Kel-tec P9?

R

Rammer

New member
Ok, being totally unarmed and lacking much financial means, I've come to think that the Kel-Tec P9 offers a good choice in 9mm in a small package.

Any opinions?

I know, some are going to say "Glock 26" or "Makarov" or "CZ". I'm open to suggestions. Just want something inexpensive, in a decent round (no 380 or 32, please) from a reliable manufacturer.

Thanks.
 
Kel-Tec

The P9 i had was a real POS jammed every round regardless of ammo brand/type/etc needless to say i got rid of it after the second trip back to the factory and they told me "we dont know why it does that" i wont do business with them again....just my $.02......also my buddy HAD one but after about 500 rounds the frame craked in 3 pieces....
 
I've had very good luck with mine, about 600 rounds & no problems at all. I like it a lot. BTW, it is called the P-11 vs. P9. The P-11 has a long double action trigger pull, some people have trouble getting used to it. The P-11 is not a target pistol but was designed for concealed carry.

For some more good info. on the P-11, go to the Kel-Tec owners group website http://www.ktog.org
Go to the "Bulletin Board" link and check out the P-11 forum.

More P-11 info. at this site too http://www.goldenloki.com
 
uhhhh.....

Doh! I meant to say P11. Guess I was thinking about the round being a 9mm. My first post, too. How embarrassing. :o
 
I think some other manufacturer (Kahr?) already was using the designation P9, I think it's called the P-11 because it holds 11 rounds with one in the chamber.

Use the "search" function at the top of this forum if you don't get many replies, the P-11 has been discussed often in the past. Search under P-11 or Kel-Tec P-11 or maybe Keltec P11, should bring up lots of good info.
 
Well..I normally carry my Sig 239 or my Kel Tec P11...love 'em both..have 1200 rounds though the p11..not a problem yet. But just my .02
 
I'd think hard about the Makarov. Seriously! Search the posts on this forum and you will find out that the Makarov is a serious pistol. It's ammo is cheap, and it's a really effective round. I seem to recall hearing somewhere that before the Iron Curtian came down, the Makarovs were selling for $500-600. I'm sure a fellow TFL'er could verify that. But regardless, don't let the cheap price fool you.

I'd also recommend the Ruger P95. I love mine, and there are plenty of cheap high (full) capacity mag's to be had. But is sounds like you are leaning toward a more compact pistol.

regards,
t-man
 
The P11 I had was an earlier one. And had the 10lb trigger spring. I did not care for that. Also it jammed about twice for every 50 rounds shot. But it was compact, light and comfortable in my hand. I could have got the 8.5lb trigger spring installed. Also could have had it fluffed and buffed to help the feeding problem. But if I was going to that, I might as well as just invested in a gun that suited me. After the work it would probably cost as much. The P11 has the potential to make a good ccw. But to make it reliable, it probably will require some work.
 
strange246,

That is strange! Kel-Tec's have aluminum frames -- they don't crack. Kel-Tec doesn't have a P9 in the lineup either. Of course, if you DID have a "Kel-Tec P9", it may have come from the same guy on the corner selling Gucchi shoes and Rollex watches....
 
Blackhawk,

Not trying to start a fight but the Kel-tek P-11 I have has a plastic frame.

I have one as a demonstration gun for my CCW classes. It is my answer to the 2", five shot 38 Special revolver. Although I haven't carried it hardly at all, I've put a couple hundred rounds through it, both FMJ and HPs. Also, a number of students have asked to shoot it in my classes. So far it has functioned and fired every time.

My impression is it is one of the better low cost, concealment semi-autos out there.
 
Blackhawk is correct that the "frame" is aluminum. It can be removed from the polymer "grip". The frame has the serial number. Picky technical distinctions. KT has various colored grips you can get for your guns.
Not sure if that guy was referring to the frame or grip but I've never heard of either one cracking & have been following KT forums for several years. In any case, if it did crack, KT would make it good, they have great customer service.
 
t-man,
I'd think hard about the Makarov. Seriously! Search the posts on this forum and you will find out that the Makarov is a serious pistol. It's ammo is cheap, and it's a really effective round.
Click to expand...
Sure. The P11 fires a 9mm Luger (9x19), the Mak fires a 9x18, and if we go down 1 more mm, we'll get to the 9x17, aka .380. Any pistol is serious, but given the choices, I'll take the heavier bullet with more powder shoving it along its way.

