Kel Tec P-40

I'm guessing recoil did a number on shooters, I don't think they discontinued them over durability, just not enough masochists out there buying them.

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More than one of my shooting buddies, over the years, had problems with Kel-Tec guns. Not because of anything really wrong with the guns, but because the Kel-Tec just don't work for them.

One example: a friend who bought a P3AT and called it the biggest POS he had ever shot. Said you couldn't hit the broad side of the barn with it. The next time we were both at the range, I let him shoot mine, and he was right -- HE couldn't hit the broad side of the barn with it. I then shot a 3" group at 25' and his mouth fell open. He had sold his, but I doubt that he would have kept it even if he came to realize the problem wasn't wholly the gun.

I later sold mine, because during recoil, the trigger guard jammed my trigger finger -- and hurt like hell. The very similar Ruger LCP (which replaced it), had a larger trigger guard that didn't cause the problem.

I later bought a Kahr P9, and shot it until someone made me an offer I couldn't resist. With the proper grip pads, what was almost a beastly gun (for me) , the PF9 becomes a tolerable gun. I now mostly carry a Kel-Tec PF9, but I sometimes hear a RUGER LC9s calling my name -- that striker trigger is attractive.

Walt...
NO
Sorry... BUT... what you are speaking of... NOT EVEN IN THE SAME CATEGORY
Have you Shot the P40, a .40 S&W version of Keltec's P-11
the magazine alone almost doubles the weight of the gun...
KT discontinued them bacuse they were too much of a hassle, as perfectly fine guns kept getting sent back... because the owner couldn't shoot them.

If you want to complain about the recoil of something like the P3AT... no, not even close. This is up there with Airweight .357's
NOT pleasant to shoot, EVEN for experienced shooters.

Shadow 7D said:

Walt...
NO
Sorry... BUT... what you are speaking of... NOT EVEN IN THE SAME CATEGORY
Have you Shot the P40, a .40 S&W version of Keltec's P-11
the magazine alone almost doubles the weight of the gun...
KT discontinued them bacuse they were too much of a hassle, as perfectly fine guns kept getting sent back... because the owner couldn't shoot them.

If you want to complain about the recoil of something like the P3AT... no, not even close. This is up there with Airweight .357's
NOT pleasant to shoot, EVEN for experienced shooters.

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Please note: I didn't dispute what you wrote, or claim that recoil wasn't an issue with the P40. I also didn't claim what I wrote was the same type (category) of issue. I didn't compare the recoil of various models. In fact, I didn't complain about recoil. I did talk about an unpleasant side-effect of recoil when shooting my P3AT. In effect, I talked about another aspect of the Kel-Tec experience.

I mentioned my P3AT because it was an example of a K-T gun NOT fitting me. The very similar LCP fit me better (larger trigger guard.) A P3AT clearly didn't fit my friend, either, although he's otherwise a whiz with 1911s and his collection of SIG P220s.

That P3AT is the only K-T I've ever had a problem with -- and I've had a P3AT, two Sub2000s (9 and .40), a single P-11, a PF-9, and a PMR-30. I chalked the P3AT problem up to long fingers. I still carry the PF-9 and really love the PMR-30!

What I said, in effect, was that some folks can't shoot Kel-Tec guns because the guns just don't work for them. That's really a different issue and wasn't offered as a rebuttal to your comments. The fact that so many folks have problems with K-T guns may be something like the Glock grip angle, which really irritates some shooters and is ignored by others.

It may also be that a surprising number of first-time semi-auto shooters start with a Kel-Tec handgun because they're so inexpensive. I can think of many BETTER first semi-autos.

I don't doubt that many P-40s were returned due to severe recoil, and I can't imagine trying a .357 SIG round in one of those guns!! But I also don't doubt that a lot of P-11s and PF9s were returned for similar reasons... but they just used different excuses.

I cant imagine the punishment a 40cal would inflict on the throw away platform that is the P11! 9mm is hard enough on the slide, requiring burrs to be dressed off of it after 500rds, shooting 40? Wow!!

Oh, OK... I had one, It sounded like a good idea, I couldn't shoot it, never limpwristed any gun before, but I couldn't for the life of me complete a 3 shot string. Slow fire, I could do, and did I mention it hurt, literally bruised my hand.

It's because of that gun, I developed my strong opinion about guns for beginners and carry guns. Heard too many try to tell people that the most powerful caliber in the smallest, lightest package, is the way to go. No, sorry, that gun (P-40) is a SPECIALISTS gun, I mean, I'm sure with effort and alot more range practice I could master it, but to me, it just wasn't worth the pain. Frankly, for teaching new shooters, I actually have a Hi-point... Yeah... But they have mild recoil, accurate, and develop strong arms.

My EDC is a KT P32, utterly reliable, and for me, in such a SMALL package, I find that the P32 is much easier for me to shoot, than the slightly larger P3AT.

Sadly, KT suffered a bit in the reputation of the P-40, like all their guns, they were generally reliable, just not something most people could handle.

In the end, it's alot like the Glock/1911/Beretta 92 etc grip angle and width... People vary and so does what they like.

I have a P11 with the 40 conversion kit Kel-Tec sold for awhile.
Haven't shot the 9 in years and even longer for the 40- I'll have to remember to take it to the range next trip and shoot both 9 and 40

The P40 was the most painful, viciously recoiling gun I ever owned.
A Redhawk with the original grips is more pleasant.
Too littl weight; too much cartridge.
The P11 is ok though.

I like my PF-9 380 and even the 32. I shoot the 380 and the 9mm very well .Not so good with the 32. I don't know why.