Thinking of getting a kel-tec pf-9

[beeenbag]

Anybody have any feedback on the pf 9? I really want to get one because of the size and caliber. It is to be my main ccw, maybe, depending on the reviews I can collect from you guys. If anybody knows of something that compares let me know. Oh yeah.... price means alot being as im probably gonna buy 2. One for me and one for the wife.

 

[Joe Demko]

I have one. They are thin and very flat. They are still too big for a pocket gun, though. Mine is picky about bullet profiles. Overall, though I was initially very enthused about it, it's not a great piece. If you're going to carry in a holster, there are better choices. If you are going to carry in a pocket, there are better choices. It's perfectly designed to not be well-suited for much of anything.

 

[dom1104]

Its a Kel-Tec.

Just run away.

I just got done reading a local forum thread " The worst gun you ever owned"

The word "Kel-Tec" came up over, and over, and over again.

People give them a second chance, and a third, and a fourth because they COULD be so great and so cheap.

But often they are just cheap.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Its a Kel-Tec.

Just run away.

I just got done reading a local forum thread " The worst gun you ever owned"

The word "Kel-Tec" came up over, and over, and over again.

People give them a second chance, and a third, and a fourth because they COULD be so great and so cheap.

But often they are just cheap.

Has not been my experience with any of the five KT's I own, including a PF9.

How many have you had?

KT is a stand-up company with quality and innovative products. There's a reason they move so many. If it were strictly price, Hi-Point would be outselling them.

To the OP, the PF-9 is a good gun for it's intended purpose. It's not fun to shoot alot, and wasn't meant to be a range toy. The one flaw I've found is that if you use really hot ammo, the firing pin will wipe brass from the primer and it gets stuck in the hole, resulting in light stikes. Doesn't hurt the gun, and simply wiping the debris out of the hole brought the gun back into service. But not something I wanna deal with in a fire fight. Just stick with regular fodder. Mine has never had a malfunction with standard pressure ammunition.

 

[jimk0512]

Concerning the PF-9:

Shoot it before you buy it. Have your wife shoot it before you buy her one. I say this about any small pistol made by any manufacturer. Put one in your pocket, if that is where you plan to carry it. Make sure it fits in your pocket. One of the guys I shoot with at the local gun club has one. It is his only every day carry pistol. I tried it, it didn't work for me, I bought a different pocket pistol. YMMV.

 

[MCgunner]

My P11 has been running great for 14 years. The PF9 is thinner and a little lighter and had it been available at the time, I'd probably gotten it instead of the P11, but the P11 carries a little more ammo and is 100 percent reliable and 3.5" at 25 yards accurate. I don't fix what ain't broke.

With all the bashing Taurus, Kel Tec, and Ruger get on these gun boards by brand fanatics (I own all three), it'd be hard to understand how these companies sell anything, let alone all the guns that they do. But, uninformed opinions abound. If you haven't owned and fed a Kel Tec, you don't have an informed opinion. Besides, they have an unconditional lifetime warranty and one of the best customer service departments in the business. I don't see how you can go wrong.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, in .380s, the P3AT was the first that all others copy. In subcompact 9s, I can say the same thing for the P11. And, actually, I own one of the predicessors to both genre of handguns, the Grendel P12 which isn't a GREAT gun, but is 100 percent reliable with most ammo I've fired in it and was way ahead of its time in design. It's the same size as a P3AT/LCP, but wider as it has a double stack 11 round magazine. I prefer its heal clip mag release for pocket carry, especially back pocket, and have decided I don't need an example of the newer .380s since this one is a good gun and has advantages. The trigger sux, the accuracy is no better than the other .380s, but it works.

The P11 was the first. Only competition it had when I bought it was the Kahr K9, all steel, heavy, and too large for pocket carry and the G26 with the same disadvantages as the K9. The PF9 is based on the P11 upper married to the P3AT lower.

 

[distra]

I feel lots of KT bashing coming in this thread. Mostly from those who do not own one. My PF9 & my wife's have both been very good guns. They are not a gun you take to the range and shoot 500rds in an afternoon, while you could your hand would be a little sore. It's a perfect CCW and/or backup gun, slim, small, light and easy to shoot. Mine likes just about any JHP 9mm even the 147gr. You can pocket carry this gun, I do in the summer with just jean shorts nothing special. It also fits into my 1911 IWB holster. I have nothing bad to say about the PF9. KT does have decent CS if you should need it. Beware of those bashing a pistol they have never owned.

 

[rcmodel]

Its a Kel-Tec.
Just run away.

SO, exactly how many Kel-Tec's have you owned or had personal experience with to form that opinion, and pass it on to others?

Mercy!

My 1st. Gen P3AT has been flawless after the initial break-in since I bought it almost five years ago.