Just for grins, ask for Mak ammo at your Wally World, then ask for 9mm Parabellum (Luger), which you can borrow from a soldier if need be....
 
Taurus and Kahr use polymer frames for their plastic fantastics. Taurus has a problem with frames cracking on their PT-145 (.45 ACP), and perhaps their PT-140 (S&W .40), and possibly their PT-111 (9mm Luger).

Kahr uses steel inserts for the slide rails, and there are reports of them not staying exactly straight.

I have a Kel-Tec P11, and its aluminum frame mounts in the polymer grip secured by 3 polymer interference fit pins.

The P11 frame is pretty light, and I'd actually like it to be made of steel. It would cost a few ounces, but this pistol's frame, grip, hammer, trigger, springs, etc., only weigh 4.3 ounces! The slide assembly (barrel, recoil springs, firing pin, etc.) with a steel guide rod weighs 10.3 ounces. It's an ingenious design and there's no obvious wear on the frame, but I'd still prefer for the slide to be riding steel rails.

I have to admit the P11 is my favorite pistol. I've had more fun with it doing the Fluff & Buff and modifying the trigger than I could have imagined. Since it now proudly sports a 6.5# DAO trigger with travel of 0.55" ending at the back of the guard, I've got many reasons to brag about it... and I do!
 
I carried a Kel-Tec P-11 for two years. Finally sold it when I found something I liked better -- a Star Firestar Plus. (I shoot the Firestar very well, and have even had top times at a local IDPA match with it--something *I* could never do with the P-11.)

The P-11 was an accurate reliable gun that I found hard to shoot well, but others can do what I can't do.

The P-11 is a great "up close and personal" self-defense gun. The Makarov is a close second, but still second. (The Makarov, however, is probably easier to shoot well -- but the smaller bullet does make a difference in <pardon the term> "stopping power.")

As noted, the P-11 has an aluminum frame with a polymer cover. You can gunsmith it yourself, following guidance from the Kel-Tec Owner's Group website instructions.

If you haven't been there, you should go: www.ktog.org
 
Another satisfied P-11 owner here. Surprisingly, when I bench-rest my P-11 I have had groups as good as 2" at 15 yards. So I am impressd with how well it shoots.
 
t-man,
I'd think hard about the Makarov. Seriously! Search the posts on this forum and you will find out that the Makarov is a serious pistol. It's ammo is cheap, and it's a really effective round.
Click to expand...
Sure. The P11 fires a 9mm Luger (9x19), the Mak fires a 9x18, and if we go down 1 more mm, we'll get to the 9x17, aka .380. Any pistol is serious, but given the choices, I'll take the heavier bullet with more powder shoving it along its way.

Just for grins, ask for Mak ammo at your Wally World, then ask for 9mm Parabellum (Luger), which you can borrow from a soldier if need be....
 
I've been a died in the wool Makarov person for over a decade. And, Makarovs were $1200 when I ordered my first one!!!!!!! They are worth it. Some call me Reverend Makarov as I preach about them so much.

However, the P-11 is a fine and wonderful choice. Mine has been perfectly reliable so far (500 rounds) no problems of any kind and the accuracy is fine as well.

The earlier KelTecs I had were POS but the P 11 and P 32 I recently purchased and wonderful and needed no fluff and buff or anything else.

There is a growing possibility that my new P 11 may replace my Makarov as my bedside companion...
 
As of 01/01/02 my P-11 has...(drum roll please) 12,000 rds thru it! Not half bad for a gun I paid $249 for. But I will say this, it isn't an easy gun to shoot as it comes. I highly recomend the after market 22# wolf recoil springs, the finger extention, and a slip on grip of some kind. Tamed mine right down. Ran into a new problem tho' I bought 500 rds of that cheap south african ammo. ran 200 rds thru it over the holiday and was lucky to keep them on the paper at 10 yds. Nasty stuff and I still have 300 rds of it.
 
Kel tec "P9"

sorry, i was half asleep when i typed that reply, none-the-less i was talking about the right gun, and blackhawk, i beg to differ, aluminum will crack/break. i've seen it with my own eyes, i was at the range with my buddy when it broke...
 
Just for grins, ask for Mak ammo at your Wally World, then ask for 9mm Parabellum (Luger), which you can borrow from a soldier if need be....
Click to expand...

Just for grins, I wouldn't rely on a P11 in a situation in which I would need to borrow ammo from a soldier. Oh, did I ever 'say' that I am a Makarov nut? :D
 
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