Keltec P40, Any body have one?

[Brian Williams]

Any opinions on a Keltec P40, the 40 S&W version of the P11?
A local shop has one cheap, can it be converted to a p11 with a p11 top end???

 

[gpr]

p40

i have several kt's...one frame fits 40 and 9....slide, barrel is needed...some times 40 mags will go 9...most mag issues happen with 9m going to 40...ktog has a hugh knowlege base...it probably won't be long before some one chimes in...any specfic i might help with...gpr

 

[Hypnogator]

I had a P-40 conversion for my P-11, once upon a time. Never could make it reliable enough to fire a full magazine without jamming.

Even if it was reliable, the recoil was a trifle on the harsh side of severe. Took the skin off the base of my thumb -- not from slide bite, but from the vicious muzzle flip grinding the rough plastic frame into my hand.

Liked the idea of all that power in such a small, light carry piece, but it's a bit like touching off a .357 Mag in a lightweight J-frame. Not for the inexperienced!

There's a reason Kel-Tec quit producing them. Never could seem to make them reliable. 'Nuff said.

 

[sm]

I agree with Hypnogator: Don't buy.

I and some others experimented with one, and our experiences mirror Hypnogator's.

 

[gpr]

p40

if you don't buy it could you please pass the the info along...thanks...gpr

 

[nelson133]

I own a P-11 conversion and it has been reliable for me. Don't shoot 180 grain loads in it as they are known to break the slide stop. The recoil of SD loads is pretty harsh, I load moderate rounds for practice. One reason Kel-Tec quit making these is that it is pretty easy to limp wrist this thing with that much power in that little a package and they kept getting them back for repair when it was just shooting technique. They also used to make it in .357 Sig, that must truly be something else to shoot.

 

[tinygnat219]

Brian Williams,

I had one of these POS pistols. They are the single most unreliable biggest POS pistol I have ever owned. I could never get one to cycle through a full magazine without at least one stoppage, or jam. I did the KT fluff and buff, I changed the springs out, and even got one of those little Hogue handall grips. Nothing helped. The thing was a painful beast to shoot, leaving my hand numb (literally for 15 minutes) and bruised. I think KT had enough of the complaints and discontinued the pistol. They will still service it for those that still have one, but I wouldn't buy this pistol for anything. However, like anything that's out there, there are devoted fans of this pistol who think it's the second coming of Jesus. I tend to question their sanity, but people like what they like.

I eventually sold mine off to a KT collector (apparently they DO exist). Who, despite my warnings about the way it fired, was ecstatic to find one. It took me 3 months to sell it and I was glad to be rid of it and even happier that someone had actually been looking for one of these.

My opinion, lunless you are some kind of masochist, let it stay at the pawn shop and collect dust. It's where this pistol deserves to be.

OTOH, I have a P3AT that has become my defacto carry pistol. Nowhere near as unreliable.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Responders should note that the OP is referring to a P-40, not a 9mm converted to a .40 S&W.

I started off with a Taurus PT-111; my buddy had the Kel-Tec. We both swore the other's trigger was far superior to our own, and after debating it for about 1/2 an hour, we decided that we needed to swap pistols; the BEST swap I've ever made.

I went from the P-11 to the P-40, and it was one of the best, most accurate pistols for its intended purpose I've ever had. It was far more accurate than the 9mm, and I bought the .357 Sig barrel for it too. Now, that was a mistake! I found the muzzle blast excessive and the accuracy very lacking-I ended up selling off the .357 barrel.

I ended up selling the P-11 on consignment, as I carried the P-40 daily, and the guy who ended up buying it was an old softball buddy who I hadn't seen for a while. I gave him a bunch of 9mm ammo and he and I ended up becoming shooting pals.

He eventually wanted a .40 caliber pistol and sold "my" 9mm and bought my P-40, as I had changed my daily carry piece again.

I believe nelson133 is correct, in that Kel-Tec quit building them because of them being returned due to shooting technique, not breakage. I would not hesitate to buy the gun you are looking at.

Sam

 

[halfacop]

I had one of these POS pistols. They are the single most unreliable biggest POS pistol I have ever owned. I could never get one to cycle through a full magazine without at least one stoppage, or jam. I did the KT fluff and buff, I changed the springs out, and even got one of those little Hogue handall grips. Nothing helped.

I had the same experince with mine.

 

[40SW]

Brian Williams:
Avoid like the plague. Several of my students made the mistake of being attracted to them like a moth to a flame due to the low prices. There is a reason why gunshops and other sellers are discounting them, NOBODY WANTS THEM. The several students that have had them in my classes experienced very serious feeding and ejection problems.
Its not possible to just magically convert a 9mm frame to a 40S&W. It takes time and resources to invest in a proper conversion, thats why most centerfire pistols are introduced in 9mm first, it feeds the best, its popular , and its a good jumping off platform. The P11 was simply not designed to be compatible with the .40SW cartridge.
For the rounds that did feed reliably, my students expressed profound dissatisfaction with the felt recoil, aka "bite".
Thumbs down, whatever the price is, spend more for quality.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I bought the (9mm) P11 when it first came out.
When the 40 S&W conversion came out I bought it.

Some bullet shapes would hit the slide lock and randomly lock the slide back.
I broke off the inside of the slide lock and the gun became 100% with the 40 conversion.
The slide doesn't lock back after the last round but can still be locked open manually.
I told Kel Tec what I did and they sent me a new slide lock (no charge) just in case I might want to change it out.

I use the original 9mm magazines and haven't had a single problem with them.

The 40 S&W seems hard on the aluminum receiver.
I called Kel Tec and asked them, When I shoot the gun enough that I feel the receiver isn't safe, will Kel Tec replace the receiver and how much will it cost me?
KT said, When I feel the receiver needs to be replaced, they will replace it and anything else that needs to be replaced and my cost will be Zero.

If I lost the P11 and 40 conversion, I'd be trying to buy one at the next gun show.