New PF-9, gonna go shoot it Monday

[Clipper]

I've been waiting for my local gun store to get this for a couple of months. I started out with a pocket carried Kel-Tec P3AT. I later sized up to a Kimber Ultra Carry, but had to carry it in a SOB holster around 5:00 to do it comfortably, but I'm a big guy, and the cover garment just made hot weather more unbearable. I sold the Kimber, and went to a Taurus MilPro PT-145. And while it worked for pocket carry with cargo pants, it was still too much, and I don't think going to the PT-745 would have been the answer. So I decided to order up the PF-9. It feels kinda unusual in that the grip is very narrow, only a little wider than my P3AT, but the longer 9mm round makes the grip deep for thickness. I expect it will not be difficult to get used to, but my wife, who also is comfortable with her own P3AT, doesn't like it. I have installed the hooked floorplate on the magazine, and otherwise like the fit of the grip. I also find that the magazine will not insert unless the release button is depressed. I'm going to try bevelling the mag top where it's contacting the latch, to see if it will help. The slide release cannot be tripped by just thumbing it, but must have the pressure relieved by drawing the slide back with the other hand. The complaints from P3AT users about the mag release must have been the reason the mag release button on this gun is almost flush, and I must shift my grip to use it As it is, the gun will not be easy to reload in a hurry. Perhaps Kel-Tec will make a longer mag release button available. I've never had any problems with my P3ATs release. Overall, there's a few things left to be desired about the whole reload drill, but perhaps it will work itself out as it breaks in. Besides, I'm one of those quaint types who believe that if I can't take care of business without reloading, I probably won't with it...

Anyway, I'm supposed to get together at by buddie's range with him tomorrow to shoot it. Since I will only have WWB and some Silvertip HPs with me (they're all I'll ever use), there won't be any testing of various hotrocks rounds du-jour, but I'll let you know how it does with what I use.

 

[CPshooter]

pics please

 

[Babalouie]

Clipper, if you haven't visited KTOG.org it has everything about KelTec you ever wanted or needed to know. I have a PF-9 and the mag catch was not like you described yours...mine worked like all of my other guns. Since it is plastic and a known weak point I replaced it with a metal catch. The new one is difficult to use but is designed to be that way so as to guard against accidental release while carrying. Like you I don't ever expect to need to do a reload...much less ever need to actually use it...so I don't even carry an extra mag.

 

[Clipper]

OK, here's the skinny after a SHORT range trip...

It's about 95 degrees and humid, so I wasn't inclined to stay out long. The range is on private property, and I can go back almost any time my buddy is home, and it's free, so no prob.

First, I went to KTOG last night and found out about the mag catch, so I'll get to that soon. I found this gun easier to disassemble for cleaning than the P3AT, with no little parts to fall out! The recoil spring retainer is part of the slide, and the ejector is pinned in place. There's a trick to reassembling it, because unlike the P3, with the locking lugs on the barrel, this locks by way of a lug atop the chamber area that engages the top of the ejection port, like a Savage 99. It requires the slide & barrel to be aligned in the normal assembled location, and the top of the chamber to be pressed down as the slide is then pulled further rearward and the slide stop engaged. This puts everything in the proper alignment to re-insert the assembly pin, which has been redesigned, and is much easier to remove and replace than the P3 pin.

As for shooting, I only fired 28 rounds 7 in each of four strings, from a standing modified Weaver position, unsupported, in the following order:

WWB 115gr FMJ @ 7 yards slow fire...Pic 1

WWB 115gr FMJ @ 15 yards slow fire...Pic 2

Winchester 115gr silvertip HP @ 7 yards slow fire...Pic 3

Winchester 115gr silvertip HP @ 7 yards rapid fire...Pic 4


The ST HP group @ 7 yards measures 2.5"
The WWB @ 7 yards measures 1.5", with the flyer opening it up to 3". There are two double holes in this group.
The rapid fire group is 7" X 6" square, strung diagonally.

I was used to taking an occluding hold with my front dot, like my Taurus required, so I was grouping high, as I continued the same way for the rest of the shots for the sake of consistancy. A 6 O'clock hold would eliminate the high shots. There were no failures with either type ammo.

BTW, while by no means unbearable, the recoil is a bit stout, but since I have kinda wide hands and shortish, wide fingers, it's no big deal to me, but if you wince from a P3AT or you plan to use +P loads, you'll want to install a Handall or something on one of these.

 

[Babalouie]

Great report. I really like the PF-9 and while not comfortable enough for a range gun I found the recoil managable. Its a really nice ccw pistol.

 

[Nil]

Nice job. I'm looking to get one of these for CCW once I relocate very shortly to Minnesota.

 

[gbelleh]

Thanks for the report. I've been very happy with my PF-9 and have carried it all summer. So far, it has fired almost 500 rounds with no problems.

 

[innerpiece]

Clipper, great thread!
while Ive never handled a PF9 I have looked into one for giggles.

I like my Kahr CW9 for a super-small 9mm..

I also really like the STHP line of ammo, Ive found it regularly reliable thru about 2 thousand test rounds.
the 115's spread alot more and are good for expansion after light barrier like drywall or autoglass (at a lesser angle).
I found the STHP in 147 to be far more accurate, more a push recoil than punch, and a great balance for pennetration and expansion.

with STHP, Ive never once experienced a FTF, FTE, stovepipe, etc etc...


the only step up I have found over the Win. STHP.... was the Win. 147gr SXT...
and thats only because the SXT in 147's expansion was a tad bit more than the STHP in 147... and the SXT broke up less against 4 2x6's stacked. (both broke thru easily)

I dropped the CW( loaded with 7+1 of the SXT's into a bucket of cold water. let it sit for about 1 minute..
reached in and pulled it out, immeadiately shot 3 rds.. no problem.... Win likes to seal their primers for their expensive stuff...


ip.

 

[Clipper]

One thing I noticed today was that the firing pin strikes were really deep and hard...So deep and hard that it looks like the pin isn't able to retract from the primer before the barrel swings down, as I'm finding evidence of the pin dragging and making a short groove in the primer as it withdraws.

As to the STHPs, innerpiece, I have been using them for all my serious social and hunting ammo for 30+ years myself, in everything from .380 to .44mag, and have never had a failure of any kind. The high-speed, low-drag hotrock worldbeater rounds might be fast, but absolute, rock-solid reliability is what counts to me, and I'll stick with 'em. I use the 115gr so it will pretty much duplicate the WWB practice stuff I get at WallyWorld. I also use it in my Hi-Point carbine's house-gun magazines.

 

[Deles136]

I do not try to slam load a mag into any Kel-Tec pistol. I believe they all come with plastic mag catches and I always depress the catch when inserting a mag into the pistol. If I still need ammo after firing the one in the chamber and the full mag then I don't think speed loading another mag will be much help. Could be wrong.

 

[kirkcdl]

Keep a close watch on your ejector pin,I started a thread on KTOG about my experiences: http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1181516895

BTW,I still carry mine with the ejector removed,no failures yet,about 800 rds later...

 

[Deles136]

How much $ ?

 

[Babalouie]

My Hard Chromed PF-9 cost me a whopping $299!

 

[Clipper]

Mine's blued, $249.00

 

[Clipper]

Went up north over the weekend and shot it some more. Nothing unusual, it functioned flawlessly, as usual. This pistol has become my new 'always' gun, and my P3AT has been relegated to backup status. I can't see me using it for much except as a secondary carry piece if the PF-9 has to go down temporarily for repair or something...