Kel-Tec Observations

I had my PF9 for over a year and had the black worn off in areas from wearing it. Still no rust. You're right about the texture of the grip, it's grip worthy. This gun's been reliable and I bought for SD but I got hooked on shooting at the range. At 25 feet it was quite accurate and after 1200 rounds I decided I need to get a full size 9mm. I sold it to fund the Sigma 9mm. Now that's a sweet gun.

Among the dozens of handguns I own, I have 5 Kel-Tecs. They are not the prettiest, nor have the best fit/finish, nor have those sweeping Ruger lines.....but they are easy to grip, stay in my hand, and go bang every time.
Honestly, they could look like an unpolished turd and I'd still own them. 'Concealed' means I'm the only one who sees them, so who gives a rodent's hairy anal orifice what they look like? As long as they do what they are supposed to do.

Keltec is by far one of the most innovative American (or worldwide) gun companies. They take the lead and the "big" manufacturers just seem to follow with little or no lead.

I bought a PF9 when they first came out. By pure chance I snagged a hard coated one and I have never had a problem with it for several years. I will have to go and look in my records to see when I bought it. I think it was 2008. It isn't a range gun but it gets a mag or two through it monthly and it has always worked.

Ruger, Taurus and others scrambled to get a foothold in the market that KT created. KT Customer Service is top notch and their product is a great price for a decent pistol. I believe most people can copycat or backwards engineer a product and improve it but it takes something special for a small company to innovate, develop and produce what consumers are looking for. I think they listen to consumers more so than the bigger companies and are willing to get to their products to market faster, although that doesn't always work as well as planned. Big companies like Ruger, with a much larger R&D dept get it wrong and they have had quite a few recalls on their new products. That doesn't put me off from Ruger as I have several of their guns. So long as they stand behind their product and fix the errors I am ok. I might not like it at the moment but everyone makes a mistake now and again. It took a few years and a couple of tries to get the lightbulb to work.

Here in MA, they are extremely hard to get, even if you found one. I have never even seen one at the range or at shows. Kel-Tec is the gun for the person who looks for a budget gun for defense. The KSG though, that gun looks absolutely insane. I want one.

I've carried a Keltec 32 in my car (prohibited at work) or on my person for over 2 years. It gets a wipe down with CLP whenever I practice with it...which is only every other month or so. Not a trace of rust or wear.

It gets a wipe down with CLP whenever I practice with it

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I don't even clean mine off after wearing it in 100 degree heat against my bear skin in 100 degree heat which is all we've had for the last 3 weeks.

Seriously, I've been carrying this thing for the last 2 years,religiously, sometimes bare skined, like this friggin 100 degree heat wave we've had and I have still to see any rust on it. I haven't worn the blueing off of it either, (if that's what you call it). I bought this thing because of it's color, (the all black one) it matches my work clothes to the point that you can't see it when I'm carrying it inside my waste band with no shirt over it. It seems to just disappear.

I only clean the barrel after I shoot, it hasn't been apart for 2 yrs. (since new).

It is always accurate and is my beater, and has never failed me at the range. I've never had to use for anything else so far, thank god.

I don't know what to say, I know with Keltec you either get a good one or a bad one, there doesn't seem to be much in between. (love or hate).

Love is a strong word for me. So far I like mine but love has yet to be proven. I love my 1957 model 28, it is a accurate now as it was when it was made. It will be with me the rest of my life.

I doubt this Keltec will still be in one piece in 10years but it didn't cost what a high grade revolver would have cost, being an old Colt or Smith, and it does have a lifetime warrenty on it which none of my revolvers ever had.

So far it's been good to me.

It's still my beater, but I do respect it for what it is.

Nice to see some Kel-Tec love.. Here in southern Florida, we do sweat, and my PF9 shows it. It is indeed starting to show some rust on the right rear of the blued slide, which is the side that is up against my skin, since I am left-handed. I was oiling it almost daily, but I left home last week on a road trip through steamy southwestern Georgia, eastern Alabama, and western North Carolina, and I did do some sweating, especially in Georgia.
I wonder how much the HC slides go for.. hmm.. gonna be passing Cocoa on the way back home..

ugaarguy said:

That's pretty bold assumption. My primary carry is a Colt Wiley Clapp Commander. The P3AT is a niche gun. The only pistol in that size class that's significantly better is the Rohrbaugh R9. I just don't think it would be wise to spend $1k on a niche gun. JMO.

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He said "budget" defense gun, which the Colt Commander is not.

The $250 Kel Tecs are a far cry from the $1,200 gun you carry. Basically in that price range you have the option of a Hi Point or Kel Tec pistol...guess which one isn't the size of a cordless drill and about the same weight?

I don't look down at the Hi Point but it is pretty clear as to which one would be the best choice for concealed carry.

Keltec is by far one of the most innovative American (or worldwide) gun companies.

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Completely agree.

No problem with them here. I've got S&W's Colts, RIA's, Sigs, Rugers, Glock, Springfield Armory, Llama, NAA, etc.

Wife has been carrying this little .32 for years and shoots it about once a month.





