Kel-Tec P-11

K

Kentucky Rifle

New member
I like my P-32 so much that sometimes I think about purchasing a P-11. With everything I have, I don't have a 9MM. P-11's are inexpensive and small, that's good! Has anyone had good experiences with the P-11? I talked to a friend who said that the trigger pull was hard to get used to. You need to practice a lot. That's OK, I've got plenty of time to practice.
Opinions please.

Will


------------------
Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
I own a p-11 and I love mine. reliable with every type of round I have shot in it and has never yet malfunctioned. I also like it's light weight, concealability and 10+1 capacity, and frankly, I would much rather have 9mm than .32 IMHO :)

------------------
"what gives a government that arms the whole world the right to disarm it's own citizens?"
 
Just bought one myself. Not a "leap of blind faith," though. Have used the P11 for a while before deciding I "needed" one.

Only problems I've personally had (or seen with my friends' P11's):

1. Yes, DAO long/heavy pulled takes some getting used to.
2. Allow it to break in. Had a couple of feed/extraction problems during the first 100 rounds. No problems since. Will feed any junk I put in it.
3. It's so small, sometimes I forget it's in my pocket! :D

You can also get some great info from www.ktog.org (Kel-Tec Owners Group).
 
My P-11 has been %100 reliable since I got it.

Yes, the trigger is long and heavy like a revolver, but you know it will not go off in your pocket (which is how I carry mine).

The amazing thing to me is how ACURATE this thing is. I mean, seriously, this is ranked up there with the most accurate pistols I have ever owned!
I never expected that. If I have time to squeeze the trigger and hold it still, I can get 1 inch groups at 12 yards. I was SHOCKED at how accurate this gun is.

I am not going to lie to you though, when you want to fire fast, the trigger pull can make it tough to get tight groups.

Also, my P-11 came with the .40 caliber mag, and it holds 12 rounds of 9mm! Plus one in the chamber! And, it is reliable! Since this is the mag my gun came with new in the box, I don't sweat it.
 
I have two stainless P-11s and they are both reliable and accurate.

Good guns, good price.

------------------
Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
 
Like Glockenpooper, I will not lie to you.
I have Not had good luck with my P-11.
The trigger pull is horrible, and I was surprised as how bad the accuracy was.
I sent it back to the factory twice for the same reason(Trigger problems), and once for feeding problems.
I must confess that my P-11 was dated 1997.
I truly hope that things have inproved!!!
I sold it and purchased a Glock, but that's another subject!(A happy one)

This is my point: The P-11 is not really all that cheap. Mine was NOT accurate, nor reliable. They told me to "Fluff and Buff it" ...and all this to a new weapon??
I just thought that you may want to hear all sides of the story.
Best wishes!
MOOSE
 
As Hamfisted pointed out, you have to let the P-11 break in with at least a couple of hundred rounds before you judge its reliability. The only semi-auto pistols I've owned that were 100% reliable out of the box were Glocks and Sigs that cost twice what the P-11 did. easily weighed twice as much and were much harder to conceal.

The "fluff and buff" is easy to do (I used a dremel with a polishing tip and jeweler's rouge) and improves reliability a lot without going through a lot of ammo to get there. Yes, they could have done the job at the factory but then the gun would cost a lot more too. Because newer Kel-tecs seem to be more reliable out of the box, I suspect the factory is doing more fluff and buff now before the pistol leaves their loading dock.
Check out http://www.ktog.org for lots of information on the P-11 including the fluff and buff procedure. Sign up for the mailing list if you want to meet a lot of folks who love their P-11s.

While you're in there, polishing the trigger bar improves the trigger pull immensly. It will never be crisp or light but then it was never designed to be. The long trigger pull is a safety feature on a gun with no external safety. Polishing the trigger's mating surfaces will smooth out the trigger pull a lot.

As far as accuracy, if you can hit a pie plate at 7 yards, you have all the accuracy you need in a personal defense weapon. That's pretty easy to do with a P-11, even with the long DAO trigger.

[This message has been edited by proximo (edited July 22, 2000).]
 
DerGlockenPooper: About your .40 mag holding 112 rounds of 9mm, my questions are:

1. does the mag stick out the bottom?
2. is the mag the same width as the 9mm?
3. are there any feeding problems?

I'm pretty sure that if you put the S&W 12 round mags in, that the mag sticks out the bottom (the reason kel-tec sells those extensions).
 
