Kel Tec PF9 need some advice

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TimeIsRunninOut

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I currently own a Kel Tec P3AT and am thinking about selling it to purchase a Kel Tec PF9 due to the ammo shortage and lack of good performing ammo (hollow point penetration and mushrooming) All information would be appreciated, also interested in recoil comparison from the two pistols. I already know that the Kahr has a better trigger, price is a bit heavy though. I am however also interested in the new Taurus 709 slim 9mm. Thank you again, Time
 
One of the shooters at the IDPA match today used a PF9 in the Back-up gun match. Functioned fine, and he has good stage times. He said it has been reliable for him... I asked. Held the Taurus Slim at the Gun show last weekend. I was surprised how big it was. Not in the same league as the PF9 and Kahr PM9 for concealment.
 
The current Kahr's all have what used to be called the "Elite" trigger. The stroke length is a bit light and short for my liking. Kahrs have always been high dollar guns since their inception. The justification has always been quality. I've had probably 6 different model Kahrs over the last 12 years. Never a question of quality, reliability was another issue. I recently got the "bug" for a single stack, 9mm polymer frame pistol. The PF9 kt is roughly half the price of the least expensive Kahr available. The reliability stats are roughly the same for both. I got a PF9.
 
Im a Taurus guy and altho i like the PT709 alot,its not a pocket pistol imo.But is more than perfect for CCW and IWB.
Comparing to Keltec id say the PT709 is a bit more refined.
I also chose my current PT745 over the Kahr .45 offerings as they were side by side in the case.My reasoning wasnt as good as most,but i just had to have a manual saftey on a ccw.
 
i like my PF9 a lot very easy to conceil and shoot, but i would personally rather have the P3AT just because i can wear it with anything, the PF9 is still a little heavy for pocket carry if you are wearing like shorts.
 
My PF9 rendered my P3AT obsolete. Once I got the PF9, I relegated the 380 to the safe.
 
Thank you all for the information, I have a brother in-law that is in law enforcement who purchased my Kel Tec P3AT from me. My sister was also happy it is going to serve as her ccp. So I am now off to the gun store tomorrow to place my order and make a long wait for mail order. Just curious what the price range I should be expecting any information would be great on that too. Thank s again, Time
 
The trigger on the PF9 is very crisp, much better than the P11 trigger. Size wise it is not much bigger than the P3AT. The only consideration is that a full-power 9mm in that size feels much bigger than it really is. I'm a big guy, with big hands, and shoot a lot. I consider my PF9 to be a gun that I shoot to stay proficient with, NOT for fun. That being said, it's a great deep concealment gun with the power of a real 9mm behind it instead of a .32 or .380.

Street price for a new or nearly new PF9 is around $300. Local gun stores around here have them in the $289 range but with tax that's over $300- and that's IF they have one which is usually not true.

Be aware that like your P3AT you will need a fluff 'n'buff and a little judicious sanding of flash on the plastic to get it in tip-top shape. I'm glad I got my PF9.

Spare mags are in the $20-$25 range.
 
Time,
I have had my PF9 for about a month now and have put aout 200 rounds in it. I have maybe 2 FTF on the last round of the clip. I read somewhere that the PF9 needed some break-in period so I'm good with that. I was also told, befoire purcahsing it that the kick was a little too snappy. I didn't think so. I added the magazine extender which helped in gripping the pistol a little firmer. I have replaced my PF9 for myTaurus Model 85 snubbie as my carry. I highly recommend it.
 
BPHunter:

Regarding the FTFs, the magazines might be the culprit.

You said in your post that you had replaced the magazine baseplates. It turns out that it's surprisingly easy to reassemble the magazine incorrectly. Well, actually, incorrectly isn't the right term, I suppose. 'Imperfectly' might be more like it.

Take the baseplates off, and remove the spring AND follower. Then carefully put the follower onto the spring before you reassemble.

The followers like to stay inside the magazine even when the spring is removed, and just putting the spring back in could mean the follower isn't properly aligned with the spring. The first mag I replaced the baseplate on, would only hold six rounds until I took it apart and put it back together.
 
