chevy garage
Member
I'm looking to buy a PF-9 and have seen some negative reviews. Can anyone tell me if the newer models have improved the issues? Thanks
Kel-Tec PF-9 Reliable?
- Thread starter chevy garage
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I don't own one, but I have one on order. Almost all the negative reviews that I've read on this pistol were from early models. There are a lot of recent reviews online that are very positive, just do a few Google searches. From what I've read, the early issues have all been resolved. Here's a lot of good info on the Kel Tek owers forum:
http://www.ktog.org/index.html
http://www.ktog.org/index.html
Quoheleth
Member
Mind me asking where you ordered your from? I'm striking out every place I've been calling (since March).
Thanks,
Q
Thanks,
Q
salthouse
Member
Chevy-
Welcome to THR. You will find negative reviews about everything and anything. Personally, I think people are more likely to post negative thoughts than positive ones. I'm sure you can find more than one bad PF9 out there, but you are more likely to find good ones that people use and rely on everyday. I have a 3AT that has about 500 rounds through it of many different makes and loads. Not one glitch. I can't say that about any other handgun I own, except for my Taurus revolver (which is also not very popular to many people). Its really tough to beat Kel-tec's reliability for the cost IMO. I would buy a PF-9 without concern.
Welcome to THR. You will find negative reviews about everything and anything. Personally, I think people are more likely to post negative thoughts than positive ones. I'm sure you can find more than one bad PF9 out there, but you are more likely to find good ones that people use and rely on everyday. I have a 3AT that has about 500 rounds through it of many different makes and loads. Not one glitch. I can't say that about any other handgun I own, except for my Taurus revolver (which is also not very popular to many people). Its really tough to beat Kel-tec's reliability for the cost IMO. I would buy a PF-9 without concern.
Colton White
Member
me and my buddy went shootin a while back he brought his pf9 we shot all day but it jammed 2 times thats more than enough for me i was interested now im not i dont know if it was the ammo or bad gun care or lemon or what and i dont care like i said i jammed 2 times that aint up to my ccw par i wouldnt carry one
Have one that's been retrofitted to the current standard, and as long as you don't limp-wrist it, it will work just fine. I trust it a lot more then I trust my CZ, for what its worth.
Be prepared though, for a gun as light and as thin as it is, recoil is...noticeable. If you're recoil sensitive, its easy to start limp-wrisitng it and causing all kinds of bad ju-ju.
Be prepared though, for a gun as light and as thin as it is, recoil is...noticeable. If you're recoil sensitive, its easy to start limp-wrisitng it and causing all kinds of bad ju-ju.
Cpt. America
Member
Most people who have problems with them have problems with they're wrist's. All the folks I know that own one love it and have only one bad thing to say, "I bucks like a mule."
I've had a PF-9 for 6 months now. I tamed the recoil problem with a Hogue Hand-All Jr slip on grip cover. Works real well.
Reliability? No problems. As in zero malfunctions. That's in about 600-700 rounds. I did a light fluff & buff before firing the first shot, though. Don't know if that made a difference or not, but it certainly couldn't have hurt. It's now in my carry rotation. A solid compact, lightweight handgun that packs a punch. That's what it is.
What it isn't is a finely crafted, beautiful piece of deeply blued steel that you'll form an emotional bond to. It's a close range personal protection tool.
Reliability? No problems. As in zero malfunctions. That's in about 600-700 rounds. I did a light fluff & buff before firing the first shot, though. Don't know if that made a difference or not, but it certainly couldn't have hurt. It's now in my carry rotation. A solid compact, lightweight handgun that packs a punch. That's what it is.
What it isn't is a finely crafted, beautiful piece of deeply blued steel that you'll form an emotional bond to. It's a close range personal protection tool.
Hammerhead6814
Member
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- Apr 6, 2009
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- 701
Ask the guys on KTOG. If it's Kel-Tec they know about it. Some guys even play games speculating on who worked station for part X when it was made/assembled to the gun.
From what they've told me, PF-9's need a break-in. A good one. Something like shooting five rounds, cleaning, shooting another five, cleaning, etc etc. I think there is a sticky in the PF-9's forum on KTOG on what the break-in process should be.
