Kel-Tec P17...First thoughts

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CNobbe

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I ordered a P17 from Bud's last week and I got to try it out today. I was happy to see they were selling for MSRP - $199.99.

I had seen the few videos of a T&E example with numerous failures, but for $199.99 - I wasn't put off by that. I had high hopes that Kel-Tec had gotten the bugs worked out, whatever they were and hopefully wouldn't have to be a test mule.

So, with my bulk pack of Federal 36gr copper plated hollow points in hand, I hit the range.

I'm very pleased to report that the first 350 rounds to go through my P17 all fed/ejected properly. 100% reliability with high velocity ammo.

My next trip will include some standard velocity ammo, perhaps some Gemtech suppressor loads to see how it performs.

Accuracy was quite good, though I didn't alter the sights yet. It was shooting a little high at 21' where the factory set the sights, but it was making one ragged hole where it was hitting.

For $199, it's a must buy in my opinion. I did shoot my friend's Glock 44, and that was an excellent shooter as well, but the Kel-Tec is cheaper than even a Taurus TX22 and so far at least is too good to be true!
 
My first and only thought on Kel-Tec is I never shot one that i could trust.
 
F1 said:
My first and only thought on Kel-Tec is I never shot one that i could trust.
Click to expand...

That is part of the charm, you never know what is gonna happen! My CMR 30 lasted 75 rounds before it had to go back to its maker for a visit. Since then it has been flawless and tons o fun!
 
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I generally do like KT products, but the P17 seems like something that was thrown to together to compete in the cheap plinker market without much development or testing. It's really reminiscent of George's earlier Grendel stuff.

I have a CMR30, PMR30 and CP33, but unless the P17 undergoes some significant changes, I'll not be adding it to the KT rimfire collection.
 
very encouraging report on the keltec p17, thanks cnobbe. my p32 is just fine so am thinking about a p17. please let us know how the p17 runs other 22lr ammo.
 
I took my new TX22 to range Friday and it’s a jam o matic. Doesn’t eject. Really disappointing. Gonna clean it and lube real good and give it another try before calling Taurus CS, but right now wish I bought the Keltec or Glock.
 
The P17 feels just just another Kel-Tec, frankly have never had a problem with their products including my CP33. To be honest, I like the P17 better. I'm trying to find a new sight to share photos on.

The next range trip is going to include subsonic ammo, see how the standard velocity stuff does.
 
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CNobbe said:
The P17 feels just just another Kel-Tec, frankly have never had a problem with their products including my CP33. To be honest, I like the P17 better. I'm trying to find a new sight to share photos on.

The next range trip is going to include subsonic ammo, see how the standard velocity stuff does.
Click to expand...
Just share the photos here as an attachment.
 
MachIVshooter said:
I generally do like KT products, but the P17 seems like something that was thrown to together to compete in the cheap plinker market without much development or testing. It's really reminiscent of George's earlier Grendel stuff.

I have a CMR30, PMR30 and CP33, but unless the P17 undergoes some significant changes, I'll not be adding it to the KT rimfire collection.
Click to expand...
How is the CP33? That has been on my list since SHOT last year, but I haven't gotten the stomach to plunk down $500 for one just yet. Now that they're coming out in OD Green and FDE, I'm just waiting for the price to be right... and available.

I agree on the P17, Kel Tec threw it together and is trying to sell a relatively high capacity .22 pistol for not much money and while I can't say it's in the realm of Grendel, I just sit here and wonder how Kel Tec expects to be able to meet demand making it without sacrificing the production of their other guns.

Kel Tec is not Ruger or S&W, they don't have the capacity to make the number of guns they do in quantities to meet demand.
 
I'm not a fan of this, I think KT is really pushing things to the limit with this one and has a high probability to be problematic. One thing I dislike most is that it is striker fired and for me my semi auto .22 pistols have to have an exposed hammer and be either single action or DA/SA. I've run into too many light strikes with .22's that I cannot trust them at a time when the chips are down.

