Picked up a new Kel-Tec P11

[pedalman]

I've been curious about Kel-Tec's products for a while. I combed through the articles on this forum and on ktog.org. I have been alternating between 3 handguns: G19, G22, and a Taurus 85 Ultralite. I can conceal the G19 OK, but I use the Taurus as a "stick in the pocket holster and run to the store" sidearm.

I'm confident in the Taurus and my ability to shoot it. But I wanted something with a tad more capacity. Subcompact Glocks have really gone up, so I wanted something in a 9mm Luger that was trimmer than my revolver, and cheaper than a Glock. I originally had a PF-9 in mind, but I didn't readily find one in stock.

I got off work early one day, and decided to mosey in McBride's Guns in Austin. I had never been in there before, so it was a good excuse. Well, in the counter was a navy blue P11 with a hard chrome slide. It felt good in my hand, and it seemed a little shorter and thinner than the Taurus I was wearing at 4:00. I liked the simplicity of the design, and the price was in my range.

Well, I took it home and did the initial field strip and cleaning. Then I decided to do the minimum "fluff & buff" that was recommended on the KTOG forum. The majority of time spent with the 400 & 600 wet-or-dry paper was spent on the hammer interface on the slide, the hammer face, and the feed ramp on the barrel.

Just for grins, I also smoothed up the exterior of the barrel that shows through the ejection port, and both sides of the slide. I doubt I will ever give it the "melting" treatment, since it is supposed to be an inexpensive carry sidearm. Then I did another cleanup and oiled the moving parts. The only part of the lubing that I deviated from was that I used a thin layer of antiseize on the hammer interface, and on the frame rails where the slide makes contact.

I finally got to shoot it the other day. I first fired 100 rounds of R+P 115g FMJ, then 50 rounds of Monarch 115g FMJ. I did not clean the pistol after this firing. Then I fired 35 rounds of Fiocchi 147g XTP JHP through it (that was all I had left of those). Well, in 185 rounds in a new Kel-Tec with an initial "fluff & buff", I had no jams, no FTF, no FTE. It performed flawlessly.

With the remaining 147g ammo, I shot at my target from 4 yards in 3-round strings that were two seconds apart. I did not create a single ragged hole, but 9 rounds went into a 2-inch area, with the remaining flyer hitting about 4 inches away from the others. That's good enough for me in a small carry pistol.

I did notice a couple of things during shooting. Yes, since it is a small pistol, the perceived recoil is more than my G19. But it was manageable. With the DA-only trigger, it is better to use a smooth motion to squeeze it through its entire travel. If I tried to stage this trigger, I found that my accuracy would suffer.

I did not smooth any areas on the grip. But I did not experience any scraping or cutting on my shooting hand. The only "injury" I had was where the edge of my wedding band was biting the knuckle of my right-hand ring finger. Not the gun's fault.

After I got home and cleaned it, I cycled my snap caps through it. They all ejected OK. I then cycled my 147g carry ammo through it. I did notice that these rounds would hang on the feed ramp if I got lazy on pulling the slide all the way back. This went away when I made sure that when I actuated the slide, I would pull it back all the way before releasing. I also polished the breech face of the slide with the wet-or-dry paper. That seemed to help. More break-in and practice should keep this problem away.

To sum it up, the P11 is a keeper for me. I will be ordering an extra magazine or two for it. I will still remain a Glock owner, but the Kel-Tec will serve as another option for "running to the store".

[USA1]

good report ! my brother inlaw was showing me his Kel-Tech 380. its a very nice piece . it is small enough to keep in his back pocket as a BUG...it looks like a wallet. ...ok ok take my wallet ..hee hee.

[stroo]

I have two KT p11s, one for practice, one for carry. My P 11s are very reliable. You may have to replace the ejector though. I would recommend replacing it at about 1000 rounds since mine seem to break consistently at between 1000 and 2000 rounds. (I have replaced the ejector on my practice P 11 3 times and on my carry P 11 once - all at between 1000-2000 rounds. However even when the ejector breaks, my guns continue to eject empties until the last round. Apparently the pressure from the round being loaded is sufficient to eject the empty shell.

I often pocket carry my P 11 as a second gun with my Hipower as my primary.

[pedalman]

That would be no problem for me. If KT will send the part (when the time comes), I'd be more than happy to replace it.

The design is so simple, that it does not take years of experience to do your own repairs. I do like the idea of the lifetime warranty.

[Mike from Texas]

I like the trigger much better on the PF-9. That trigger on the P11 feels horrible to me. The last one I shot had a pull of almost 12#!

Also, I believe that it is not recommended to shoot the 147 grain loads in either of the Kel-Tec 9mms. You may want to look into that.

[Rex B]

I have that exact same gun, my 3rd P11. Few guns fit my hand as well as the P11.
I like the color combination well enough that I bought a P3AT just like it.

Note that Keltec now sells a 12-round mag that fits flush.
You can also use the 15-round mags for the 5900 S&W pistols. Keltec makes a sleeve/grip adapter.

Nice guns, mine's a keeper also.

[pedalman]

I like the trigger much better on the PF-9. That trigger on the P11 feels horrible to me. The last one I shot had a pull of almost 12#!

Also, I believe that it is not recommended to shoot the 147 grain loads in either of the Kel-Tec 9mms. You may want to look into that.

Actually, the manual makes no mention of 147g ammo, only the usual "factory ammunition loaded to industry standards" proviso. I think that like anything else, YMMV. I plan on running more through it.

KT switched to a lighter spring, so the P11 is no longer with a 12lb pull. I treat it like the trigger on a double action revolver, and go from there.

[Rex B]

Get a trigger shoe for your P11. It makes a big difference in the feel.

[beads]

I'm looking at getting a P11 or 9 as a pocket gun. How do you guys carry yours? IWB, rear pocket holster?

[Rex B]

I pocket carry, right front, but not with my P11.
If I had a PF9 it might be doable.
for now it's a LCP or P3AT.

[pedalman]

In my cargo shorts, I carry either in the right front or right side pocket in a Desantis Nemesis. This depends on the size of the right front pocket.

Otherwise, I carry IWB at 4:00 in a Galco Stow-N-Go.