Kel-Tecs good or bad? want opinions

Fep1990

I currently own a few Kel-Tecs. The P11 and the P32. There is alot of discussion (sp?) on the KelTec group about the pros and cons. A few people flaming about them. Who here own any of the Kel-Tecs? Which one/ones?
what are your opinions good and bad

I personally have not had any problems with either the P11 or the P32
Any opinions on the sub2000 rifle? (Glock magazine version..not the S&W)

kgnovum

I have Kel-Tec's in both .32 & .40. Have put about 300 rounds through each, various types of ammo. No problems at all. They go bang every time I pull the trigger. I like the size, weight and easiness to conceal. They have their drawbacks, long heavy trigger pulls I suppose, but not bad. For what I bought them for (concealed carry) I like them.

Fep1990

Thanks for the input kgnovum. I will chaulk one up for the "Yeahs!!"
I would also like to add that my little Kel-Tecs have actually gotten me tinkering and started my desire(the fire) to learn a little about gunsmithing. I ahve done a few mods on them. They are fun to shoot and fun to play with. I am working on a new trigger stop that is more a permanent one than the 'White trigger stop. My next step is the trigger job to smooth it out a little. If you go to ktog.org and then to the Tek works section, there are links to several mods that can be done.

Nighthawk

It seems to me they do what they were intended to do and do it well.




Best!!

Rugster

Bushy AR

For what it is worth,I agree with kgnovum...my P-11 is easy to conceal,light,and goes bang when I want it to.Sometimes I can knock down most of the plates at 25 yards if I am steady enough.Does exactly what I bought it for.It will continue to be my conceal gun until I finish paying on the Kimber Ultra CDP that I have on lay-a way.

Little people talk about people,regular people talk about things,and big people talk about ideas.

JBBooks

Have the up close and personal 32, one
in each pocket.

JBB

I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from them.

Pearyw

I own two p-11, one 40 conversion kit, and one chrome p-40. I have had no problems with them. I do polish the feed ramps and the breech faces on them when I get them. my p-11 are early guns, under 4000 serial nos. I here a lot of complaints about the early ones, but I have not had a problem. I left them both with the 10 lb trigger pull. I may be wrong, but I feel that the slightly stronger spring makes them a little more reliable. I carry a p-11 with the 40 conversion in a pocket holster all of the time. I have found that it is the most powerful pocket pistol that I can carry confortably.

offeror

I would say that for their price they are as good a quality value in semi-auto as Charter Arms is in revolver. Anyone needing quality at a super-low price should not be afraid to seriously consider these. Everybody I know who has a Kel-Tec swears by them, and I'll swear by the Charters myself.

- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

E.Williams

For target pracice..BAD for up close and personal protection...GOOD.I had one in .40 that was reliable and very concealable.Like others have said here for their intended purpose they work well.Escpecially if you drop in the hi-caps,15+1 9mm and 11+1 .40! you wont catch me complaining about either.

Eric S. Williams

idsman75

There were some reliability issues with earlier models. However, Kel-Tec quickly remedied this problem and every type of ammo of every bullet weight has fed reliably through my dad's Kel-Tec P-11. This is a gun that you can place faith in for up-close and personal self-defense applications.

SWAT magazine did an article on this gun within the last 18 months. I can't recall which issue it was but they gave it high praises. Most manufacturers will send a "pretty" version of a gun to a magazine who wishes to do a review. They doctor it up and give it some special attention during the manufacturing process. To put it bluntly, most manufacturers do not give gun reviewers a representative exameple of what typically comes off the assembly line. In the case of the Kel-Tec P-11, SWAT magazine received exactly what the average customer receives. It wasn't a pretty gun (Kel-Tec's aren't) and the SWAT reviewers stated that it was obviously not "doctored" prior to shipment. The gun isn't pretty and it isn't perfect. The DAO trigger pull is a bit nasty but this gun fills the niche that it was intended to fill and it does so with flying colors. Fell confident when you purcahse a P-11. Mom doesn't like the trigger pull so I'm buying the parents' P-11 for $125 in excellent condition after they replace it with something more appropriate for mom.

