Kel-Tec

[resqbubba]

I have been looking and can't find the answer I am looking for. Just how reliable are Kel-Tec Handguns?? I am not looking to go to the range day after day with one, but if I need to shoot, I want to know I will be fine! I like the size of them as a pocket gun. I wonder though if I am better off with my trusty S&W 642. The price of the Kel-Tec is very, very affordable and that is very, very scary!!! Any thoughts are always appreciated!!!!

Thanks

 

[MCgunner]

Check the archives for KT. There are KT bashers here, but I'm not one of 'em. I've got around 10K+ rounds through my 9 year old P11 and it's never had a jam or a problem and I've never fluffed or buffed or had to deal with what I hear is the best customer service in the industry. The gun is very accurate, the trigger very smooth, long, but very smooth, and it's 100% reliable. I do clean and lube my gun regularly, probably lavish excessive attention to it, but I do that with any weapon I'm trusting my life to.

You might go to http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi#10 and introduce your self to the nice folks there and read some of the posts there, the ins and outs, the pros and the cons.

 

[JDGray]

Affordable doesn't always denote cheap. I'd classify my P11 as I would my Rugers, not over priced, and 100% reliable.

 

[Atticus]

I'm happy with my P3AT 2nd gen. All makers produce some lemons...but at least Keltec seems to care about problems, and works to eliminate them.

 

[Blue .45]

I bought a used 1rst gen. P32 a couple of months ago.I don't consider it a good range gun alhtough, some have put thousands of rounds through theirs. Mine has been very reliable and I would not hesitate to buy another.
Click here for another good Kel Tec site. http://www.ktrange.com/

 

[Deles136]

I have carried Kel-Tec pistols, P-11, P-32, Now P-3AT, for the last 8 years and never had any problems with any of them.

 

[Geno]

Mine always works

And it better work...it's my 1st back-up. It is also the 1st back-up for many police officers.

Doc2005

 

[Hypnogator]

My "always" gun is a Kel-Tec P-32, but I carry it a lot and shoot it a little.

OTOH, I got rid of my P-11 because it physically b-r-o-k-e three times while I was shooting it, all of which rendered it inoperable. After the third breakage, Kel-Tec replaced it with an entirely new P-11 with my old SN#. Being a newer generation, it would have probably been reliable, but I just couldn't trust it not to break 2 rounds into a 3-round gunfight. Had less than 1,000 rds through it all together, very few of which were +P.

I now carry a Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro. Have about 2,200 rds through it with no problems.

 

[Soybomb]

Here's the deal, any gun you buy needs to be tested before you trust it, even that brand new revolver. My new S&W 642 was unreliable right out of the box and had to go back for repair. I've also had a kel-tec that had to go back for repair. S&W has better service, but both are quite excellent. Both fixed their guns, and both guns work 100% now. I went out with some friends and their new p32 this weekend and it was 100%. I'd not hesitate to buy from either company again.

 

[ugaarguy]

I have been looking and can't find the answer I am looking for. Just how reliable are Kel-Tec Handguns??

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218146 Well, after seeing Kel-Tecs get bashed I opened that poll. I think the votes speak for themselves.

The price of the Kel-Tec is very, very affordable and that is very, very scary!!! Any thoughts are always appreciated!!!!

Kel-Tec is a great company IMO. They've kept their production in the US, offer a quality product at a great price, and stand behind it with a lifetime warranty. That's a rarity in today's market, and they're a company I'll happily support by purchasing their products.

 

[1 old 0311]

Or this poll? www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=160074&highlight=keltec

 

[mainmech48]

All I can say is that my P-32 is (except when sleeping or bathing) is always on my person. It was semi-difficult to master its looong trigger pull and strange sight set-up, but it has been absolutely reliable and nothing has broken in nearly 1K rds. of assorted ball and Gold Dot HPs.

My P-11 has been likewise totally reliable with both 115 and 124 gr. ball or JHPs. If I'd break down and practice more until I could shoot it as well as my beloved old Star M-43, I would have no qualms about using it as one of my primary warm weather/light clothing CCWs.

I've heard and read all the bashes here and a couple of other places. Can't discount the possibility that some might well be justified, but my own experiences make me sprinkle a good dash of salt on 'em.

My only experience with their CS has been to order a couple of extra mags for each and grip extension baseplates for the P-11's. Fast delivery and no hassles whatever.

Not everybody can afford a Kahr, Mini Glock or the like. IMO, the Kel-Tecs fill a very real and valuable niche quite well.

 

[MR.G]

I usually carry a P-11 or a P-3AT in my front pocket. Both have fired over 400 rounds without any problems.

 

[the naked prophet]

For what it is (an affordable gun until you can afford a better one) I think it's great. I carried one for over a year and I never felt outgunned or had any less confidence in it than I do in any other gun I carry. I got a better job and bought a Browning Hi-Power and others since then.