If you even belong to the NRA, you may have read the Feb. American Rifleman test of 9 current .380 pistols from Kahr, Kel-Tec, Mag Research, NAA, Rohrbaugh, Ruger, SIG, Taurus, and Walther.

All of them except the $1,150 dollar Rohrbaugh malfunctioned repeatably during initial break-in.

Should we all run away if it's a Kahr, Mag Research, NAA, Ruger, SIG, Taurus, or Walther too?

rc

 

[dom1104]

I'm Sorry. I somehow mispoke.

Kel-Tecs are great guns, in fact I doubt there are any better options out there.

Go for it!

 

[Kireta]

I just shot a kel-tec my friend wants to sell. The trigger was harder to squeeze than any I have ever fired, not an issue for the first shot but terrible for the remaining. I said thanks but no thanks, I'll spend the extra money on a smoother ride.

 

[Joe Demko]

I've owned several Keltecs. None of them worked perfectly straight out of the box. All of them required tinkering and the .32 needed a trip back to the factory. I still buy their products because I don't mind a little tinkering and most Keltec products are inexpensive. WRT the PF-9, until you own and carry one for a while, it doesn't become evident how awkwardly sized it is. When you first pick one up and handle it, there is a distinct "Wow! This gun is really thin and flat!" impression. Then after you carry it a while, you realize that it is still too long and too tall to be a proper pocket gun. So, you carry it in a holster where you could just as easily carry something with a better trigger, better sights, higher capacity (if you wanted), and using a different cartridge (if you aren't a 9mm fan). Keltec's tiny pistols are the way to go, for pocket carry. The PF-9 is neither fish nor fowl
Hell, if anybody wants to buy my hard chromed specimen, shoot me a PM. It's just taking up space in my gun cabinet.

 

[dom1104]

If you do buy a PF-9, make sure you dont get a 1st run pistol.

Here is a list of the issues with the first run.

And this is from a GLOWING review site, and the KTOG.com. Before someone comes after me again

1. Some early barrels had SHORT THROATS that would not chamber the longer 147 grain ammo.
2. Kel-Tec used the same screw for the sight as for the extractor. But when the screw was tightened during production this caused it to intrude into the hammer arc which caused hammer peening from hitting the screw, which caused hammer slide scoring, which caused additional wear to the hammer, which then caused more hammer slide scoring etc. etc.
3. There was a lot of fine brass dust created from the cartridges being shaved by the rough hammer slide.
4. The firing pin channel in the slide was too large, and allowed the firing pin to wobble around and strike the primer crookedly, resulting in failures to fire. The large hole also quickly attracted brass shavings.
5. The slide lock tab was too large, and rubbed against the bullet noses and piled up shavings.
6. Sometimes cartridges would feed oddly and lock open the breech, with the cartridge nose trapped under the slide stop tab.
7. First run PF-9s also had problems with the first 3 rounds in the magazine tending to nose dive into the feed ramp.
8. The magazine follower was a soft material and quickly developed a gouge caused by the last round flipping end for end and smacking its rim into the top of the follower.
9. The slide was not properly hardened, and this this caused slide bending which gradually caused barrel and breech peening, and light strikes from the slide not properly closing into battery.
10. Sometimes slides also cracked at the slide stop notch.
11. Some of the grip accessory rails drooped.
12. Magazine problems: The PF9 magazine followers were a soft plastic that dented easily, and the sharper slide lock tabs tended to dig holes in them. These mags also apparently have sharper edges in the mag catch area and tend to wear the plastic mag catches quickly if the catch button is not depressed during mag insertion.

And Joe Demko, wth are you thinking. You must love Kel-Tec or else your NRA membership will be called into question.

 

[BP Hunter]

I have had PF9 for about 8 months already. It feels and shoots better with the extended magazine grip. It definitely is not a range gun, but is meant to be be used regularly for feel and comfort of use if intended to be used as a carry weapon. This is my main carry gun. I failed to shoot it for 2 months spending more time on my other handguns. I was surpirsed to how much it kicked after shooting it again. That is not meant to be a put down. You just have to get use to the recoil. I am actually looking into trading it in for the Taurus PT 709.

 

[texaspetron]

Kel-Tec

I have a KT 380 qnd the PF-9, both have been very reliable.

I can hold a 2" pattern with the PF-9, @ 15 yards never had a miss fire.

It is carried in a pocket holster when I am not carrying my Glock 27 ,.40.

I took my CHL renewal the day after i purchased the Glock 27 and had a fantastic score first time ever firing the weapon.

All of my weapons are lubed with Petron Super Lube

My new Browning semi Auto 30-06 gave me a 5/8" 5 shot pattern at 100 yards, great weapon and scope.

