Kel-Tec PF-9 Extraction Problems....Your solution? :)

[Humphrey Bogart]

OK, I went from carrying the Kel-Tec .380 to the Kel-Tec PF-9 w/ +1 mag....I'm getting away with back pocket jeans carry.

I've been testing it for reliability and one part of the plan has been to shoot it at Oakdale USPSA. Last year I shot a Glock 30 and it functioned flawlessly.

On Thursday the Kel-Tec failed miserably.......multiple FTE'S in each course...badly wedged cases in the chamber. The previous week it was almost as bad... and Monday I ordered a new (free) extractor kit from the factory in Florida.

ON the Kel-Tec forum http://www.thektog.org/forum/ 2 suggestions are change ammo / stop limpwristing.

I did change ammo for the last course to premium hollowpoint self defense ammo and fired 8 properly ejected rounds.

I was shooting Winchester White Box...and the word on the Kel-Tec forum is AVOID WWB (and Remington economy ammo)...(runs fine in the Glock)

On the way home from Oakdale I bought 200 rounds of Federal Champion 115g 9mm for the next round of testing at Bills.

I pulled the extractor and everything looked fine...a little bit of carbon but not much...the 'frankenbolt' was not loose.

The purpose of this gun is to fire anywhere from 9 to 21 rounds in a life-threatening emergency and that's it. It's as light and thin as possible and cost under $300....

I could be badly limpwristing but I'll rule that out next trip to the range....I'm hoping it's just ammo. Plan B is to send it back to Kel-Tec ( 8 week turn around )

The word from the Kel-Tec factory is that most of the PF-9's they get back ARE NOT defective but the shooter is limpwristing....

Anyone else solve a PF-9 FTE problem ???

[SSBotanyBay]

While I don't have the PF-9, I do have the Diamondback DB9 which is essentially the same thing. I noticed that the WWB ammo is a LOT taller than every other round I tried whilst trying to fix my FTF problems. I found that my DB9 runs best on Rem UMC's and premium self-defense ammo. I would suggest trying some UMC's and seeing if they work our better for you. I am sure some others will have much more specific advice for you. Just my .02 from my rather limited experience.

[srtolly]

I have a pf9 and shoot federal champion 115g fmj without problems. Maybe have to check in to some other SD ammo. If the gun is new you may need to run a couple hundred rounds through it to break in.

[Humphrey Bogart]

I have a pf9 and shoot federal champion 115g fmj without problems. Maybe have to check in to some other SD ammo. If the gun is new you may need to run a couple hundred rounds through it to break in.

Yeah, I've got 200 rnds of Federal Champion 115g on the table now, I'm optimistic that it will work better than the WWB.

The Remington UMC (green box???) is also given a thumbs down on the Kel-Tec forum.

I'll be carrying the gun with Corbon DPX P+ and Winchester Ranger-T also P+.

I'm going to make this work....I may have to learn a little gunsmithing along the way....Kel-Tec sends small parts for free...now I have a second extractor to play with.

I HAVEN'T done the 'fluff & buff' that is recommended as my Kel-Tec .380 (first gen) did not need one.

Side Note: Kel-Tec used to make a .40 cal version of the P-11 (a double stack 9mm similar to the PF-9) and it's rumored that one reason they STOPPED MAKING THE GUN was that 9 out of 10 of the P-11's sent in for service had no mechanical problems....it was just that people couldn't shoot them without limpwristing

[onebohemian]

I have a P40, and I suspect they stopped making them because they didn't hold up to the pounding of .40 on the 9mm frame. Mine works fine, but she's got quite the punch. If I take her to the range, I usually don't fire more than a magazine through her, as that is about all my hand will take.

I'd always do a fluff and buff on any keltec. I think they are fine guns. Simply design. Easy to work on and repair, if necessary. Price is great. Taking an hour or so to go through a new gun and take off a little excess flashing or polish some rough edges is no big deal and well worth the time. Will make owning a keltec a much better experience.

Finally, I'm no fan of folks sending guns back for so-called "warranty" work at the first sign of some failure to feed or eject. I had a S&W lower that was out of spec, so I sent that back because there was nothing I could do with it myself. I also returned a couple of LCP 380s for the recall a few years back, even though I had already ground the frame on one myself before the recall was announced. (On the one I'd fixed myself, Ruger just ran it through their jig and cleaned up my work a bit.) There are obviously real problems that exist in new products that have to be fixed by the factory from time to time. However, the reason there's such a backlog that prevents those real problems from being repaired in a timely manner is because many new gun owners don't understand how the guns they own work. They barely can break them down for a simple cleaning, much less detail strip them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think it's simple responsible gun ownership to know how one's carry weapon functions, instead of just hoping that it does when you jam a full magazine into the grip and charge the slide.

