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PF9 Failures-To-Feed

5K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  wild cat mccane 
#1 ·
I took my Glock 20 (10mm), my S&W 457 (.45), and my recently acquired Kel-Tec PF9 to the nearest indoor range today (50 miles north to Ft. Collins). -- Anybody want to invest in an indoor range in Longmont, CO? I swear it would do a brisk business! But I digress. --

Both the S&W and the Glock did as good as they can in my hands. The Kel-Tec struggled through 3 or 4 magazines, failing to feed the next round multiple times per mag. Sometimes the slide would eject an empty, then just close with no round chambered. Sometimes a cartridge would partially chamber, but the following cartridge would jam into it and block closure.

Are these common problems with common solutions? I traded for this gun second-hand. It's serial number is R1Dxx, so it appears to have been manufactured in mid July of '07, meaning it shouldn't be one of the trouble-prone early models. "Shouldn't" being the operative word here, of course.

I'd post this question as well on the KTOG board, but, although I'm registered, it's not letting me log on tonight. :smt076

Any suggestions about the PF9. Suggestions that don't include the phrase "where the sun don't shine"?
 
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#3 ·
I have definitely seen a lot of negative about the early PF-9s, but the positives about later versions have been much more abundant. So I'm hoping to get this worked out with some good advice. The gun is really the perfect size and weight, workable dimensions, and caliber selection is decent. Kicks like a runt mule and makes big noise, but both are bearable. Better looking than my Glock 20, in fact. But an hibitual failure-to-feed is a show-stopper. :oops:
 
#4 ·
I have the pf9 and it is fantastic.

You pf9 serial indicates that it is one of the very first ever made.

If you ship it to kel tec, they will replace your entire frame for free to the current one. Thats how old your gun is :)

Heck, you are missing every single update with that serial.
New barrel, new trigger bar, new frame, covered roll pin, different mag follower.

They are fantastic guns. I love mine.
 
#5 ·
Have 2 PF9s. First one bought Dec. '06. After polishing it up & breakin, never had any problems. Probably send it back one day for new barrel and frame updates. It doesn't like 147 gr. or DPX. Second one bought Dec. '07 and after a few FTF in first 100 rounds, it smoothed out and even feeds DPX. Bought the second one so I could practice more and not be without one if the other needed maintenance. Backup in winter, primary in summer.
 
#6 ·
I have the pf9 and it is fantastic.

You pf9 serial indicates that it is one of the very first ever made.

If you ship it to kel tec, they will replace your entire frame for free to the current one. Thats how old your gun is :)

Heck, you are missing every single update with that serial.
New barrel, new trigger bar, new frame, covered roll pin, different mag follower.

They are fantastic guns. I love mine.
That old? In the KTOG history of the PF-9 this serial number was produced in July, 2007:
R1C00=4600 6/22
R1D00=4700 6/16 --right here!
R1E00=4800 6/21
R1F00=4900 6/16
R1G00=5000 6/21
That puts mine at the late edge of the so-called D models or maybe even the early edge of the E models, quoting again from KTOG's website:
"The latest models, (Es) that will start with SN R0G00 (Probably April 07) are already being built with the new, longer and shallower feed ramp, (The one at the left) on the barrel:" It shows pics of the new and old barrels, and my definitely has the newer barrel with the longer ramp.

That's not to say for sure that sending it in to KT would be a bad idea. They might find something in it that needs upgrading. The problem may also be with its operator. I may be limp-wristing it. From some conversations on the KTOG board, I decided to try it again, and I tightened up a bunch. Had only one misfeed out of 6 this time, but it was too danged cold to keep going, since I was shooting in the woods. I'm going to work at it some more as soon as weather permits, I guess. I love the size, shape, and weight of this gun for CC, and the caliber is decent, though not my favorite. (I prefer .45, 10mm, and 357/38, but even my Taurus PT145 is too heavy for comfortable CC. For me, anyway.) So I guess I'll keep trying to master this thing. For a little longer.
 
#7 ·
My oldest PF9 is S# R02xx and was bought in Dec.'06. Already having a P11 and a P3AT, before I ever shot it, it got the "fuff & buff" treatment that included giving the ramp and chamber a mirror finish. The mags were giving problems with the cartridge dipping when chambering and hanging up on the ramp so I took the springs out of all 6 mags and bent the top two links of the spring upward about 20 degrees(old WWII vet friend taught me that trick on old 45 auto mags). The ejector pin was supposed to walk inward and lock up the hammer on early models so I pushed it out a little. Widened it out a little, added loctite. Pushed it back in flush. Let it set for a day and a year + later and maybe 1000 rounds, it hasn't missed a beat and hasn't been sent back for updates. Will send it back for updates eventually now that I have another one broken in. All that is more than some folks would be willing to do, but it was worth it to me to have a powerful pocket gun. And I started shooting autos when there was no hp ammo and most autos would not even feed flat nose bullets so you had to do a lot of work on autos to make them reliable. I'd send it back for updates, polish it up, put 200 rounds through it and then decide whether to keep it. Oh, and don't forget, it likes lube and regular cleaning.
 
#8 ·
First Hand Experiences

Two guys I work with just bought PF9s. Both of them had failure to feed issues.

The P32 I purchased years ago had stove piping problems.

What is good for us is that Kel-Tec is right up the road. When I bought my .32 and had problems with it , I brought it to Kel-Tec. They took it in the back, made some things right and I have never had a problem with it since. Same with my two co-workers PF9s. They brought them to the factory, waited about 30 minutes as parts were replaced and the weapon was fluffed and buffed. Kel-Tec ran several types of rounds through the guns and not a single problem was seen after the repairs.

In spite of GREAT customer service, I don't think I would buy a Kel-Tec if I didn't have ready access to the factory.
 
#9 ·
This is my first hand gun. Ever.

Never had a limp wrist. I don't even understand how you could.

I would suggest sending it back. I believe the pf9 is on the physical limit of an operating 9mm. But at the same time, if you are like me, size is the reason I don't carry a gun. Until this pf9.

Ship it to kel tec, they pay 20 bucks for shipping too. I would suggest sticking with it. I have nothing but good to say about my ugly pf9.
 
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