Why buy Kel-Tec?

[jerrymrc]

Lot's of good replies. Never owned one but have shot a few. I think most everyone has there "why" question when it comes to guns.

[MrPrena]

I do not own kel-tec either, but here are my guess.

-demand in ksg
-fairly decent priced pocket carry pistols.
-new 22 mag pistol they came out with while back
-George Zimmer[man] fan boys.

[Gman]

I've had my P3AT for years. Never had any issues with reliability or accuracy. There are a couple of mfrs. that are now making knock-offs of that little pocket pistol.

Sent from my electronic leash.

[CareyH]

I have a P32 that I carry daily. Every time I go to the range, I empty the mag in the gun and it always goes bang. I have never had a failure with my P32.

If what the government does is your barometer for the purchases you make.........enjoy obamacare hahahahahahaahahahhahahahaha

[Bailey Guns]

A few of their guns, the PMR-30 and P32 (I think) are Grendel designs and were manufactured by Grendel. I think both companies are the same dude though.

But Grendel was not "a weapon created by a company pushing out "unique" weapons that are often knockoffs of quality products produced by companies with hundreds of millions of dollars in government contract awards."

And how long has it been since Grendel was in production?

We still don't have an answer as to what Kel-Tec produces that's a knockoff "of quality products produced by companies with hundreds of millions of dollars in government contract awards."

[davsel]

We still don't have an answer as to what Kel-Tec produces that's a knockoff "of quality products produced by companies with hundreds of millions of dollars in government contract awards."

Kel-Tec KSG - NeoStead 2000

Kel-Tec RDB - IWI Tavor

Kel-Tec PMR-30 - FN Five-SeveN

Kel-Tec PLR-16 - Olympic Arms OA-93

[Bailey Guns]

Kel-Tec KSG - NeoStead 2000 This is a quality gun from a mfg'er with hundreds of millions in gov't contracts???

Kel-Tec RDB - IWI Tavor They may look similar but there are substantial differences between the two guns including ejection, KT has adjustable gas system, long vs short stroke and many differences in other details. I suppose if you want to include foreign gov't contracts IWI would qualify.

Kel-Tec PMR-30 - FN Five-SeveN Similar but I wouldn't call it a knockoff. Completely different cartridge and different frame geometry. Similar in the sense it's a polymer framed pistol.

Kel-Tec PLR-16 - Olympic Arms OA-93 Again, similar but not knockoffs in my opinion. And I'm not aware of hundreds of millions of dollars in gov't contracts awarded to Oly Arms.

[Great-Kazoo]

Kel-Tec KSG - NeoStead 2000

Kel-Tec RDB - IWI Tavor

Kel-Tec PMR-30 - FN Five-SeveN

Kel-Tec PLR-16 - Olympic Arms OA-93

Actually it's an updated version of the Grendel P-30. Which GK was the creator of.

[68Charger]

I have a P11 that has only stovepiped ONCE in >500 rounds when I limp-wristed it doing stress 1-hand drills (but 'll admit my EDC is a M&P40c)
but I would not hesitate to carry the P11... especially as a BUG- it drops in my boot so easy... I also don't buy guns to impress other people... so if you don't like it, so what- period.

I got into the P40 as a novelty... own a P40 upper for my P11 (Kel-tec sold it as a kit), and an original P40... but those are more collector items, since they're discontinued, but there are not many .40S&W handguns that are 14oz I'd like to acquire the rare .357sig barrel for the P40... for the trifecta of wrist damage.
I sometimes enjoy recoil therapy to the point of recoil abuse... also useful for taking macho jerks down a notch... looks just like P11, but kicks like a $%#@%#&*(... I could swap it anytime with someone shooting my P11.

As Zund said- same guy that founded Grendel is behind Kel-Tec.
IMHO, they could really improve upon their line by either greatly upgrading their production capacity, or sub-contract out some functions to do it... (learn from Magpul's business model)
Another direction I'd take the company involve releasing another line (probably under another name) using higher quality components, and make it an "elite" version... with a higher price of course.

Kel-tec has always targeted niche markets... The PMR30 was a re-designed version of the Grendel, The KSG was unique (the Neostead was inspiration, but not the same design) until the UTS-15 came along.
I still like the design of their RFB (a .308 bullpup that's ambidextrous... if it just had higher quality materials, it could be a really nice battle rifle.

The idea that weapons should only be made of Stainless and wood is ridiculous to me, as an engineer- there are many functions that are better served by different alloys... are you suggesting that ammo casings should only be made out of stainless steel? (wood is just silly) Absurd- brass is much better suited to that, based on the characteristics of the metal (and that's just one example)

Just the very suggestion (and your original post) makes me think "hmm, he's just trolling"... but if I thought you were only a troll, I would not respond at all.

There are a variety of reasons why people buy firearms, and not all of them have to do with how accurate, sexy, or even how functional they are... what one person thinks is cool, is just trash to another... I love some firearms that are made from Stainless and wood- but my grandfather has a M1 Carbine that I'll adore when it's passed down to me- but there is no stainless in that design. Mini-14's are available in stainless and wood versions- but for the most part, they can't shoot worth a hoot.

Innovation is also very interesting to me- I've been looking at a SEP (single edge polygonal) AR15 barrel with a Melonite finish, for example...
Bottom line, If I like something, I don't CARE what others think about it... I would never buy a POF or Noveske just to impress somebody- other than myself.

[68Charger]

Kel-Tec KSG - NeoStead 2000

Kel-Tec RDB - IWI Tavor

Kel-Tec PMR-30 - FN Five-SeveN

Kel-Tec PLR-16 - Olympic Arms OA-93

Fail-
I already pointed out Neostead inspired, but is not the same design (maybe similar function, but not the same design) as KSG
Kel-Tec RFB was released before 2009... IWI Tavor didn't come out until what, late 2012, early 2013? RDB was a re-design of the RFB, not the Tavor

PMR-30 fires .22WMR, not the same thing as FN Five-SeveN (no matter how much you capitalize the wrong letters to make it seem KOOL) (besides .22WMR /= 5.7x28, 20 /=30 rnd capacity)

And accusing someone of copying a Oly arms to appear elitist, PLEASE...