[raggedyedge]

I have owned two PF9's for many years now.

It is still my daily carry pistol.

I have watched as other manufactures have come out with competing pistols, the Ruger LC9 and the Glock 43 being two major competitors. But unlike the P3AT (which I think Ruger did better with the LCP) and while tempted by the Glock 43, I still think the PF9 is the best 9mm daily carry gun. It is still lighter than all of the competitors. I has an additional round over the 43.

So for size and weight and firepower, I still prefer the PF9. It is not a pistol, that I take out just to shoot for pleasure, but a lightweight thoroughbred that is my constant, daily carry companion. The only thing, I have really done to the pistols, is disassemble and clean out the firing pin channel after one of my PF9's was found to have some machining debris within. After that, both have been astonishingly reliable.

And for the price of a Glock 43, you can buy a PF9 and 500 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 9mm.

 

[CJP32]

I'm right there with you. The only problem with my PF9s is they are a little picky about ammo, they don't like any with long overall length. I used to think it was the bullet weight but I found out when I tried some DPX and Extreme Defender that it's the length that causes problems.

I'll admit I've been tempted by some of the new offerings, the G43 especially, but after looking at their stats the Pf9 still wins IMO. I can deal with only using certain ammo to save a significant amount of weight.

I would like to see an updated P11 hit the market. Give it the Pf9 trigger and a rail. I would buy one for sure then.

 

[grade8holsters]

And for the price of a Glock 43, you can buy a PF9 and 500 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 9mm.

I love my PF-9, and I can think of all kinds of reasons to be happy with it, but I never quite thought of it that way. That's even the ammo I carry. Well said!

 

[HatRon56]

I went out and shot an old box of Tula Brass Maxx.
Man that stuff is loud,snappy and worked just fine in my Pf9 and my old FEG MBK.

 

[Youngblood]

On July 2, 2017 I will have owned my PF9 for a decade.

I have carried it far more than any of the other pistols in my carry rotation when I am out&about.

The only things that I did not like about the PF9 were the grip treatment and the trigger ... a piece of bicycle tubing solved the former (without adding thickness or being too sticky/grabby) and Northwood Components, the latter.

When I received it there was a spalled area on the slide. Kel-Tec quickly replaced it.

A few years ago, the ejector broke. Kel-Tec put one in an envelope and mailed it to me, same day.

 

[Silverbullet]

A piece of shrink tubing improves the stock trigger.

 

[Steve912]

A piece of shrink tubing improves the stock trigger.

Even a double or triple layer of heat shrink. Improved feel at low cost.

 

[Jamie]

After a few issues in the beginning, mine has been flawless. Took me a little practice to get consistent with it. I put a Northwood trigger in it, GREAT mod, carry it quite a bit, it's in my pocket or a Pistol Wear 'belly band'. Tough to beat, especially for the money!

 

[bouncey]

Thanks for the thread. I was curious what actual PF-9 owners think of it.

I have a 1st gen P-32 with the old style chrome job, very reliable but expensive to feed. Also a 1st gen sub2000 - nice, but way too big to carry in my pocket. Used to own a stainless P-11; it kept finding clever new ways to break and its trigger was horrible so I sold it to a guy in the gun club who also ended up hating it. My main carry piece these days is a 1st gen (see a pattern here?) P3AT with armalaser. But alas no chrome. It, too, keeps finding innovative ways to fail, though not as badly or as often as that old P-11. The laser helps work around those nonexistent sights.

So now I'm looking at micro nines. PF-9 is on my to-look-at list, if I can ever find one locally. But KT claims it was developed from both the P-11 *and* the P3AT. The 2 most unreliable KT products I've ever owned! This does not inspire confidence. So it's good to read about real experiences.

Anything to add that might help a skeptical pistol shopper?

 

[CJP32]

The PF9 is probably their most popular pistol and they do have that nice warranty. Like someone else said, you can get a pf9 and a bunch of ammo for the same price as the next competitor.

 

[raggedyedge]

Carry Options

I did a little video on on my PF9 carry options
https://youtu.be/Ji60d9cAQ9c

PF9...size and weight, and dollar weight.

Face it, we have limited time and money to devote to life preservation activities. I would prefer to own a PF9, a light burden on all accounts, and have time, dollars, and carrying capacity left over for other life preservation activities. PF9, good ammo, and some basic proficiency and then move on to other things...rifle marksmanship, first aid, having an AED, and some form of physical activity for personal fitness.

I am astonished at how much some people spend on defending their life from an unlikely physical attack vs how little effort they put into a healthy lifestyle. Think life...big picture, long range.

 

[bouncey]

Ambidextrous shooter? Nifty. Have you had any trouble finding left-handed accessories, or with the magazine eject button silently pushing itself inside left-handed holsters? Both have been persistent annoyances with my P3AT.

I shoot left-handed but practice occasionally with my right hand to maintain the ability. Originally I was actually left-handed but then had a kindergarten teacher circa 1980 who didn't know how to teach left-handed kids. So now I write right-handed but am left eye dominant. Actually my dad and grandpa are the same way. Dad said he learned to shoot left-eyed but right-handed in the marines.

So ambidextrous usability is a concern for any new firearm. Was curious how well PF-9 does for that. Apparently it works for you.

