Perfectly Small

Guns Magazine, Annual, 2001 by Andy Stanford

Kel-Tec pistols pack maximum performance in a pint-sized package!

Smallest. Lightest. Flattest. In the world of defensive firearms, a company that maximizes these features deserves close examination. That's Kel-Tec Inc., a relative newcomer. Kel-Tec shrinks size and heft in all four of the models they offer.

Directed by owner and chief engineer George Kelgren, Kel-Tec breaks new ground in several areas with their latest efforts. Keigren is a Swedish immigrant who also designed the Grendel .380 pocket pistol and Tec-9 semi-auto, plus a number of Husqvarna firearms in his native country.

Airweight Auto Pistol

Kel-Tec burst onto the firearms scene in 1995 with their P-11 pistol, a compact, polymer-handled, double-action only 9mm. Like any gun from a new company, it initially elicited a wait-and-see response from the buying public. Fortunately the price was low enough -- and salient features attractive enough -- to convince many to give it a try. Several years later, dues paid in full, their guns are selling like proverbial hotcakes.

The reason is simple: For concealed carry, smaller and lighter is better, and concealed carry permits are more common than ever. Yes, lots of people pay lip service to toting a full-sized gun, but when they go out the door, many of these same folks strap on something besides their 1911A1 or Glock. (At a recent board meeting of the International Defensive Pistol Association, all but one of the board members carried an airweight J-frame Smith & Wesson .38. Go figure.)

The P-11 is approximately the same size and weight as an aluminum-framed Chiefs Special and holds 10 1 with post-ban mags. Cops can buy flush-fitting 12-rounders, making the little gun a 13-shooter for law enforcement. In either case, it's over twice the ready ammo as an airweight Chiefs, in approximately the same package. The double-stack magazines are metal to allow the thinnest possible profile. Manufactured by Mec-Gar in Italy, the magazines are compatible with S&W 59 series pistol mags, and are thus a good choice to backup the corresponding first, second or third generation S&W models.

Kel-Tec also sells a ,40 S&W caliber version of the weapon, the P-40, which also holds 10 1, again with S&W-compatible mags. In reality, there is no significant difference in terminal performance between service-caliber handgun cartridges, assuming adequate shot placement and sufficient bullet penetration. Handgun stopping power is an oxymoron, with the possible exception of heavy recoiling hunting cartridges of .44 Magnum and above. The P-40 kicks significantly more than the P-il, so my advice is to stick with the 9mm weapon.

Both the P-11 and P-40 are members of the "plastic fantastic" revolution pioneered by HK and popularized by Glock. A significant percentage of parts are molded from high-strength polymer: the trigger, mainspring housing, sights, all frame pins, magazine catch, recoil spring guide rod and, of course, the "grip." (Technically, the serially numbered "frame" is a 7075 aluminum block set in the polymer "grip." The alloy frame includes the frame rails, and houses the trigger, hammer and ejector.) Steel makes up the balance of the gun, including the barrel, slide, hammer, firing pin, extractor, ejector, slide stop and springs.

Available in blue, Parkerized or hard chrome, the P-11 and P-40 present an angular appearance. The CNC machined slides, while not as blocky as a Glock, avoid twisted curves for simpler-to-mill flat surfaces. Finish is decidedly utilitarian, in keeping with the intended purpose. The overall effect is perhaps a couple of steps above a toy gun. (One instructor friend of mine derisively commented, "Where do the caps go?") If you want handcrafted elegance and high-polish surfaces, you'll have to look elsewhere.

As for me, I'm a firm believer in the principle of "handsome is as handsome does." These small pistols are a joy to carry and (in 9mm) kick noticeably less than an alloy-framed snubby wheelgun. They are perfectly suited to concealed carry as either a primary or backup weapon.

Folding Firearm

Kel-Tec's foray into the shoulder arms market is aimed at those who require the smallest possible weapon. The company calls these firearms "sub-rifles," which is probably as good a description as any for the Sub-9 and Sub-40 pistol-caliber semiautomatic carbines.

Weighing just 4.5 lbs. unloaded, each of these compact weapons is hinged in the middle, just forward of the ejection port. Pulling down on the trigger guard unlatches the 16" barrel, which folds up and over the top of the action and straight-line tubular stock. The resulting package is extremely small, basically half as long as when open. To bring the gun into action, simply unfold completely.

Recognizing the advantages of weapons that share a common magazine, Kel-Tec offers several different pistol grips that accept many common pistol mags. Currently, you can configure the Sub-9 to take Glock 17, S&W, Beretta 92, Ruger P-95, Sig P226 and Browning P-35 mags. The Sub-40 can feed from corresponding .40 S&W caliber magazines.