For the last month I've carried nothing but this 9mm. Not a long time to carry it but its light, flat and accurate enough.

I acquired my (blued) PF9 in the year following its release (2007?). It replaced a Kel-Tec P3-AT as my standard carry piece.

I have carried it in a DeSantis Nemesis holster in the right rear pocket of my 501s ever since (even around the house). I periodically take it out for a dry wipe-down and to blow the pocket fur out of it. I shoot it, maybe, once a year, following which I clean & eezox it.

After 4-5 years of this there is still, surprisingly (to me), no sign of corrosion or bluing wear ... o'course, relative to the latter, it does not leave its holster very often.

FWIW ...

Honestly, I don't think George Kelgren gets nearly the respect he deserves for his innovations in the firearms world. His designs are very interesting and he has had a hand in many earlier firearm designs his resume is pretty impressive.

With a military discount, I can buy a Glock for $425 plus tax.

In comparison, a Kel-Tec PF-9 with hard chrome finish is roughly $300 plus tax.

One has to wonder what one gets in terms of materials and workmanship going from the PF-9 to the Glock. Both use 4140 steel and polymer. The Glock has the Tenifer metal treatment, but the Kel-Tec is hard chromed, so the durability of the finish on both is similar.

I admit to my bias against Kel-Tec due solely on the price tag.

I'm very skeptical that Kel-Tec can cut the price nearly in half and make a gun as good as a Glock.

Obviously, there's some price gouging going on with Glock. $425 is a pretty awesome deal with the military discount compared to what Glocks normally retail for.

With certain other Kel-Tec models, like the PMR-30 and KSG, there's not really anything like it on the market to compare to.

Or at least, I'm not aware of any other 30 round .22 Magnum semiauto handguns or bullpup 12 round 12 gauge shotguns.

Like them or not, I don't think anyone can claim Kel-Tec isn't innovative.

For a person on a budget, the SU-16 is a great alternative to the Ruger Mini-14 or AK-47 clone. The various handguns appear to be serviceable, if a little plain jane in appearance.

Georgia45cal said:

With certain other Kel-Tec models, like the PMR-30 and KSG, there's not really anything like it on the market to compare to.

Or at least, I'm not aware of any other 30 round .22 Magnum semiauto handguns or bullpup 12 round 12 gauge shotguns.

Like them or not, I don't think anyone can claim Kel-Tec isn't innovative.

For a person on a budget, the SU-16 is a great alternative to the Ruger Mini-14 or AK-47 clone. The various handguns appear to be serviceable, if a little plain jane in appearance.

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As far as I know, the only other 30 round .22 magnum pistol was the Grendel P30, which was also designed by Kelgren.

I wish they'd release a PMR-30 carbine like they did with the old Grendel P30.

I wonder why Kelgren moved the magazine release from the thumb position on the Grendel to the heel position on the PMR-30.

Personally, the thumb position is the way to go. I'm all fumble fingers when the magazine release ain't where it's supposed to be

Georgia45cal said:

With a military discount, I can buy a Glock for $425 plus tax.

In comparison, a Kel-Tec PF-9 with hard chrome finish is roughly $300 plus tax. ... [SNIP] ...

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... but sitting with a Glock in a DeSantis Nemesis holster in my back pocket would be very uncomfortable.

Local guy here has NIB PF-9 for $259 so under $300 walk out. P3AT for $229 I think. I have both and shoot them regularly. I have had trouble with light strikes in the PF9 and may be sending it back to KT. No matter the ammo I am getting multiple light strikes per mag.

One has to wonder what one gets in terms of materials and workmanship going from the PF-9 to the Glock. Both use 4140 steel and polymer. The Glock has the Tenifer metal treatment, but the Kel-Tec is hard chromed, so the durability of the finish on both is similar.

I admit to my bias against Kel-Tec due solely on the price tag.

I'm very skeptical that Kel-Tec can cut the price nearly in half and make a gun as good as a Glock.

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Glocks are built way more sturdy than a PF-9, but this is really an apples/oranges comparison. Glock doesn't make anything nearly as small, thin and light as the PF-9. I can carry my PF-9 in swim trunks and a t-shirt and I'm not a big guy.

I like my pf9. I have had mo issues in several hundred rounds. Easy to conceal, durable. What more can you ask for.

I have 5 KelTecs they see more carry than my Colts DW S&W or other brands.

All have been right right out of box. I think KelTec's are way underrated.

I carried a KTpf-9 everday in a front pocket for 2 1/2 years. I tried something with it that worked for me. Took the slide off and coated with a heavy coat of breakfree clp and set that one in the oven over nigt at 200*. Yes the springs were out of it. The oil soaked in and it never showed any signs of rust. Still oiled it normaly too.

I picked up a taurus tcp same basic steel slide. did the same trick to it but with a heat lamp on it. oil also soaked in to it. Till well tell how go a job I did . Wife would skin me if I did the oven trick again. OH Taurus tcp 738-FS model can be bought for 199 dollars retail less LGS price. I paid 185. Functions great and is easier to control with the extra 1.1/2oz. I also use inner tube for extra grip control. Hate dealing with the texture all these companies use. Even on my kahrs.