Review: Twisted Industries PF-9 22 Conversion

[451 Detonics]

Well after a long wait, much longer than I was really comfortable with, I finally received my conversion in the mail. Before ordering from them again I would want to know they have what I am ordering in stock, I really dislike waiting 7 weeks after they have accepted my money before shipping.

First impressions...

It is a lightweight unit but looks well made. No sharp edges and the DuraCoat is well applied. The finish is even and free of runs or thick spots. The 3 dot sights come up nicely with the rear adjustable for windage tho my was dead on as far as the POI being centered on the target. Slide serrations are deep and just sharp enough to be non-slip. Magazines have an alloy body with poly base plate.



The kit was simple enough, slide, barrel, recoil spring and rod. It went together very easily without any work or binding.



The barrel has a very generous ramp which seems to aid in reliabilty in feeding.



At the range...

Took the unit out to the range and loaded upo with Federal Auto Match...only ammo I had with me. Out of the first 20 rounds I had 5 failures to function. I realized it was my fault...I was holding the gun like I would many 22 rimfires, with a somewhat loose grip. I tightened up and for the next 200 rounds it performed perfectly. Windage was spot on but with the Federal Auto Match it is shooting a couple inches high at 10 yards. Groups size was very good when I did my part and concentrated on the long double action trigger. I will bench it at 25 and see just what the gun is capable of later this week weather permitting.

Felt recoil was non existent and it was a lot of fun to shoot. I had 3 others shoot it today after the match and all were impressed with the feel and how well it shot. I am very pleased with the units performance so far. My future plans are to bench it for accuracy as well as trying some different brands of ammo in it. Hopefully it will perform as well with HPs like CCI Mini Mag.



Twisted Industries has plans to produce a conversion for the Kel Tec P-11 and the KelTec P3AT in the near future. Price was $200 with one magazine, extra mags are $35 each.

Is it worth it? I would have to say yes. First it makes for a great trainer for teaching newcomers. Second if you like to practice with your carry gun the price of the conversion can quickly be made up in ammo savings, especially if you don't reload. I can also see this serving as a kit gun on the trail or in the woods. And if for no other reason it is just a lot of fun to shoot and not have to worry about finding your brass.

I give this unit a big thumbs up!

 

[MedWheeler]

Hmm.. will have to look into that, though two bills is almost the same as the value of the base gun. Doesn't seem as much when considering a 22LR conversion for, say, a Kimber 1911, but this would probably be a good way to get the wife to shoot something.
A little while ago I asked about DA/SA or DAO .22LR pistols. Though I was looking for something a little bigger, this definitely looks like a viable option, especially since I already have the base gun. Thanks for sharing.

 

[451 Detonics]

Well I am a firm believer that if you aren't willing to practice with your carry gun then you shouldn't be carrying it. If you figure 9mm at 20 cents a round versus .22 at 3 cents a round then the cost of the unit will be made up in just 1200 rounds of ammo. Yes if you reload the 9mm can be done cheaper than 20 cent a round but that is about as cheap as most will find factory ammo for. My conversion has about 300 rounds (9 dollars worth) through it already so the savings in ammo costs are already showing.

In addition I have to say this gun is really a fun gun to shoot. My PF-9 has an excellent trigger in it reminiscent of a tuned K-Frame S&W. This is the result of a lot of shooting as well as dry fire. Accuracy seems to be good tho I haven't really tested it for accuracy yet, when the weather will cooperate here I will check it on the bench with a number of different brands of .22 ammo. However even shooting fairly fast the gun easily keeps them on an index card at ten yards.

Changing calibers is very easy, takes about 2 minutes tops even if you carry it loaded to the range in 9mm form.
1. make sure the gun is unloaded
2. lock the slide back
3. pull the pin and remove the 9mm slide
4. put the conversion unit on and replace the pin

I plan on adding a few more magazines, even at the price I hate having just 2 mags for any gun I own. I would also add these are available in black or green and seeing as they are Duracoat I would imagine you could ask for just about any color you want if you are willing to wait.

 

[springfield30-06]

This wouldn't be a deal breaker, but does the slide lock back after the last round is fired?

 

[NG VI]

Really cool I loves me some conversion kits.


And there's nothing like having trigger time on the gun of your choice, even if the recoil isn't the same.

 

[Girodin]

Twisted Industries has plans to produce a conversion for the Kel Tec P-11 and the KelTec P3AT

I might be interested in one if it worked with the LCP as well. I like .22 conversions as another way to get more trigger time in with my guns. My LCP is largely a BUG and so it doesn't get as many reps when I'm doing drills as my primary but a .22 conversion would help.

 

[451 Detonics]

This wouldn't be a deal breaker, but does the slide lock back after the last round is fired?

Yes it does.

I might be interested in one if it worked with the LCP as well.

