Range Report: Kel-Tec P11
- February 10th, 2006
- Posted in Firearms
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Initial impressions are quite good – in fact, I’m fully prepared to carry my P11. The trigger is long, the trigger is heavy, but the trigger is consistent and that’s a good thing. Today’s trip to the range covered two missions at once – breaking in the P11, and teaching my parents how to shoot pistols. Both went very well.
The diet for the P11 today consisted of one box of American Eagle 115gr FMJ, one box of MAGTECH 115gr FMJ, and 10rds of Cor-Bon 90gr +p JHPs. The P11 failed to eject (or complete extraction rather) three times in 60 rounds, and none in the final 50. The first two FTEs occured while I was shooting, and I’m fairly confident limp-wristing was not a factor, they were both in the first 15 rounds though – so I’m not bothered by this at all. The final FTE occured while my Dad was shooting it, and from my point of observation it appeared as though he did limp wrist that shot. None of the FTEs required more than a quick jerk of the slide to clear and resume firing. Remember kids, malfunction drills are you friends.
Accuracy was actually better than I expected from such a small package. After two magazines worth of “familiarization” fire, I commenced my “record” fire and was pleasently surprised. At a realistic self-defense range of 7m the P11 in my hands was at least minute of fist – and I have small hands. In short, the X-ring was not happy. Both parents were also able to make consistent hits in the vital zone of the target their first times shooting pistols.
The only negative I can think of is the feeling in my trigger finger after firing off a magazine from the P11. The recoil itself it neither unpleasent nor unmanagable – even with the +p load. My trigger finger however does get sore shooting this pistol. I look at that as a problem easily fixed by bringing my Nighthawk Custom Enforcer along and shooting a few magazines through it!
Pics, of course required as usual.








So you have a lot of good to say about the P-11. Thats good because I’m considering buying this firearm. Were the FTEs a major problem; no destruction of the weapon itself right? Also, the accuracy for the gun was how good? And what do you expect for this gun to go for, price wise? Thank you for your help!
-Kyle
Have only fired one 50-round box thru my Kel-Tec P11 so far, but no failures of any sort (Winchester white-box 115-grain FMJ). At 5-7 yards, I can hit whatever I want to (considerably less than “minute of fist”), and I’m not really used to DA-only. Recoil and “flip” are very manageable. Sight-picture required a bit of adjustment; I found that making a triangle with the three-dot sights and holding dead on with the apex put the rounds where they needed to go. I’m impressed with this little piece. NOTE that I also have a P32, and it’s pure poison at realistic ranges. Of course, recoil and flip are nil, compared to the P11 or to my snub .38 special. The P11 is a winner, in my book! Would’ve bought a P3AT, had the store had one when I purchased the P32, but just picking it up was enough. I can’t believe any pistol could be this light, and it simply disappears in a pocket.