What do you think of keltec?

[The Lone Haranguer]

My impression - as I have not owned or shot any - is that the pistols look rather cheap (e.g., the riveted sheet metal extractor), but their rifles are quite attractive for the money. I rather fancy a folding-stock SU16 (cal. .223).

 

[Browns Fan]

I would rather have my pf9 or p32 that doesnt look like much but is very reliable, than the kimber I had that was pretty but was a jam-o-matic.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

I would rather have my pf9 or p32 that doesnt look like much but is very reliable, than the kimber I had that was pretty but was a jam-o-matic.

OMG you too?! Hahahaha.

My $700 Ultra Carry was junk. FTF or FTE every 30-40 rounds or more! Yeah, Kel-Tecs look cheap because they are cheap... But mine goes bang every time!

 

[deadeye dick]

Had my KT .32 for about 6 yrs with nary a problem. Shot any ammo I could find cheap for practice and am going to reload some as soon as i can find some bullets. When i carry I use Federal premium .32 auto hydra shok 65 grain JHP. I personally like a heavy trigger pull when in a situation when the adrinallin is pumping as it could be a 30 lb. pull and you wount notice it. Thank God I have never been in that situation. Just my .02 Not the most accurate piece but it isn't made to be. It's a close quarters belly gun. The weight is another factor, it weighs less than some of the change i carry around and hides ANYWHERE. Nuf said,

 

[Defense Minister]

I had a P-11 that was 100% reliable, and now I have a PF-9 that has been 100% for the 270 or so rounds I have put through it, including 70 of the Double Tap 124gr. +p rounds I carry in it. Those +p rounds are brutal in a gun that small.

The long, heavy trigger pull on the Kel-Tecs make them hard to shoot well at any distance, as does the abbreviated grip, but I carry it as a defensive pistol I'm likely to use inside 20 feet as a last ditch effort to preserve my existence, and, for that purpose, it works fine. No complaints here, and I would like to own a few more of their products.

 

[kentucky bucky]

So far my Keltec has performed perfectly....I have a Glock 30 that I really like, but I had to send it back to Glock twice due to cronic FTF. They did fix it, but it was a hassle. My Keltec p11 worked good from the beginning and even smoother after a "fluff & buff". I trust it as much as any gun.

 

[chihuahuatn]

I own all models of the Kel-Tec pistols (with exception of the new 22mag model). I put a total of 3,234rds through one of my P3AT's with 5 failures in its life. They are great guns but need constant maintenance and changing of parts (I changed mine every 800rds). Out of the bunch I believe the P32 and P11 are the best kel-tec makes. The P3AT and the PF9 push the limits and are at times are finicky.

hope this helps,
Mike

 

[Girodin]

Your choices are all far too absolute to pick any of them.

I've owned a number of kel tecs. My thoughts.

They can typically be made to run right but I wouldn't trust one out of the box (I wouldn't really trust any gun out of the box but the Kel tec less so).

It is clear why they sell at the price point they do when you compare them to nicer guns.

They don't make any guns that I would consider a great PRIMARY carry gun. They make some guns that I would consider as a BUG after I proved it reliable.

They are not as durable as certain other makes IME.

They certainly have more variation in terms of quality and fit and finish from one to the next than I have seen with other makes I own (colt, glock, ruger, steyr, etc.)

I do not think they are crap but I definitely think there are nicer guns and certainly better choices for a serious primary carry gun. They are a likely fine for the person that buys a gun, rarely and more likely never runs it hard and places the greatest emphasis on the gun being able to fit in their pocket.

Someone that was going to invest the time and round count to be proficient with their weapon would be better served by a different weapon IMO and for not a great deal more. Particularly if one shops around.

All of this is of course based on how I use my guns and the traits I see as being desirable and advantageous.

 

[gb6491]

(e.g., the riveted sheet metal extractor)

Just to clarify, if that's in reference to the PF9, second generation P32 and P3AT: that sheet metal looking part is spring steel (actually the extractor spring) and it's held in place by a button head screw. Older P32s, P3ATs, and P11s use a different system.
Regards,
Greg

 

[xanawolf]

Yep

For me, it's about weight. My PF-9 is super lightweight, and with the belt clip, I just clip it inside my pants for easy, secure carry.

In the summer months, I wear shorts, shorts, and more shorts- and most have elastic waistbands and no belt loops. So for me, I can just slip the pistol in the side of my waistband and don't have to worry about the weight of the weapon being uncomfortable or pulling my pants down.

Also, with the chrome slide, rust is not an issue on those balmy summer days.

When people do see the weapon secured at my waist, they almost always say "what kind of knife is that"?

As Massad Ayoob says, if you have a ccl, you need to carry ALL THE TIME, cause the one time you don't is when Murphy's Law is going to bite you. So if you have a big, bulky weapon that's difficult to carry on ALL your clothing, then you will either be forced to compromise your comfort or your carry; with the PF-9, I don't have to compromise either.

 

[surfinUSA]

I don't have one but I've considered buying one. I used to carry a Beretta Bobcat in 22 LR. But none of the tip up barrel Berettas have extractors and I was never really comfortable with its reliability.

My brother has a keltec an likes it, but he rarely shoots it. It nice comfortable and easy to carry and the 32 is probably as good as a 380 out of a gun that size. But I just can't get myself to give up my S&W 642 which I carry in my front pocket whether I'm wearing a suit or shorts.

I would like to compare one to the Ruger version.

 

[todd_g]

Nothing pretty, the finish on the metal and plastic is a little on the rough side. When I bought mine I already had a surplus of 380 laying around, I use to buy it by the case when the gunshows would come to town, anyway I took it to the range and put 200 rounds through it from 4 manufactures functioned perfectly, brutal on my hand after a 100 of them. I think I have a keeper.