I have over 15K rds thru my Keltec, I quit counting. This is the gun I really wanted to hate, ended up keeping after T&E. Mine has run 100% , only malf's were introduced malf's with dummy rds.
-Mine still has the original parts, including Firing Pin, firing pin spring, recoil guide rod and recoil springs.
-I subjected mine to, among other "tests" , taking only primer cases and whacking the gun with rubber hammer. Mine never discharged, and I do mean the gun was whacked!
-What folks complain about , that l-o-n-g trigger pull, is partially due to being hammer fired. Meaning the FP is not "partially set" as some striker fired guns.
-While we are not supposed to pull trigger again on a semi on a Malf, say a hard primer, being hammer fired allows for second strikes on a P-11. Gun also works without a mag. Basically the P-11 is a polymer DAO revolver, if you think about it.
-Now just because I am just the way I am, I do have extra parts. I have installed and used these, I could tell no difference. Parts in parts place, originals back in.
-My allen screw that holds the FP, well I notched it with hand held spring punch, not that the thing would back out, then again I do not trust Murphy. This also assists with knowing "adjustment" , not too tight, not too loose, just the sweet spot for the notch in FP where allen screw fits.
-That FP channel , whole design is interesting. It works.
-T&E also included fine sand like found in cigarette ash cans. Bascially I put a loaded gun, including round chambered, into a box with sand, and then dumped more sand into the box. Safety observed, still shook the box to get sand and gun mixed real well. Gun fired as did all the rounds in the mag, and the mag also tossed into the box of sand.
Just making sure a pc of dirt, sand or would not freeze the FP in place, either causing it to NOT fire, or keeping firing pin protruded enough to allow a rd to fire when the slide returned to battery on a rd chambered and not having to pull the trigger. Making sure mags worked...etc.
-Repeated, (primer only this time) and gun whacked with rubber mallet.
-Whacking was done with primer only, with firm grip, and limp wristed...I mean the gun was knocked out of my hands more than once, onto hard grass and never fired. Again. controlled tests observing safety in a safe area.
-In a inexpensive thin , man-made material holster, which I punched two holes and tied the gun into (think strap like on holster) I again loaded the chamber with a primer only case, and dropped from the top of a shed, to tossed this hard again railroad cross ties. I never had the gun go off.
T&E was for many reasons. I was told to "tear it up if can". Reasoning was for folks that may use this in Armored Cars, bumping and whacking door facings , jumping out of cars...
The painter, carpenter, plumber or whomever that may use one in a "rough enviroment".
NO, not my favorite gun , I prefer SA only in blue and wood like 1911 and BHP. I prefer K frames, and the J frame for "always" guns.
P-11 is to me a niche gun. I do not care if it gets scratched, wet, muddy, dinged...and if ever used and has to spend time in a evidence room, well the gun is the least of my worries.
Another point often forgotten by some and brought to light by Mr. Keenan - if your CCW is taken into evidence, told to drop it by LEO sorting out the scene...
Some folks are 1) limited in what regs say they use, i.e. armored car folks, Model 10s was the mainstay forever, P-11 added to some companies. 2) some folks are limited in funds, they do not get a break on guns for jobs, these guns are bought with their own monies. So while they would prefer a nicer, more expensive gun, regs say they cannot on the job. So the price point allows some to get Police trade in Model 10s, or a P-11. While some are not into guns, some are. Meaning they would rather keep the Model 10 at home for a Home/Bedroom gun, one the wife and family can and will shoot, and use the P-11 for work. This way ~ $600 they have two guns, instead of just one.
9mm is affordable and folks will shoot more if the ammo is easy to find and affordable. Especially folks that do not reload, not really into guns, or they do not know someone that will reload for them.
I just look at the whole picture from outside the box. I have my druthers ...then again I was taught to view from my perspective, the other person's and the third party off to the side not interested, or involved.
So I test stuff from "perspectives" not many folks think of, perspectives shared to me from folks that have BTDT.
"Littler" guns by vary nature of design just cannot have the trigger pull of larger ones. Physics and such come into play. There is only so much mass and length to allow levers and springs and such to work. There has to be a trade-off in "small" and "smooth, and "reliable". Hence the reason on "littler" guns, semi or revolver, you just cannot get that smooth trigger of a larger S&W/ Colt, with assurance of getting primers to go off everytime.
I do not recommend , nor does THR or staff, some of the testing methods I did.
I did not receive any compensation for testing this gun from the mfg, or anyone else. I was asked by a gunsmith buddy to do this, as was another individual as some customers and businesses just wanted to know. I do not recieve anything now from anyone on anything. I just do these things for MY own benefit because I am curious, or someone close to me is.
All I can share is what I did, my experiences. We all learn from each other...way it is supposed to work in my mind anyway.
I do know one fellow has had his gun fall, when he caught himself working on a ladder. Gun stayed in his holster and fell onto concrete from about 12 ft. Gun did not fire. I do know one car wreck in which the gun was in a lockable container, force of accident did not discharge the gun. I know in training, some guns have gone downrange and did not fire.
I assure you if you want a "tackier" grip on a P-11, have a 2 liter of coke spilled all over and into one. Yes the gun runs, coke smells funny when heated, and the spent brass has dirt, sand, and whatever stick to it. Not a planned test...just sometimes "stuff" happens in this deal called life.
Okay maybe "just making sure" and pouring more coke into and two more mags was not needed, but hey if a test "presents itself" by golly follow thru with it - right?
Now this is MY gun, and same results from the other individual testing and some others. The Key being WE tested OUR guns. One has to check out their own firearms, ammo, and all equipment. What may work for someone else may NOT work for you.
Personally - I am right partial to Model 36, 37 and 442 and similar. I have a 1928 Colt Detective Special, not raised with Colt wheelguns [seems backwards to me being raised with Smith's] this gun is a great gun with 6 rd capacity. Heck even though I prefer blue, I can see myself carrying a 642...just refuse to have one with a lock.
So I concur with those that a small revolver is hard to beat for a reliable , always, CCW. Proven, will continue to be proven.
I was just asked to test the P-11...
Regards,
Steve
