Kel-tec P11

M

mlk18

New member
I have read on TFL recently that the newer serial number P11's seem to be higher quality then older ones. Sounds like Kel-tec is finally putting a little more into the fit and function of their handguns. I have a craving for a new light inexpensive 9mm to add to the collection and am wondering what serial number range I should be looking at. What numbers constitute the "new" breed of P11's? Approx. of course. Thanks.

mlk18
 
I don't think anyone can tell you any particular serial number and have never seen anything like that on any KT forum. Mine is 78XXX and I bought it almost 2 years ago.

Highest P-11 serial number I saw at a recent gunshow was 113XXX if you want to make sure you get one of recent manufacture.
 
My 84XXX had a pretty severe jamming problem with FMJ and more-so with hollowpoints. It wouldn't extract the fired case (between 2-4 per mag), and therefore the next round to chamber would ram into the old case causing a nice little malfunction. Got rid of it last week for a Glock 27. Best move I've made in a long while... counted myself lucky when I got a $110.00 trade-in value.

FWIW: it was an easily concealable firearm. It was very light, held 10+1 rounds, and the trigger wasn't too bad either. It ALWAYS went bang when I pulled the trigger (for the first shot). But, I'll avoid them next time around. I just don't want a gun that was designed to be "fluffed-&-buffed." Shoulda been done at the factory from the get-go if you ask me.

I put 135 rounds through the Glock yesterday (100 PMC and one box of Federal HS 165's and a 1/2 box of Corbon 150's)... Totally reliable.

I hope this helps.
Ben
 
I don't have a P-11, but I do have a P-40 and a P-32 and they both have been very reliable guns. I sent the P-40 back and had night sights and a hard chrome finish applied to the slide and barrel for 20 bucks. Kel-Tec will hard chrome the slide and barrel of any of their handguns for that price, just ship the slide and barrel back to the factory. The turn around time on mine was around a week.

7th
 
i also had the 40. great little gun after the fluff and buff. simple procedure, it not only helps the function, but you get to know your firearm very well. sold it though...to small of a gun for that caliber imo.
 
my p11 i recently bought has fuctioned flawlessly with 300 rds win white box and 2 boxs fed hydra shok very accurate at 20 ft didnt try it beyond that neat little gun for 211.00+ tax:)
 
Mine is 28XXX I have about 7k of various rounds fired through it and not a single hitch to date! I'm really happy with it:). I paid $200 + tax back in '97. It's one of the best gun purchase I've ever done IMHO. I've heard the newer ones has better trigger though. I might get another one someday.
 
Serial Number

I have a P-11, serial number 115XXX, bought it about 4 months ago. So far I've put about 600 rounds through it. The only thing that caused it to hiccup was 147gr. I paid $215 for it at a local gun show. I've seen several people "dis" this little auto, but for the price, it's performed very well for me.
 
I bought my P11 about 1 1/2 years ago. It works fine. I sent it in for the hard chrome upgrade (they sent me a chromed barrel and slide). I'm very happy with it. My P40 (40S&W version) hasn't been so successful - it jams regularly. I'm going to send it back to Kel-Tec to see what they can do with it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another P11.

Doug
 
The one (and only one) I have seen for sale locally is 114XXX,
so it seems to be of the newer breed. I pulled the trigger on a snap cap a few times, and while long, seemed lighter to me that they are rumored to be. Asking price is $249, but I am going to see if I can take it home for under $225. If I am successful I will post a review. Thanks for the feedback.

mlk18
 
DougB...

I have a P40 which jammed out-of-the-box. I sent it back to Kel-Tec and they did a mini-fluff&buff and it now shoots every type of .40 S&W ammo I've put through it. I added a trigger shoe to help out the trigger pull. It's perfect for a CCW. ;}

Mac
 
Mac,

That's good to hear - I really like the P40 (size, weight, etc.) if I can get it to work reliably. I'll have to get it off to Kel-Tec.

Doug
 
DougB:

Sending it back to Kel-Tec first is the right thing to do. Let them do their magic (mine was out of my hands for only two weeks) and when you get it back, shoot it until you believe in it! Then, you can start tinkering with it; fluff&buff, trigger mods, etc.

I'm beginning to get that old warm, fuzzy feeling each day I shoot it. I almost trust it as much as my 10-year old Sig P220. Almost....

On a friends recommendation, I have ordered for my P40 the recoil spring package and the magazine spring package from Wolff (www.gunsprings.com). Once I have settled on a proper recoil spring weight, I figure I will have run about 250 to 350 more rounds through it. That will bring me to over 600 rounds total and, assuming it continues to perform as well as it has since I got it back from Kel-Tec, it ought to be well within my reliability zone.

I'll keep everyone posted.

Mac
 
It's a slip on piece of plastic that's retained by two tiny set screws. It makes the trigger wider and more comfortable to pull.

I didn't like it, but others have said they like it a lot.
 
Blackhawk,

The trigger shoe I got from Kel-Tec isn't made of plastic. It's metal (aluminum I think). It attached to the trigger with a couple of VERY tiny set screws. I didn't care for it too much and am not using it now. It did come lose unexpectedly on me when I had it installed to try it out, so I would recommend using lock tight on the set screws (and maybe even a dab of some sort of glue between the trigger and the shoe) if you decide you like it - to make sure it doesn't come off unexpectedly. Unfortunately, I think you will need to be able to get it off if you ever want to remove your "frame" from the plastic "grip."

Doug
 
Definitely don't glue it on or otherwise you won't be able to get the frame out of the grip. Best way to get it to stay on is to put it on and tighten the screws, then take it off. Note the indentations the screws made on the trigger. Then get a 1/16" drill bit and hand turn it (don't use a drill!) on the 2 indentations to make them slightly deeper so the screws can sink in further. Then use some loctite on the screws and it will stay put.
 
My P-11 and my P-32 have both been faultless and accurate? I had earlier ones and they were POS. The trigger has taken some getting used to and I still need more shooting time with them.

However, I just put another several hundred rounds of ammo through my P-11 in the last few days and it was perfect as always. It is almost as accurate as my Glock 19 for me now!!!!!!:D

I just ran a few hundred rounds of the new Silver Bear; hot and heavy Russian ammo through it and the Rusky ammo and the KelTec P-11 are a grand combo -- only the Triton Quik-Shok is more accurate in my experience!
 
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