KelTec/Kahr owner comments

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Gunfyter

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I'm heading to the Silverado Gun Show in Frederick this weekend looking to sell my turkey gun and start the buying of either a KelTec or a Kahr. 9mm is the caliber of choice. I know that both are very popular and would like comments from THR owners. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. Thanks, I hope to see other High Roaders there.
 
For what it's worth....I'm on my second Kel-tec P11...wish I had never traded off the first one. I love them. Mine have been excellent! No FTF,FTE or anything. Went bang everytime I pulled the trigger. Accurate enough for combat use also. Never had a Kahr...couldn't see giving my money to the Mooneys.
 
I have a Kel-Tec P11(9mm) and I really like it. It conceals well which is why I got it. I don't like the little Kel-tec .32 or .380's they seem too little.
I can drop my P11 in my jeans pocket or wear it tucked IWB with no printing. The trigger pull is long and heavy but I understand this can be adjusted. The long heavy pull makes it a harder to keep on target at range distances but for personal protection the accuracy is good. I had some problem when I first got it with the mag rattling when having more than 5 or 6 rounds loaded but I got some info from here(THR) about squeezing the empty mag and that corrected it. Can't beat the price on Kel-tec.
No experience with Kahrs
 
I've owned five P32s, but never any P11s though Ive shot two of them. Very light weight guns but they seem thicker that I would personally want to carry in a pocket. Had very good luck with the P32s though.

I owned one Kahr... a P9 Covert. I bought it used from a THR member so there is a chance that he might have sent it back to the factory but my own experience has been 100% positive with this gun. And the larger TP9 is on my very short list of guns to buy and is without a doubt the gun I'd buy if I wanted a single stack plastic 9mm. I carried mine IWB in one of two High Noon Holsters and didn't really have a desire to carry it in a pocket.

I've also shot various other Kahrs and have had a very favorable experience with the company in general but I will admit, I don't think I've ever shot any of the earliest poly guns which are supposed to be the most trouble. The PM9/MK9 seem to be the most troublesome of the current lot and I would personally probably stay away from those. And again, as I would carry the gun IWB, a .5" shorter barrel isn't going to make it any easier to carry than the seemingly more reliable longer barrel Kahrs.

Between the Kahrs and the KelTec, if I was set on carrying in a pocket, I'd look pretty heavily into the P11 and plan on at least one trip back to the factory. If I was planning on IWB carry, I'd buy a Kahr with a 3.5" or 4" barrel over the KelTec without hesitation.
 
I've got a Kahr K-40 Elite that I use as my summer carry gun, sometimes strong side, somethings SOB. It's a bit heavy for it's size due to the stainless slide, but that does help soak up the recoil.

Only problem I've had is it's annoying tendency to put a dent in the case lip (making it kind of D-shaped. Never caused a feed or ejection failure, but I'm wary of reloading them.
 
The only Kel-tec I own is a P32 in which I'm perfectly content with. My main CCW pistol is an early model K9. The K9 is absolute perfection for CCW as far as I'm concerned. The craftsmanship (fit and finish) on my particular K9 proves to me that Kahr was quite concerned with creating an icon of quality to represent their company, a pistol which has received countless accolades since its debut.
If I were to carefully critique this pistol, I would be hard pressed to find any faults and I am P-I-C-K-Y... a quick search of my posts here and at TFL will certainly yield a number of rants concerning some of my other firearms.

Though they generally fit the same niche, the P11 and K9 are in two separate categories. The P11 is far more affordable and offers an excellent value, but comparing the P11 to the K9 is akin to comparing a Chevy to a Lexus as far as I'm concerned. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with either, but is it a level comparison?

Just my (requested) opinion….
 
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In my estimation you are comparing a Mercedes (Kahr) to a Hyundai (Kel-Tec). Both will get you where you want to go but the Kahr is much better quality.
 
I owned a p-11 for about a year.

It was mechanically very reliable through about 300 rounds or so.

