[Chris Stephens]

Hi there all,

This is kind of an addendum to my earlier post "picked up a Keltec P-32 today".

I finally had a chance to stop by the range the other day as I was in that part of town and give the Kel Tec P-32 its maiden break-in.

First magazine at 15 yards using CCI blazer rounds. I had one failure to feed first 5 rounds using with the slide partially closing on the fifth round from the magazine and had to "push" the slide close with my supporting hand thumb. Second magazine, same thing, third magazine, same thing. Tried American Ammunition and Federal Hydra Shoks and I had the same results.

In all cases, the accuracy was abysmal as I thought it would be at 15 yards. No surprises there! I visited the Keltec.Org owners group and the Kel Tec website and found some helpful information. However, I expect a firearm to function well new from the box-no exceptions/no compromise!

Upon cleaning and inspection of the barrel and its chamber, I found it to be rough with machining marks in the grooves of the rifling and the feed ramp. I have little doubt that I can polish it myself, but why bother?

I have sent two emails to Kel Tec and have not recieved a response. So much for their self proclaimed goal of outstanding customer service!

Any ideas folks?

Chris

 

[jonnyc]

Hang with it. They're cheap pistols and need a little TLC and a break-in period. Many $1000+ pistols have similar, or worse, issues. You may hear some horror stories about KT, but their customer service is EXCELLENT.
Do the "Fluff-N-Buff" as mentioned on the KTOG site and use quality FMJ ammo. If problems persist, call KT. You'll end up with a great little inexpensive pistol.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Thank you for the encouraging reply JohnnyC.

While I am trying to keep my sense of humor going...close your eyes and imagine this scene.

Scene 1 In a upscale and lavashly decorated hospitality suite at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel located near the SHOT SHOW, Kel Tec executives are wining and dining gun writers and wholesalers from National Wholesaling Chains that include RSR, Elliot Brothers and Lipskeys on elegant hors d' ouevres menu and lavish open bar. While plying them with food and drink and attempting to solicit product orders (move to Scene 2).

Scene 2 A local man opens his morning newspaper and displayed in the local sectionis the headline "Man found dead beaten and stabbed to death with jammed gun in his hand".

Chris

 

[jonnyc]

I've got over 700 bobble-free rounds through mine, using the Mecgar mags from the factory. I trust mine. Don't use JHP or aftermarket mags, and run a bunch of ammo through yours before you consider carrying it.

 

[Guest]

I have had my little P32 for over a year now. In the beginning
I had a few FTEs and about two miss fires. But thats all. Try diffrent ammo mine likes Remington FMJs. I find the CCI Blazer ammo to be cheap and unrealiable in all calibers. Try the Remington or Winchester ammo. Oh yes for some unknown reason my KT P32 doesnt like to be clean.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Thanks CZ and Johnny C.,

No failures to eject, but failures to feed.

I just recieved an email from Kel Tec and they do not recommend other than brass cased ammunition to be used, i.e. Blazer, Wolf and Silver Bear.

In any event, I will be spending the evening hand cycling the ammo to see if there is some improvement. No plans for the [email protected]%! dremmel tool. I am also going to "shake and bake" some Militec Oil on the outside and chamber area of the barrel.

Chris

 

[Guest]

Call Kel-Tec (KT) on the phone. You will not believe their customer service. My P32 had hammer problems, KT gave me a new frame with the old serial number on it and it was done in less than 30 days. I have never been treated better than by KT. Regards, Richard

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi Richard,

I just got off the phone with Kel Tec and spoke with a customer service rep and one of their gunsmiths. I told him that the machining and rifling of the barrel was bad and probably at the production end of some old tooling. This is evidence by the scoring of the barrel feed ramp.

I also went to the range this morning and fired off about 50 rounds of American Ammunition .32 ACP and was rewarded with about 1 in 5 failures to feed and three failures to extract. Now we are starting to really go "backwards" in performance. However, on the plus side the Federal Hydra-Shoks fed, shot and ejected well and so I suspect that there are some ammunition issues as well. The little Kel Tec just wants some more UMPH!.

While Kel-Tec would like for me to send the barrel/slide back for replacement as they are proof fired as a match set, I had wanted for them to exchange the parkerized barrel for a chrome one.

I want to a least do some more ammo trials with this little gun as it is a joy to carry and fun to shoot! Stay posted for "Gun Test/Myrtle Beach"!

Chris

 

[jonnyc]

Amerc Ammo is CRAP, CRAP, CRAP.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there Johnny C,

Yep! It sure is crap! Lots of fouling, unburned powder everywhere and very poor accuracy. My shots were all over the target at 7 YRDS with the American Ammo, but all in the X ring with the Federal Hydra Shoks.

I just bought two boxes of Magtech to try today and hopefully I will have better results.

My education of the little Kel Tec continues....From what I have learned thus far is that they do require TLC and the judicious polish of the dremmel, they do require a higher degree of attention when cleaning, the folks at Kel Tec are very, very nice folks. And best, but not least, they are very ammo sensitive.

In spite of my trials, I really like the P-32, but it is not a firearm for the unintiated.

Chris

 

[jonnyc]

I played around a bit with .32 ammo, and I've found the best for my P32 is Geco/RWS FMJ. I use it for both practice and carry.

 

[oldgranpa]

What "American" ammo, mfg. etc. are you talking about??

I use Federal American Eagle .32acp 71gr FMJ in my P32 with excellent results. Much better than Win WhiteBox or Rem YellowBox.
Please clarify the source of your "American" ammo before badmouthing it, just so we all know what you are talking about.
og

 

[jonnyc]

A-merc is American Ammo. I cap'd both letters since it is the name of a company. I am not bad-mouthing ALL American-made ammo, just that from the company called American Ammo or A-Merc. Much of their ammo is now from IMI, but I am not sure if it is loaded by Israel, or if they sell A-Merc the components.

 

[Bob Reed]

Hello Guys,

Let's get back to the Keltec, and not turn this into a ammo war.

Take Care,
The Sockman

 

[oldgranpa]

thank you, jonnyc,
I understand now. Sounds like some reload stuff I've seen at bargain prices.
Good USA made factory ammo costs a bit more but is worth it.
Cheers,
og

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there Old Grandpa,

The American Ammunition that I bought comes package in a red/blue box with white letters. The ammunition is packed in a "one size fits many calibers" black plastic tray.
Upon examination of the ammo, it appears that the cases are not all that well taper crimped during the loading process. Consistancy in shooting the ammunition from the P-32 is for accuracy is almost non-consistant.
In hind sight, it is probably not a very good idea to bad mouth any product and lose one's objectivity. However, this ammunition did not perform well in my Kel Tec.

Chris

 

[jonnyc]

og,
No problem. The A-Merc is new, not reloaded. It generally is junk, but the new IMI stuff might be better.

 

[Guest]

Try Remington.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there CZ75daddy,

Today, I'm going to try some Magtech .32 acp.

I did a modified "fluff and buff" yesterday, i.e. feed ramp and hammer/slide interface on the slide (the correct nomenclature escapes me right now). I also shaked and baked the barrel yesterday in the oven with some militec metal conditioner.

The next step if this fails is to chamber polish the barrel and the barrel hood followed by checking the magazine for follower consistancy and feed lip alignment.

Thank you,

Chris

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hello everyone,

The latest is that the Magtech ammunition did extremely well today. No failures to feed or eject.

My little P-32 is just dying to be broken in and needs to be fed the right ammunition. A friend that I was shooting with is just dying to buy one himself/or his wife

Chris