Are these pistols reliable?

Life expectancy/Round count-to-destruction?

How compare to Ruger LC9?

Tell me anything you know!

I would get the ruger.

Ive not had good luck with Kel-Tec. Wasnt impressed with their customer service either.

Keltec warranties their pistols to the original purchaser only, and with respect to life expectancy of the pistol, states that their pistols ought to last at least 6,000 rounds.

Keltec is another way to spell junk.

Their customer service? Losing my pistol, claiming to have never received it, unable to fix the problems, initially refusal to work on it because I didn't have a receipt, etc, did not endear me to them.

I would get the ruger. I have a PF9 and the trigger bar tab broke at 58 rounds. Replaced it and it's been reliable for 350 rounds but customer service was useless and rude, and ruger has always had good customer service IME.

In that size and capacity range, I don't know that I wouldn't also look at the Kahr PM9. Yes, it does cost more though...

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
Are these pistols reliable?

Both of mine have been total reliable with an assortment of standard pressure 9MM ammunition. I have used many projectile styles including JHP.

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
Life expectancy/Round count-to-destruction?

Sorry, but I have not tried to destroy mine so I have no actual data on this. I am certain that they will provide a suitable service life for the the average Concealed Carry owner.

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
How compare to Ruger LC9?

I would not own the Ruger. It just feels wrong to me. However there are people that like the Ruger

This is why there are Fords and Chevys still being manufactured after decades of debate

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
Tell me anything you know!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Sorry that I don't have the time to fully answer "Tell me anything you know!"

The ruger has a bigger trigger guard than the pf9. I've owned the lc9 for over 6 years but I finally moved to the lc9s. It's a much easier disassembly than the lc9. I don't know that the pf9 has changed much but the lc9s for ~$350 makes it easier to decide. Ruger CS is a plus.

I didn't have a good experience with my PF9. First it suffered bad peening of the slide by the barrel lug. I was told by Kel-Tec that this was because of a bad batch of steel. In their defense, they quickly sent me a replacement slide.

Then I started to experience rock-solid jam-ups on ejection. Somehow the slide was binding on the round it was supposed to feeding. This happened with several different kinds of ammo. I sent the pistol in to Kel-Tec and it came back fixed, but by that time I had lost my faith in it and sold it off.

Some people love theirs and have had no problems. I think there are good ones and bad ones. If you've got a good one, lucky you: Hang on to it. If not, dump it and move on.

I owned a pf9 several years ago. To me it was punishing to shoot. I sold it off and later found out that some part of the frame broke. I can't remember what. Kel tec took care of it but it made me lose confidence in their products. I'd go with the Ruger.

I have owned my Pf9 for a number of years now, and have had ZERO problems to report. I don't know exactly how many rounds that I have put through it, but >1K. It has never choked reguardless of the ammo, including my handloads.

I am NOT impressed with the Ruger, and would not trade my KT for one straight across!!

Had one 5 years ago. Looked good. Black frame with stainless slide and belt clip. Concealable, Comfortable.
My problem was that during a range session it locked up very bad during the cycle. It took a while to clear the weapon. If I remember correctly, the spent casing never ejected and the new round got jammed in somewhere. I remember looking around like oh great I hope this thing is going to clear safely. I didn't bother to send it back.
Just traded it in. I didn't have the patience for malfunctions at that time.
I knew when I got it that it was a 50/50 chance of ending up with a solid pistol. I think I was a victim of Nutnfancy's very favorable experience with his PF9.
A friend of mine had one that he loved. He still may.

I had two. They are crap and these days there are much better options in the same size class for a little bit more money. I'd for sure get the ruger over it or a kahr or glock 43 is even better

I've owned several Kel-Tecs over the years, including p32, p3at, p11, and pf9. My wife and I currently both own Ruger LCPs and LC9s. The LC9 and LC9S both passed testing at my agency and are authorized as BUGs. I don't know about long term durability, but our test guns held up to 5000 rounds and Ruger has been very quick to address any issues that have popped up with individual pistols. The LC9S trigger is actually pretty decent as well.

My personal opinion is Kel-Tec comes up with great IDEAS but tends to fall a bit short in the execution. I'd go Ruger over Kel-Tec every time.

I had one and I couldn't get through a magazine without some kind of malfunction. It was also very unpleasant to shoot. I wouldn't get the lc9 either. I had a lc9s pro that was only sightly less unpleasant to shoot than the kel tec. I had high hopes for it but it was never reliable, the recoil was extremely snappy and it required enormous concentration to get any accuracy out of it beyond 5yrds.
Get a S&W Shield. Same price as the lc9, you get 2 mags instead of one and its so much easier to shoot.

I've had a couple and never had an issue that wasn't ammo related. Once I got a bad batch of reloads that had weak webs. One ruptured and blew the extractor off. Sent it to KT and they replaced the extractor no problem.

I will say they are not a lot of fun to shoot and may be more prone to jamming if the shooter doesn't, or isn't able, to grip it with enough force. But I'm blessed with massive hands that aid reliability in most guns, even ones that have a reputation for unreliability. If I was looking for a cheap jogging or bicycling gun, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I might also consider a competitive product from other companies but I haven't seen anything that would make me rule out KTs outright.

KTs customer service is also top notch in my experience.

These postings about the PF9 and Kel Tec always come up 50/50.

I have one, that Purchased used, but like new.
2 minor problems (extractor-spring), which Kel Tec corrected, then the frame cracked.

They replaced the frame, and I have done some custom work on it after that, and had no more problems. But I have not put 1000's of rounds throgh it.

Kel Tec should have used a single action design in that pistol with some beefier internal parts.

It's main niche, is its lightweight and small.

I've got a PF9 that I've shot a bunch. No issues.

Probably 500-600 rnds through it.

No PF9, but have had my P11 for about 6 years.
The tab on the slide stop broke off at the range, still functioned properly, but wouldn't lock back.
No issues with KT cust svc & the replaced it no questions.

It's since been relegated to my pocket carry when in slacks, where IWB with my P320 isn't practical.

quote:

Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
Are these pistols reliable?

Life expectancy/Round count-to-destruction?

How compare to Ruger LC9?

Tell me anything you know!

IMO, spend the extra money and go with the Ruger LC9s Pro.