Kel-Tec P11--Is it good?

V

Vee

New member
I found a Kel-Tec P11 with 2 mags at a gun show this weekend for $199. Several LEO's suggested it as a good CCW since it is small and lite. Currently, I carry a Kimber Ultra Elite but my situation may require a deeper conceal.

I would like to hear from those with experience with the P11. Also, was this a good price for the Atlanta area?

Vee

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Cannot comment on the price as I live in Indiana. I can tell you for this area, that would be decent.
I have had my P-11 for about 2 years, and for me it is the ideal carry package. I have done a little fluff and buff work and installed some of the cheap (and I mean CHEAP) improvements to make my already great gun even better. It is a hard pistol to get used to, as the trigger pull is long and hard, but with practice, it can be quite accurate. I trusted it enough to buy a KelTec P-32 as an ultra-concealable pistol and I like it,too.
For the money, I feel it is a great value.
Go to www.ktog.org for more info.

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Knock twice. Rap with your cane. Feels nice. You're out of the rain. We got your skinny girls. Here at the Western World
from Steely Dan's "Western World"
 
I've had my P-11 for about two years, and its been trouble-free.

They take some getting used to -- as the long, heavy trigger pull is difficult to cope with at first. (Go to WWW.KTOG.ORG, the Kel-Tec Owners Group website for tips on how to improve the gun.)

I've shot mine in IDPA practice sessions and have done pretty well with it. Had the best scores, one night, for the scenarios I used it in -- and that is no little accomplishment.
 
The $199 is a great price. Wholesale new seems to be about the same.

Strongly second the trigger pull issue. It took me 50 rounds or so to be comfortable with mine. Reliability is very good, but man, that trigger is weird.

Giz
 
I got a P11 to carry when my G26 wasn't practical. You may have a few jams until you get used to it, which can be attributed to limp-wristing because she Will bark.
I put a belt clip on it and mag extensions.
Your price is $40 less than what I paid.

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"middle of the road"-where a yellow streak and dead carcasses are found.
 
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).]
 
Guys or Gals,

Thank you for sharing your experiences with the P-11. It seems that the P11 like many other guns receives mixed reviews.

If anyone can shed some more light on the P11, I would appreciate it.

Vee

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Glock 26 is fatter than a P-11, and less safe for carry out of a holster. Mine has zero feed problems. Sure you can find detractors.

I recall a study at U.T. that the psych dept did in which they gave away 100 ice cream cones, then interviewed about the quality. They then sold the cones for $.10/apiece, and interviewed in re: quality. Finally, they sold the cones for $1.25/each and interviewed 100 for the quality.

Guess what? Those who paid full price reported that their ice cream was sooooo savory and tasty, they rated it very high. Those who paid a dime each said it was okay, and those who got it for free only allowed that it was edible. All were served the same ice cream!!!! We justify loving what we paid full-price for. We denegrate what we payed least for. We extol what we paid dearly for. Human nature.

I have no great love for my little cheap plastic P-11. But it goes bang when I pull that long, clunky trigger, and that's all I care about.

Problems with P-11's found on the KTOG board? Well, duh. It's THE website for trouble discussions on the pistol. Gawd knows, if there were a single definitive site focusing on Kimbers and Springfield Armory 1911's, you'd see as many problems, most likely, even though they're really fine pistols.

First-hand experience with numerous P-11s, here.
 
THANK YOU LONG PATH!
Last week I got in on a heated duscussion over Taurus autos, and it seems that I lost!
Since then I have been keeping tabs on what guns NOT to buy...Taurus,S&W autos,Colt (all),Ruger P series,Beretta Tomcat, and now Kel-Tec P 11's. Why dont we all just go out and buy a Glock? I have a question... Are Glocks so good because they are used by LEO's or are they just pushed on law enforcement because of the discounts and the trigger pull that eliminates the "hair trigger" lawsuits? Does the U.S. military feel second rate because they don't have Glocks? The bottom line is that all guns are machined by humans, assembled by humans, and test fired by humans. All guns are prone to have problems because of this (even Glocks).
Some designs are better than others and some companies are better than others. Everyone can't afford a $500 gun. Some people have to save up just to buy a $250 gun. Can you name a good $250 gun? I can.. Bersa Thunderlite .380!! People put sooooo many guns on the "junk gun" list. Maybe those people should run for president!
( I am in no way pointing at one person, as I said, I have been seeing alot of this!)
CALVIN
 
