Went to a couple of LGS's today and I saw a few Kel tec pistols in 9mm for as low as $219. While I'm not too serious about buying one they did have a certain appeal to them mainly being the price. Is there anyone out there who has had any bad experiences with them. I know there is a thread going about the M&P shield and was able handle them, one with a safety the other without. They are close to the top of my to get list along with the Ruger LC-9.
Kel-Tec as carry pistol? Opinions?
- Thread starter vongh
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It's good enough for NutnFancy, and he shoots more than 99.9% of the guys here. If you don't know who he is, check out his videos on YouTube. He EDC's a PF9, and he's shot pretty much everything.
Kel Tec pistols are what they are. Inexpensive SD guns not meant to be range guns. Reliable once it has been put through its paces. Like any semi, I'd never stake my life on any of 'em without running a few hundred rounds of ammo through them.
I also want to add that Kel Tec's P32, P3AT, PF9, & P11 are all some combination of smallest, lightest, thinnest, & highest capacity in their class.
I also want to add that Kel Tec's P32, P3AT, PF9, & P11 are all some combination of smallest, lightest, thinnest, & highest capacity in their class.
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Nothing wrong with Kel Tec guns that I have shot so long as one realizes that one gets what one pays for. They are reliable and inexpensive - they are expendable bottom of the line SD pistols and very good in that role.
Don't expect to put a lot of rounds thru them - not range guns or training pistols. They are cost effective SD pistols.
VooDoo
Don't expect to put a lot of rounds thru them - not range guns or training pistols. They are cost effective SD pistols.
VooDoo
jhb
Member
Own a handful. A p32.....couple of pf9s..and a p11. I look at them as better made and designed evolution of the jennings low cost tools.
Mine have all worked fine. They are low cost pistols with a solid warranty for folks who don't have a lot of money. I wouldn't and don't use mine as range toys. They shoot fine but aren't what I call fun to shoot firearms for more than a couple of mags.
Guess it just depends what you plan on doing with it. I shot my buddies 9mm m&pshield and it was far more pleasant to shoot than my pf9s and p11. No real comparison. I've also shot the ruger. It was a little nicer than my keltecs. If I wanted a range toy and carry gun I'd lean towards the shield over a keltec or ruger, but that's me.
That said i haven't dumped my keltecs and bought a shield....so while I think it's a better easier shooting gun....not so much that I felt a need to have to change over.
Mine have all worked fine. They are low cost pistols with a solid warranty for folks who don't have a lot of money. I wouldn't and don't use mine as range toys. They shoot fine but aren't what I call fun to shoot firearms for more than a couple of mags.
Guess it just depends what you plan on doing with it. I shot my buddies 9mm m&pshield and it was far more pleasant to shoot than my pf9s and p11. No real comparison. I've also shot the ruger. It was a little nicer than my keltecs. If I wanted a range toy and carry gun I'd lean towards the shield over a keltec or ruger, but that's me.
That said i haven't dumped my keltecs and bought a shield....so while I think it's a better easier shooting gun....not so much that I felt a need to have to change over.
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I have a PF-9 . Mine has been perfect since day. I brought home I have several other KelTecs P-32 and P3AT My other 1/2 and 2 daughters carry P-32's and I have one I carry now and then also
Peakbagger46
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I have carried a Kel-Tec P3AT for about 10 years now.
Still goes bang.
Still fits in my hip pocket behind my billfold.
rc
Still goes bang.
Still fits in my hip pocket behind my billfold.
rc
JeeperCreeper
Member
Second this motion
Keltecs are cheap, normally very reliable, accurate for what it is, and comes with top notch customer service.
My other favorite for budget carry is the SCCY line of pistols. Can't go wrong with either Keltec or SCCY
Swing
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I've carried a P32 about eight years. Packs light, never failed to go bang when required, and features 11 rounds on tap in a very thin package that positively disappears in men's business attire. The best? Nope, not by any definition, but it works when I can't pack something heavier. YMMV.
I had a Kel-tec P3AT that was a lemon of the worst kind. Now nothing Kel-tec comes through the door regardless of model.
Used to have a P11 and P32. Unrefined for sure, but reliable and very concealable. I had to send the P11 back for some misfeeds, and they fixed me right up. Their triggers pretty much sucked, as did their fit/finish. I was confident with their function, and that is what is most important.
MachIVshooter
Member
I've owned quite a few, still own many. Had my P3AT since 2003, had issues with the mag release initially (was a problem on the first gens), and the hammer spring broke in 2010 (no idea what round count was). Otherwise, it's been a reliable little gun.
Bought a PF9 in 2007, carried it quite a bit, overall great value. Never had any issues with that one.
P32 ran fine, but I never carried it, sold it to a buddy.
PMR-30 busted the take down pin somewhere around 1,200 rounds, has gone at least that many on the replacement. Had one bad magazine, but otherwise no issues.
