Accidental mag releases with the KelTec PF9

[Quoheleth]

I have a KTPF9 that I've been pocket carrying the past month. Gun is reasonably light and managable that way, but I'm looking forward to my holster getting back from being altered.

But, I've noticed a half-dozen times that the mag has been released from the gun - not much, just a quarter inch or so, so it didn't fall out of the gun or my pocket - but it's enough that if I had to draw and fire it might get hung up in the pocket and most certainly would not cycle a 2nd round.

The mag release button is inside the Blackhawk pocket holster - the whole trigger/mag release area is covered. Does this sound like I'm somehow hitting the mag release button (and I don't think I am!), or is this random thing common with KTPF9s? This is a little older model - I think it's an '07 manufacture date - so it might need one of the factory-authorized upgrades.

Is this random mag release a common feature with older KTPF9s? I believe mine is a '07 manufacture. It's enough to be disconcerting. While I've never had a failure to fire issue, this is enough that I'm taking the gun out of carry rotation until it's resolved. My Ruger LCR is with me as I type.

Q

 

[scotthsi]

Get a better gun. This is a known problem with Kel-Tec pistols going all the way back to the 90's with the P32s and later with the P3ATs. The PLASTIC mag catch sucks ass. I think they make a metal replacement now, so call and MAKE Kel-Tec send you one for free.

 

[BP Hunter]

Kel Tec has wonderful cunstomer service. Give them a call. I have had my PF9, which I bought brand new, for about 2 months and is my primary carry. I use an Uncle Mike's IWB holster and have had no issues with the magazine release or anything with it.

 

[TXHORNS]

The plastic mag release is garbage. To keep it in working order you have to press it in everytime you insert a mag. If you dont, it will wear and stop doing its job. Kel-tec will take care of you though, just call and have them send you the metal mag release that should have come with the gun from the start. I doubt they will make you send in the gun.

 

[Erich]

Carrying in your left-front pocket, eh? Been there, amigo . . .

It's something that I've run into with Kahrs and Walthers and other guns before, and it's why I try hard to only pocket-carry revolvers or something (I switched the mag release to the other side of my CZ RAMI and the Euro-style butt mag-releases work well) that does not present the mag-release button on the outside, where it can be inadvertently tripped when I brush up against a counter or whatever. Something just wrong with removing your gun from the pocket at the end of the day and having the mag fall out.

FWIW, the PF9s that I've handled have had mag releases that were most difficult to inadvertently trip. I suspect that alteration of the holster might take care of the issue for you.

 

[Quoheleth]

Yep - southpaw. Left pocket, it is.

I'll give KT a call later this week and see about the parts.

The holster I'm waiting on is an IWB rig. Originally, the clip was too high on the holster so the grip of the gun was behind my belt - ouch! So, I contacted the maker and he's lowering the clip and thereby raising the gun in relation to my belt. Hopefully, I'll have that in a couple days to a week.

The plastic mag release is garbage. To keep it in working order you have to press it in everytime you insert a mag. If you dont, it will wear and stop doing its job.

That could be the problem right there. And bumping into something probably doesn't help, either.

Thanks, everyone.

Q

 

[scotthsi]

FWIW, the PF9s that I've handled have had mag releases that were most difficult to inadvertently trip.

Were they new? I'll bet there were or very close to being new. The plastic will LOSE every time when scraping across the cutout in the steel magazine body. Since Kel-Tec won't make a metal P3AT mag catch, I "baby" mine by fully pressing the catch in before dropping or inserting a magazine.

 

[mrt949]

THEY make a steel mag catch

 

[Erich]

Were they new?

Not always, and it's happened with more than just plastic mag catches. Think about it: the mag catch is presented outward toward the world, in your pocket. You brush up against something, and it pops. It had nothing to do with weakness of the materials in my cases, just that mag releases are going to pop when you put pressure on them.

Perils of being a southpaw.

 

[bigfatdave]

If KT will upgrade your release, do it!
Perhaps the next CC pistol (I'm assuming that you, like me, are never done gun shopping) should have a non-button mag release, if you insist on carrying in the pocket with that little button presented to the world. Or a more customized pocket holster to protect the little button might be in order.
Walther makes some of their pistols with an ambidextrous release in the form of a lever on the bottom of the trigger guard, I've grown to like it quite a bit on my PPS, although the PPS is heavier than the KT offerings even though roughly the same size.
There are plenty of heel releases out there as well ... also ambidextrous, and also not prone to popping the mag out when you bump into stuff.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Call Kel-Tec at this number: 1-800-515-9983 tell them you would like a metal magazine catch for the PF-9. They will send you one 100% free no questions asked and you will receive it in 3-5 days, I just did it my self. Here is how you install it:
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1176553013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoA4tb32UIs

 

[MCgunner]

I've never had this problem with mine. Might be the holster which I made myself. It resembles a wallet and covers the whole gun with a flap if I want to retrieve it in public to stash under the seat of my motorcycle or something. It just looks like a wallet, can't see the gun. I move the flap out of the way when I carry it to keep it from interfering with the draw.