Extremely unpleasant to shoot; horrible trigger pull, excessive perceived recoil.

Those aspects translated into terrible practical accuracy, even at very short (3 yd) range.

I sold it with no regrets - but a lot of THRers really like them, and they are impressive feats of engineering at a very reasonable price.
 
I own the Kel-Tec's steroid-laden alter-ego, the P40. The P40 is a bit of a bear to shoot, with recoil in excess of a S&W 640 shooting full-house 125gr .357 mags. The P40 can be a bit finicky & a drama queen...until you know what she likes. We have our issues ironed out. If I had to do it over again, I'd buy a Kel-Tec P11 in 9mm or the micro-sized polymer Khar in 9mm.

The KT P11 9mm is a much easier weapon to shoot than the KT P40.

I also own a KT P32, which has been a rock as far as reliability.

The KT may start off a with some drama, but will mellow out in the end. The Khar, given Khar aficianado reports, will be reliable. If you like tinkering, the KT is a better platform from which to start your tinkering, as it takes well to mild user gunsmithing.

The main thing I like about my KT P40 is that I have 10 rounds of .40S&W in a light package that is readily packable.

Bottom line: both will work for you. Find out which one's personality suits you.
 
Handle the P-11 and the Kahr MK9

If you feel better about one or the other then get it...simple as that..

Me I carry a P-11 in a pocket holster....I also carry a P3at or P-32...I like them very much:D
 
I own both, a P-11 and a Kahr K9. The P-11 goes bang every time I pull the trigger, but I can shoot circles around it with the Kahr.

These are truly apples and oranges. The trigger on the Kahr is as smooth as glass and felt recoil is much, much less with the Kahr. The P-11 trigger is very heavy, stacks and just has no feel and recoil with the P-11 is pretty heavy! The less felt recoil of the Kahr allows much faster follow up shots.

If you don't want to spend the money for the Kahr, the P-11 will protect you well, but not as well as the Kahr will. Of couse this is JMO!

By the way, I carry a P-3AT most of the time because of the hot climate I live in and the fact that while not having the power of a 9X19 I am able to shoot it very well and the trigger and mild recoil is good enough for fast follow up shots.
 
Kel-Tec P11.

Just never could get it to where I trusted it for my carry piece. Wanted it to carry when I couldn't carry my G-30. It would work great for 200 rds. Then it wouldn't work multiple times in the next 200 rds. Worked great next 200 rounds, no worky for next 200 rounds. I finally gave up.

Sold it and bought a Kahr PM9.
I love it.

sensei
 
Have a P-11 and a P-32.

The P-32 required a couple trips back to the factory, but appears to be working properly now. In all areas except weight, I find it inferior to my NAA Guardian .32.

The P-11 has never had any mechanical function problems and has cycled any type of ammo that I stuffed in it. Mechanical accuracy is good. OTOH, it is far too thick to be what I would consider a pocket pistol. Add a pocket holster ( a necessity for pocket carry IMO) and it is even thicker. The trigger pull on my specimen lies somewhere between atrocious and horrible. It doesn't compare well at all to the DA pull on any of my revolvers or DA autoloaders. For the purpose for which the gun was designed, I can live with it as I am loathe to do anything that might compromise primer ignition.
 
Kahr prejudice

from shooter58

"Never had a Kahr...couldn't see giving my money to the Mooneys."

I keep hearing this. I think if you indulge in that prejudice, then it is difficult to be credited with an intelligent opinon about the prejudice against gun ownership.
 
The small Kahr PM9 would be the one to compare to the KelTec P11.

I've owned two P11s.
Sold them both, because I couldn't get used to the trigger.
Also felt they were too thick for pocket carry, and had stiff recoil.

The Kahr feels like more of a quality gun, and Kahr triggers are legendary.
The Kahr is thinner and more suited to pocket carry.
I am far more accurate with the Kahr than I ever was with a KelTec.
Recoil is a non-issue with the Kahr.

