somebody stop me (from buying a kel-tec)

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geronimotwo

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i've been looking for a pocket pistol, and really had myself convinced that i would get a kahr. suddenly, everywhere i look, it seems that there are sporadic problems with their lighter models. the next choices on my list are the small kel-tec 9's. any negative thoughts besides asthetics? have any larger folk found these impractical for pocket carry (i'm over 6' at 230lbs). i have put the p-11 in my pocket and it is a definetly noticable bulge, am i kidding myself with my desire to retain the 9mm platform?

as a little background i already carry a smith 39-2, which i really like. it fits my hand, and points perfectly for me. what i have problems with is summer concealment, and sweat. i do a lot of outdoor work in the summer, mostly in a tee and shorts, pocket carry seems to be my only option. everything i have read shows the kt's as being very reliable. as sweat is unavoidable, what finish and holster are better for corrosion control? any other concerns?

i would prefer the opinions of those with actual experience, thanks.

g2
 
...

I don't know that this should stop you from buying... But, a friend of mine has a P3AT and has had random ejection issues with certain ammo... He might chip in here with some details but, he seems to think that it may have something to do with the thickness of the rim of the brass and the ejector grabbing them properly... However, let me say this... IMO it doesn't matter what you get you won't know how reliable it is until you get at least a few hundred rounds thru it and most say 500rds. Every time you buy something you run the risk of getting either a perfectly functioning, reliable one or a lemon... So, just get what suits you best and break it in good before you trust it... I bought a Ruger LCP recently for a pocket gun and after 300 rds or so have not even had a single FTF I trust it now until I have an experience to prove me otherwise.
Anyway, this is just my two cents :)
 
I have carried the p-32 kaltec for about 5 years. I have found that the trade down from the 9 was worth it for the size. I also do allot of walking 3-5 miles a night and wear gym shorts and don't have any problems with it pulling them down like some of the other ones out there. I keep it in an uncle mikes sidekick size 2 pocket holster. I clean it once a week during the summer and about every other week in the winter I have had issues with rust or corrosion. I have the blued the only thing I did do was dot the front sight with some white paint. I will say that mine does has some wearing on the finish but by keeping it clean and oiled I fell it will last another 5 years.
 
love my 3AT

I have one of the earlier models, without the funky looking extractor. Has always run fine for me, no failures of any kind. Mine is blued and is carried about 4 out of 5 days. I live in central Tx and it gets hot and I sweat alot with it. Got the side clip for it, best $10 addition you will get. I can clip it in my boot or in my shorts or jeans, untuck the shirt and no one knows. Excellent pocket carry size, too. The .380 is smaller than a 9mm, and that is smaller than a 50 cal. Yeah, yeah, but at least I have a gun on me if I need it. The trade off in size/weight allows me to carry year round.
Worried about rust/corrosion? My blued slide has no real scratches, but has been lovingly worn all around. It is a tool to me, not a museum piece. If I ever want to pretty it up, I can send it back to KT and for about $20 they will reblue the slide--the rest is plastic. Sure I wipe the sweat off when I can remember to, but the gun has held up well for the abuse I give it.
 
I won't talk you out of it because I'm looking for one, myself.

I think you're right - the P11 is too big. If that's what I was hunting, I would step up a notch to the M&P9c or the XD9c.

Look for the PF9 - that's what I'm hunting. It's remarkably slender for a 9mm - right there with the Kahrs in thinness and OAL size (in fact, the top-to-bottom is a bit smaller than the CW9 b/c of the lack of a baseplate on the mag). In fact, if you hunt around here on THR someone posted pics of the P3AT sitting on top of the PF9...very little difference. To me, the PF9 feels better...more hand-filling, better grip on the pistol, etc....and not like it'll squirt out of my hands.

FWIW, CDNN Investments sells these for $225 (yes, that is correct) but the problem is they are only coming in in ones and twos. I've been calling 3-4 times a week for 2 months and no luck. But, since I am still waiting on my plastic from the State, it's not a big rush.

