Kel-Tec P-11 |
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What makes the Kel-Tec P-11 such a great little gun?
1. The P-11 is a light weight "mousegun." I define a mousegun as a gun that weighs less than 16 ounces, unloaded. The P-11 weighs 14 ounces, unloaded. My P-11 weighs 21 ounces with a magazine and 11 rounds of 9mm ammo. I used to carry my P-11 with a "ClipDraw" in "small of the back" position, where it completely disappears behind a sport coat. These days I'm carrying a Kel-Tec PF9 in my front pocket, instead.
2. The P-11 is just barely "pocketable." The P-11 is only 5.6 inches long, 4.3 inches tall, and 1 inch thick. It will fit in your front pants pocket, if your pocket is fairly spacious. For the ladies, it will fit into even a small purse. However, it is NOT as "pocketable" as the Kel-Tec P-3AT.
3. The P-11 carries a large number of rounds. The standard magazine that comes with a new P-11 holds 10 rounds. The P-11 will also accept a S & W 12 round magazine. With one in the chamber, you can have 13 rounds at your disposal. This is twice the fire power of a 38 revolver. I use a "Magloader" on my thumb to load cartridges in the magazine.
Here's a photo of my Kel-Tec P-11. As you can see, I have slipped a Hogue Handall over the grip, and secured it there with some electrical tape. I eventually decided I liked it better without the rubber grip. The "naked gun" is easier to draw from the pocket.
4. The P-11 fires the powerful 9mm luger cartridge. Of course, there are more powerful rounds, but the 9mm cartridge is almost universally accepted as adequate for self-defense. If you want to carry a small gun, it is not necessary to limit yourself to the weaker .22, .25 .32 or .380 cartridges.
5. The 9mm cartridges fired by the P-11 are relatively inexpensive. The cheapest round of all is the .22 long rifle. The next cheapest is the 9mm. 9mm cartridges sell (as of January 2008) at Wal-Mart for about $17.00 per hundred. Other calibers are often twice the price.
6. The P-11 is reliable and accurate enough for up-close self defense. It has been in production for almost a decade, and is well-tested. If you keep it clean and lubed, it is a reliable weapon that is capable of shooting hundreds of rounds without failures to eject, feed or extract.
7. The P-11 has an enthusiastic following of owners that help each other with any technical/gunsmithing problems that may arise (there is no such thing as a perfect gun that never ever fails). There are two forums especially devoted to Kel-Tec weapons: The Kel-Tec Owners Group, and The Kel-Tec Range. These friendly and knowledgeable people can answer any P-11 related question that you can think of.
Here's a photo of the other side of my Kel-Tec P-11:
8. The P-11 comes with Kel-Tec customer service and a life-time warranty to the original owner. Kel-Tec is famous for customer service that is quick and effective. If your P-11 has a problem, Kel-Tec will fix it, and make sure you have a good gun. You can ship it directly to Kel-Tec via FEDEX. They will fix it and FEDEX it straight back to your house.
9. The P-11 is relatively inexpensive and easy to find in most gun shops. It usually sells for about $270 (as of January 2008). In some shops it can be found for only $260, new in the box. A Glock 26 or a Kahr PM9 costs twice as much as the P-11.
10. The P-11 is a safe gun to carry. The action is "double action only," which means it takes a long deliberate pull on the trigger to fire the weapon. The trigger pull is long, but smooth, about 8-9 pounds. The P-11 simply will not fire unless you really attempt to shoot it. That doesn't mean it might not go off if you drop it a considerable distance, especially on it's muzzle, as with any pistol. Someone did some "drop testing."
Here's a final photo of my Kel-Tec P-11, with some FMJ 9mm cartridges.
Disclaimer: I have no connection to the Kel-Tec company, nor am I making any promises to you about any weapon that you may own or purchase. If you buy a P-11 and get a lemon, which can happen with any make of gun, please don't blame me. Get in touch with the Kel-Tec people, and they will make it right.