My only experience is with the P-11.
I was asked to test and evaluate the P-11 many years ago and kept the gun.
No Fluff and Buff.
Gunsmith did take it all apart, as we wanted to see what this gun was all about.
Factory preservative removed from gun, magazines, put everything back together, lubed and "see if you can tear it up" were the instructions to myself and another gentleman.
This other fellow had started shooting his about a week before I did. He was already at a round count ~ 1500 rds with no problems when I got mine he was doing the "scoop powder, stick a bullet in it, and shoot" portion of his T&E.
Just a plastic double action revolver that feeds from a magazine designed to go bang, and be used for defensive distances, is all the P-11 is.
I learned to shoot with revolvers and still believe learning to shoot a revolver in double action only makes one a better shooter - even if they choose another platform later on.
My P-11 is still running, never failed to and the trigger has smoothed up since mine has over 20K rds through it. I quit counting then...
This fits a niche for me and others, hence the reason I/we call the P-11 our "niche gun".
I am a wood and blue person, and I prefer simple and bone stock. I am big into to gun fit.
Extensions for the Pinkie onto the factory magazine are the only accessory I have on some magazines, and the only accessory I recommend.
Concealing is easier without this extension, as are spare magazines.
I have not busted one of these extensions, as one thing I do know from testing, evaluating, personally, plus just having been around long enough, observed and all is - extensions if dropped, banged hit - can and will leave sharp edges, and say for instance one were to strike with enough force these extensions, the magazine can be rendered useless.
I have done this with other magazines with pinkie extensions/ extensions for wanting to know by replicating defensive and serious situations.
My druthers, I would recommend a steel or steel and aluminum alloy J frame, Detective Special and K frame snubby for "Pocket/Always" gun.
Truth is, some folks are right partial to the Police Trade-Ins they have, these Older guns are such, some are setting them back, preserving them and wanting an alternative.
Kel-Tec comes to mind, especially with the price being less than a new wheel gun, and the 9mm ammunition is so affordable to allow lots of quality practice.
Hopefully one will never have to use a firearm in a defensive situation , still the reality is, if one does, the possibility of a electric engraver putting an evidence number on the slide, and not being cared for while awaiting for Grand Jury, Jury Trial - whatever - some I know would prefer a P-11 to be treated in this manner over a classic Model 36, 37, Detective Special...etc.
Ease of take-down with no tools.
No secret I am bone stock Gov't Model of 1911 person. I mean I feel when kid enters first grade, after the big fat pencil, Big Chief notebook, they should be given a bone stock Gov't Model to have and learn to take apart, put back and this would be part of the thinking, dexterity and fun time. Nothing wrong with Play-Doh, just Play-Doh does not go "bang" very well.
Here is the deal, some folks travel and use legal , secure , lockable containers as required by various jurisdictions. If such jurisdiction requires the firearm be "apart" , it takes about 3 seconds to break down a P-11 with no tools.
Personally again.
I only shoot revolvers, or Single Action semi-automatics - 1911/BHPs.
I found MY personal guns that fit me when I was a brat, and stayed with these platforms.
Additionally, I want my brain, and muscle memory to do the same thing each time - especially under stress, tired, not awake, sleep depraved, scared - stressed.
P-11 is a plastic double action only revolver, and just like I do with a revolver, I sweep off the "safety". Yeah I know the revolver and P-11 does not have one, just from trigger time and years with 1911 my thumb has this action ingrained. My thumb, or if shooting weak handed with a bone stock 1911 ( as I do not do ambi safeties) my thumb / weak index finger goes "down" .
Repetition becomes habit - habit becomes faith.
For me, this was a new gun, made of plastic, asked to T&E for reasons, and so me being me - put in the trigger time.
No big deal to run at least 200 rds a day, even as much as 1k a day. Tested all the mags.
First - Reliable with all the mags.
Second - POA/POI of ammunition with the sights.
Shot Placement : Gun has to feed, extract, feed, extract - repeat.
Nice if the ammunition and sights work together.
