Kel-Tec's P-3AT pistol is ideal for hot-weather carry

Shooting Industry, June, 2004 by Lisa Parsons-Wraith

Warm weather is here and women across the country are packing away parkas and sweaters in favor of shorts and t-shirts. Long, warm summer days are blissfully anticipated by most, but for women with a concealed-carry permit, summer's heat poses a serious problem: How to conceal a firearm.

Hiding a full-size gun under a heavy sweater, vest or coat is a manageable task for most women, but lightweight summer styles and fabrics make concealing a firearm a real challenge. This is where you come in. Suggest that your lady customers pack away their winter guns along with their winter clothing and slip into something more comfortable, like the Kel-Tec P-3AT.

Kel-Tec is one of the companies that has profited from states with shall-issue CCW permits. Located in Florida. Kel-Tec began producing small, easy-to-carry firearms for civilian and law enforcement personnel in 1995. Based on the P-32 pistol, the P-3AT is chambered in .380 Auto, weighs 7.2 ounces unloaded and has a magazine capacity of six rounds. It is 5.2 inches long, 3.5 inches high and a mere .77 inches wide. That translates into a pistol that is thinner than most men's wallets and a pistol that is shorter than the back pocket on your average pair of jeans.

These highly concealable dimensions mean the P-3AT is a gun women can carry almost anywhere. Arguably, the .380 does not have the stopping power of a .45, but a small-caliber handgun when your customers needs it is better than a .45 locked up at home because it's too big to carry concealed.

The steel and polymer, double-action-only P-3AT was designed, developed and machined using computers. It comes with a lifetime warranty and Kel-Tec's highly regarded customer service.

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The Right Carry

Your customers may be tempted to stick this little pistol in their pocket without the benefit of a holster, but do them a great service by suggesting they purchase a pocket holster. It will break up the outline of the pistol for a more discreet carry and hold the pistol securely in the pocket.

There are several manufacturers who make pocket holster that will accommodate the P-3AT, including DeSantis Holster and Leather Goods. DeSantis says their Nemesis pocket holster is made of material so sticky, it's like flypaper, assuring the holster will not move out of position in the pocket. The inside of the Nemesis is a slick pack cloth for a no-friction draw.

Another holster option from DeSantis is the Sting holster. It features a built-in spare magazine holder and its unique shape keeps the holster anchored in the pocket while drawing the gun.

This gun is also ideal for carry in one of Kramer Handgun Leather's Confident shirt holsters. This garment is like a mesh undershirt with a pocket and elastic bands under the arms to hold a firearm. It's an excellent way to conceal a gun under a t-shirt or any other light summer clothing.