Taurus P709 Slim

Never had to do a F/B on the P3AT, if the recoil on the PF9 is as much or slightly more than the P3AT then it wont be an issue at all. I have heard a lot about the Taurus handguns including the new Slim series. Never been fond of them for reliability issues, as for the recommendation of the U85 5 shot. I have already filled that spot with a S&W 442, comp-tac c-tac holster. I am going to handle the Taurus today at our local gun shop where I have just moved to. Hoghead, about how much should I be expecting to pay if I like the P709? I was quoted 419 over the phone as a price.
 
The one I found was the blued slide for 379, I am thinking about getting either the PF9, P709, or a G26 its a little bulkier than I prefer (last resort). I have priced all three units running prices are currently higher than expected.

Kel Tec PF9.....347.17
Taurus P709....411.22
Glock 26.........552.69

All prices include sales tax at 8.5%

I already know with the Glock I will need another custom built holster. The other two most likely either a clip or something similar.
 
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Generally the Kel-tec is a fine weapon. If you don't mind the trigger pull and exaggerated recoil, get one. I think you'll like it. If you like the 709, it's a great shooting gun with better grip and less recoil than the kel-tec.

I've shot both and the kel-tec is a bit more comfortable than my LCP. believe them to be quality pistols at a great price. I'll probably get a kel-tec in the next few months. I like them but i would not consider them range guns.

I thought I was going to make my S&W 642 into a range gun, and it nearly turned me into a one armed man.
 
I prefer long, smooth DA triggers with NO manual safeties on a pocket gun. My P11 is perfection in a pocket. It's like a little square DAO revolver that loads from the bottom and since I'm a revolver guy, that's a good thing. The PF9 is a little slimmer and a couple ounces lighter.
 
I have both the PF-9 and the P-3AT. As far as recoil, I don't sense a lot of difference. They're both a little snappy, but not as bad as 38+P ammo out of my S&W 642. I've found that a Hogue Hand-all Jr slip on grip tames the Kel-Tecs real well, though.

The PF-9 is quite a bit larger and a lot heavier when loaded than the P-3AT but the PF-9 still works well for pocket carry.

I have a number of other handguns, but my carry rotation consists of these three compacts. I feel well armed with any of them.
 
Went to the store today and

there is still no sign of a PF9 coming in the near future, as for what I have seen and felt on the Taurus it is built better than expected. I seen that another person on THR has had some issues with their unit, so I am going to play it safe and give a good cleaning then run at least 250 rounds before carry. Is there any good kydex IWB holsters yet for it? I double checked the price at 379.97 comes out to be about 412 after taxes. Also any recommendations on HP ammunition for it? Thanks again for all your inputs.
 
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I was surprised at the recoil it had...loaded up a borrowed one for the wife...she runs her 4" service Springfield XD9 like a pro...stated that it kicked like a mule. I said "nahhh lemme try" I shot it and said "dang yer right" dunno why it's not "painful" ....just surprising...WAY more than a G26! and not a whole lot smaller (just thinner)
 
I bet its better than my old 442 w/ 135 GD +p, five of them and your more than willing to take a break. I should have it paid off in the next month or two. From all that I have heard these are great little handguns, and recoil ain't very bad at all, just a little more jump. You get used to that with the P3AT. How did you do accuracy wise?
 
You know, I've heard just about everyone tell me that the PF-9 kicks like a mule, but I've never had a problem with it myself. Honestly, I'm a little perplexed. I mean, yes, the gun has proportionate recoil, but I never found it uncomfortable or oppressive to my wrists.

I clearly remember shooting out in the desert. It was Monday, the local range is closed on Mondays, so I went out to an isolated spot in the desert, stuck a cardboard box out in front of a mountain I was using as backstop, filled the box with rocks, and stapled and taped a target to it to practice.

The wind picked up, and I remember taking one hand off of the PF-9, and using it to hold my hair out of my eyes, and firing the remaining 3 rounds one-handed, without any real discomfort.
 
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