642 vs kel tec pf9

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johnnylaw53

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As I have mention before I go back and forth with snub nose .38's at present I carry a s&w 642 as an off duty weapon. While I have never had a lot of luck with small auto's I been thinking of a slim single stack 9mm. One of the guys that work in correction came by a few days ago and show me his new kel tec pf9 which he stated is going to replace his old s&w mod. 36 as off duty. I owned a p32 a while ago but went back to the snub but really didn't have any problems with the p32 but it would jam now and then which is something I really don't want in an off duty weapon. I was wondering if any of you out there have replaced your snub nose with a pf9 and wondering how's it worked for you. I"m intrested only in the pf9 since I don't tend to like owning too many weapons that have the same mission but the cheap price of the pf9 would let me try it and keep the 642 just in case I end up wanting to go back to the snub. But it a waste of money and time if i fine out the pf9 just doesn't work well. Thank you in advance for any thoughts on the subject.

be safe
 
I had a PF9 (2nd owner...sold to a 3rd party who then had trouble and I bought it back to give to my BIL whose wife didn't want a gun in the house so I sold it off instead) that ran perfectly for all of us who owned it. I carried it for a while, but being a lefty and pocket carrying the gun, I kept bumping the mag release, unseating the mag. When I took the gun out of my pocket to enter a school or post office or at the end of the day, I never knew if the mag was seated or not without feeling first. Not so good if I needed it to save my life.

The gun ran 100%, but for the mag issue I would have kept it - maybe. I was told the new metal mag release helps. Not being a lefty, pocket carrying the gun and bumping into things helps even more.

Oh...I now carry an LCR, pocket carry.

Q
 
The 642 is a finer weapon, but the PF9 I have is 100% reliable (so far, only have maybe 2000 rounds through it) and *so* easy to carry. Why not ask the guy you know if he'd trade with you for a few days...you might see for yourself how sweet it is!
 
I've owned a P11 for 14 years now and it's been perfect through many thousands of rounds. It's 3.5" at 25 yards accurate and puts a 115 grain JHP +P load out at 1262 fps, which more resembles .357 mag 2" snubby performance than .38 +P and it holds 11 rounds. It's also smaller in a pocket and only 14 ounces and is very easy to shoot, low flash/bang, compared to a .357 snub. However, I also own a Taurus .38 ultralite and carry it a lot, too. I'd suggest you own both. The trigger on the PF9 is easier to get used to than the P11, it's flatter, it's 2 ounces lighter, gives up only a few rounds in firepower.

I think these little 9mm subcompacts are about as good as it gets for pocket carry as a pocket primary. There's almost as many of 'em out there to choose from as there is the little .380s now days. Kahr, Kel Tec, Rohrbaugh, Taurus (PT709), to name a few. However, I often carry my little stainless ultralite when out fishing or outdoors in the summer and I carry it as back up to my 3" .medium frame .357 magnum since two speed strips filled with .38 special +P will fit either gun, makes for a convenient carry package. Personally, I like having both options. This time of year, I carry the belt gun a lot with the .38 as backup. Summer, the belt gun rarely sees duty, mostly pocket carry and the little 9 just makes so much sense in that role.
 
I've had both a 642 and a PF-9 for more than a year now and shot both extensively. I carry one or the other (or a P3AT) depending on how I'm dressed.

I like the 642 more from the standpoint of a fine crafted piece of metalwork, but the PF-9 has been absolutely reliable and has a greater capacity, which is a consideration. If I was forced to choose one over the other, I'd keep the 642. But I carry the PF-9 more often. I feel well armed with either.
 
I own both a KT PF-9, a 1964 vintage S&W M36 and recently sold a M638 to finance another purchase, so I'm comfortable comparing the PF-9 to S&W J frames. My PF-9 has been near perfect in 500 rounds. All the PF-9's hiccups (4 rounds total) have been caused by me (limp wristing, hitting mag release or thumb brushing slide during recoil). I am most impressed with the accuracy of the PF-9. Out to 10 yards this little 9mm will shoot one ragged hole. The trigger on mine is long but very smooth. As others have mentioned, the PF-9 is just so thin and light that you can actually forget you have a gun on your hip (I carry mine IWB at 4 o'clock).