Given that when Ruger made their copy of the PF-9 they saw fit to add additional safeties i doubt it would work...all the more reason to own the original rather than a copy.

 

[Girodin]

The LCP is not a copy of the PF9 it is a copy of the P3AT. I was referring to the statement that a version for the P3AT may be introduced. I have no interest in the LC9 and thus none in a conversion kit for it.

 

[451 Detonics]

Sorry...I get the Ruger copies of the Kel Tec guns mixed up. But if I remember correctly the dimensions of the Ruger are different than the original so I would still say the conversion for the KT won't work. Of course you could always contact Twisted Industries and ask them.

 

[high country]

Thanks very much for this review and the pictures! I was waiting for a few good reviews on this conversion before picking up a pf-9.

 

[CraigC]

Sorry...I get the Ruger copies of the Kel Tec guns mixed up.

Damn, I guess I need to start buying only Colt 1911's then. Or maybe the Broomhandle, 1903 Browning, Colt 1911 and Browning HiPower should be the only semi-auto guns on the market? Oh wait, Sam Colt was folly to produce his Paterson belt model because it was based on earlier revolvers??? Damnit, they're ALL based on something.

 

[Girodin]

My concern would be that mags for the P3AT don't fit the Ruger although other parts do. Given the number of LCPs that have been sold one would think they would if possible want their kit to fit them, or perhaps offer a version that would.

 

[451 Detonics]

Damn, I guess I need to start buying only Colt 1911's then. Or maybe the Broomhandle, 1903 Browning, Colt 1911 and Browning HiPower should be the only semi-auto guns on the market? Oh wait, Sam Colt was folly to produce his Paterson belt model because it was based on earlier revolvers??? Damnit, they're ALL based on something.

Why the hostility? Can you remember every model gun ever made by every manufacturer? I admitted to getting 2 model numbers confused...what is the big deal?

Given the number of LCPs that have been sold one would think they would if possible want their kit to fit them, or perhaps offer a version that would.

This company is just starting out, Given how long Kel Tec has been selling the three models they are doing (or will be doing) conversions for I am sure the Ruger sales numbers aren't nearly as high. In time they may well offer conversions for the Ruger products if the current conversions don't fit. As I said calling or e-mailing the company and asking if they will work would be the easiest way to find out. I don't own the Ruger versions so it wasn't a concern to me.

 

[Remllez]

Good review 451,

Keep us posted on the round count and best ammo for the conversion,many PF-9 owners may be considering this kit and it's nice to know people like you take the time and make an effort to post your results. It sounds like a great way to get some inexpensive trigger time on a nice little pistol.

 

[matai]

This is great! I don't have a PF9 but I love .22lr conversions and want to see more being made. Is this the only 9mm subcompact conversion?

 

[451 Detonics]

I am not aware of any other 22 conversions for pocket sized 9mm guns. I am kinda surprise the Kahr's haven't ever been consider by anyone for a conversion kit but I am sure studies are done and perhaps there just hasn't been interest. I wish that Twisted Industries had offered a longer threaded barrel for this, would make a great platform for some of the smaller suppressors.

 

[ErikO]

I'll have to keep my eye out for the P3AT conversion. .380 isn't too expensive yet, but its also not $80 for 2100 rnds either.

 

[Girodin]

Given how long Kel Tec has been selling the three models they are doing (or will be doing) conversions for I am sure the Ruger sales numbers aren't nearly as high.

It would be pure speculation for me to take a guess at what the relative numbers of each are. I'm not suggesting that we can truly extrapolate from this but I know many more people that have the LCP than the P3AT. Yes the kel tec had been around a lot longer, but the market for such a gun came into its own much more recently. Ruger also has a vastly superior ability to produce guns en mass, market and distribute them.

My comment was more an observation that given the similarities of each it would seem that it might be feasible to have something that worked with both, or make a version for each with relatively minor differences and that any business would natural want to have as big a market as possible.

Maybe if this sales, ruger will just make their own .

 

[451 Detonics]

According to records from both companies for the PF-9 and LC-9...

PF-9 = 116000 produced
LC9 = 9186 produced

Those number are just the last listed...I am sure they are both higher now but both were 2011 figures.
I am sure the P3AT would also be much higher than the LCP and of course there isn't a P-11 equivalent.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Damn, I guess I need to start buying only Colt 1911's then. Or maybe the Broomhandle, 1903 Browning, Colt 1911 and Browning HiPower should be the only semi-auto guns on the market? Oh wait, Sam Colt was folly to produce his Paterson belt model because it was based on earlier revolvers??? Damnit, they're ALL based on something.

You know there is a difference between a gun that is based of the same basic operating system of another and one thats pretty much a direct copy of another.

 

[TennJed]

I know this thread is old but 451 Detonics how has this unit held up? I have one ordered and an pretty pumped