If you're looking for a small, compact 9mm, what is your life worth?
Yeah, the KT P11 is $200 but they are well known to have reliability problems.
Go to the KTOG page or deja.com and read the 200+ posts I've seen just in several months expressing concerns about KTs going to Florida for vacaction (repairs) or P11s jamming or slides failing to lock or failing to take hollowpoints. Aren't hollowpoint rounds designed for defense? Why are all of the KTOG people polishing their feed ramps?
Get the idea. It's cheap because you do all of the work. Buy one for $200 then spend $150 on a dremel tool and other gunsmithing tools. Your total cost for your $200 gun is really $350 not including the time to buff and fluff it to reliability.
Why are they all talking about fixing their guns?
The KT P11 is the offspring of the Grendel. KT bought the Grendel company and couldn't sell the darn guns. I had a guy on the Net offer one to me for $15 just to entice me to buy his other gun. Wow they hold their value too! KT reworked the Grendel design and then basically remarketed it as the P11.
I'd also be concerned about taking any advice from any LEO that would tell you to buy a KT.
Unless they're some po dunk department with crappy funding, they're carrying Glock 26s and 27s because Glock has a huge LE discount program where they buy a Glock 26/27 for $399.
Be careful who you take advice from. I'd be leary of any cop who would recommend a KT when most departments won't even approve the gun for off duty carry. Ask them what they're carrying, probably not a KT POS.
For 9mm, the KT P11 is too fat for pocket carry therefore, look at the Glock 26/27 ($375 used), Kahr E9 ($275 used), Sig P228 ($450 used)for an easy to conceal 9mm that is reliable. I'd even say look at the Colt Pony Pocketlite in .380 but it's a Colt and I'm concerned about their operations and viability in the future.
Ever wonder why Kel Tec P11s generally can't be rented . . . because they can't be abused or else they break. Not to mention, they don't hold their value. Resale is terrible.
For CC, your life may depend on it going bang. Be safe. Buy quality not CRAP.
Save your money. Rent guns. And buy a gun that you will keep.
KT appears to have put a lot of time into the pocket gun category and NAA Guardian sales are down due to the P32 and the Sub 9 carbine is sweet and there's lots of good feedback on those model but not the P11!
BUT the Kel Tec P11s are CRAP, CRAP, CRAP and 200 + people have said so.
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The Seattle SharpShooter
[This message has been edited by jtduncan (edited February 15, 2000).]