Kel-Tec P-11

[dirtengineer]

I've had one for a few years now. It's my CC gun. I've shot it plenty with no problems. It's the smallest 9mm to fit my big hands.

I don't understand the whole "it hurts my hands when I shoot it" thing. Or the "it has a heavy trigger" thing.

If it's your carry gun, when you need it I don't think you're gonna worry about it hurting your hands and how hard it is to pull the trigger.

PS. Man up a little bit. Geez. Stop putting lotion on your hands sissy and get out from your cubicle sometime. Maybe you can handle a little recoil.

The P40 is a handful to be sure. My dad (aka John Wayne) has one and it definitely hurts. He can handle a few magazines before he starts to flinch.

 

[Mike J]

Quote:
Originally Posted by USAF_Vet View Post
Magazine quality, how do the Kel Tec mags compare to the S&W mags? Factory Smith mags are about $40 new, with Kel Tec about $25.
The factory P-11 magazines are made by Mec-Gar, which is the only aftermarket company I would consider buying magazines from. On the other hand my P-11 has jammed almost every time I have tried using a S&W magazine in it.

The 5906 magazine I have jams my P11. The folks at KTOG say if you get a Wolff plus powered spring they will work though. I still haven't gotten around to ordering one for mine.

 

[orionengnr]

I had one several years ago. At the time I was carrying a Kahr PM9. The P11 was a similar size, but had a capacity of 11 rounds. So I bought one.

Long story short, between the horrible trigger and the frequent malfunctions, it didn't stick around long. A friend tried it and took it off my hands at a substantial discount.

I still have the PM9.

 

[charlie fox]

I've owned both a P-11 and P-40; the P-40 was, by far, the least comfortable gun I've ever shot! I bought it when my agency switched to Glock 22's to use as a back-up. After the qualification course I slipped it quietly into its ankle holster and never fired it again (I left the department before the next qualification). I sold it and bought a P-11 and have never had any issues after about 3K rounds downrange. It is my second most-carried pistol

 

[Kiln]

I've got the P40 and the recoil is not as horrible as people believe in my opinion.

I thought it was bad until I took out my Rossi .44 Mag with a 2" barrel...now that is bad.

 

[Nuclear]

I have a friend who owns one, who was having problems shooting it. So since he doesn't shoot regularly anymore, had me shoot it. I could barely keep it on target. Don't know if it was the heavy, long, gritty trigger, minimal sights or 357 level recoil, but it wasn't fun to shoot or accurate. And as I told him, the BG would have your wallet and be around the corner before it went off.

 

[CoRoMo]

I've owned, carried and used one for many years now. I'm going to get another one soon.

 

[Kiln]

Practice makes perfect with DAO pistols like the P11 or P40, if you're a revolver guy you'll probably have no problem with them. Granted striker fired guns are much easier to use, hardly any of them are small enough to carry easily all day.

 

[PT92]

I did a quick search but found nothing here regarding the P-11

I hear a lot about the PF-9, but does anyone have any experience with the P-11?

Why my interest in the P-11? It's mostly due to the magazine interchangeability with my S&W 469. It's lighter, with a smaller frame than my 469, making it a better option for carrying in warmer weather. At roughly $250, it fits my budget.

Online reviews have been mostly positive, as well. Seems that they've been around long enough to have all the kinks and bugs worked out, too.

I have long said that the Kel-Tec P11 is the "unsung-hero" of the compact Hi-Cap pistols market (I maintain it's even a very viable pocket pistol to boot if preferred--I will sometimes pocket-carry and others use an Israeli Fobus holster which is great). I bought a couple of P11's about 6-7 years ago prior to the Explosion in the small compact CCW market and it was the best choice IMO by far as there were not many alternatives in that size via capacity as a key variable. That said and even today where everybody and their brother has an entry in the small compact CCW market (I was amazed just this past Spring @ the NRA Convention in STL that this segment of our industry seemed to be the focus and a vendor Rep told me that they are seeing a bigger than expected % of their profits coming directly from this niche) the P11 still holds it own and can be argued to be the best little hi-cap 9 to be had. Very reliable for its "intended purpose" which is to PRESERVE LIFE and nothing more. It's simply not a range gun or IMO even fun to shoot but it does allow for me to feel VERY secure for self & family when CCW'ing with it as my primary (Beretta Bobcat 21A is my BUG). If you want something that's small and hi-cap and will go bang when needed in a CQC situation, look no further.