 

[MCgunner]

The plastic mag release is garbage. To keep it in working order you have to press it in everytime you insert a mag. If you dont, it will wear and stop doing its job. Kel-tec will take care of you though, just call and have them send you the metal mag release that should have come with the gun from the start. I doubt they will make you send in the gun.

I've been carrying 13 years and never had this problem with mine. Only problem I had was after market 15 round Smith and Wesson mags damaging the plastic release. I might get the metal one just because of that problem, but I haven't had the problem since. I repaired the release at the time with a pocket knife. It's not messed up since and I load it as with any pistol.

 

[REAPER4206969]

The PF-9 has not been out very long. I think you are referring to the P-11 that uses double stack/single feed magazines that taper up at the feed lips thereby preventing the metal magazine tube from wearing away at the polymer mag catch. The PF-9 is single stack, when you insert the magazine in to the mag well the sharp metal mag body hits the polymer mag catch and causes wear. That is why Kel-Tec now offers a factory steel magazine catch free of charge for replacement.

 

[REAPER4206969]

This is a PF-9:

 

[scotthsi]

REAPER4206969, um no... Single stack versus double stack is not the problem. The wear on the plastic mag catch, by and large, is from depressing the catch to drop the magazine. Every time you do this, a tiny bit of plastic/polymer from the underside of the catch is shaved off by the sharp edge in the catch cutout of the magazine body. This will happen regardless of magazine design/capacity with a plastic/polymer and steel interaction. Steel wins every time. KT needs to provide a free metal magazine catch replacement for ALL of their pistols. This problem has been going on a LONG time and is VERY well known with the P32 and P3AT, yet KT has done nothing about it. Wonder why the PF9 is so special...

 

[REAPER4206969]

It also happens upon insertion. That is why it is recommended to depress the mag catch before inserting the magazine. With a double stack/single feed magazine, the taper prevents the sharp feed lips from wearing away at the catch. Notice how you say it is the P32, P3AT and PF9 that has this problem? What do these pistols have in common?

 

[scotthsi]

Now that I think about it, you're probably right. I just checked on one of my unloaded P3ATs and there definitely is more resistance when first putting the mag in than there is with my P11. So, as you pointed out, there is most likely more wear on the catch, but it would only be at the very first point of contact and not the entire top side as what happens when it "scrapes" across the sharp steel cut out when dropping a mag.

However, people (myself included) have had to replace their mag catches on their P11s as well. Same thing regarding mag drop wear and at 12+1 capacity, it's surely a double stack design. This was before I knew to "baby" the mag catch when inserting and removing magazines. I know it's probably out of Kel-Tec's "technology", but I'd really like to see them coat their magazines in the same polymer as the catch. That would alleviate all wear problems. Same as the Glock design. My G19 is my oldest pistol and I've shot the crap out of it. I've never had to change the original polymer magazine catch. My G19, to this day, has seen many years of concealed carry and I have never ever had an inadvertent magazine release either when carrying or shooting at the range.

 

[dal205]

Q,

I carry my PF9 in my back pocket in a nylon Elite holster I got from Ebay. The holster does not cover the mag release. I'm right handed, so the mag release button is up against my butt and, believe me, there is some padding there. Also, I use an anti-print panel made from a mouse pad, which also provides some more padding. I also think I have the metal mag release.

Sorry, no help, but another data point.

David

 

[The Amigo]

Kel tec has the best customer service they will send you a metal mag release free or you can send your gun in. Ive replaced mine already to the metal one wich btw has a lower profile than the original one making it impossible to accidently release. Go for the metal one.

 

[Mike J]

The PF-9 is the only KelTec with a factory metal magazine release. The magazine was so hard to get out of the grip on my P-11 when I first bought it I actually sanded on the inside of the grip to loosen it up. Of course this was after I had worked it in & out numerous times to see if it would wear in. The magazine catch was worn out before my second range trip with it-I discovered at the range I had a one shot pistol. Kel Tec did send me another magazine release (actually 3 the first 2 they sent were for the wrong gun), But I went ahead & bought a metal one from a member of KTOG (he mills them out of stock himself). Somewhat pricey but I'd never trust the gun with the plastic one.

 

[daddyo]

Just had to add that the early PF9's did have a plastic mag catch.

More likely problem, as someone said, is the left front pocket carry which lets stuff bump against the button. It doesn't take much. I had to train myself to keep my thumb completely away from it when racking the slide or I would drop the mag by mistake.