I like my P-11 a lot. The trigger is very long, not necessarily real heavy. You will probably want to get the trigger shoe and grip extender which will help you with the trigger. You can order direct from KT, go to their website www.kel-tec.com
I had my slide nickel plated by a gunsmith on the kel-tec owners group website, looks great. Or you can send your slide & barrel to KT and they will swap it for chrome parts for $20.
 
I've had a P-11 for several years. I fluffed and buffed it (ala WWW.KTOG.ORG) before I fired it.

It has been unfailingly reliable, durable, and accurate. I've shot it a lot -- several thousand rounds throught it.

That said, I find the P-11 particularly difficult to shoot well. I shoot a lot, with a lot of different guns. I was always impressed with the accuracy, when shooting at targets at the range.

Then I joined IDPA.

I've shot the P-11 in a couple of small, local IDPA matches. I usually do pretty well in them, placing high in my class if not winning it, when shooting other guns. I have had best times, overall, several times in the match (not just in my class) with those other guns.

I do poorly with a P-11: better some of the shooters, but nothing to brag about.

Recently I bought a Star Firestar Plus. Similar size, 8-9 ounces heavier, but still not a burden, similar capacity. I won one of those matches with it, and it was only the second or third time I had shot the gun. A marvelous single-action trigger, beautiful fit, good ergonomics.

If the P-11 is your only gun, and you shoot it a lot, it'll probably serve you well. If you don't shoot it a lot, or if you must shoot at distances greater than 20', then you may have a problem if or when the stuff hits the fan.
 
I have both a P 11 and P 32. And think about the Sub 9 from time to time.

The trigger pull on the P 11 is just plain rotten. That is it's only real flaw. This sights are good, reliability is getting better. One thing about feeding and ejecting with the P 11...it is a VERY light 9mm I think all the feed problems I have had are due to either the break in period [I only have around 200 rounds thru it so far] gun movement in the hand [a limp wrist effect cause the gun moves in my hand sometimes which robs energy needed to cycle the pistol]. And when shooting lefthanded I believe I bump the slide lock in recoil sometimes [only locked slide back on loaded mag twice or so in first box of shells thru the gun, never since].

The only other negitive thing to me is the gun really needs a better finish to prevent surface rust IMHO. If you carry IWB or pocket a lot it will need more attention than Glocks or such in my experiance. The hard chrome option might be worthwhile on the P 11. I am thinking about seeing if the factory will chrome my blued one. I am planning to get a second P 11 and will probably get the hard chromed one.

BTW P 11 mags are a HECK of a lot easier to load than GLOCKS!!!

At realistic DEFENSE ranges the P 11 is good. So for CCW use or as back up to a 1911 or Glock I think it has no peer. It is in the same wt class as a Light wt J frame 38 special but has twice the ammo. I consider it to be an improvement of the 5 shot 38 special class of gun. Not in the same class as a G 26 at all.
YMMV
 
For the record the Keltecs trigger pull is usually damned by perception. The pull is 8.5lbs. hardly heavy for DA and if you actually measure it is no longer than many other handguns. However it *feels* looong and heavy due to the tiny size and ultra light weight of the gun combined with the short 2 finger grip. Use a very firm grip and a smooth steady pull (don`t try to stage it) and you`ll be fine. I have around 5000rds. through mine (including many +Ps) with no problems and no jams. I carry it with the factory belt clip nearly everyday (you have to try it before you knock it) and have no problems making good hits out to 20yds. or so. I use the trigger shoe but not the mag extensions (why make a small gun bigger?) and did the F&B some time ago not because it needed it but just to add some icing to the cake. I agree the P-11`s not in the same class as the G26,the Glock is much chunkier, heavier,more expensive and lacks the belt clip option that makes the P-11 as easy to conceal as a .25 in a IWB holster. If it were technically in the Glock`s class I`d probably carry something else. :) Marcus
 
I have only one bad thing to report about my P-11. I broke an extractor once.
Otherwise, I really like mine. The trigger is safe, I feel comfortable carrying one in the tube, and I can shoot it well. I had my slide nickel plated by Jack Fuselier and I am very happy with his workmanship, and it looks great.
A great carry piece for me as the size is perfect for a smaller stature man like me.
I have had great luck with their customer service, and although this pistol falls kinda into the "niche" or "cult" category, I believe the value is there.
I traded a Ruger P-95 (also great but too big) for this pistol 3 yrs ago and have never looked back.
I believe some of the add-ons enhance the ergonomics and comfort, and accuracy, but I don't believe they are absolutely necessary. Mine was great right out of the box.
I bought my P-32 based on my experiences with the P-11 and am happy with that as well. Just my opinion!!!!!!!!

