Ruger LC9 vs. Kel-Tec PF9

M

Mike Horning

New member
I am debating between these two. On one hand the Kel-Tec has been on the market for a few years and has the kinks worked out. On the other hand is Ruger's quality and reputation. Does anyone have any experience with either or both and can shed some light on this?
 
I have a P-11 that has been excellent for over a decade now (I would have bought the PF-9 had it existed when I was buying.) A friend has had a PF-9 since it first came out with no problems.
 
I hated my Kel-Tec PF9 the trigger Pull was so hard it aggravated my tendonitis in my elbow in just a couple magazines, actually pulled me off target to the right when I was trying to shoot. It also kicked harder than my 45 ACP, and it was not accurate. That was mine and I sold it after a couple months.

I know others like it, but I have had Ruger and never had a problem with any gun I have ever shot with the name Ruger on it. I intend to get an LC9 ASA I can save up for it, I have the LCP which is great. I know other people like the Kel-Tec, so I would recommend going to a range and renting both models and shooting them. DRY fire the Kel_tec B4 You lay your money down and see what that trigger pull on the one you are going to get feels like..
 
I haven't had the opportunity to fire a PF9, but I own one of the LC9. It's a little bigger than the PF9 in height/width/length, but we're talking fractions of an inch only. So, the LC9 is a little heavier, due to the extra size. Still conceals well. Fits into pockets rather well (using appropriate holsters).

Firing it's pretty nice. For a subcompact, the sights work well. I've not had it give me any issues with ammo. It's handled everything from Winchester white box 115g FMJ to Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP (and a whole bunch of stufg in between) without issue.

In fact, the biggest problem I've had with it since I bought it was locating additional magazines. When I bought mine, every dealer (local and online) that I checked was out of stock on both the standard and extended floor plate magazines. That's not a problem right now. And if that's the only serious problem I've had with it, I'll count it as good.

I would definitely recommend finding one to rent to try for yourself.
 
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golddigger, you took the words......key strokes........right out of my mouth.....the Taurus 24/7 or a 709, which a bit smaller but worked will in my big hands......sorry Mike, just gave you more!
 
LC9 with CT Laser - works great for me as a secondary or a primary in a Mitch Rosen. I have had it for about three months and is one of the few guns that I have that has worked like a champ right out of the box! The only thing that has been iffy was the rear sight - it is adjustable - as the set screw loosens easily. I put little loctite on it and now it stays put. Evidently Ruger felt is was needed for adjustability reasons. I can honestly say that for a little handgun it does perform as expected and is easily carried/concealed. YMMV and best of luck to you in whatever you choose!
 
I have had the opportunity to use the LC9 and the 709 slim that was also mentioned. I carry the PF9. I did not like the triggers on any of the other two. The trigger on my PF9 is so much like my Smith 442 I have no issues with switching between either during practice. The night I first fired the Kel-Tec, I put 150 rounds through it with no issues what so ever including the discomfort mentioned regarding the recoil. It is snappy, but far from punishing. It has had several hundred through it since, and will digest anything I give it. I carry the PF9 in a locally made pancake and forget it's there. In short it goes where I go.
 
I've owned a PF9 twice. So must like it, right? I do, but I have a deal with myself. In order to buy something new, something old must go. I just picked up a LC9 but I haven't had the opportunity to shoot it yet. I plan to get it to the range next weekend unless my CHP class is cancelled and then I'll shoot it this weekend.
 
I have an LC9 and an LCP, and like both very much. I removed the safety and the magaizine lock from the LC9 so it and the LCP are mechanically the same so when I have to carry the LCP due to cloting or other restrictions, I don't have to think about which pistol I have in my hand. Both are great guns ....the only way they could be better would be if they held more rounds ...but then they would be larger...
 
I have the LCP and the LC9, like someone else said: Never had a problem with a gun with the name Ruger on it.
 
I think a Glock might be better.

I am not trying to be funny but I would recommend a Glock 9MM. The 17 is full size, 19 is compact and the 26 is sub-compact. Glock has a wonderful idiot-proof gun safety. It only goes off if you pull the trigger, when pulling the trigger you sequentially release 3 internal safeties, if you remove your finger from the trigger the safeties reengage. Won't fire if you drop it, kick it, slam it or what ever abuse it gets. I have 2 Glocks, a Glock 17 and a very nice Glock 26 that I received for Christmas. I learned to love Glock handguns when I took a college course on Weapons Safety and Marksmanship. I didn't have a handgun so I rented one from the range club it was a Glock 17. I was fortunate to get the opportunity to compete in two Glock matches (nothing but Glocks). I had a great time and learned new shooting skills and fine tuned those I had already learned.

Can't help you with your Ruger question, I have never held or shot one.
 
Owned a PF9, but it kicked hard and was not easy to do tight groups. The Glock 26 is so much better a gun but substantially larger. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is "too large" but substantially larger than either the Keltec or Ruger. The quality, accuracy and feel of the Glock26 is in a whole different category and if it was my decision, I would wait to ultimately purchase one of those instead...
 
My wife and I both carry the LC9. After a couple hundred rounds they seem natural, the trigger pull isnt too bad and its pretty accurate. I hit a clay pigeon at 70 feet on the second shot. We both use the Maxtuck holster from whitehatholsters.com and it is extermely comfortable.
 
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I have never fired the LC9, but I have owned a PF-9 for 1.5 years now & have carried it around with me every waking moment (I've also had my permit to carry since June 2011). It conceals very nicely with a variety of holsters - Remora, Bianchi 100 Professional, Crossbreed QwikClip (my fav).

It has been very reliable during my monthly range trips & is forgiving if you don't clean it after every shoot. The trigger has somewhat of a long pull & has a snappy reset when the pistol is fired. I had one buddy try shooting it once & say that he thought it was too jarring to shoot more than one magazine full, though I always go through my 5 mags with multiple reloads. I've gotten used to the trigger & the pistol's overall snappiness & am able to keep my groups reasonably tight out to 10 yards.

Recommended accessories: Hogue Handall Jr. grip for better handling; Kel-tec's +1 magazine extension (8+1) for a decent third finger hold & additional capacity; any of the aforementioned holsters.

I shoot mine with Winchester Ranger 147gr ammo. I have had infrequent FTE's due, I feel, to my limp-wristing my grip at times when I'm working on my flinch.

I think that for a low-cost American pistol, it represents itself well & I have no compunction with this being my every day carry.
 
I just bought the LC(I call her Elsie) as my first gun so of course the LC9 is the wiser choice! :happy:
 
PF-9 owner here. No problems with the Kel-Tec. I have owned 8 other KTs including the RFB. Still own 7 of them. I have no experience with the LC9. But either pistol in a pocket 9mm will cause greater felt recoil due to the light weight of the gun itself. Shoot both and make the choice. Though I do own a Ruger SP 101 in 357 mag, I know that Ruger virtually copied the P3AT from Kel-Tec to make the LCP, then claimed they created it from a "clean sheet of paper." The LC9 is another copy. That doesn't inspire much loyalty to the Ruger brand for me. YMMV.
 
Love my PF-9. When I first got it had to send it back for mag drop but after that it has been flawless. My EDC. Have put a couple thousand rounds through it.
 
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