Texaspetron

 

[Cornhusker77]

I just shot a kel-tec my friend wants to sell. The trigger was harder to squeeze than any I have ever fired, not an issue for the first shot but terrible for the remaining. I said thanks but no thanks, I'll spend the extra money on a smoother ride.

That sounds like a P11 which does have the absolute stiffest trigger I ever pulled.
The PF9 however is a different beast.
My PF9 has a long but smooth trigger, not a hard pull at all, same with my P3AT
Both guns are reasonably accurate, thin and light.
My only complaint about the PF9 is the same thing as one of the things I like about it, it's thinness.
I shoot it a couple times a week, carry it more often than not, and the only problem I've ever had was FTE once when it was dirty.
Keep a firm grip on it and the recoil ain't bad.
If you need a gun that's easy to carry, easy to shoot, easy to take care of and won't bust the bank, you could do a lot worse.

 

[Philo_Beddoe]

I have a PF-9, functions flawlessly, but I think its to large for pocket carry, which is what I bought it for, other then that its a good deal for the price.

 

[Fleetman]

I like mine and I have the P-11 and P3AT to go along with them.

The trigger shoe on mine helped with the trigger considerably but make sure you Loctite it in place. I didn't trust mine until at least 500 rounds with no issue.....have yet to ever have an issue with the PF9 though.

Note the screws for the belt clip. I leave them in place as I occasionally use the clip. These screws will require a little (medium) Loctite as well.

 

[Yo Mama]

This is normally how these threads start....and end. :banghead:

 

[wnycollector]

I bought my PF-9 just after Xmas and I have had ~600 relatively trouble free rounds through it. I have had 6 FTE's each and every one is attributable to me (finger hitting mag release, thumb brushing slide or shooting a dirty gun).

The one big thing I have noticed is that my PF-9 is 100% reliable when it is clean but even a little bit of power residue on the slide rails or extractor can cause problems. One time I put 50 rounds of my 125gr reloads through it and put it away w/o cleaning. The next week I took it out to the range and I got one FTE /mag on the first two or three mags. I field stripped it at the range and cleaned up the rails and extractor as best I could with a paper towel. It was 100% for the rest of the range session.

I find that its size and weight are perfect for IWB carry. Yes I can carry a bigger gun w/ more rounds IWB...but then I'm carrying a gun that feels like a bigger heavier gun. The PF-9 is so light and small that I actually have forgotten I am carrying a gun. It's that easy to carry!

Ohh ya, it is SUPER accurate out to 10 yards mainly because of the smooth trigger pull!

 

[GBExpat]

A PF9 has been my primary carry piece for several years. I have found it to be reliable, accurate and relatively comfortable to shoot. For reference, when I buy gloves they must be size Large.

I have a PF9 in the back pocket of my 501s as I type this ... it is in a Desantis Nemesis holster.

I Dremel-modded it slightly as shown in the photo below so that I could get 3 fingers comfortably on the front grip strap (radiused the triggerguard and knocked the nose off of the mag extension).

 

[dusty14u]

I have had a PF9 for 3 yrs now with no problems. I pocket carry it in a Old West pocket holster in cargo shorts for the summer. I carry it about 80% of the time while carrying much more expensive full size guns the rest of the time. I sometimes carry it in a small belt slide holster IWB and OWB. It is very easy to conceal and very reliable. I fire a few mags at leat every other week and it always goes bang. It isn't a range gun but does waht it was designed to do very well. I would highly recommend this for concealed carry.

 

[SheepNutz]

Hello from a fellow Kentuckian! I just picked up my PF-9 on Friday (bought it off gunsamerica.com) and took it to the range that night after giving it a good cleaning. I shot 100 rounds of WWB 115gr FMJs, and had zero failures. As others have said, it's not a range gun for sure, because it stings the crap out of your hands. There's a good bit of muzzle flip, and I was getting some hand redness from grip being rough where the two halves of the frame meet. I'll be picking up a Hogue Hand-all Jr grip for it as soon as I can find one locally that isn't pink. The sights are good, and the gun was pretty accurate. I was shooting ragged holes at 7 yards. Overall, I'm happy with it, and can't wait to get my CCDW so I can pocket carry it.

 

[kymarkh]

I had one that looked exactly like dusty14u's for a while. I highly recommend the Hard Chrome if you can find it - it really makes the Pf-9 a much better gun in my opinion.

It was accurate and reliable for me, but I ended up trading it for a Ruger LCP because what I really wanted was a pocket pistol. The Pf-9 is just slightly too big for me to get it out of a pocket holster quickly. The Ruger is much better in this regard.

 

[beeenbag]

Is the recoil out of these guns too much for my 5'2'' 120lb wife? She has tiny hands which Is good (really good in ways) to fit the grip, but if the recoil is that bad.....