I traded it for a Taurus 85 stainless, mostly because I shoot a lot, and I was going to wear it out before long. If you can afford enough ammo to wear it out, you can afford a better gun. All of my current guns are "heirloom guns" which will have many thousands of rounds through them before I pass them on to my children.

Be aware before you buy one, the reason they are less expensive is that the manufacturer skips a few finishing operations. Those few operations save you a lot of money, and if you're handy with sandpaper then it's not a big deal. Do the fluff&buff and you should be fine. For a gun that I'd pay more than $275, I would not expect to need to do a F&B. But a Kel-Tec is a quality gun which is just a tad rough. The Jennings, etc. are just junk and can't be improved by a F&B.

 

[TC-TX]

I carry one as a BUG every day...

HUNDREDS of rounds, not a single failure of ANY KIND...

NO Fluff & Buff - NOTHING but regular cleaning...

100% reliable and accurate...

WHAT MORE could you ask?

 

[gringolet]

not much

I have had a kel-tec 32 a couple of years..shot little,
carried much...posted my problem with it the other day and thought
I had remedied it..nope...still busted. What happened is the thing
mysertiously will cock itself if the slide is pulled manually...
but when firing with an inserted magazine it will not recock itself and is a single shot only. This is not a good thing for a close defensive pistol and
is not a thing to be discovered until a shooting session. The pistol is boxed up for a return to kel-tec in florida and I will advise how that works out, but
I am probably going to have a hard time trusting a kel-tec in the future,
certainly this one.
I think a person is better off to do any of these options for a 32 or 380 pocket pistol.....
a. find one of the old colt mustangs or ponies still out and about
b. pay the mooney and buy the seecamp...my old seecamp, much older than this kel-tec has had not a stumble in its career...

 

[Brian Williams]

Looking in keen anticipation of the new PF-9 that is "coming". I would like either a PT-11 or one of these new PF-9s when they come. I have shot my daughters, and it is like shooting a autoloading revolver.

 

[LooterLefty]

They're intersting handguns. I don't own one.. But after reading inneumerale posts from KT entheusiests (hi guys) I'm reminded of a skit from Mad TV: Lowered ex-pec-ta-tions. Lower the bar for what qualifies as relaibale or durable, and yeah, all KTs get a 100%.

A couple slogans I propose for KT to consider, courtesy of their product's owners: Keltec: It's not a Glock!! or.. Keltec: Stuff Happens.

But they have a great warranty..

away

 

[Blue .45]

They're intersting handguns. I don't own one.. But

Nuff said.

 

[alamo]

They're intersting handguns. I don't own one.. But

Nuff said.

 

[ugaarguy]

They're intersting handguns. I don't own one.. But after reading inneumerale posts from KT entheusiests (hi guys) I'm reminded of a skit from Mad TV: Lowered ex-pec-ta-tions. Lower the bar for what qualifies as relaibale or durable, and yeah, all KTs get a 100%.

A couple slogans I propose for KT to consider, courtesy of their product's owners: Keltec: It's not a Glock!! or.. Keltec: Stuff Happens.

But they have a great warranty..

LooterLefty, you don't own a Kel-Tec by your own asmission. What experience with them have you? Please quantify your assertation that Kel-Tec owners "lower the bar" in terms of their qualifications for reliability or durability. As you can see from my previous posts in this thread I'm a Kel-Tec owner. I can assure that I have not lowered my standards for firearms. If anything they have gotten higher as my experience has increased. For example I've recently purchased both a S&W K-22 Target Masterpiece and a Browning Hi-Power. Lowered standards huh? Back up your cheap shots on Kel-Tec, and while you're at take a look at the poll I started here, linked below;
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=218146

 

[MCgunner]

Looking in keen anticipation of the new PF-9 that is "coming". I would like either a PT-11 or one of these new PF-9s when they come. I have shot my daughters, and it is like shooting a autoloading revolver.

Exactly what endears me to my P11, like a little concealed hammer snubby revolver that is square, small, light, shoots a powerful round (more powerful than any .38 special), and holds eleven rounds instead of five. What's not to like? No lowered bars here, 10,000+ rounds 9 years and counting, 100 percent so far and no fluffs or trips back to the factory.

If I didn't own one, maybe the KT flamers could convince me.

 

[revjross]

I have had a 3AT for about 2 years. I did have some FTF problems with it especially after shooting a few rounds through it and it getting a little dirty. I sent it in to Kel Tec. They had it back to me in a week and never a problem since. -------- The point, even if you had an issue, they have very good customer service!!

 

[jon_in_wv]

It seems like people experiences are hit or miss. From what I hear thier newr ones are better than past ones. I have a newer model and with UMC 115gr JHP its been really reliable.

 

[LooterLefty]

from reading KT user boards.

ugaarguy: What can I say? Different strokes for different folks.. I'm glad you like yours.

I see range reports on KTOG where someone grades their experience a 'C-' and the mod has to come along and say "Oh that's a B+ range report for this pistol.' WHat would you call that?

I'm not interested in what other guns you own, that's non-sequiter to this discussion of keltecs.