Me and 2 good friends of mine own Kel-Tecs. I found them all to be reliable and acurate. I am used to ling trigger pull due to alot of revolver shooting. Personally, I like the idea of a definate trigger pull where the chances of an accidental shot is lowered. I love my kel-tec and have yet to have a malfunction with it. I love it. And for the price, how can you go wrong. As far as them being "known for malfinctions" I have yet to meet a kel-tec owner to tell me they are jammamatics. I have found that many people who claim reliability problems are also the same people who don't take as much care in cleaning, lubing, and greasing the pistol and then when it fails to function, they blame the gun. With proper care and maintanence, most pistols are pretty reliable with some exceptions of course. But all pistols, regardless of model or brand name somewhere have had problems with some of them.

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"what gives a government that arms the whole world the right to disarm it's own citizens?"
 
Lots of guns don't get mixed reviews.

Examples. Sigs, Glocks, Kahrs, CZs, HKP7s.

Again, if your local police officers or FBI/DEA agents aren't authorized to carry it off duty, you shouldn't carry it either.

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The Seattle SharpShooter
 
Lots of guns don't get mixed reviews.

Examples: Sigs, Glocks, Kahrs, CZs, HKP7s.

Again, if your local police officers or FBI/DEA agents aren't authorized to carry it off duty, you shouldn't carry it either.

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The Seattle SharpShooter
 
Lots of guns don't get mixed reviews.

Examples: Sigs, Glocks, Kahrs, CZs, HKP7s. And there are others I forgot too. Oops. forget Browning, and Ruger. You rarely hear negative statements about them.

Again, if your local police officers or FBI/DEA agents aren't authorized to carry it off duty, you shouldn't carry it either.

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The Seattle SharpShooter

[This message has been edited by jtduncan (edited February 18, 2000).]
 
A P11 was my first carry gun. I ended up selling it after about a year cause I just couldn't get used to the trigger. It never failed to fire, (over 1,000 rounds) and it was very small and light. I think that IF you can get used to the trigger, then they are acceptable carry guns. However, I recommend you try one out before buying one...

[This message has been edited by Gino (edited February 18, 2000).]
 
jtduncan,

I would like to see ONE gun that you can find accross the board, unanimous agreement that it is ALWAYS reliable and NEVER has had any problems at all. It simply is not possible. Search this very forum to find numerous posts regarding problems with any and all of the guns you listed. Go to Deja news to find even more conflicting info. I have a P40 that works just fine! Blanket statements that one firearm is a piece of junk and that another is perfect are mutually ridiculous!

For every negative post about a gun, there is a positive one and vice versa.

Chris Canis
 
You're right. All models have problems. it's just that too many Kel Tec P11 owners have a disproportionately large number of complaints.

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The Seattle SharpShooter
 
I owned two of the early stainless models. I had problems with both. Both guns would would give give light primer strikes every fourth or fifth round, not what I call dependable. I ended up selling both guns to a friend very cheap. He was aware of the problems and didn't mind for the price I gave them to him for.
 
I own a Walther PPKS and a Glock 26 along with a Kel-Tec P-11. I have had problems with Glock recoil springs & Walther feeding
The P-11 has been fine with about 500 rounds through it. Of course it needs to be properly lubed (rails greased, etc). At 14 ounces it is the smallest 9mm made. I just drop it in my pocket and always fulfill the first rule of gunfighting (have a gun). I feel the long trigger pull is an advantage as it is an extra safety feature. I would never drop the Glock 26 into my pocket with its trigger. Old double action revolver shooters will have no problem with the trigger pull.
 
"it's just that too many Kel Tec P11 owners have a disproportionately large number of complaints. "

That's funny, doesn't seem to be the case in this thread.
 
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