I'm not trying to imply that you are one of the typical folks, and indeed, you seem to have done some research, ordered a new part, and are seeking answers here instead of just boxing her up and shipping her off. I commend you on trying to learn more to find a solution to your issue. I'm confident that with a little more work, you'll get to the point of knowing you have a very reliable daily carry. If a fluff and buff, or different ammo, doesn't help, post your questions over at ktog, which I assume still exists. Those guys know keltec's better than anyone.

Good luck.

[T.P.F.K.A.M]

easy fix,

you're welcome

[Humphrey Bogart]

I'd always do a fluff and buff on any keltec. I think they are fine guns. Simply design. Easy to work on and repair, if necessary. Price is great. Taking an hour or so to go through a new gun and take off a little excess flashing or polish some rough edges is no big deal and well worth the time.
Will make owning a keltec a much better experience. I'm confident that with a little more work, you'll get to the point of knowing you have a very reliable daily carry. If a fluff and buff, or different ammo, doesn't help, post your questions over at ktog, which I assume still exists. Those guys know keltec's better than anyone.

Good luck.

Anyone who owns a Kel-Tec should know of the Kel-Tec forum. Another good reference is Golden Loki dot com. http://goldenloki.com/gunsmith/keltec/fullrp.htm

He has detailed instructions on what he calls 'relliability preparation' and offers it as a paid service.

I see that frequent trips to the range are going to be required and am considering a bulk purchase of Range Tokens from Bills.

I want to do one fix at a time so I know what the problem is.

I want to run through ammo choices before I start trying to do 'extractor tuning'.

[Humphrey Bogart]

easy fix,

you're welcome

If you've got that in a single stack with a 3" barrel I'll take 2.

[aaron878]

I have a P40, and I suspect they stopped making them because they didn't hold up to the pounding of .40 on the 9mm frame. Mine works fine, but she's got quite the punch. If I take her to the range, I usually don't fire more than a magazine through her, as that is about all my hand will take.

I'd always do a fluff and buff on any keltec. I think they are fine guns. Simply design. Easy to work on and repair, if necessary. Price is great. Taking an hour or so to go through a new gun and take off a little excess flashing or polish some rough edges is no big deal and well worth the time. Will make owning a keltec a much better experience.

Finally, I'm no fan of folks sending guns back for so-called "warranty" work at the first sign of some failure to feed or eject. I had a S&W lower that was out of spec, so I sent that back because there was nothing I could do with it myself. I also returned a couple of LCP 380s for the recall a few years back, even though I had already ground the frame on one myself before the recall was announced. (On the one I'd fixed myself, Ruger just ran it through their jig and cleaned up my work a bit.) There are obviously real problems that exist in new products that have to be fixed by the factory from time to time. However, the reason there's such a backlog that prevents those real problems from being repaired in a timely manner is because many new gun owners don't understand how the guns they own work. They barely can break them down for a simple cleaning, much less detail strip them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think it's simple responsible gun ownership to know how one's carry weapon functions, instead of just hoping that it does when you jam a full magazine into the grip and charge the slide.

I'm not trying to imply that you are one of the typical folks, and indeed, you seem to have done some research, ordered a new part, and are seeking answers here instead of just boxing her up and shipping her off. I commend you on trying to learn more to find a solution to your issue. I'm confident that with a little more work, you'll get to the point of knowing you have a very reliable daily carry. If a fluff and buff, or different ammo, doesn't help, post your questions over at ktog, which I assume still exists. Those guys know keltec's better than anyone.

Good luck.

I couldn't disagree more. Although I'm mechanically inclined and have no problem tinker with things, I don't believe detail stripping and correcting a manufacture's sub-standard finish work is required for "responsible" gun ownership.

[Dill]

a lot of guys are reporting installing 2 extractor springs works well.

[Humphrey Bogart]

a lot of guys are reporting installing 2 extractor springs works well.

Yup, A lot do that. Kel-Tec officially does not recommend that...a longer screw (of an exact length) is also required...it keeps the firing pin in place.

Here's a tutorial on doubling up the spring:

http://easybakegunclub.com/forum/thread ... blems.html

[gopherfan6969]

I keep a handel Jr. grip on my PF9 which helps me to not limp wrist and I've added the steel guide rod. Never had a single FTE.

[Humphrey Bogart]

my process of elimination will include close examination of my shooting technique....I'm thinking of mounting my cell cam in a booth at Bills and videoing my grip / muzzle flip.

The metal guide rod is warned against....don't know why....I'll have to look it up on the Ktog forum

[Dill]

hope you get it worked out. Mine has been a good companion and trouble free for 5 or 600 rounds now.

[ammosponge]

between the fte's and the pain in the rear reassembly, and the mag button problem, my solution was to trade it away for a different compact 9mm pistol. i was tired of tinkering, and the taurus 709 i traded it for works great.