Kel Tec CP33 Review
A Comprehensive Guide
The Kel Tec CP33 Review is positive across the board. For just under $300 this gun will not disappoint. It is a semi-automatic, recoil-operated pistol. This gun is highly recommended for concealed carry because of the size and weight of the pistol, as well as its ability to be fired quickly from either hand thanks to its ambidextrous safety levers on either side of the frame. All around this is your go-to handgun if you’re looking for something light, small, and easy to conceal.
Table of Contents
The Kel Tec CP33 is a great gun for anyone looking for an inexpensive, but highly effective concealed carry weapon. CP stands for “Competition Pistol” and the 33 denotes its 33 rounds in each magazine. This pistol has a steel slide coated with black Melonite, which is highly corrosion-resistant, as well as an alloy frame with ergonomic rubber grips.
Features of Kel Tec CP33
Grip
The Kel Tec CP33 has an ergonomic rubber grip that is easy to use. The gun has a steel slide coated with black Melonite, which is highly corrosion-resistant, as well as an alloy frame with ergonomic rubber grips. The grip is ergonomically designed with a deep finger groove that makes it comfortable enough for extended shooting sessions, yet slim enough so as not to interfere with accuracy when firing quickly on smaller targets.
These features make the Kel Tec CP33 easier to hold and more comfortable for shooting. The backstrap system is unique among pistols in this price range because you get three different options instead of just one pre-installed. This allows you to find the best fit for your hand without having to buy additional parts or accessories. The grip itself is very large and long, but it is not good for smaller hands because the grip is so large and the curve of the grip is not as smooth without a palm swell.
Trigger
The trigger on this gun has been described as crisp and short, making it easy to shoot accurately. This is a necessary feature on any gun for this size and it works well in the Kel Tec CP33. The wide serrated face of the trigger makes shooting feel natural with minimal effort or resistance while still being able to maintain good accuracy. The trigger is not very good, it has a long reset and the pull is heavy even for people with strong hands. The trigger itself feels cheap compared to most other guns in this price range. It does have an ambidextrous safety on both sides of the frame that can be quickly activated without interfering with the accuracy.
Sights
The front and rear sights are both fixed, with the rear sight slightly dovetailed into the slide for a lower profile that does not snag when drawing from your holster. The sight radius is 9 inches and short compared to other pistols in this price range because of its lack of adjustable target sights, which can be somewhat problematic if you plan on using this gun for competitive shooting. The sights are nice and large, making it easy to aim accurately at close range with minimal effort.
The front sight is fiber-optic which lights up brightly in low light situations like when you’re walking around outside after dark or inside a dimly lit room. This makes the Kel Tec CP33 an even better-concealed carry weapon. To make it a more accurate gun, you can install aftermarket adjustable sights on the slide that will give you a longer sight radius for improved accuracy at long range and easier target acquisition when using this pistol in competitive shooting situations.
Safety
The safety on the Kel Tec CP33 is ambidextrous and it can be quickly engaged or disengaged with either hand. The safety levers are large, making them easy to find without looking when drawing your weapon from its holster. This makes this gun an excellent choice for left-handed shooters who often have trouble finding a well-concealed carry handgun. The safety on the Kel Tec CP33 is almost a 1911 thumb safety, which makes it easy to disengage quickly without affecting accuracy.
The safety is also easily activated with either hand and does not interfere with the grip or your draw from a holster at all making this an excellent choice for competitive shooters as well as casual users who just want a compact gun that can be concealed in their pocket, waistband, or behind their back. The safety is easy to disengage, but it has a long pull that makes the gun less accurate when shooting quickly.
Mag Release
The mag release is a little bit difficult to find at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly. It’s usable and doesn’t require any kind of special strength or oddities to work. This gun requires some practice before using the magazine release because of its awkward placement which can lead to accidentally dropping your magazines when drawing your weapon from a holster. This is especially problematic for competitive shooters who need to draw and fire quickly without dropping their magazine because it can lead to an empty gun.
The mag release on the Kel Tec CP33 works well, but you have to push up slightly before pushing forward which makes this difficult when drawing from your holster or putting away after shooting at the range. The mag release on this gun is slightly larger than most other guns in the same price range and it can be activated with your support hand if needed, which is an excellent feature for left-handed shooters who often have trouble finding a concealed carry firearm that they can use easily. The mag release on the Kel Tec CP33 is located in the same place as most other guns, making it easy to find and use.
The magazine itself can be a little long which makes it difficult for people with smaller hands to get a firing grip on the weapon. This isn’t an issue for competitive shooters who don’t need to reload quickly or draw from their holster while holding onto their magazines, but it can be problematic if you plan on using this gun for concealed carry purposes and want something that is easily accessible with your strong hand when drawing from a holster.
Advantages of Kel Tec CP33
Magazine Capacity
The Kel Tec CP33 has a magazine capacity of 33 rounds, which is twice as many bullets as most other handguns in the same price range. This makes it an excellent choice for concealed carry purposes where you need to be able to take down multiple targets quickly without worrying about running out of ammunition.
Ambidextrous
The Kel Tec CP33 is one of the only handguns on the market that has an ambidextrous magazine release, which makes it easier for left-handed shooters who often have trouble finding a gun they can use easily.
Rigid
The Kel Tec CP33 is a rigid gun with no external safety switch, which makes it great for competitive shooters who often need to remove their handguns from the holster quickly before taking down multiple targets in quick succession.
Reliable
The Kel Tec CP33 is a reliable gun that doesn’t have many reported problems with the firing mechanisms or feed ramp.