 

[raggedyedge]

I learned ambi from paintball, speedball version where anyone lacking the skill made an early departure to the deadbox. It was from that sport that I learned how to eliminate (or certainly greatly reduce) eye dominance.

Too many manufacturers advertise their guns as being ambidextrous, when they actually mean convertible from one to the other.

I have two Ruger 22/45 pistols that I use on a dueling tree with my left competing against my right.

Ideal ambi firearms would have full 100% mirroring innit sides....safety, slide release, mag release and charging handles.

The PF9 is adequate as far as ambi, the AR platform has potential, and I speculate in The Ambidextral Rifleman that the RDB just might prove to be close to the ideal ambi carbine. The short, balanced RDB would, I think, be very handy...very paintball gun like, switching from the right side of cover, to the left, and back.

The SU16c, being so light, is pretty much OK for ambi, too.

Becoming ambi is not as hard as most people think. I was an instructor at an Appleseed Marksmanship Clinic and had a student with a bad wisdom tooth making a good cheek weld too painful. I worked with him for a couple of hours and had him doing well left handed.

 

[TheKuduKing]

I don't mean to right the thread drift, but I have to agree with the OP about the PF-9. I've had these guns since they came out. The current manufacture are excellent in terms of practical accuracy and reliabilty. Occasionally they will shoot high for the expert, but KelTec offers a front sight kit to correct that. I did change the trigger to the Northwood, best $40 I ever spent. Mine easily put 5 shots inside 4 inches at 25 yards slowfire, and all inside a IPSC C zone on a combat course of fire at the same distance.

I have a Glock 43. It doesn't offer much over the PF-9 in terms of practical performance, for considerably more money. As stated, the PF-9 is lighter, holds 1-2 more rounds, and the practical accuracy is the same. Despite being heavier, the G43 still has snappy recoil.

For what you save buying a PF-9, you can put your money towards other essentials. It's a great size for carrying nearly everywhere. I like the small accessory rail. You can put a Streamlight TLR-3 on there and have a decent home defense pistol.

It's not for pounding 150 rounds a session, every week. Not a beginner gun either, but once you know how to shoot (use a low-cost .22 RF pistol), take the PF-9 out and practice 30-50 rounds once a month. Gun will last a long time. For carry ammo, i use reduced handloads that are equivalent to 9x18mm in power: more effective than .380, less recoil than full-house 9mm, and more reliable as well from unsupported shooting positions. Hornady and others offer reduced recoil JHP factory ammo as well.

My only knock on the PF-9 is that the trigger guard is too small. If you have big fingers or wear gloves, the pistol its hard to shoot. For me it's a three-season gun, too slow and clumsy for self-defense in the winter cold climates. But it was invented in Florida....

 

[HatRon56]

some advice to the kuduking: try heating up the trigger guard with a heat gun or hair dryer then putting a broom handle thru it, That is what I did to my P-11's.
My Pf9s withe Northwood triggers are ok for my big fingers..

 

[SARGE7402]

Forget how long I've had my PF-9. Know it's been quite a few years and I've had no issues with it at all.

Finally did find a pocket holster that is a good fit in a pair of jeans. As for ammo, I've used S&B JHP's and whatever hard ball for practice and this little gun gobbles them up like cashews:rayof:

 

[Jamie]

There are some micro 9s that shoot softer than the PF9, (Shield, Nano, I haven't shot a Glock 43), but they don't fit in the same pockets as the PF9. That's why I bought it, it spends a lot of time with me. I haven't held a SCCY yet, I've heard it's close.

 

[Steve912]

There are some micro 9s that shoot softer than the PF9, (Shield, Nano, I haven't shot a Glock 43), but they don't fit in the same pockets as the PF9. That's why I bought it, it spends a lot of time with me. I haven't held a SCCY yet, I've heard it's close.

You'll more likely find the SCCY close to a P-11...very close, like
'almost exactly' close.

 

[boomerweps]

You'll more likely find the SCCY close to a P-11...very close, like
'almost exactly' close.

Also like the SCCY and P11 can share all holsters but the tightest fit kydex. Sorry KelTec, but I do like the SCCY formed grip a little better. Doesn't really matter in my case cause the PF9 is my normal EDC, much flatter against my love handles

 

[Facio]

Im on I think my 4th or 5th PF9 between my wife and I. The 1st PF9 (all black) came about after a burglary where her Glock 26 was stolen. I had to buy her sumthin and didnt want to spend $500+ on a new G26. After a cpl months or so shooting and having that little thin light 8shot 9mm in her purse I had to put my Glock 27 in the safe and buy myself a PF9. When my friends started asking me questions about them and CDNN started having them all the time in so many different color schemes I ordered a chrome on black(wifes) and chrome on navy blue(me) and sold one of the all blacks. Picked up a used P11 from a buddy for $200 with a 10&14or15rd mag but hated it, buddy needed cash so I bought it anyways. Years went by, new ARs and Glocks came n went as well as some KTs but thru it all have always had a PF9 close at hand since they 1st came out. Its not just bcuz Im a Fla boy, some of it has to do with the PF9 being one of the best dam carry pistols Ive carried and shot! I remember back when ppl were doubting them, now days good luck finding one online or on a shelf of your lgs.