Author Topic: Kel-Tec 9mm? (Read 737 times)

Redf150 · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 11:50:29 AM »

I was looking for a 9mm pocket carry weapon, saw that you folk here hold up the Kel-Tecs to high standards, I dont have any other guns so this would be my main gun of course.
Would I be smart to totally rely on a kel-tec 9mm, or should I get better suited 9mm.
Thanks for your thaughts and suggestions.

jhm · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2003, 12:24:16 PM »

redf150 : I own several handguns that I carry some costing 3x the cost of the p-11 and I usually carry mine 8 out of 10 days, as far as being the most accurate handgun I own its NOT however it isnt designed to be a target pistol, and with that said you will need to do some serious practice with it to get used to where you and the handgun are shooting, but that is recomended with any handgun you choose, yes I have been vary satisfied with mine and the people who have had the oppertunity to try it , with all that said you will hear from some that they hated theirs but thats why we have this forum and you can make the decision on the success or failure of other owners. Good luck and if we can be of any other assistance feel free to ask.

JIM

jgalar · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2003, 01:21:29 PM »

I don't know how many rounds I have put through mine but it has been surprisingly dependable. I have never had a failure with jacketed bullets and have had one stovepipe with my weakly loaded lead rounds.

I don't concider the gun a fun gun to shoot. It ,in my oppinion, is a pretty good ccw gun though.

The trigger is hard to get used to. On mine, it isn't excessively hard to pull or all that bad as far as smoothness, but the gun doesn't fire until it feels like your trigger finger is about to touch the web of your hand.

Savage · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2003, 07:50:35 AM »

Ditto the above posts. My wife and I each have a P-32 and a P-11, that's four Kel tecs in the family. Both P-32s have the pocket clip installed as does my personal P-11. Easy to carry, stone reliable, inexpensive, safe, and reasonably accurate. Like Jim I have many carry guns costing two to four times more than the P-11. Guess which ones get the most mileage!
Savage

Big Blue · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2003, 03:50:19 AM »

I have the Kel-Tec P-40, a .40 S+W variant of the P-11. I have never had a failure to feed. That is the number one requirement of a carry gun. The accuracy is fine for the type of shooting it was designed for, across the room self defence. As jgalar pointed out, the trigger leaves a lot to be desired. It feels like the gun isn't going to fire, the way you have to pull it so far back. The gun fits the pocket very well, and can be carried when larger guns are left home. The only problem I've had with this gun was a lose front sight. I e-mailed Kel-Tec about the problem and a new sight was shipped to me, free of cost, in less than a week. Big power in a small package, cheap, lightweight, dependable, what else could you ask of a $200.00 gun? The only option I would list, for the $200.00 being spent on this gun, would be to look for something of better quality in a used gun. If you like to go to the range and shoot little groups in targets, you'll hate this gun.

jgalar · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2003, 04:25:22 AM »

kinda off subject a bit, but if you don't mind a heavier, larger and the cost of about $400 - The CZ75 compact would be a much better gun. Customized gun performance from a stock pistol. I have always wanted this, that, and the other pistol - after getting my CZ I have no desire to get any another pistol. I think it is the best bargain in autoloaders. The kel-tec is a good deep concealment piece, but just not fun to shoot.

Get both!

jgalar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2003, 04:31:51 AM »

For the cost of one (insert big name 9 or 40 cal autoloader here) you can get a CZ AND the kel-tec.

Savage · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2003, 07:29:18 AM »

Chris,
You have a newer model than mine. I believe yours has the 8# trigger.
Mine have the 11# trigger. The trigger shoe makes it feel lighter, but still not a target trigger. It shoots well enough to keep a pop can skipping out to about 15-20 yds. Never tried to shoot groups with it, might be good for grins.
Savage

volshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2003, 12:24:39 PM »

Had a P-11, that thing was 100% reliable, very totable, rugged but I hated the trigger pull and overall feel of it, so I traded it for a Para 12/45. If I was on a limited budget a Kel-tec would be my first choice. I could keep all rounds in a man size target at 12 yards but that was about it. It was to small and uncomfortable to practice alot with. Good value for the money if it fits you.
Rick

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2003, 12:45:37 PM »

Rick,
The everyday carry gun must be small and light enough to be carried ALL the time!
That's a niche that the less than a pound kel tec fills. I sometime carry a full size 1911 concealed, but only about 3 or 4 months out of the year when I can wear a jacket. It's all the other times that the kel tec shines! Guess what I'm trying to say is, you need several carry guns! At least that's what I tell my wife-------
Savage

volshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2003, 01:17:38 PM »

Your right, the little Kel-Tec does fit a niche, but if it just doesn't fit me then something else has to be carried. I was never comfortable with the P-11 and confidance suffered accordingly. Any weapon is better than no weapon but I need to be comfortable , even if that means something a little bigger. Kel-Tec is a fine carry if your comfortable with the little thing.
Rick

Savage · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2003, 02:02:06 PM »

No argument there Rick. You need to have confidence in your armament. Clint Smith says that a carry gun should be "comforting" not "comfortable". Still, there are times when the only gun I have on my body might be a P-32. That takes care of rule #1 of gunfighting, and little else. I am in LE and carry a gun 24/7. You never know when you might run across one of your fan club in this business. If I am in a high threat situtation you can bet I'll have something a bit more substantial on my person somewhere. Not to mention what I may have close at hand. As I write this now, I have a P-32 in the pocket of my robe, how's that for covering rule #1! Truth is I don't feel the need to carry a 3# pistol everywhere I go. It just doesn't fit my lifestyle. Lazy, I guess--------may be that comes from carrying around 30# of duty gear when I work.
:? Savage

Bikenut · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2004, 11:25:03 AM »

I also have the KEL-TEC P11 9mm as my "main carry" gun. At 7 yards (general self defense distance) it will put 21 rounds (I practice drawing and firing 10... leave one in the pipe, change mag, then empty gun) it will put them all in center of mass. It will NOT hold a consistant 2 inch group or anything close to it when shooting like that... or, at least, I surely can't. But that performance fits what is needed.... when it is needed.

The gun will fit into a pocket easily filling the "concealed" requirement. And after running a couple of hundred rounds through it (break in?) it is stone reliable. Had a couple of jams during the initial break in but none since and I've put more than 1000 rounds through it so far......... so it fits that requirement of a self defense weapon also.

I also like the idea of no external safety to be fooling around with during a "situation". The long pull of the DAO trigger is the gun's safety..... the main "safety" is between my ears. All that is needed is to draw the gun and shoot...

And the price definately fit my terminally and continually depleted checking account.

One thing no one has mentioned so far.... and it applies to any gun carried inside a pocket. Dust accumulates very quickly inside the firearm and the gun needs cleaning often whether or not it has been shot. Have a look at the space between the slide and the frame... if there is any dust in there it shoulda been cleaned a week ago!