Kel Tec PF9

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Man, I have owned a crap ton of hand guns. Care to elaborate on a 9mm that you feel has MORE severe flip and harsher recoil? "recoil is subjective"-sure, but no. I still want to hear one that has more subjective recoil than the PF-9. :)


What was that about the P-11 coming out with a PF-9 trigger? I didn't see that on KTOG and am super interested to hear if the rumor has validity.
 
What was that about the P-11 coming out with a PF-9 trigger? I didn't see that on KTOG and am super interested to hear if the rumor has validity.
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That was what I was told, last year, when I talked with Kel-Tec about something else.

The person I talked with said THAT was in the works, but could make no projections about WHEN it might be available. Given that they've introduced a PMR-30 that has problems but is greatly in demand, and a new shotgun, I won't be expecting anything in the next year...

I had a P-11, which I thought was a good gun, but I could never really adjust to the trigger. I have a PF-9 which I like. A P11 with the PF9 trigger -- a PF11 -- would be a good alternative.
 
would make the old p11 obsolete. Anyone would be willing to take a 7lb trigger and a physical hammer block over the 9lb+ trigger and no physical trigger block with restrike any day I would think.
 
make sure you're letting the trigger all the way out. apparently, per KelTec that is a common reason for light strikes.
 
would make the old p11 obsolete. Anyone would be willing to take a 7lb trigger and a physical hammer block over the 9lb+ trigger and no physical trigger block with restrike any day I would think.
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Not me, not for pocket carry. I prefer the P11 as is with its. Love the LONG travel trigger for safe carry in a soft pocket holster. I shoot it very well. All it takes is practice. You DO practice, don't ya?
 
I will admit that my $175 PF-9 conceals up to nothing and hasn't failed through 200 rounds. I've fired it four times (50 rounds each) and have yet to clean it, but the darn thing keeps running. I think I'll shoot the thing until the inside is coated with sludge and see when I finally get a failure.

This little gun has given my $500 PX4 Compact a run for the money. I've gotten more failures to feed in my PX4 than I have with any other gun. But this little Kel Tec just keeps running.

HOWEVER, shooting my Kel Tec is like trying to catch a baseball without a glove and the groups are minute-of-pie-plate at 3 yards. That being said, I find myself carrying my Kel Tec when I'm in PA, and not my PX4. There is something to be said for this gun.
 
Send your PX4 to Beretta. Mine is somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 flawless, and all owners I have talked to have experienced similarly Glock (before Gen 4) reliability.

Shouldn't be that way! :)
 
wild cat mccane said:
would make the old p11 obsolete. Anyone would be willing to take a 7lb trigger and a physical hammer block over the 9lb+ trigger and no physical trigger block with restrike any day I would think.
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Had a PF9 and loved it, then got a P11 and realized what true love is. Sold my PF9 and will never look back. Slightly wider grip fits better in my hand. A 12 round capacity that has no competitors in size and weight. Adder the trigger shoe and the trigger is long but nice. Hammer block not an issue for me. Also no malfunctions.

Last but not least, I am more accurrate with the P11
 
Any P11 owners should also try the magazine base grip extension. It makes the gun much more comfortable.

I didn't enjoy my P40 before I added one but love it now.
 
Had a PF9 and loved it, then got a P11 and realized what true love is. Sold my PF9 and will never look back. Slightly wider grip fits better in my hand. A 12 round capacity that has no competitors in size and weight. Adder the trigger shoe and the trigger is long but nice. Hammer block not an issue for me. Also no malfunctions.
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You can also get S&W mags, and a small plastic insert that fits on the base, and have 15 rounds.

My experience with the P11:

I liked mine. Carried it for a while. But I shoot other guns. I was in a pretty active IDPA club back then, and decided to try it out. On the first string of the first stage, I couldn't hit the broad side of the barn. It took several shots before I got it right. Thereafter I did quite well with it. The trigger was so different from what I was used to, that it took me a while to adjust.

I got to thinking that had I been carrying that gun and had been forced to use it in a self-defense situation, the results would likely have been similar -- except it wouldn't be a game where the other guy was a clicking clock. If you shoot the P11 a lot --i.e., it's the gun you shoot the most -- I doubt this would be a problem. But shot irregularly, and under stress, it might be an issue. The next time you take your P11 to the range, see how you do with your first 3-4 shots. If you hit where you expect, no problem...

I sold the P11 and started trying out other smaller guns. I've had a bunch. I like the PF9, and the PF9 trigger is enough like my other guns, that it's not a problem. First shots, even after a long period of non-use, don't give me a problem.

A P11 with the PF9 trigger would be a "sure buy" for me.


 
exactly. Safety of trigger goes two ways. Needs to heavy enough to be safe, but too heavy and the first shot (even at a range) isn't going where it is intended. Dangerous.
 
exactly. Safety of trigger goes two ways. Needs to heavy enough to be safe, but too heavy and the first shot (even at a range) isn't going where it is intended. Dangerous.
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I find no problem picking up my P11 after firing DA with revolvers or such OR even shooting my Ruger Mk2. I have not had this first shot problem with the P11. I've had to use mine while being attacked by a dog, once, the adrenalin made that trigger feel like a target trigger on a S&W M41. When I actually HAD to use it, that DAO was a good thing and I made the hit at about 20 feet.