You really are comparing apples-to-oranges though.
You could get 2 KelTecs for the price of a Kahr.

Handle both.
I love my Kahr, and have never looked back.
 
Never had a Kel-Tec, but I did own a Moonie once. Regardless of where my money went (How many on this board own Japanese vehicles or stuff made in communist China, Pakistan or the East Indies, for example?), I must put in a good word for it.

Has all the traits of an excellent CCW -- with the exception, perhaps, of capacity. Never had a single failure to feed or eject, and was very accurate -- at least in my hands -- up to 25 yds. Maybe farther in yours. The recoil was manageable thanks to a heavy slide, and field-stripping it was a breeze once you removed that 20 lb spring. All in all, it's a great buy, and I highly recommend it.

Hope this helps.


Best regards,

~ Heraclitus
 
Though they generally fit the same niche, the P11 and K9 are in two separate categories. The P11 is far more affordable and offers an excellent value, but comparing the P11 to the K9 is akin to comparing a Chevy to a Lexus as far as I'm concerned. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with either, but is it a level comparison?

That is one of the fairest, most accurate evaluations I've read on the P-11;)
 
P-11 vs PM-9

I have a PM-9 and a P-11. I like them both. Both have been completely reliable, with any ammo. I just like the feel of the Kahr better than the
Keltec. I have a FIST IWB holster for the Kahr and the Keltec fits in it.
Not perfect, but it works. I think the frame/grip is just enough bigger on
the P-11 than the PM-9 that it does not fit my pockets very well. But I
do carry the PM-9 in an Uncle Mike pocket holster when the conditions
dictate it. All that being said, I have a Keltec P-3AT in a RJ Hedley pocket
holster as I type this....
 
I too have owned the Kel-Tec P-11 and the Kahr PM9. I'd say that, if you can afford the price tag, buy the Kahr. But if funds are limited, go with the Kel-Tec.

I can shoot my PM9 far more accurately than I could the P-11, because of the much lighter trigger. But I never had any problems with my P-11s, and they are very good for the purpose for which they are intended.
 
Kahr prejudice
from shooter58

"Never had a Kahr...couldn't see giving my money to the Mooneys."

I keep hearing this. I think if you indulge in that prejudice, then it is difficult to be credited with an intelligent opinon about the prejudice against gun ownership.


__________________
RealGun

I was unaware that I needed your approval or admonishment in order to express an opinion. Also, a difference of opinion has no bearing whatever on having an intelligent opinion or about prejudice against gun ownership. I have personal reasons for my feelings toward the Moonies and don't need your permission to express them.
If we want to limit the discussion to the guns involved, I haven't owned any Kahrs, but I have fired several of them. I cannot justify the extra expenditure just to get the nicer feel. If the Keltec works good, I'll go with it.
A Cadillac and a Chevrolet will get me to the same point....the Chevy just does it for less money and with less snob appeal.
 
I'm guessing there is a lemon on every tree - in the older Kahr batch there were plenty lemons, but Kahr managed to fix most problems. The new batch, however, seems to be gaining more respect - it is still a picky gun, don't use reloads, for sure. After the 200 round break-in period, the new guns love the high power rounds, it was made for this purpose. I recently bought one of the new batch, a MK9 Elite 2003 with night sights... a work of art; it worked out of the box perfectly. The only complaint I have is that Kahr should have used the stainless steel guide rod, instead of the plastic one - I have just changed mine. Oh, yes, I do have another complaint, it messes up the center of my targets pretty badly.
 
Golga,
I carry a P-11 in my pocket at least 3 times a week...It is a bit bulky, however 11 rounds of 9mm at my disposal is hard to beat...the trigger pull's on both of my P-11's were horrible...sent them to a local gunsmith and it smoothed them right up...

Not giving money to the moonies isnt discrimination, IMHO...It is a choice...they have the right to worship just as I do...I just dont have to give them money...Simple as that


The CHIMERA is coming:D
 
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