groundhog devastation

idsman, That comment about "mom" conjures up funny images! I can still recall "mom" with the flyswatter or a peachtree switch! I'd hate to face her with Kel-tec .40!!! GHD

idsman75

Dad said he wanted a pistol for mom when he is on the road for work. My brother is off to college and gets home about three or four times a year and I get home about as often so she is left alone with Buddy the ankle-biting watch-dog who checks all windows and doors in the house about twice every night. He's a cute little Daschundt with lots of personality. He doesn't bite ankles and is a bit too affectionate so dad felt that mom would be better off with something that has a bit more "teeth". Dad doesn't come to GB and doesn't really use the internet for much more than "the other auction site" and email so I bid on a Kel-Tec for him here on GB and arranged the transfer with a dealer back home. I put that Kel-Tec in mom's hand and watched her go. She's a darn good shot for a woman with a rather frail frame. After I checked out her target I checked in with hell's weather man to see if Hades had frozen over. Guns were not an appropriate subject growing up but dad has a Red Label and a Kel-Tec now and will be acquiring an appropriate revolver in the near future. I can remember the look on dad's face when I put my 686 in his hand. His eyes got big and he loved the way it "spoke". He's only fired the Kel-Tec and the Red Label so that 686 felt like some real power in his hand--sort of the way I felt when I fired robsguns' .454 a few weeks ago. Anyhow, I'm rambling. I get the Kel-Tec when I have time to check out revolvers with the parents.

groundhog devastation

Just exactly how did you feel shooting Sarge's 454? Is it really a handfull or is it on par with the 44Mag? I don't know if I'm ready for one yet and the 480Ruger is the next step!! Before you know it somebody's going to build an 8" barrel 50BMG wheel gun!!! GHD

groundhog devastation

And the next question to ask is: "Just how bigga boy are you?"!!!!

idsman75

Well, I'll have to admit to something in order to answer your question properly. The largest caliber handgun I had ever fired prior to the .454 was my .357. robsguns broke me in with some lighter factory loads and then loaded up some of his hefty 300 grain cast bullets. It was a whole lot of fun. It was uncomfortable at first but I soon became enthralled by the feel of something so powerful in my hand. I can't compare it to the .44 Rem mag because I've never fired one before. If I can handle it then you can probably handle it too. The .454 isn't something that I would consider a "plinking" round but it sure is a heck of a lot of fun.

idsman75

I'm 5'10" and weigh 185 lbs.

oldfriends

I have the P32. Bought it for my wife to carry in her pocket at the store. She has not receive it yet. Took it to the range and jammed on the first mag with two different brands of ammo. Have not had a chance to do any thing about it even if I knew what to do. I though it was going to be a great choice. Have talked to a couple of other owners who are getting rid of them because of the reliability reasons. Thoughts???

Life is Tough!It's Tougher if You're Stupid

salzo

Old friends-Did you send it back to kel-tec. I have a P40, and it jammed when I first got it. Sent it back to kel tec, they replaced the magazine and gave it a good polish, and have not had problems with it since.

"The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal governmentare few and defined, and will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace negotiation, and foreign commerce"
-James Madison

daddo

I have the P-11 and it has fired all types of ammo with no problems. Only thing is- it shoots about 6" low at 5 yards. Not very accurate past 8 yards. Maybe it's just me, but my glock 26 does very well, even at 15 yards.

thesoundguy1

I have a problem with the disassembly pin falling out of my p-11 while I'm shooting it.It went off to Kel-tec once and came back with the same problem, just not as chronic.I've since purchased a FEG PA-63
for when I'm not wearing oversized clothes.I read on the Kel-Tec forum, that if you bend the retainer spring under that pin, it should remedy the problem.I've bent that sucker to the point that I can't get the pin out with my finger nail,but I have not test fired it yet.
I'm interested in buying one of there sub-2000 carbines, but I'm waiting to see some reviews and some owner feedback on that one.

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Fep1990

if you are interested in doing a possible easy fix for the firing pin go to: http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/assemblypin.htm
also...I do not know ewhen it wqas sent back to Kel-Tec.....but I have heard that lately different pins are being used. Hope this helps

Thanks guys for the replies

vipereater

I've considered purchasing but I have reservations about the stopping power of a .32

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

offeror

This has certainly punctured the opinion I was developing of Kel-Tecs based on earlier eager beavers on the board. It sounds to me like all things considered there are much better things you can do with your money. Which is what people used to say about them when they first came out. Sometimes I think people tout the only gun they can afford as the "best," with nothing to compare it to. After reading all this, I don't think I'd recommend one again.

- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878