From what they've told me, PF-9's need a break-in. A good one. Something like shooting five rounds, cleaning, shooting another five, cleaning, etc etc. I think there is a sticky in the PF-9's forum on KTOG on what the break-in process should be.
MJZZZ
Member
I own an early model PF-9 that has been rebuilt three times by Kel Tec and 5 CZ's. Between the 5 CZ's I own and 10,000 rounds, I've had only one error ever, had to have a trigger spring replaced on my Rami. This guy needs to send his CZ back if he trusts his PF-9 more than any CZ. I mean no offense, but this statement is totally unbelievable in my opinion. Mike
"Have one that's been retrofitted to the current standard, and as long as you don't limp-wrist it, it will work just fine. I trust it a lot more then I trust my CZ, for what its worth."
"Have one that's been retrofitted to the current standard, and as long as you don't limp-wrist it, it will work just fine. I trust it a lot more then I trust my CZ, for what its worth."
Yeah, I DO trust my PF-9 more then my CZ-40p. I can count on one hand the number of malfunctions of any type that I have had with my PF-9.
My CZ-40p would constantly have failure to feeds with all types of ball ammo up untill the 400-500 round mark. We're talking AT LEAST one per magazine if not more. When I first got it, you could have sworn I was running a bolt action pistol, as it had a stoppage every 2nd or 3rd round, where the slide would NOT chamber a new round and it had to be tapped on the back to go back into battery. I was NOT impressed, especially considering the reputation that CZ had. After some 'internets' (see: CZ forums) searching, the opinion was "well, they always need a break in period."
Bear in mind this was also after a trip back to Mothership CZ to make it right. They did make it jam only once every 2-3 mags, down from once every 2-3 shots, but I was still not very impressed.
Sure the CZ is reliable now, but how come my cheap-O POS PF-9 ran 100% out of the box, while my expensive CZ needed a "break-in period"?
My CZ-40p would constantly have failure to feeds with all types of ball ammo up untill the 400-500 round mark. We're talking AT LEAST one per magazine if not more. When I first got it, you could have sworn I was running a bolt action pistol, as it had a stoppage every 2nd or 3rd round, where the slide would NOT chamber a new round and it had to be tapped on the back to go back into battery. I was NOT impressed, especially considering the reputation that CZ had. After some 'internets' (see: CZ forums) searching, the opinion was "well, they always need a break in period."
Bear in mind this was also after a trip back to Mothership CZ to make it right. They did make it jam only once every 2-3 mags, down from once every 2-3 shots, but I was still not very impressed.
Sure the CZ is reliable now, but how come my cheap-O POS PF-9 ran 100% out of the box, while my expensive CZ needed a "break-in period"?
JadrumThirty
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I have a pf 9 myself and I like it. It conceals very well. Go to www.ktog.org for more info if you need it. Great site made for kel tec owners, lots of tips and info about all their firearm models.
From my experience. Its a reliable weapon as long as you don't limp wrist while firing. That has been the cause of most of the jams I had while shooting. Also it really likes 115gr ammo the most. Above that and you may have reliability problems.
It kicks hard and the trigger slap can be annoying as well. My girlfriend won't fire it anymore because it really hurt her finger. But the weapon isn't deisigned for the range, its for up close personal defense.
From my experience. Its a reliable weapon as long as you don't limp wrist while firing. That has been the cause of most of the jams I had while shooting. Also it really likes 115gr ammo the most. Above that and you may have reliability problems.
It kicks hard and the trigger slap can be annoying as well. My girlfriend won't fire it anymore because it really hurt her finger. But the weapon isn't deisigned for the range, its for up close personal defense.
midiwall
Member
Just to kick in my 2cents...
I've put about 600 rounds through my 2 month old PF-9. The first 100 rounds were before a fluff & buff (you'll find that process on KTOG) and in those I had a couple of light strikes that ended in FTFs. I did the F&B, and the next 500 rounds have had NO jams, NO FTEs, NO FTFs.
I carry it well dressed with a Hogue Handall Jr, grip pad from KTAddOns, and a Crimson Trace laser with 124gr HydraShock.
(dood... you've asked on TFL and THR but not KTOG! you really gotta get over there too!
