Has Kel Tec stopped making the p40?
- Thread starter Rebeldon
- Start date
Sheer speculation, John...
...and not at all accurate.
I'll not pretend that hot 180g loads thru a P-40 are pleasant, but they do work with someone who knows how to shoot a high-horsepower auto with a revolver-like trigger stroke.
I don't like the idea that a handgun design, especially one as innovative and successful as George Kelgren's locked-breech/lightweight effort, should be denigrated because certain individuals can't shoot it effectively.
If you like big-time effect in a really small and light package, consider the P-40...and snap up one of the very rare .357 SIG barrels that the factory produced for those who like real alternatives.
...and not at all accurate.
I'll not pretend that hot 180g loads thru a P-40 are pleasant, but they do work with someone who knows how to shoot a high-horsepower auto with a revolver-like trigger stroke.
I don't like the idea that a handgun design, especially one as innovative and successful as George Kelgren's locked-breech/lightweight effort, should be denigrated because certain individuals can't shoot it effectively.
If you like big-time effect in a really small and light package, consider the P-40...and snap up one of the very rare .357 SIG barrels that the factory produced for those who like real alternatives.
I don't mean to step into what sounds like the beginnings of an argument, BUT...
I know Kel-Tec has stated (even on their site) that "The P-40 is on the borderline of what a human can endure in sectional recoil and velocity." http://www.kel-tec.com/new_page_18.htm PURE BS!
My Kahr P40 weighs all of 2 oz more than the Kel-Tec, and the recoil is nowhere NEAR unreasonable, and reliability is 100%...
Don't get me wrong, I own a P32, and would own a P40 as well if I the trigger and I could have gotten along, but it just appears that the Kel-Tec pistol design and the .40 S&W cartridge didn't mix well, and only the more experienced shooters seem to have any luck with them. Just a quick glance over to www.ktog.org and you'll see the P40 section has a lot more "bad" than "good". Heck, do a search right here on TFL and you'll get more negative feedback on the P40 than the other Kel-Tecs...
Not bad materials, or bad design, or bad company, just a bad mix of the two...
Flame retardant suit on!
I know Kel-Tec has stated (even on their site) that "The P-40 is on the borderline of what a human can endure in sectional recoil and velocity." http://www.kel-tec.com/new_page_18.htm PURE BS!
My Kahr P40 weighs all of 2 oz more than the Kel-Tec, and the recoil is nowhere NEAR unreasonable, and reliability is 100%...
Don't get me wrong, I own a P32, and would own a P40 as well if I the trigger and I could have gotten along, but it just appears that the Kel-Tec pistol design and the .40 S&W cartridge didn't mix well, and only the more experienced shooters seem to have any luck with them. Just a quick glance over to www.ktog.org and you'll see the P40 section has a lot more "bad" than "good". Heck, do a search right here on TFL and you'll get more negative feedback on the P40 than the other Kel-Tecs...
Not bad materials, or bad design, or bad company, just a bad mix of the two...
Flame retardant suit on!
I'm not going to quibble about definitions but there were some problems with P-40s. For awhile KT was doing what they were calling a "rampectomy" on the feed ramps of some P-40s. Not sure what was involved with that but I read that from 2 people that went to the factory and had it done there. Apparently it was not an uncommon problem for awhile. That doesn't mean the gun was a poor design but just some problems that cropped up that needed fixing. I'm a KT fan (one P-11 & 2 P-32s) and I know Johnwill has some too.
I have two Kel-tec P32s and a P11 that work fine. I have a P40 that, in spite of trying a wide variety of ammo, replacing the slide and barrel with hard chromed ones, polishing the feed ramp, and always using a firm two-handed hold, has never been reliable. Maybe I'm limp wristing, but if they are this touchy, there's something wrong. I like Kel-tec, and Cliff, the gunsmith there, has offered to replace my frame with a new one (destroying my old one and putting my original serial number on the replacement) under warranty. I'm not sure if this will make a difference or not, but I hope so. I offered to just swap the .40 S&W barrel for a .357 Sig (which Cliff confirmed feeds more reliably in these pistols), but he said he can't do that. If the new frame doesn't help, I'll probably just buy a .357 Sig barrel and give it a try. I really like Kel-tec pistols, and the company, but I think there is more than "user error" involved in the decision to stop making the P40. If the same grip that works fine with every other handgun I own (and that's a fair number) won't work with the P40, I don't think it can really be called user error. By the way, I'm 6'2", 235lbs, not especially weak, and have been shooting handguns for almost 30 years. I don't find the recoil of the P40 particularly uncomfortable (compared to light .357s, etc.) - I just wish I could have confidence in it.
Doug
Doug
My P40 has been totally reliable after 500 or so rounds. No failures to feed at all. I did do a complete polish fluff and buff, etc.
As far as recoil goes, it is not a problem at all using a hard hold and leaning in to the gun a little. It sure as heck isn't as bad as a Smith Airweight 38 with +Ps for example.
As far as recoil goes, it is not a problem at all using a hard hold and leaning in to the gun a little. It sure as heck isn't as bad as a Smith Airweight 38 with +Ps for example.