PF9 Failure (with pictures)

[870TC]

Can't quite see in the photo....is the pin that sheared made of sintered metal?

[ktech]

Can't quite see in the photo....is the pin that sheared made of sintered metal?

Uh, I'm not sure how to tell...

Also, I've posted on KTOG; we'll see how things go.

[Seismic Sam]

Don't know much about Kel Techs, and I never realized that the frame is TWO PIECES and is held together with metal (or plastic?) pins. EWWWWWW!!! That's worse than sharing a toothbrush with Shippy!!

[ktech]

Well, apparently this disassembly pin can work itself loose with time and recoil, and then break when the slide hits it. I heard some folks speculating that the pin is MIM (for you machinists/engineers in the audience), so that would apparently explain its breakability (is that a word?).

Anyhow, word on the street is that I can contact Kel Tec for a new one, so I'll be doing that...

Still, doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the firearm.

[infidel]

It may be a good thing the pin shears off instead of causing more damage. Any idea how many rounds down the pipe?

[Humphrey Bogart]

Well, apparently this disassembly pin can work itself loose with time and recoil, and then break when the slide hits it. I heard some folks speculating that the pin is MIM (for you machinists/engineers in the audience), so that would apparently explain its breakability (is that a word?).

Anyhow, word on the street is that I can contact Kel Tec for a new one, so I'll be doing that...

Still, doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the firearm.

If you can part with it you may want to send it in to be gone through by Kel-Tec.
The theory is there is no extensive hand-fitting when the gun comes off the line.....it's made by CNC precision equipment, assembled then test fired, and boxed up...all for $250 street price.

It's as flat, thin and light as it CAN POSSIBLY BE...and it needs to be seen as a carry gun for emergency use.

To make a 9mm this light and at this price is an engineering puzzle and they've solved it pretty well.

On the Kel-Tec board there is discussion of what they call 'Tolerance Stacking' meaning that the essential parts are all within a good tolerance but when assembled ....

one part may be at one end of the 'tolerance' and the adjoining part may be at the other end of proper 'tolerance' and the gun will not function reliably.

An hours worth of final fitting may be needed to bring a gun with 'Tolerance Stacking' into ideal specs.

The Karh pm9 may have it's own problems at twice the price...I want my pocket 9 to be 100% like my $600 Glock 30.

My point being that if you read the Kel-Tec forum you'll hear lots of stories about guys who had a problem and patiently got it straightened out....with or without a trip back to the bench in the Florida factory.

Good Luck.

[TacticalGunny]

Kahr PM or CM 9's...CM9 is my daily carry...after the 200rd breakin period runs flawless

[Quasar]

Kahr cw9 or CM9

[patrick]

Ruger LC9.I just happen to have one for sale.

[HeadHunter]

I bought one of these PF9's as a backup gun. I had been looking for one for a long time when they came out. For some reason I had a hell of a time finding one....
Anyway, after months of waiting and dieing to get my hands on one of these I finally found one! Bought it brand new and loved the weight. Didnt care som much for the grip, but hey its a backup gun.

Anyway, I couldnt get this thing to shoot right strait out of the box. The accuracy was not real good, the thing would jam, FTF, FTE and the extractor would fail to grab the spent round at times...no matter what ammo I fed the thing it always did the same thing. I even tried some self defense stuff...same outcome...

You are thinking what Im thinking, magazine....nope. I have a friend that owns a shop and another that works at Gander Mountain...I tried three different mags, same outcome. After 500 rounds it didnt get any better and I gave up....Sold it to someone that wanted it for a plinker.

If you want a midget gun check out the Ruger LCP in .380 (dont judge it till you get the grip ext.) I have big hands and have one. LOVE IT...the thing shoots crazy well and almost unbelievable groups. I personally know at least 6 people that carry this every day that have the same opinion I do.

[grousemaster]

A plinker that jams like that won't be much of a plinker

[HeadHunter]

A plinker that jams like that won't be much of a plinker

Yup, but he was happy and i sold it cheap. I wont have a gun in my house that doesnt go bang everytime I pull the trigger.

[promod1385]

Like most things in life you get what you pay for. I had a Keltec for a short time and I would not trust my life to it.

[farmerj]

On the Kel-Tec board there is discussion of what they call 'Tolerance Stacking' meaning that the essential parts are all within a good tolerance but when assembled ....

one part may be at one end of the 'tolerance' and the adjoining part may be at the other end of proper 'tolerance' and the gun will not function reliably.

An hours worth of final fitting may be needed to bring a gun with 'Tolerance Stacking' into ideal specs.

It's a result of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD&T). And stacking common in any manufacturing. Every component can be good (barely), but stacked, things just fail.