Intratec Tec-9 questions

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Swinger

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I've seen a few Intratec Tec-9 pistols at recent gun shows in my area, and I have to say, I'm intrigued by this unique-looking pistol. I've found lots of good information on the internet, but I have a few questions I'm hoping someone here can help with.

First, do any of you guys own a Tec-9? If so, what do you think of it?

Any opinions as to what a fair price is for one? I understand they're pretty hard to find these days, especially the original version with the threaded barrel.

Some Tec-9s are class 3 firearms due to the threaded barrel, right? So do Tec-9s without a threaded barrel but WITH the neat-looking barrel shroud exist?

Hopefully someone here is a Tec-9 expert and can help me out with these questions. Thanks!
 
I owned one a few years ago and I must say that it was not reliable in ejecting rounds causing a jam. Every so often, the gun would run through a thirty rounds like nothing. Most of the time I was dropping the mag, pulling the bolt back while using my pocket knife to extract the spent case that was stuck in the barrel. I sold it back to my friend who I had bought it from and then he sold it off at a gun show.

Class 3 weapons, if I'm not mistaken are full auto and short-barrel or silenced firearms. The threaded barrel would be a preban firearm.

If I were you, I'd save up and buy something of quality. The Tec9 is a unique pistol in its simplicity, but in function, it's unique for its jam-o-matic reputation.
 
The Intratec Tec-9 is an interesting looking firearm, but it's functionality is questionable. Many have feeding problems. I have one of the few I've heard about that actually feeds ok.

They are heavy, somewhat poor in accuracy and with lousy sights. If you want a unique 9mm pistol, go for it. If you want a reliable 9mm pistol for carry or target shooting, get something else.

(The threaded barrel merely makes it a "pre-ban assault pistol")
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I probably should have said up front that I'm just looking at a Tec-9 as a new toy to play with at the range. I certainly wouldn't try to carry a monster like that concealed, and I have a Beretta that would feed rocks without jamming to trust my life to. :)

Regarding the feeding problems, I was kinda afraid that would be the case. I've read a few accounts saying that in general, Tec-9s are usually fairly reliable feeding FMJ rounds, but jam like crazy with any type of hollowpoint ammunition. If I could just get the thing to feed CCI Blazer at the range, I'd be satisfied...guess I would just have to cross my fingers on it if I were to pick one up.

Any idea as to how much I should pay for one of these things? They seemed to be in the $550-$650 range at the show I was at this morning, but I've so far been unable to get a sense of how fair a price that is. I think the $650-ish one had the barrel shroud, and the other didn't.

Thanks again for the help.
 
$550?

Gee, I wish I knew. I think I sold the one I bought from my friend for the $200 I paid for it. Good luck in the quest for a reliable Tec9.
 
Wow!

Guess they have increased in value a little since I bought mine. IIRC, I paid about $200 for it back in '91. Didn't know they were going for that much. Might think about selling mine. :)

No way I would pay $600+ for one of these animals. They just aren't worth that much money and if the AW ban sunsets in '04, they won't be worth that much money. Save a little more money and for about $1000 you can get a full-auto Cobray M11/9.
 
intratec tec-9

there have been a few design changes on the tec 9.early ones didnt have a threaded receiver cap and these tended to break easily the plastic disk on the lower that held it all in place.the newer ones(tec 9 model) had a threaded upper tube that held the guts in place.bolt bottom also was changed,the ridges were removed.then changed to dc-9 and the postban ab-10 we see commonly at shows.i found that adjusting the extractor(held in place by an allen screw),cured extraction problems.i also found that they work best with hot ammo(fed hipower,wolf)i have had several-both the tec 9s and the ab-10s.the design came from the interdynamic made kg9 pistol,which fired from (if memory is correct)an open bolt system.gun changed to kg99 after it was discoverd the ease of illegal full auto conversion and bolt changed to operate closed bolt only.as far as the selling price-depending on what came with it(several factory mags,barrel extensions,ect) and cond,id say 400-450 max.if youre into this kind of pistol,you may want to look at the postban mpa 9mm (mac 11).im told these are very well made as the original swd macs.btw; the only difference betwen the preban tecs and postban ab10 is the threaded muzzle and the model name.
 
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I have the AB-10 edition; it IS reliable; one of a handful of semis I've ever owned that has NEVER malfunctioned (of course, I've only fired about 300 rounds through it . . .). It is NOT accurate, though.

As already stated, a fun pistol for play; not for any type of serious use. I only paid $160 for mine, NIB, when Klinton was in office. In fact, I blame the purchase on him! He said no one needed one; knowing what a consistent liar he was, I interpreted the truth to be EVERYONE needed one! :D
 
My gunshop has two, and usually the "banger" type-looking guys want to know about it, others will just ask.