Q
 
Kel-Tecs work about as well as anything else. They're cheaper than a lot of other guns. That makes them inferior in some people's minds. That's just how the human mind works. It's not a pathology. It's kind of like an illusion.


In native mode, the human mind thinks in terms of magic and attribution (attributing events to somebody's intent). All the logic and science we use comes from discipline and training. So, we naturally tend to revert to illogic whenever we're not being careful. The higher price equals better fallacy is pervasive.
 
There's abunch of KelTecs in my family. My wife has a P11 and a P32. My EDC is a P3AT in a DeSantis pocket holster. My son has a P11. I have a P40 that rides in the jeep. I guess you love 'em or hate 'em. Ours have all been reliable. If you do have a problem (I heartily second the recommendation to put 500 rounds of your carry ammo through the gun), KelTec has an excellent recommendationf for customer service.
 
the pf9 is the slimest 9 out there. Even if the trigger deos suck.

The p32 gets rim lock

The p3at and p32 are almost impossible to aim when your under pressure. I've found that, under simulated situations, I can only rely on my p32 out to 10 feet. I can literally throw my p32 more accurately than shoot it, if it locks up, that skill might be handy.

All my keltecs loved to dress up in rust.

Keltecs tend to be machined on a worn out mill by a drunk, nearsighted, machinest with his head stuck in a paint can shaker. the mill freezes up alot, so they finish some of the guns up with an angle grinder to stay on schedule. No two surfaces that are supposed to be parallel actually are. (my p32 really is this bad, we like to laugh at it. It actually has waves and ripples, looks like a potatoe chip.)

When I show up at a gun fight, everyone points and laughs. When I show up at a knife fight with it,.........everybody still points and laughs.

Need more? should I go on?
 
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If you do a "fluff and buff" on the Kel Tec and shoot a break-in supply of ammo, the gun will be fine.

If it isn't, Kel Tec's warranty is lifetime for the original purchaser and they will fix it.
 
Kel-Tecs work about as well as anything else.
Click to expand...
I've seen this statement, and others like it, too many times.

My experience (actual, not second hand):

I like the idea of the P3AT, and have the opportunity to buy a second-gen P3AT at a good price. Total POS, never made it through a mag without a mis-feed. New springs (K-T Customer service is very good at sending out free replacement parts), fresh mag, Fluff and Buff, no real improvement. Sold it back to original owner.

Kinda hooked on the concept, so when a P-32 became available, I grabbed it. No cycling issues but it would not lock back on the final round. Again, replaced springs and slide lock, no help. Gave (yes, gave) it to a friend to tinker with.

Yes, I like my Kahr PM9, but hey, it's pricey compared to a P-11, and it's only 6+1 vice 10+1. I bought a P-11. Never, ever made it through a mag of any FMJ or JHP without at least one mis-feed. Fresh mag, fresh springs, Fluff and Buff, no difference. Sold it at a loss, with full disclosure.

Okay, one more try, a used first-gen P3AT...more of the same. Better than the second gen, but still not reliable enough to carry. Fresh springs and mags (by now, I'm getting to know Bill at K-T entirely too well), no improvement. Sold it a loss with full disclosure.

Seeing a pattern here? Yeah, well so did I, although I was in denial for a while. I am so done with Kel-Tecs. Do as you wish, but do yourself a favor and do a search first.
 
I had bought a new PF9. Trigger reset was loooong. Quite the pocket rocket....not a range gun. Sold it for a loss. See if you can try one before you buy. Although you did not ask, I will never sell my Kel-Tec Sub-2000, but that won't fit in your shorts.
 