Have owned 2 PLR-16s, sold one, no plans to offload the other. Don't ever recall a failure with them.
In short, KT guns are GTG after the usual autoloader litmus test.
PF9 did lose it's accolades to the Diamondback DB9, which is smaller, thinner and lighter.
Bought a PF9 in 2007, carried it quite a bit, overall great value. Never had any issues with that one.
P32 ran fine, but I never carried it, sold it to a buddy.
PMR-30 busted the take down pin somewhere around 1,200 rounds, has gone at least that many on the replacement. Had one bad magazine, but otherwise no issues.
Have owned 2 PLR-16s, sold one, no plans to offload the other. Don't ever recall a failure with them.
In short, KT guns are GTG after the usual autoloader litmus test.
PF9 did lose it's accolades to the Diamondback DB9, which is smaller, thinner and lighter.
They are little guns
I suggest you shoot them first, esp. the .380's
I chose the P32 over the P3AT because, for me, it's much easier for me to control and shoot accurately
I HAD a P40
a gun that just about doubles it weight with a full magazine
the brass went about 30+ feet up, slightly to the right and landed on my car about 20-25' behind me.
I could shoot the gun accurately
I could even shoot the gun somewhat quickly
I could not do both, and attempt to practice doubles, would ALWAYS end up with a FTE/FTF because I would limpwrist the second shot.
ALSO... if you want to know what shooting it felt like, take a 10oz ball peen hammer, and just start hitting your hand. It was someone's gun, just not a gun I could trust, nor one I like to shoot.
I suggest you shoot them first, esp. the .380's
I chose the P32 over the P3AT because, for me, it's much easier for me to control and shoot accurately
I HAD a P40
a gun that just about doubles it weight with a full magazine
the brass went about 30+ feet up, slightly to the right and landed on my car about 20-25' behind me.
I could shoot the gun accurately
I could even shoot the gun somewhat quickly
I could not do both, and attempt to practice doubles, would ALWAYS end up with a FTE/FTF because I would limpwrist the second shot.
ALSO... if you want to know what shooting it felt like, take a 10oz ball peen hammer, and just start hitting your hand. It was someone's gun, just not a gun I could trust, nor one I like to shoot.
rskent
Member
I had a P11 for a while. It was reliable enough to carry, for sure.
Not a bad gun at all but I just couldn't get used to the trigger.
My trigger finger still hurts when I think about that thing.
Not a bad gun at all but I just couldn't get used to the trigger.
My trigger finger still hurts when I think about that thing.
bannockburn
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I had a PF9 for pocket carry but decided I wanted something even smaller so I traded it in on a P3AT. Works fine in its intended role.
Coyote3855
Member
I'm a KelTec fan. P11, P3AT, PMR 30, P32, P40 (stays in the safe, thank you very much). Have a PF9 on order. That said, I usually carry my Kahr .380 for backup or dress up, and a Glock 26 or 23 for serious EDC. The P11 lives in my wife's truck and she carried the P32 working outdoors around the house. The PMR 30 is sudden death on feral cats that infest our property and I carry it when mowing the windbreaks, fixing fence, etc.
JB357MAG
Member
Dan-O
Member
I backup edc a P-32 or P-3AT depending on dress. The P-32 has a belt clip, and gets the nod when wearing sweats, workout shorts, etc. the P-3AT rides in my back left pocket when wearing jeans, pants, cargoes, etc.
I also occasionally carry either a PF9 or P-11 as a primary carry. Just installed an RTK trigger on my P-11 and have been really happy with the results. Have yet to shoot it to ensure reliability, but if it passes the test will most likely order another for my PF9.
I also occasionally carry either a PF9 or P-11 as a primary carry. Just installed an RTK trigger on my P-11 and have been really happy with the results. Have yet to shoot it to ensure reliability, but if it passes the test will most likely order another for my PF9.
Keltec P3at = Ruger LCP
Keltec PF9 = Ruger LC9
If they are good enough for Ruger to buy/lease the design then they must be pretty reliable.
I've carried a p3at for a few years. Only problem I've had is not clean it and a bad extractor. Been a great gun. Their other guns have been quite reliable as well.
Keltec PF9 = Ruger LC9
If they are good enough for Ruger to buy/lease the design then they must be pretty reliable.
I've carried a p3at for a few years. Only problem I've had is not clean it and a bad extractor. Been a great gun. Their other guns have been quite reliable as well.
dusty14u
Member
I have carried a PF9 since 2007. Somewhere around 1500 rounds through it. I shoot a mag or so every few months and it has always fired and is fairly accurate. I have other carry guns but the PF9 gets carried the most because it is the easiest to conceal. Mine had never had a failure or broken anything but I hear that the cistomer service for KelTec is very good.
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