)
I've put about 600 rounds through my 2 month old PF-9. The first 100 rounds were before a fluff & buff (you'll find that process on KTOG) and in those I had a couple of light strikes that ended in FTFs. I did the F&B, and the next 500 rounds have had NO jams, NO FTEs, NO FTFs.
I carry it well dressed with a Hogue Handall Jr, grip pad from KTAddOns, and a Crimson Trace laser with 124gr HydraShock.
(dood... you've asked on TFL and THR but not KTOG! you really gotta get over there too!
)orionhawk
Member
I put about 200 rds through mine with no problems beyond a sore hand.
then I went and tried to fiddle with its internals and broke it, and the smith I took it too broke it differently. it also wasn't working well for its intended pocket carry (draw issues compared to the SW442 I already had), so I got rid of it.
then I went and tried to fiddle with its internals and broke it, and the smith I took it too broke it differently. it also wasn't working well for its intended pocket carry (draw issues compared to the SW442 I already had), so I got rid of it.
chevy garage
Member
I appreciate all the help on good/bad issues. That gives me something to work with.
Thanks again.
CG
Thanks again.
CG
My wife and I each have one. They have not had any real issues related to the firearm. My wife had trouble shooting 147gr HP through her gun, but I had no problem firing them from her gun. 125gr HP worked perfectly for her so that's what she carries in it. I think given the small frame of the PF-9 and her smaller mass hands and arms, makes it easy for her to limp wrist when firing the 147gr HP. I've yet to have any issue with mine. It has eaten everything from my reloaded FMJ to Hornday XTP. You will not be disappointed in the PF-9. For the price, it is hard to beat.
I had one for about three months and sold it. It was 100% reliable out of the box but the tolerances were dissappointing and the gun was sloppy and rattled. The slide would move from side to side until it hit the dust gaurd on either side. KT says thats 100% normal and that it won't affect aim since you reacquire your target along the length of the slide. In my tests I found that the PF9 locked in a shooting vise chot a 10" group at 15 yards. I assume that this was based on the slide/barrel movement. Had I been shooting it, I would have adjusted for that since I would be reaiming the slide/barrel each time.
My gun went through growing pains. First it did not want to feed at all. Once I got that issue all squared away, it was failure to extract. Called Kel tec and they send me new parts. Tested the gun today much better. It's is totaly reliable with lawman 115 ball. HP are iffy all I have is 125's. It does not like 147's of any kind. The gun is very accurate and reliable with the 115's ball ammo. I should just carry ball. I want this as my hide out gun anyway.
One thing I've found with cheaper autos like the KTs is they are a bit more finicky about ammo. My P11 wouldn't group with WWB worth a darn but it was great with the UMC 115gr JHPs. It hated federal hydrashoks but it fed Corbon DPX just fine. As long as I stuck to UMC and DPX I had NO problems. This may be the case with the PF9. I'll let you know when i get one!
eng23ine
Member
IMHO, most problems with KT's FTF's are from the shooter, not the gun.
These are very lightweight firearms, so they do have quite a recoil.
I have a P3AT, PF9, SUB2000,and P11...everyone of them was torn down as soon as i brought them home and degreased, relubed, and the feedramp lightly polished.
Probably ~2000 rounds between these weapons and never any issues that I didn't cause.
These are very lightweight firearms, so they do have quite a recoil.
I have a P3AT, PF9, SUB2000,and P11...everyone of them was torn down as soon as i brought them home and degreased, relubed, and the feedramp lightly polished.
Probably ~2000 rounds between these weapons and never any issues that I didn't cause.
gb6491
Member
I had a PF9 and liked most aspects of it. However, I could not get it to work reliably when shooting one handed at waist level. I tried various loads with no joy. I'm pretty sure that the malfunctions are a result of "limp wristing" as the gun functioned perfectly when shot with two handed holds and one handed with my arm fully extended. Try as I might, I just could not provide enough resistance for the gun to cycle reliably in a one handed waist level position. For reference, my other poly frame, subcompact, centerfire pistols (KT P11 and Glock 27) work perfectly when fired from the same position (with the P11 using the same ammo as the PF9). YMMV
Regards,
Greg
Regards,
Greg
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