Shot Placement is paramount, so First Criteria is paramount with Second being a real good idea.
The 3 white dots drove me nuts for the sight system. See I have shot a shotgun a few times, and shotguns are pointed, not aimed.
I learned to shoot shotguns without beads.
Plain bead on front, or even with a mid-bead does not bother me - and if one falls off, I do not care - as I do not need it/them anyway.
Hi-Vis and other sights on a shotgun distracts me.
Plain sights on handguns, factory, gold bead front, whatever - just plain sights.
I used a number 2 pencil to darken the dots on my P-11.
One other gun being tested - just took the damn sights off on purpose.
"Poor man's ASP" [See Theodore Roosevelt].
Once the initial shooting, testing mags, getting used to thing was done on Day 2 - I went onto "test, evaluate and try to tear it up"
Cases ammunition, my personal magazines marked, and about 15 spare mags, and shoot I did.
In a week I was doing from conceal to target in 1.0 sec ( and sometimes less, my best IIRC was .7) and getting all 10 shots into a playing card out to 5yds.
I start at "bad breath" and go out in distance.
About 2 weeks later gunsmith buddy that asked me test this thing, come out to the Private Range where I was with more ammunition, and lunch.
"What the hell are you shooting the steels with?" - he asked
I was ringing 6" and 8" steels at 45 yards.
I needed a change of target and the new black paint just looked plumb wrong on them steels...
I have taken ground hogs, pests, varmins , rabbits and even some big squirrels that were dumb enough to sit there on a cross tie at 15 yards during season.
FWIW Blazer aluminum 115 gr FMJ will work on squirrels though I will admit I was going for the eye and shot a tad higher...
So this gun was "approved" and implemented for ladies and gents to carry. Other folks put nice guns in safes, and started using these P-11s.
I was ask to assist new folks in learning this gun.
Since I had shot this gun enough, including low/ no light situations, I just left the white dots white as this is how the guns come and figured with assisting students, just lead by example and keep it simple.
One person, with some special needs due to eyes, we did "modify" his front sight. He has a Hi-Vis green "insert" in his front sight. Works real nice, and all these years has held up.
He has a spare made up, along with spare factory sights. Once some eye surgery was done - eyes better than ever, he..."I'm keeping the green as I like it and maybe the wife can tell our P-11s apart" *joke*
Now early on when I ordered the spare magazines, and pinkie extensions, I asked the nice folks about spare parts, and that I was testing and evaluating one, and I was just one that liked the idea of having spare parts either for me, or students.
Extra recoil springs, plastic guide rod, the "plug" ( I call it) that inserts into gun, into lower part of barrel, firing pins and Allen screws.
Mine is still using original parts.
Oh I stuck these parts in tried them, they worked, and set them back putting original parts back in.
I concern myself with chamber, extraction - so this is what I "clean". Rack slide, use a bent rod to fit into chamber , toothbrush/ pipe cleaner for extractor and face, if I choose to lube, drop either back of slide rails, where the hammer rides, or either side of breech where rails are.
My quickie range clean.
Mine has easily gone 1k rounds without any cleaning, or lubing.
I have run it up ~ 3k rds with no cleaning or lubing.
I say I would not buy another, as I really do prefer a steel gun, steel aluminum gun, Prefer 1911 , BHP, K frames or J frames.
Mine fills a niche, and has done so very well. I have CCW-ed two at a time, lots of times.
I had a second one given to me, and someone really needed a CCW pronto, and I let that one go.
If given another(s) I'd keep them, they fill a niche for me and others.
Out and about on farms, ranches, and in "property vehicles" including boats that check reservoirs - the nice guns have been removed and replaced with P-11s.
Electrical tape and some engineering makes for a nice lanyard for water use...
Cows, "the old gray mare", Coup-de-grace on deer, pigs for "hog killing time", rabid dogs, raccoons, and other such uses these P-11s have seen.
Just a plastic double action revolver , that feed from the bottom and does not cost a lot is all these are...
...nothing more, nothing less...