I will always tell them it's a unreliable piece of crap that's inaccurate. I've shot 3 of them and couldn't hit much and half the mag had feeding or ejection problems.

Save your money, buy a Keltec Sub-2000 and get a 33-round Glock mag for it. You'll have an accurate-to-50-or-100 yard gun, that folds in half and is reliable, for $300-400.
 
I have a friend who bought an early Tec-9...probably over 15 years ago now. I'd been shooting for awhile and was a pretty decent shot by then, and he was just learning. Neither of us could hit a gallon milk jug at 30 feet with the thing. A little later, the bolt broke off, and while trying to disassemble it in his garage, he put a round through the side of his meat freezer. That was the end of Tec-9's for him. That decision probably saved his life.
 
They're still not being made, are they?

I don't think so, and they might not ever be made. Unless its got the rock'n'roll feature whats the difference in getting ANY 9mm semi-auto pistol thats got larger magazines. I can do pretty good with my G19 with G18 mags firing in burst shots at Micheal Moore posters. Tons of fun!!!
 
I have been addicted to Tec-9 for some time. No they're not made any longer, the company that made it was sued out of business. There's still a patent holder floating around, but I doubt if you ever see it made again. The reason is that it's just "evil assault instrument" and any maker will have a big legal bullseye on it. As for the gun, it is reasonably accurate, but not up to standard autoloader level. They look cool and that's main draw, and as for jamomatic, some days are good, some days are okay, also depends on the magazine, make sure it's not dirty. There are 20rd, 32rd and 50rd mags out there, factory 32rd are almost always reliable, aftermarket are less so.

There's a cousin of Tec-9, called AA AP-9, top in the photo. IT is actually a better made gun, with HK style sights. Once you get Tec-9, don't forget to get a Cobray M11/9mm, they are almost made for each other. :evil:

pistolsassault19ne.jpg
 
AirPower,

man you look like you did 50 Cent's new CD cover! :D

i have a Tec in my inventory....they don't move fast. sold 2 in the last 3 months. i think i sold the last two around $325-375ish.

if you're going to get one get an original IntraTec TEC-9 not a TEC-DC9 or a Kimel AP-9.

collectors like the original TEC-9 w/ threaded barrel. it's not Class III. it's considered a pistol.

interesting safety too. the charging handle that sticks out of the bolt is the safety. push in for safe, pull out for fire.

not the best gun in the world, but if you own this and a pit bull you can make a rap video.
 
Steve,
Isnt the AP9 considered a "machine gun" because it fires from an open bolt???


I got to play with one of the early Tec 9's at the range...wasnt a bad weapon, at the time I considered getting one for a truck gun but went with a PG shotty instead
 
there were open bolt versions very early on, I think called AP99 or something like it. I think they discontinued when ATF didn't like the idea of open bolt semiautos. The AA/Kimel AP9 fires from closed bolt.

Thanks for the compliment Steve, I should find some bling bling and nic'd 9 to complete the photo set. :D
 
My grandfather has a Kimel AP9 and it will eat anything. He fires everything from JHPs to cast-lead 147gr swc's. Surprisingly enough it's fairly accurate at 25m and with the 32round stick, front fore-grip and laser it's a fun shooter. My 8 yr old brother loves it and my grandfather will never let it go as long as he believes it to be "Janet Reno's worst nightmare."

Like you said, you just plan on plinking with one. I would definately look at the Kimel, last week there were 2 listed on gunsamerica.com. Back in the day they went for 200.00 but I believe the cheapest one listed was around 350.00.
 
Holy resurrected thread, Batman! Anyone else notice the post dates? One post was Dec 29, 2002, and the next post was......oh, April 4, 2005. Of course, now that I've read closer to get that exact date, I notice this thread has been resurrected again today...but for a good post this time. Oh well, that'll teach me to pay attention. :eek:
 
The Tec-9 I had and more recently the Tec-22 I had were two of the worst guns I have ever owned. The Tec-9 would not feed more than a few rds at a time without jamming and the accuracy could not even be called that with a straight face. The accuracy was so bad that I had to have my friend spot for me because I had no idea where the rds were going when it would fire. Later I found out why my brand new AB-10 was so inaccurate, you could put an unfired 9mm all the into the muzzle. The bore was probably more 9 1/2mm than 9mm. :uhoh: Total junk.

The Tec-22 I had was more interesting. It would fire once in a while without jamming at first then it went full auto for a while then it became a single shot. It would shoot one round and eject it and load the next round but for some reason it was not cocking the hammer so it would not fire. It did this on every round. I bought a new hammer but that didn't fix it. A few rounds later, the sheet metal firing pin snapped in half. :eek:

I have nobody to blaim but myself for buying the Tec-22, I knew what a POS the Tec-9 was but I just wanted more.
 
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