About 2 weeks ago, I bought a Keltec PF9. The next day, I took it to the range and fired about 40-50 rounds (different brands such as Winchester white box, Blazer Brass, Wolf, Remington, etc.). Some were JHP and some were FMJ rounds - all 115gr. It functioned flawlessly with all rounds fired, including using two magazines. I considered it fit for "production", as I call it - and put it in my "eligible for carry" pile.
When I got home, I field stripped and cleaned it - then put it back together and loaded it.
A couple days later, a friend of mine was in town - and we decided to go shooting. I started firing the PF9, and after around 4 or 5 rounds, I had a malfunction. The spent shell casing was not successfully ejected from the chamber - and the slide was pushing a fresh round onto it. I didn't know if the extractor had malfunctioned or what. I dropped the mag, locked the slide back and manually pulled the shell casing out of the chamber. I fired a couple more rounds - and I had another failure. This time, the gun jammed while feeding a new round into the chamber. Disgusted, I field stripped the gun, removed the barrel, ran a boresnake through the barrel a few times - coated with Rem Oil, lubed the gun up with Tetra Oil, wiped off the excess - and reassembled.
I started shooting it again - and the same crap started happening again. My friend shot it a few times and he had the same issue. I held it as firmly as possible - so as to ensure the problem wasn't a result of limpwristing, as this little gun has quite a bit of "bite" for a 9mm. It jammed at least 6 or 7 times - and finally, I unloaded it and declared that I would never fire another round through it again.
Yes, it was still under warranty - and I'm sure it could be fixed, but I would never feel like I could trust it 100% ever again. I began to look for a replacement.
It took me about 10 seconds to realize that the replacement would be a Glock 26. In fact, I had considered the 26 before I purchased the PF9 - but I ended up going for the PF9 since it is smaller and thinner. I already have a Glock 17 - and love it.
When I am with a student who is a new shooter - or if I am helping someone decide which gun is right for them, I allow them to shoot a variety of my guns - so they can see what works for them. 90% of the time, they pick the Glock 17 as their favorite out of several other guns, including snub nose revolvers, full frame revolvers, 1911 and a couple others.
So today, I went back to the original gun store where I bought the PF9. The dealer worked out a deal that I was pleased with - and I traded for the 26. I immediately took it to the range (re: our family farm, not an actual range) - and fired about 100 rounds through it, using at least 6 different types of ammo, both magazines the gun came with - as well as 2 magazines that came with my 17.
Guess what...... no malfunctions.
Now - I have owned several Keltecs. I have had 2 P11s, the P40, 2 P32s and a P-3AT. I still have a P32 which my wife carries - although it did have a slight hiccup while we were shooting it the other day. Because of that, my wife and I decided that this will now be replaced with another gun. It will either be the 26 or the 19.
I thought I would relay this information to everyone - so you can consider my experience before you make a purchase for your next carry gun.
When I got home, I field stripped and cleaned it - then put it back together and loaded it.
A couple days later, a friend of mine was in town - and we decided to go shooting. I started firing the PF9, and after around 4 or 5 rounds, I had a malfunction. The spent shell casing was not successfully ejected from the chamber - and the slide was pushing a fresh round onto it. I didn't know if the extractor had malfunctioned or what. I dropped the mag, locked the slide back and manually pulled the shell casing out of the chamber. I fired a couple more rounds - and I had another failure. This time, the gun jammed while feeding a new round into the chamber. Disgusted, I field stripped the gun, removed the barrel, ran a boresnake through the barrel a few times - coated with Rem Oil, lubed the gun up with Tetra Oil, wiped off the excess - and reassembled.
I started shooting it again - and the same crap started happening again. My friend shot it a few times and he had the same issue. I held it as firmly as possible - so as to ensure the problem wasn't a result of limpwristing, as this little gun has quite a bit of "bite" for a 9mm. It jammed at least 6 or 7 times - and finally, I unloaded it and declared that I would never fire another round through it again.
Yes, it was still under warranty - and I'm sure it could be fixed, but I would never feel like I could trust it 100% ever again. I began to look for a replacement.
It took me about 10 seconds to realize that the replacement would be a Glock 26. In fact, I had considered the 26 before I purchased the PF9 - but I ended up going for the PF9 since it is smaller and thinner. I already have a Glock 17 - and love it.
When I am with a student who is a new shooter - or if I am helping someone decide which gun is right for them, I allow them to shoot a variety of my guns - so they can see what works for them. 90% of the time, they pick the Glock 17 as their favorite out of several other guns, including snub nose revolvers, full frame revolvers, 1911 and a couple others.
So today, I went back to the original gun store where I bought the PF9. The dealer worked out a deal that I was pleased with - and I traded for the 26. I immediately took it to the range (re: our family farm, not an actual range) - and fired about 100 rounds through it, using at least 6 different types of ammo, both magazines the gun came with - as well as 2 magazines that came with my 17.
Guess what...... no malfunctions.
Now - I have owned several Keltecs. I have had 2 P11s, the P40, 2 P32s and a P-3AT. I still have a P32 which my wife carries - although it did have a slight hiccup while we were shooting it the other day. Because of that, my wife and I decided that this will now be replaced with another gun. It will either be the 26 or the 19.
I thought I would relay this information to everyone - so you can consider my experience before you make a purchase for your next carry gun.