------------------
And if you hear from my Louise, won't you tell her I love her so?
 
My P11 has been superceded by a much more expensive Kahr P9. The trigger and thickness are two areas for concern. P11 *is* 100% reliable (though mine threw brass every which way) and quite accurate. Trigger is heavy and my hand gets tired after 150 rounds BUT trigger shoe helps tremendously. Basically a better gun than most .38 snubbies, IMO. I am keeping mine.
 
Here is where you go to get your Kel-Tecs nickel plated: www.gunsmith.fuselier.com

Jack Fuselier will nickel plate your slide for $25 and polish the slide rails and hammer/slide interface for you. Since the slide doesn't have a serial number, you can send it regular mail.
I got my P-32 & P-11 slides back this week. Got them back exactly 2 weeks after I sent them. They look great.

[This message has been edited by alamo (edited July 22, 2000).]
 
The .40 caliber mag that came with my P11 is a KelTec factory mag. It is made for the .40 caliber version so it fits the same in every way. It fits flush in the handle, and it feeds %100 reliably. It did not need to be altered in any way, it holds and feeds 12+1 rounds of 9mm very reliably. Because it was designed for .40, it holds 12 rounds of 9mm, but other than the fact it holds more ammo, I cannot see any difference in the .40 magazine from the 9mm magazine. It came with my gun, brand new, so I use it in good faith.

The KelTec is no Glock in shooting ability, but it is WAY lighter and flatter. I can carry my P11 in my pocket easily.
I would much rather have my Glock 26/27 when I need to make multiple fast hits, but there are defintely times when I can carry the KelTec P-11, when I just could not carry the Glock unnoticed. Several ounces of weight, and smaller size does make a difference with pocket carry on a summer day.

I do like the Kahr P9 and I plan to get one. It may replace the KelTec P-11 for me, the Kahr does hold less ammo.
The Kahr probably shoots a little better, carries just as well, but holds less ammo. Tough choice.




[This message has been edited by DerGlockenpooper (edited July 22, 2000).]
 
If I could only have one handgun, I would choose a P11. Not that it is my favaorite, It just has the critical factors that add up:

1) Wieght: Kel-Tek P-11 3" barrel 22 oz loaded 11 rounds 9mm [23.5 oz for 16
rnds]

2) Firepower: 9mm +P+ rocks

3) High cap magazines for S&W59 series fit. They can be had with Mec-Gar quality for $19

4) Reliablity: The gun has never given me any grief in the years I have owned it.

5) Accuracy: no good for target shooting, but can hit a man sized target at 25 feet with rapid fire and little skill required.

Summary: for it's space and wieght, it is state of the art for concealed carry firepower.

[This message has been edited by Clark (edited July 23, 2000).]
 
Guy's,
Thanks for all the replies.
Like I said, I don't have a 9MM yet and I need ( :)) one. I like the little Kel-Tec. It's flat, light, and inexpensive. However, if I choose the Glock 26 I could use the same holsters as my G27.
I haven't made up my mind yet. Sometimes I think that I'd like the Kel-Tec just because it's "different" from my Glocks. (And I've had such a good experience with my P-32.)
Ah well, so many choices. I'm just glad that we still have choices. In Kentucky you can carry any pistol you want. (With your CCW license) I have several for different types of clothing or different situations. When I read that in some places your carry license limits you to a certain pistol, it's confusing. Some lawmaker says one pistol is OK for CCW, but you can't have two? (Or three or six??) Silly!

Will

------------------
Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
WLM,

I'll add that I have four Glocks (34, 17, 19, 26) PLUS the two Kel-Tecs (among others) in 9mm.

The Kel-Tecs won't replace the Glocks but they'll always have a place in my modest cache of weapons. :D



------------------
Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
 
I bought one a month or so ago, and it developed a big gouge in the frame due to an improperly shaped barrel. This was before firing it :). I took it back, got another one, and haven't had a single problem with it. I've shot about 100 rounds through it (hollowpoint and ball) with no issues. I don't like that crap about F&B a new gun, so I didn't.

Trigger pull is long and awful, but 10+1 of 9mm in a gun that small is wonderful. :)

Don't limp wrist it, or you will have problems.

[This message has been edited by EricM (edited July 25, 2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top