Keltec P11 or PF9? Share Your Thoughts

Which would you buy or did you buy?

  • Kel Tec P11

    Votes: 17 33.3%

  • Kel Tec PF9

    Votes: 34 66.7%
  • Total voters
    51
  • Poll closed .
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I have both. The PF9 good - lighter, narrower, much better trigger
P11 good - 10 vs 7 rounds, more manageable recoil, more balanced

To stick in my waistband going out the door, I will pick the PF9 every time. If I need the extra 3 rounds, I'm either a bad shot or I'm in a gunfight. And a difficult trigger can turn a good shooter into a medicre shooter. To get good you have to shoot a $1000 dollars worth of ammo and just shoot only that gun.

UNLESS - you are a revolver person, then the P11 will feel fine.

That's why I voted PF9. But the PF9 is a little more sensitive to limp-wristing. Lock that wrist.
 
P11: more rounds,
PF9: more concealable, better trigger
Neither is a range gun.
PF9 wins!
 
If they would use a different grip texture on the PF9, I would not be forced to say P11 every time this question comes up.
 
Having shot both, I personally chose the PF9 for daily carry.
Both are good for concealed carry and both are reliable imo. If you will be using an open carry option (hunting, around the farm, etc...), there are better choices in medium and full size frames.
PF9 gets the nod for a more concealable profile and lightness, both being important for me.
P11 does have a better grip, but the Hogue slip on greatly improves both guns.
P11 gets the nod for mag capacity and slightly less recoil.
As stated above, neither is a range gun (i.e. you probably won't shoot them for enjoyment as often as a full size auto). Reduced recoil was a small matter to me shooting from either hand. Recoil might make or break gun selection for certain situations (new shooters, small hands, etc...). The extra 3 rounds per magazine may make a difference to some, but it's simple enough to have an extra mag handy.

Hope this helps.

Wran
 
Have both. More likely to have the PF9 for EDC. The P11 has been my backpacking choice since concealing while hiking is easier for me, and I like the higher capacity (12+1) being available.
 
I like the higher capacity (12+1) being available.
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I have 2 12-round magazines for my P-11...12+1 then an extra 12 rounds lives in the door panel of my car now. I also have a 10-round magazine that goes on trips that require me to stay overnight, such as a vacation. This gun is so compact and handy that it has become my primary carry. I also keep a Fobus paddle holster in my car (conceals nicely when I put my jacket on.)
 
I had a P-11 once, nice little gun, but ended up selling it. Couldn't stand the trigger, I'm now a 1911 only guy for carry guns.
 
Personal preference

The PF-9 is a bit slimmer and it holds less round...and it is a bit longer.

The P-11 trigger is very long but it doesn't bother me...they are not range guns.

I got the P-11 because when I did buy it, the PF-9 was just arrived in the market and some people had issues to I went for the proven design. And I like the 12+1 capability
 
I voted PF-9. I'm a recent convert to the small, lightweight pistol club. For years, I carried a S&W J frame in warm weather and a medium sized .357 or full sized .40 or .45 pistol when the weather got colder. Now with the PF-9, I can see myself carrying this pistol in all 4 seasons (my .357 will still see LOTS of belt time when hiking!). Coming from a revolver background the PF-9's trigger is perfectly fine (5-6lbs but smooth). compared to my J frames 5 rounds, the 7+1 of the PF-9 feels like a high cap;). I will say that the two P11's I checked out in gun store had very heavy LONG trigger pulls.
 
From what ive read it sounds like id prefer a PF9. it is thinner/more concealable which is huge for me. id only be buying either of these pistols because they are so small.

Also the trigger in the P11 seems to be an issue for alot of people. The shorter/lighter trigger pull of the PF9 is appealing. 7+1 of 9mm is great for a pistol of this size.
 
I've been carrying and shooting my P11 for 14 years now. It is still 3.5" at 25 yards accurate off sand bags and very easy to hit with. I am quite used to the trigger. That trigger is also second strike capable and the longer travel gives me a little extra confidence in its safety in a pocket. It's only a little thicker than the PF9 and about 2 ounces heavier. For that, I get up to 13 rounds capacity, though I'm still running with the 10 rounders. If I were to buy a new one, the PF9 might get the nod for the slightly thinner dimensions, but I'm not really dissatisfied with my P11, so I haven't bothered with the PF9.

I also have a Grendel P12 that's the same size as the P3AT except for thickness and it's capacity is 12, near twice the P3AT, so I have fought the urge for a new .380, too. It's not that I think these thinner guns aren't good, I just don't feel there's enough difference for me to spend money on the newer ones when the older ones ain't broke, serve well.
 
I had the P11 and I tried my buddies PF-9 at the range and the trigger pull was lighter and cleaner than mine.

So, I sold the P11 and bought a PF-9.
 
I had to defend myself and my cats against a big, mean dog one day. I was mad as hell and pumped up after kickin' the snot out of that chow dog when he turned on me. My P11 practically jumped out of my pocket and the trigger felt like 3 ounces, but all he managed to do before he died was take some skin off my leg and break my tom cat's left front foot. Had that been a man, I'd probably have had even more adrenalin pump, from the added fear of an armed encounter.

Anyway, these are not target pistols. I actually consider the P11s trigger desirable on a self defense handgun. I hate Glock Safe Action. Everyone swoons over the Glocks, but they also bite a lot of their owners who don't seem to have anything between their ears, let alone a safety.:rolleyes: An amazing number of 'em seem to be LEOs. I don't want that sort of trigger pointin' at my boys. And, yes, I'm a revolver guy, been shooting DA for 40 years. I'm just as deadly with a J frame.

That said, the PF9 has a long enough, stiff enough trigger to suit my safety consciousness. It is an easier trigger for the novice to master. The main thing, though, that gives it a little edge for CCW is it's a little thinner, prints a bit less in a pocket.

All I have is DA handguns but not one has as bad a trigger as the P11.
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Obviously, you don't own a Nagant. :D
 
Mcgunner you don't know what are you talking about....Girodin said the the Kel-Tecs are low end products you know....he is the expert...the uber training pistolero....you don't know that real self defence pistols are...get some training....;)
 
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I bought a P-11. I didn't want to pocket carry anyway so I went for the higher capacity. The trigger on the P-11 did take some getting used to but it is workable.
I would say if there is any way you can shoot both do that & then make your mind up.
 
I saw a link on THR at one point that directed you to another site that had a "trigger job" for the P-11, essentially a spring kit I believe. Took the trigger pull from 10-ish pounds down to around 8.5-ish???

Anyone know of that link?
 
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Took the trigger pull from 13-ish pounds down to around 8.5-ish???
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The original P11 had a 10 lb trigger. They started putting an 8.5 pound trigger spring in 'em 4 or 5 years ago. Mine is probably something less than 10 now, all the rounds it's fired. I know it's very smooth and that's what really counts, smooth and repeatable. The P11 never did come with a 13 lb trigger.
 
The newer P-11's are at the 8.5 pounds unless I'm badly mistaken bang bang.
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Mine sure isn't 8.5 pounds...

That being said though, in a SD situation, I'm sure that that it would feel like a feather. A lighter trigger would make it a bit more comfortable to practice with.

EDIT:
The P11 never did come with a 13 lb trigger.
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MC...thanks for clearing that up...brain-fart on my behalf. Mine is the older model though...going to seriously look into that trigger job.
 
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