I agree with MCgunner, I think there is a place for both the PF-9 and a J frame .38 in everyones collection. I cant ever see myself parting with my M36, but the small size and light weight of the PF-9 has allowed me to sell my M638 and not look back:)
 
You're comparing one of the most reliable guns to one of the most unreliable guns. I would never trust any KelTec.
 
There are haters all over the net.

F1...would you feel safe in front of my Kel-Tec?

No doubt, S&W revolvers are some of the most reliable handguns around, but my Kel-Tec (and many others it seems) are trouble-free. Try and decide for yourself.
 
thanks guys for all your imput. As far as the haters some people just form an ideal on things they here from others or things that happen to them. I will assume that F1 have had a bad experence with a kel tec and that why he feel the way he does. In 1980 while going thur the sherrif's acdamy my colt trooper fireing pin broke I ended up with a ruger to finish range week with and have never wanted another colt. I do understand that the kel tec may have had some issues in the past but I also know that my 642 have never had any problems and I have quite a few rounds shot out of it, it has the evil lock that so many people seems to hate but no problems with mine. I also know from reading the pf9 had some problems out of the gate but from what I have read kel tec had address those. I think I will go shopping this weekend and see if I can pick one up but just not get rid of the 642 if the kel tec prove to be good then I have added some firepower to my off duty carry if not well from what I see I shouldn't be out of more then 300 dollars. thanks again for you imput

be safe
 
Probably not more than about 2000 Speer Gold Dot 124's plus enough of the same +P to ensure functioning.

It's made to shoot a little and carry a lot. I accept this in such a compact and lighteweight firearm.

FWIW and before I get slammed as a noob, I was SAMTU (Small Arms Maintenance and Training Unit) for 15 years and have been for over 30 years an active competitor in National Match, PPC, early IPSC, IDPA, hunter safety in several States and used to build custom 1911's. I'm fairly competent. Kel-Tec *did* have early issues with the PF9 (mine is one of them) but figured out what needed to be tweaked (much as we used to do with 1911's in fact) and they should all function 100% with just a little bit of effort, the right ammo and proper shooting technique.

I have a wide range of firearms available to choose from...the PF9 is my summer carry.
 
You're comparing one of the most reliable guns to one of the most unreliable guns. I would never trust any KelTec.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you had a bad experience with one. Its funny... my experience was exactly the opposite. The brand new S&W 637 I picked up in 2009 had to go back to the factory 2 times before they finally just replaced the entire gun. My 2 Kel Tecs on the other hand have never had a hiccup... ever.

Different strokes. Having said that, I would have no problem recommending wither the 642 or the PF9. The PF9 would be a bit flatter, and maybe a bit lighter than the 642. It is also very reliable. Nonetheless, I think they are both good guns that will serve you well. If your snubby is working for you, I would just stick with it... unless you are just looking for an excuse to buy another gun (I do that sometimes).
 
Ktog is a company shill forum. In fact that whole company gives me the heeby jeebies, especially since going on their forum with their bible-quoting psychos hustling KelTecs for all thy're worth and their quickly banning people who mention their troubles with same. The guy who owns it was hustling a lemon of a gun called the Grendel and then he dumped that and started KelTec.

"Sounds like you had a bad experience with one."

No, with more than one. First I had the .32. that thing kept falling apart and I kept sending it back to KelTec. I think the postage cost me more than the gun. Finally it went back to them so many times they actually refunded my money to me. Then I found a baby blue .32 at a gun show and, like an idiot, I thought I'd give it another try because I kept hearing these guys saying they loved it. Well it jammed too. Traded it to someone I know who had the same problem with it and he sold it.

Then I bought their .380 when it came out. That was the best of the bunch for me, but when it jammed I said I can't trust this thing in an emergency and I sold it too.

Some people never learn, so last year I bought their new 9mm. It jammed. Sent it back to the factory. They sent it back. Still jammed just the same. Sold it.

Spare me the "limp wristing" gag. I've had a lot of experience with handguns and I never want to see another KelTec.

The .Ruger LCP is the ONLY - and I've gone through others too - tiny auto that ever worked well for me. Still, this is a revolver board, and a good revolver is the most reliable without any question.
 