Just something to think about...............Kel-tec is widely acknowledged to have the best customer service in the business. Just about every owner you communicate with will tell you of their first hand experience with KT's CS and how great it is. Gives you a warm feeling all over that you'll be taken care of. The flip side is that it's alarming that so many have first-hand experience with their CS. I have a Kel-tec. It hasn't gone back for warranty. Problem is, I don't know if I have a good one or I just haven't shot it enough. About 50 rounds is all she's seen. And I did get a jam on the last 2 rounds.
 
buy what you want

Buy what you want, but I wouldn't limit yourself to a pocket carry. I live in FL and wear shorts and a tee shirt most of the year. I carry an XD subcompact that really is not all that small in the holster that came with the gun (outside the waist) I just wear my t-shirts out and a little bit larger. I have not been made (at least not knowingly) while carrying. Maybe you just need to modify your wardrobe a little bit so you can carry what ever you feel most comfortable with.
 
I carry and shoot a p-32 a lot. I have owned it for three years and never had a problem with it.
It is an very accurate little pistol for it's intended purpose. If I am just hanging around the house in shorts and T-shirt, it is in my pocket. If I am carrying a full size pistol in a holster, the P-32 is still in my pocket.
I carry Fiocchi FMJ and it gobbles it all up.
It is a good enough gun that another big company copied it.
 
orionengr:
It's hard to believe you'd found so many bad ones. And that you kept buying them. But perseverence is a virtue. Sometimes.
They're light guns for the muzzle energy. This may be a problem. You have to hold onto them.
Click to expand...

Not so hard to believe--I have no reason to lie. I can probably put you in touch with at least a few of the sellers/buyers. Yes, I kept buying them because I believe the principle is sound....the execution, unfortunately, not so much.

I have had a similar experience with S&W J-frames. I really like the concept, and have owned nearly half a dozen of them. No reliability issues, but I've never shot them well at all. Finally gave up on them, reluctantly.

Likewise, S&W Scandium revolvers. Great in concept, not so much in execution. After six or so, I moved on.

Persistance is definitely a virtue, but not necessarily one which is rewarded...

As far as being able to hang on to something which recoils (i.e. limp wristing), try a few cylinders with an S&W 340/360 with full-house .357 Mags. I can assure you that limp-wristing was not a problem with the Kel-Tecs... :)

FWIW, I currently own an LCP, and through about 350 rounds of various .380 FMJ and JHP rounds, have absolutely zero problems.
 
I won't be much help. I have a P3AT and a P32; I love them. They are both completely reliable. I have a lot of friends with P3ATs and they also love them; no problems.
 
I don't want to talk you out of buying you really and truly want, and it sounds as though you want the KT (why, who knows?). I would hold off and go for another S&W pistol.

As far as your 39, I'd like to know how it fares with different types of ammo, particularly hollow-points. Years ago I read a magazine article that was really tough on the 59/39s. The magazine had an article entitled, "Why a $49 Raven is Better Than a $220 S&W 9mm Model 59" and the gist was that the Raven worked, while the S&W 59 (and 39) oftentimes didn't.

Once the 659 came out, though, I really wanted one. It was all steel (stainless no less) and shot JHPs and FMJs. The autos from the second and third generation were so good that I'd recommend you buy something in that line if you can find one.


AAAGunMag_2.gif

The spread shows photos of the jammed 59.
 
My P11 has been totally reliable. It might be a bit thick for what you need, but its a great cargo pocket gun if you can wear cargo pocket shorts.

http://gunzand****.blogspot.com/2008/12/kel-tec-p11-review.html to a review I did on my blog about my p11 right after I got it.

gun has been totally reliable since then as well.

replace the **** with a 4 letter word for poop that starts with sh and ends with it.
 
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Some people have zero patience for getting a new gun working properly. They don't want to deal with the manufacturer and if a gun doesn't work for them day one they sell it.

Kel-tec's lifetime waranty is for the original owner.

There are people who always buy used.

It's not a good combination. If kel-tec went ruger with their service policy a lot of hot potato guns would stop bouncing around the used market and their reputation would improve.

IMO.
 
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