Kel Tec 9

Mine's reliable but one issue I've found is that under recoil, my right thumb hits the slide lever and locks the gun in to place. It doesn't happen all the time, but frequently enough that I stopped using it for my main CCW.

Goes bang every time. Possibly the worst trigger of any firearm i have ever shot. Recoil is terrible. This coming from a avid big bore shooter ie 44 mag 45lc. Think its got something to do with big hands and little gun. i sold mine would rather have the 380 in a mouse gun. If you get the 9 and its a double stack I have a high cap mag I will sell cheap.

Depends which one you are referring to. The P-11 is the bigger double stack with the horrible trigger. The PF-9 is the single stack with a much better trigger but IMHO, the recoil is quite harsh. Both for me, are carry a lot, shoot very little guns.

The trigger is terrible and it has a lot of recoil but I still carry it more than my other 6 pistols combined. I love it's size and conceal it almost anywhere. I'm very happy with it.

The P11 has a "true" double-action mechanism, meaning each pull of the trigger cycles the hammer through, whether or not there is a round in the chamber that fires. It has a magazine that holds 11 rounds, and can accept S&W 59-series magazines that hold more. The gun is a little but wider than the PF9. It's trigger pull is substantially longer.

The PF9, which I carry, holds seven rounds in it's magazine, and is significantly flatter than the 11 ("PF" stands for "Pistol, Flat".) It's hammer, when in the ready-to-fire mode (such as when the slide has been cycled by firing or by chambering a round), is partially locked by the sear. Pulling the trigger releases it. If the gun does not fire, another slide-cycle is needed to try again. The trigger pull, because of this set-up, is much smoother, but the tradeoff is the lack of "re-strike" capability. Many of us find this to be a fair trade, given the relative reliability of modern centerfire ammunition.

I've had zero issues with my PF9, which I have owned since April of 2010. I am not the original owner; I don't know if the prior had any issues with it. Mine shoots a little low with the most-commonly-available 115-grain ammunition, about four inches at 10 yards. I expect it's sighted for 124-grain or heavier stuff.
Neither is an all-day range gun; they are too light to help much in taming recoil or muzzle-flip with the 9mm caliber. I enjoy shooting about fifty rounds max during each range session, and make sure I have other guns with me.

Mine is carried pretty much any time I am awake and not at work.

The p 11 is what I had and the mag is probably for the Smith because it stuck out of the bottom of the gun.

When shooting the pair, the difference is in the trigger and the narrow grip slapping your palm under recoil.
With the magazines out, there is almost no difference in weight.
The P11 has a wider grip, that distributes recoil a little better.
Neither one is for the recoil shy.
They are both snappy, not S&W J frame .357 class... But for most people it is an attention getter.
You are firing a 14oz pistol with a small grip.
It is hard to argue with physics.


Jim

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Had the p-11 for a few years. Worst trigger of any gun Ive owned. Fed everything fine.

It did not like 115gr bullets,they tumbled out of the barrel.

I did the rubber eraser to the back of the trigger guard, with not much success,even with a laser, the trigger was the achilles heel.

...

I've owned a P11 and liked it except for the terrible trigger. But, it is a defensive gun and not a "range gun" as some folks say.

I now have only the PF9 and like it better. The trigger is better but still not that good. It is so small, thin, and light that there is no reason to be without a gun.

It is a hand smacker when shooting but since we are all tough guys that is no issue.

I've had both the P-11 and the PF-9, and prefer the PF-9 because of the better trigger.

The recoil is harsher in the PF-9, because the gun is narrower and lighter. (You can buy the KTADDONS grip material -- space age foam UNDER the wrap-around -- and it'll make the recoil more tolerable.)

I've had a number of the smaller guns, and currently also have a Kahr CM9, but the PF-9 seems to be the one carried most often.

bought both, sold the pf9 also have the 32, kept it

My PF9 cycles all the ammo I have put in it including my reloads. It always shoots with no problems. It is an uncomfortable gun to shoot because of the grips and harsh recoil. I keep it in my vehicle and am very confident that it will do its job, if needed.

To many trigger winnies out there!! The pf-9 does have a better trigger pull but not much better than the P-11. The P11 is a 1" wide pistol with a double stack mag and is easier to shoot because of it.

P11 is a bit shorter than the pf9 and 2 oz heavier. It can also use a s&w model 59 mag as a backup or range mag that holds 15 rounds. Trigger is very much like a revolver and that the pull weight is close to 9lbs new and settles to 8lbs with use and stacks to a firm wall before the trigger breaks . The pf9 is a far better pocket pistol with 7+1 if I remember and makes for a solid defence pistol but ain't no range gun. Not fun to shot but works well.

Note in the above post photo the inner tube on the grip. That or a slip-on grip of some sort is all most a most have on the pf9. Both KTs can be bought for 250bucks new.

I carried a pf-9 for a couple years and gave a p11 to a son-in-law as the pf9 fit a pocket better.

Impressive! Looks like 5 or 6 of us guys in this thread thus far of about 16 posts are from North Carolina.

I reckon that might be because we are all iced in today.

I guess I'll make it 7! I have a pf9 and I like it! It is reliable (had it for 3yrs), resonably accurate, and has a decent trigger. In fact, at our last BUG (back up gun) match, I placed 3rd with it.

It is in my pocket right now.

Cocked & Locked. Maybe it means our own forums are getting boreingly inactive.

Coaked & Loacked.

Click to expand...

Mistyped: Loacked = Locked. (C&K had just responded)

hardluk1 responded (from NC), suggesting that boredom was the powering force for the other North Carolinians who responded...

We have been experiencing some ICY weather. (NC, here, too. <grin>)

cocked & Locked Fingers gone wild, sorry about the spelling.

Yaaaa thats it ICY weather.

I had gathered that the conversation had turned toward the P11, which I know nothing about, so I deleted my previous post. Sorry.

I've had a PF9 for a couple of years and about six hundred rounds so far. With the exception of the Rohrbaugh and the DB9, it's probably the most compact nine out there. It's very easy and comfortable to carry IWB. Mine has eaten every round I've fed it, from hot NATO stuff to really weak reloads, without a malfunction ever. It definitely does not have the nice refined fit and finish like an LC9, but it works, and it's priced right. Full lifetime warranty... And from what I've heard, Kel Tec's customer service is pretty good.

And yes, I hate that loooong trigger pull. I prefer a more "Glock" like trigger, and a safety, but for the price I can live with it.

My PF9 was my daily carry up until I got my Shield, which I consider a dang near perfect carry gun. The PF9 may still do some carry duty in the summer under lighter clothes.

Cautions? It will likely require a break-in period. Or you can do a light "fluff & buff" on some of the moving parts. Don't limp-wrist it. And don't expect a pussycat. It's a nine, and it's light, and it's small. Some find that a handful to shoot.

Call me nuts but I own 4 PF 9's. Wife and I each carry one and one in each vehicle. Never any issues as far as function out of any of them. I also own a P32 and a P40. Try the P40 and whine then.

The problem with the responses was that the original poster's question was about a Kel Tec 9 -- which could be either the P-11 (9mm) or the PF-9, (9mm).