PSC (shameless plug for the class) we have another tiny distinguished lady that shoots a 45.
I feel that starting women out on 22's is only rarely necessary. There are so many great shooting guns that the caliber isn't as important as the fit.
Also, in Sharon's and my monthly women class at PSC (shameless plug for the class) we have another tiny distinguished lady that shoots a 45.
I feel that starting women out on 22's is only rarely necessary. There are so many great shooting guns that the caliber isn't as important as the fit.
She's had a bit of shooting experience already, and is familiar with the .22. The first gun she ever shot was a Ruger Mk II. She seems to prefer the .38/9mm range. Out of everything she's shot, I think she likes my Hi-Power best.CompVest wrote:G-Ma I agree with everything you say except the part about starting with a 22. I had a 75 year old tiny woman come to me to learn to shoot the guns her husband left her. She was sure she wanted to keep the 22 and sell the 1911 45. I suggested before she decides she should shoot the 45. Now understand I really liked that 45 and would have bought it myself but she fell it love with it. She liked it far better than the very nice Ruger 22 and shot it better.
Also, in Sharon's and my monthly women class at PSC (shameless plug for the class) we have another tiny distinguished lady that shoots a 45.
I feel that starting women out on 22's is only rarely necessary. There are so many great shooting guns that the caliber isn't as important as the fit.
The question is not of a preferred range gun, but of a gun small enough that she will want to carry it on her person, but isn't so uncomfortable to shoot that she won't take the time to practice with it. "Small Enough" for her is pretty darn small. She believes a Bersa Thunder .380 (what I originally wanted to get her) is too big for her. There aren't many guns of decent caliber that fit the bill. The Kel-Tec P3AT, The Kahr PM9, and the AMT Backup seem to be the main contenders.
Now I'd much rather her realize that she can reasonably carry a much better gun (such as a 1911), but she's not to that point yet. PSC is a long drive away from Austin, and I don't know of any organized women's shooting groups around here. Neither of us know any lady shooters, so there's no social way for her to interact with other women who shoot. Next time we're in Friendswood (her sister lives there), we'll see about getting over to PSC with some of the ladies on the board.
As far as purchasing a gun for her, I think I'm going to hold off on that until she can find something for herself that she likes. I'll have to figure something else out for a Christmas gift.
G-Ma: I have a need for a pocket gun when I'm doing cabling install work (can't exactly carry something on your hip when you're crawling around up in ceilings and such), and the P3AT fits the need. I do fine with snappy guns. My PA-63 has a sharp recoil bite to it, but I like it OK. As for the muzzle flip, I'm told the finger extension is a big help with that, and I've got strong hands. All I need is a very small gun of decent caliber for pocket carry to fill the niche need during the time I spend doing cable work.
N, it sounds like, from my limited knowledge, that you've pretty well thought this out. I told you almost everything that I know in that post, and you have taken it even farther, so hat's off to you! 
Here's an idea, for what it's worth: What would she say to a gift certificate to her favorite gun shop? She could go alone or take you with, and it would be her decision, when she went to purchase her gun and which one she bought. Problem solved ... hopefully.
Austin, being the liberal bastion that it is, would be a difficult place to find like-minded individuals. Maybe, others on this site would have more info about the resources available in that area than I do.
Q: When is it time to stop target practicing and go home?
A: When you are out of ammo.
Here's an idea, for what it's worth: What would she say to a gift certificate to her favorite gun shop? She could go alone or take you with, and it would be her decision, when she went to purchase her gun and which one she bought. Problem solved ... hopefully.
Austin, being the liberal bastion that it is, would be a difficult place to find like-minded individuals. Maybe, others on this site would have more info about the resources available in that area than I do.
Q: When is it time to stop target practicing and go home?
A: When you are out of ammo.
"Of all our natural resources, the first one to be exhausted may be the taxpayer."
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