Versatility
The Kel Tec CP33 is a versatile gun that can be used for concealed carry purposes, personal protection, and competitive shooting situations.
Multi-Purpose Pistol
The Kel Tec CP33 is a multi-purpose pistol that’s great for concealed carry, personal protection, and competitive shooting. It has a magazine capacity of 33 rounds which is twice as many bullets as most other guns in the same price range making it an excellent choice for people who need to be able to take down multiple targets quickly without having to reload their weapon every few seconds.
Disadvantages of Kel Tec CP33
Small Slide
The Kel Tec CP33 has a small slide that is difficult to grip which makes it harder to find aftermarket accessories like larger magazines or replacement slides. This also means the gun isn’t ideal for shooters with smaller hands who might have trouble locking their hands properly on the grip and pulling back the slide to reload.
No External Safety Switch
The Kel Tec CP33 doesn’t have an external safety switch, which can be dangerous if it’s not one of the features you want in a gun. This makes it easier to accidentally fire the weapon when reupholstering, which can be dangerous if you’re not trying to shoot.
Long Trigger Pull
The Kel Tec CP33 has a very long and somewhat heavy trigger pull that makes it less accurate and harder to aim accurately without pulling your hand off the grip. This makes it more difficult for self-defense purposes or competitive shooting situations where you need to take down targets as quickly as possible without wasting ammunition.
After Market Accessories - Kel Tec CP33 Review
The Kel Tec CP33 takes all Glock 17, 19, 22 magazines including 33 round high capacity mags which is an excellent choice for concealed carry and competition shooters who need a lot of ammunition to take down targets quickly. The slide on the Kel Tec CP33 is small and hard to grip, especially for people with smaller hands. This can make it difficult to find aftermarket options because most available accessories are designed for other guns in this price range that have larger slides which make them easier to install and more comfortable to use. The Kel Tec CP33 has a Picatinny rail for easy attachment of lights and laser sights, which is an extremely useful addition to this gun.
This can be especially helpful in low-light situations where you might need extra illumination on your target or just want to be able to draw from your holster easily without fumbling with traditional button-style lasers that are built into the frame. There are many holsters for Kel Tec CP33 available on the market, but some are better than others. It’s important to find a holster that has an adjustable ride height and can’t for added comfortability when carrying your firearm concealed all day long or moving quickly between positions during competitive shooting situations.
Shootability Kel Tec CP33 Review
The Kel Tec CP33 has decent ergonomics which make it easier to use for people who are new shooters looking for an affordable firearm that can be easily placed in their purse, behind their back, under a desk, or just about anywhere else. This gun is a great purchase for people who are new shooters and don’t want to spend very much money on their first firearm. The Kel Tec CP33 has a small and hard-to-grip slide, which makes it difficult for shooters with smaller hands. The recoil is quite manageable, but the gun feels more like a .22 than a compact handgun at this price point.
The Kel Tec CP33 has a very long and somewhat heavy trigger pull, which can be difficult to master when training for self-defense purposes or competitive shooting situations where you need to take down targets as quickly as possible without wasting ammunition. The gun also doesn’t have an external safety switch making it easier for shooters who want to get more training in without having to worry about disengaging a safety every time they re-holster their weapon.
FAQs
Important Note:
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
Closed top slide pistols have a more enclosed design that makes it harder for dirt and debris to get inside the firing chamber while open-topped slides are much less likely to jam or misfire because of external elements getting into the gun itself.
Important Note:
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
A double-action pistol has a longer trigger pull that makes it harder to fire the weapon by accident, while a single-action pistol has an extremely short and light trigger pull which can make it easier for shooters with smaller hands or weaker grips to find their target more accurately.
Important Note:
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
You should only attempt to adjust or remove your sights if you have previous experience doing this kind of work because it can be extremely dangerous if you try to do it incorrectly. If you want a new sight, there are many aftermarket options available you can choose from which might make this process easier depending on what kind of gun experience or training you have.
Important Note:
Any activity using a firearm has the potential to be harmful and can lead to death, serious injury, permanent disability, or property damage. Only general educational and informational purposes are served by the advice, graphics, photographs, videos, and information found on Ballachy firearm reviews. The knowledge provided about guns, gun handling, tactics, training, legal issues, and marksmanship skills on this page is the author’s opinion based on his experience and education. This knowledge, which includes advice and training methods, is applicable only in a given set of conditions that the reader cannot precisely recreate. The author disclaims any liability for improper use or incorrect interpretation of the information on this website. Use of this website as a replacement for training or any information found on this website is not legal advice of any kind.
You should only use a gun-specific cleaning solution when cleaning your Kel Tec CP33. It’s also important not to spray these types of cleaners directly on the gun itself, as you should instead spray them into a cloth and use that to wipe down the exterior of your Kel Tec CP33.
Conclusion
The Kel Tec CP33 is a versatile gun that can be used for concealed carry purposes, personal protection, and competitive shooting situations. It has a magazine capacity of 33 rounds which makes it an excellent choice for people who need to take down multiple targets quickly without having to reload their weapon every few seconds. The small slide on the Kel Tec CP33 is difficult to grip which can make it harder to find aftermarket accessories like larger magazines or replacement slides. Hope this Kel Tec CP33 review will help you to know more about this pistol.
Author Profile
- Gabriel Tackett is an experienced shooter and hunter for over 15 years with a degree in Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is also a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) officer for 10 years And his passion lies in teaching others how to safely enjoy the hobby by recommending the best practices & products in the gun industry.
