Posted: 4/19/2006 6:00:37 AM EDT
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Had one of these a couple of years ago. Shot fine at first but started developing serious ejection jams after awhile. Got mixed opinions from others at the time re. overall reliability. Somebody mentioned a "generation 2", which I think had some kind of modification to the ejector. (Mine was bought used, and I'm assuming was a "generation 1".) Always liked the ultra-easy carry and concealment, but not if it wouldn't go "bang" when needed. Please relay your experiences, especially whether there have been any upgrades (considering going back to it if they have improved any). Thanks. |
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Haven't upgraded anything but I bought one new a few months back. I've been trying to shoot it every time I hit the range and haven't had any problems yet. Only 600 rounds so far but zero malfunctions. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe its not as finicky as some think. I usually run WWB through it or UMC. It also likes Winchester Super X ammo. I clean it every week to get the lint and other crap out of it since it spends most of its time in my pocket where it was intended to be carried. |
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I have 1st gen. one that started experiencing FTF's and FTE's when I added the +1 magazine extension. I sent it to Kel-Tec and they replaced the entire top half of the gun with a gen. 2 setup. They matched the SN's to my existing frame. Works fine now. And here's a link to a fluff and buff procedure that many people say helps. www.ktog.org/tecwerks12a.htm |
| Mine has been very reliable with no issues of any kind. Before placing it in service I performed the fluff and buff procedure as a precaution. I also keep it well lubricated (bot not too much). It does seem to pick up a lot of pocket lint behind the hammer but it doesn't seem to cause any problems. |
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Just got mine a month or so ago, I have only put 50 rds through it so far and not had a single problem. Yeah, I know 50 ain't much but it was the first 50 ever fired through the gun and that impressed me so much I bough. Just in case you are wondering I was asking about the gun at a local gun shop. They said they had just got some in but the were brand new and they had sold the rental one they had a week earlier. Well after talking for a bit the gent behind the counter said what the hell, we need a rental one anyway so he opened up the box and let me be the first to fire it. I was so impressed I bought it right then. I do a lot of running and this pistol is by far the best gun I have ever carried while running. I made a pocket holster for it (simply breaks up the outline so it looks like a wallet or something) and all I do is slip it into my pocket and off I go. Far better than actually having to slide a holster onto my belt and wear a long shirt. This gun I can wear shorts and a t-shirt (tucked in even) all day and no one is the wiser. I can even wear it while jet-skiing and not worry about the weight dragging me down if I flip or bail on the water. |
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Maybe I'm unlucky but I've owed three Kel-tecs and I've had problems with all of them. I had the 9mm and sold it due to multiple FTEs. I then bought a P32 because a needed something ultra-small for CCW. Sold it due to multiple failures. Then, like an idiot, I recently bought a gen 2 P3AT. I did the fluff and buff and broke it in with 200 rounds (of which I had MANY jams). It still averaged about one malfunction (FTF, FTE, you name it) for every 5 rounds. Totally unacceptable. I sent it back to Kel-tec and it came back with a new top end. Took it to the range and it is better. I only could put 100 more rounds through it which I guess is still not past the break-in period again with the new slide. I had 3 malfunctions. I hear a lot of people praising these guns but that has certainly not been my experience. Maybe I'm a statistical fluke but that's what happened to me. For what its worth, I have a lot of handguns and have shot almost every major handgun there is at some point, so I don't think it's limp-wristing or anything else I'm doing. All three guns had similar failures when other people that are knowledgeable shot them as well. My advice: Buyer beware. The look good on paper and you may get a good on that has the reliability of a Glock, but there are a lot of people that have had problems. I wish Kel-tec would charge another $50 and make them right from the factory. |
I agree. Sure, it's cheap, but cheap shouldn't mean unreliable, especially when you're talking about a gun that's primarily a CCW. I dont imagine many of us shooting this gun just for the fun of it. How much more would it cose Keltec to do a "fluff and buff" right at the factory? KelTec is sending me a new extractor, and I hope it fixes the problem I'm having. By all reports, their customer service is good, and I have hopes that it will eventually be reliable. |
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I just bought one, did the fluff 'n buff and ran 50 rounds of WWB through it without a hitch. On a side note, I was expecting severe recoil and no chance in hell of hitting the target with its miniscule sights. Recoil was not painful at all, as opposed to a stainless .38 snubby I had for a while, and I made better hits than with my XD or FN HP. Which probably means I need more practice with my 9 mils. 
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You guys are totally missing the point when you suggest they could/should have Glock-like reliability. They weigh 8 ounces fellas, and are not going to be like Glocks for that very reason. Evidence that Glock doesn't have a model out to compete with it at any price. I do understand your very justified concerns about having a reliable weapon for carry. The key here is you have to do more tinkering and experimentation to get them to where you want sometimes than with most normal sized pistols. At a minimum, you need to do some homework on what types of ammo the pistol generally will like and dislike, and how to properly lubricate and shoot it. Then you need to buy a box of every different type you can find, see how each type works, and not sweat problems if they only occur with certain brands. Once you find a carry ammo that works reliably with your pistol, you can enjoy the benefits of such an easy-to-carry weapon. Sound like too much trouble? You can always throw a larger pistol in a pocket (like a Glock 27) but it won't be as convenient to carry. You are definitely making a trade-off between concealability/convenience and reliability/shootability when you carry a Kel-Tec. Pocket pistols are not for everyone, and I am not going to suggest otherwise. To summarize: -Keep it cleaned and lubed -Break it in for 200 rounds or so -Feed it only ammo it works well with -Be patient with it if necessary (minor work or a trip to the factory) -Don't rely on it for carry until proven reliable (good advice for any pistol) -Know its limitations -Enjoy having it with you anywhere in spite of how you dress |