I have put in excess of 11,000 rounds through my P11 since I bought it in 1996. I quit trying to count a few years back because my practice became more irratic. You might say I am practiced with the gun, though.

I finally had a part break this year shooting on an indoor range. The extractor snapped in half at the pin. I called KT and they sent an extractor from the new gen guns. I didn't realize there was a first and second gen. They dug up a part and sent me the right one pretty quickly, though. It's running fine, again, now. It puts 5 rounds into 3.5" off the bench at 25 yards with a variety of loads, not very load picky as far as accuracy. That's pretty much service pistol accuracy, power, and firepower in a pocket. I have had no desire for another carry since I got the thing, though I do have other options. I can't make myself get interested in a LCP or other .380 considering how easy it is to pocket carry the P11. The PF9 is that much easier being a little slimmer. Sure, the P11 with its wider grip is easier on the hand in recoil. I do have one mag with the finger extension and I have a Hogue handall on the gun. BUT, the PF9 is a slight bit thinner if you need that. I like the PF9 and, frankly, if it'd been available when I got my P11, I probably would have chosen it. It has 2 rounds less capacity than my 10 round mags, so it gives up very little. I've fired one, it ain't no Smith and Wesson M340 with 180 Buffalo Bore, was quite manageable.
 
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Been there done that, have the T-shirt. Had the PF9 for maybe a week and sold it. I would not say my fingers are like fat sausages, but they are not slim like those of a violinist either. Just could not get used to only being able to get the tip of my index finger on the trigger and then that e_n_o_r_m_o_u_s pull. Just not natural.

If i really need to carry a pocket pistol I take a Polish P64 in 9x18 which you can get in like new condition for under $200. Big trigger guard and all steel construction. Tons better that the PF9.
 
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If i really need to carry a pocket pistol I take a Polish P64 in 9x18 which you can get in like new condition for under $200. Big trigger guard and all steel construction. Tons better that the PF9.
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Have one of THOSE, too. You'll need a spring kit from Wolff. If you think the DA on a P11 or PF9 is rough...ROFL. It's shootable in DA with the lighter Wolff hammer spring in it. I couldn't hit squat with it in DA before that. The transition from DA to SA is my main gripe with the P64, double tap whether you want to or not, SA is so light. Accurate little toot, which is a good thing since it's slightly more umph than a .380 and you have 7 rounds to get it done. It's slimmer than my P11, but quite a bit heavier in my pocket. Funny thing, too, if you don't like recoil, don't ask me why, but the lighter, more powerful P11 is more pleasant to shoot. Guess it's the blow back vs locked breach thing. I put Marschal grips on mine and now I don't need a shooting glove to keep it from hurting me.

All in all, the P64 stays at home most times and the P11 does pocket duties. I like the P64, just don't carry it much. I WON'T sell it, so don't ask. :D

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I have a KT P40 and a Polish P64. Honestly despite the larger round and polymer construction, I find the KT more pleasant to shoot.
 
I had 15 light strikes out of one box of Blazers! Put the round back in the mag and it fired every time.

Does this sound like a spring, firing pin, dunce of a shooter?
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Remove the firing pin, then clean it and clean the channel. The FP is very lightweight in the PF9, so a little semi-dry goo in there will slow it down considerably. I took mine out the day I bought in in 2* weather and ahdn't yet cleaned the FP channel. Had 5 or 6 light strikes out of the box. Took it home, detail cleaned, nary a problem since.

And make sure you're trigger is resetting fully.
 
got my pf9 back from the factory after @ 6 weeks. they replaced the slide and barrel and polished everything. one failure in the first magazine that may have been due to a loose grip. after i tightened my grip there were no more failures. sad to say but i rented a glock 26 that day (always disliked glocks but i shoot them well and they are ultra reliable) and bought it. i'll be keeping the pf9 because it's soooo easy to carry but the glock is now my preferred carry piece.
 
You've got two good options, now.

I like Glocks, but find their sub-compacts just too boxy for my taste. If they built a sub-compact single stack (like the Glock 36), I might be enticed to retire my PF-9. A Kahr PM9 is a good alternative, too.
 
wickedsprint said:
I've only got around ~150 rds through mine(20+P) but no issues thus far. It did shake the belt clip loose though.
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I didn't get the factory belt clip. I got one from Midway that came with a 3M adhesive rubber strip that "glues" on the side. (I wanted the clip on the left side for behind the back carry for a right-hander.) I KNEW that this glued on rubberstrip with a skinny clip couldn't possibly work.
It's been on for 3 years now and shows no sign of coming loose. I bought 2 other clips and put them on other "pocket pistols". They are great.
 
HOWEVER, shooting my Kel Tec is like trying to catch a baseball without a glove
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I'm always reminded of the "noisy cricket" from Men in Black when I shoot my PF-9. No problem with accuracy at self-defense ranges though.
 
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