The .Ruger LCP is the ONLY - and I've gone through others too - tiny auto that ever worked well for me.
Click to expand...

And it's almost an exact copy of the P3AT. Hmmmmm........

I bought the LCP too but the only difference is the Ruger has a little nicer finish and probably better QC.
 
"So, F1...are you mad at Kel-Tec or at yourself?

yow..."

Both actually.

"And it's almost an exact copy of the P3AT. Hmmmmm........

I bought the LCP too but the only difference is the Ruger has a little nicer finish and probably better QC."

No "probably" about quality control. Keltec has zero quality control. Their "quality control" is "send it back if you have a problem", even after they "fix" it. And there's a lot more difference than "a little nicer finish". There's no teeny little piece inside the Ruger that falls out when you break it down, and the locking pin doesn't work it's way out and/or break, and other cheap and dinky parts and materials...and the Ruger actually works! I hope Ruger steals Grendel/Keltec's 9mm design too and makes it work! KelTec - good designs, junk materials, zero quality control.
 
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Do not get off subject.

People need to know that the pf-9 has a screwed up mag follower. It is designed poorly.

My link just supports this.

(I carry a p3at every day, so no need to call me a hater)
(I irritated a lot on KTOG when I said my pf-9 would not work. I got banned when I told the head he was silly for preaching 10k rounds is necessary to stockpile)
 
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Wanted to update my post. I went ahead and borrow my friend pf9 a few days ago first just to handle and see how it feel to me. Took it shooting and it seems to do fine with the exception of one ftf out of 50 rounds. He had only shot 50 rounds himself before he loaned it to me so it has not been fully broken in. I then took the 642 50 rounds no problem at all. We have a gun show coming up next month so I will still think of it some more but got to thinking after the range when I first got the 642 went to the range and if I remember right a little over 100 rounds and no problem except a little skin removed by some 158 lead hollow points +p that I had hanging around. LIke the way the pf9 feel maybe I may just be happy with the 642 for awhile we will see.

be safe
 
I have both and the revolver is much more reliable. I own two PF9's and one is a paperweight. The other is so so. I own many 2 inch revolvers never had any problems with any type of ammo, ever. PF9 is very picky on ammo selection. I love the feel and look of the Kel Tec and that it's a nine, but when and if I ever needed a reliable gun I would pick the revolver hands down. I have found that smaller auto's are a bit more finicky and picky on ammo and do not function as well as their larger counterparts. Take the 1911 this gun works best at 5 inch barrel. Move that barrel down to 3 inches and troubles start. My feeling is this: If I carry a small carry gun, I want a revolver. If I choose a medium to large carry gun I choose an auto. Now there are a few exceptions but the kel tec is not one of them. Kel Tec's are hit or miss and you have a 50/50 chance that you get a good one, or a bad one. How's your luck running? My luck runs 100% with a snubs. I prefer the older Colts and Smiths. Good Luck
 
I dont understand it. I do not understand why people keep going back to these cheezy kel-tecs.

If you are going to spend hundreds, get something decent people. Dont be penny wise and pound foolish.

Keep, fluffin and buffin. 1 jam out of 50, thats not bad right? /puke
 
May I suggest another innovative US company that competes with Kel-Tec in the low cost 9mm market?

"The flagship feature of the Jimenez Arms J.A. Nine( 9mm ) is its easy to use massive screw adjustable rear sight which is adjustable for windage and elevation. Other, higher priced, pistols do not offer this kind of flexibility. The high visibility front sight is another great feature which adds to a highly effective sight pattern. These features coupled with a last round slide hold open makes this pistol uncommonly accurate and a delight at the range.J.A. Nine is available in a Black, Nickel, Satin Chrome, Satin Nickel or Two-Tone Finish. iTwo 12 Round Mags Available in, Satin Chrome, Satin Nickel or Two-Tone Finish. Made in California lifetime warranty Sold with 50 Rounds of Ammunition!"

50 rounds of ammo boys, step right up.

JA9.jpg


Anyhow, yes, the J-frame is the way to go. Smith and Wesson vs Kel-Tec... Classic Revolver vs Poorly Made Auto...

This should not be even a question in my mind.
 
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