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Rex B wrote:As for your P11, 400 rounds with no failures is about double what the 'experts' recommend to qualify a new gun for carry.

I didn't know that.

Thanks!

John F

flintknapper wrote:If its going to be your primary gun, then at least do "full" fluff and buff on it.

http://www.goldenloki.com/guns/keltec/prep.htm

I'd recommend a steel guide rod, and then replace every polymer pin with steel (where available).

I left that part out but we did do the fluff and buff after about 150 rounds, and replaced 2 of the poly pins with metal (belt clip).

The guide rod I have not decided on yet...

The thing I keep thinking is what MoJo said and there is no guarantee that any given gun won't have a malfunction. I'm sure it will happen with my P-11 but no telling if it will be at round 500, 800, 1,000, +... I think if I have one malfunction per 1,000 rounds I'm going to call it pretty reliable.

John F

Just this weekend I had to renew my CHL. I have been carrying a 38 revolver but wanted to test with a SA to have both options. For my initial test I borrowed a really nice H&K .40 but this time around I did not have anything available to borrow.

I figured I'd buy something on the inexpensive side because after all this was just going to be for the test and not for carry.

My B.I.L. also picked one up for his renewal and so about 4-5 weeks ago we took our new guns to the range to get acquainted with them. Prior to going I did some research on the Kel Tec forums and did some basic cleaning and lubrication schedule before going and he did nothing but open up the box and shoot. I shot 75 rounds without any malfunctions and he had at least one malfunction every other magazine. This prompted the range guy to come over inspect the gun, proclaim it was garbage and suggest he return the gun for something else. (one test he did was to slam the magazine in at full force to see if the slide would release and chamber the first round) it did not...and he said any gun that does not is "junk". Later I read the slide release should hold even with a forceful mag insertion so I'm not sure who is right on that point...

Anyway we cleaned up his gun and went back the next weekend where he reduced his malfunctions to 2 out of 100 rounds and I again had 0.

We figured the 2 he had were probably limp wristing as cleaning/lubrication the gun had a significant impact on its reliability. I talked to a few more people who all said it should not be necessary to do anything to the gun and anything that does not shoot "out of the box" is garbage. Along this time somebody said, "I would not trust my life to a Kel Tec". Yet because mine is 100% thus far I have to think the problems were not the gun itself.

To keep it short(er) this process went on for a few more range visits and then to yesterday when we both shot our 50 rounds for CHL renewal with 0 malfunctions...however our instructor mentioned over lunch "I would not trust my life to a Kel Tec".

Here is my problem:

I have 400 rounds through my P-11 with zero malfunctions. Because 10 rounds is more than 5 and this gun carries as well if not better than the 38 I'm seriously considering carrying it.

Let me backtrack.....

When I borrowed the H&K for my first test I had a stovepipe during the test. I cleared it and that was that but that experience made me gravitate even more towards the revolver to get "6 for sure". or 5 in my case but you get the point. I had not made the decision at that time to get advanced training.

Now I'm thinking I'd like to practice much more with this P-11 and get enough confidence with it from training to handle any potential malfunctions (that I have only experienced with other guns so far) to use it as my daily carry weapon......but people keep telling me it's garbage and they would not trust their lives to it.........?

Whatda ya think?

John F