People have been all excited for the Taurus and this P17 because they hold quite a bit more than 10 rounds and I've got my Ruger SR22 here and I'm looking at it with the +5 baseplate on the mag and while it doesn't lock the slide back, I'm very content with this pistol. It may not be as cheap as the Kel Tec or Taurus, but for a .22, I'm okay with that.

Especially when it works and works well.
 
I've had a Kel-Tec P3AT, a P-11, a PF9 and now have a PMR-30. All of them have been reliable, and I've never had to have one serviced. The only one I have now, is the PMR-30.

The PMR-30 has been reliable since day 1 (although I had to READ THE MANUAL to learn how to properly load the magazines.) It's a lot of fun to shoot, and shoots like a LASER!
 
I already bit the TX22 bug, twice in fact. I've had one failure to feed on the first gun in 2200 rounds of GB, CCI Mini Mags, and Blazer. None in the 764 rounds with the second. I was going to .get the Glock, but not now, It's showing bad things to a lot of buyer's. Beware! I'm going to get a P-17 if they ever get to my area..
 

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TTv2 said:
I'm not a fan of this, I think KT is really pushing things to the limit with this one and has a high probability to be problematic. One thing I dislike most is that it is striker fired
Click to expand...

The P17 is hammer fired, single action only...

It is essentially like every other blowback operated .22, no different than my CZ Kadet adapter, Buckmark, or S&W Victory.
 
TTv2 said:
I'm not a fan of this, I think KT is really pushing things to the limit with this one and has a high probability to be problematic. One thing I dislike most is that it is striker fired and for me my semi auto .22 pistols have to have an exposed hammer and be either single action or DA/SA
Click to expand...

Do you have any facts to support the formation of this opinion?
Other than any light strikes you have had were with hammered pistols.

If the chips are down and you are relying on rimfire, you mistake was not made with "striker or hammer”...

TTv2 said:
Especially when it works and works well.
Click to expand...

Except for not locking back...;)
 
CNobbe said:
The P17 is hammer fired, single action only...

It is essentially like every other blowback operated .22, no different than my CZ Kadet adapter, Buckmark, or S&W Victory.
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I stand corrected, but it's an internal hammer that I can't manipulate.
 
Demi-human said:
Do you have any facts to support the formation of this opinion?
Other than any light strikes you have had were with hammered pistols.
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Yeah, the facts are that it's a Kel Tec, a really cheap Kel Tec. There are some Kel Tecs I like and some I don't, but a .22 LR by Kel Tec that's MSRP of under $200 isn't something that screams dependable.

Except for not locking back...;)
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I've never understood why having a slide that locks back is so important. Honestly, who is going to carry a .22 semi auto the size of something like the SR22 or TX22 for self defense? The ability to lock the slide back for what is really just a plinker or maybe a woods gun is the least important feature.
 
I like having a slide lock on on a 22lr so you know it’s empty. If you don’t have one, you find out that it’s empty when you dry fire and the firing pin hits the top edge of the chamber.
 
Cokeman said:
I like having a slide lock on on a 22lr so you know it’s empty. If you don’t have one, you find out that it’s empty when you dry fire and the firing pin hits the top edge of the chamber.
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And in the SR22 manual it says it can be dry fired without causing damage to the chamber.

When I was much younger I use to dry fire my .22 Mossberg a lot, must have done it hundreds of times. After all those dry fires, it's still one of the most reliable .22's I own.
 
TTv2 said:
Yeah, the facts are that it's a Kel Tec, a really cheap Kel Tec. There are some Kel Tecs I like and some I don't, but a .22 LR by Kel Tec that's MSRP of under $200 isn't something that screams dependable.
Click to expand...

The facts in the case of my P17 are that is has been 100% reliable through 600 rounds of high velocity CCI Stingers to 800 FPS CCI Quiet.

The P17 is a design that's been done to death with other .22 pistols and conversion kits for years. Low development cost, low cost materials to make = inexpensive. I have to say, the trigger in mine is fantastic as is the reset.

My LCP .22 isn't bad either, but it cost $100 more than the P17, came with fewer magazines, and in a crappy cardboard box. Oh, but they did include a $3 pocket holster.. :p
 
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