Subsequent to the P-11's introduction, several other companies came out with their own versions of a pocket-sized full-power gun. Many of these guns are excellent guns per se, but many are also not excellent pocket guns. Some are heavy; some are thick; most are just too darn big. Kel-Tec has not stood still either. They soon followed the original 9mm pistol with an innovative and well-received 9mm carbine, and a .40 pistol.

Nothing's free, however. Generally, you make the same compromises with the Kel-Tec relative to a full-size 9mm as you do with a lightweight snubbie relative to an all steel 4-inch revolver. That is, practical accuracy suffers, and felt recoil increases. Let's put this in perspective. Several others have reported that the P-11 shoots into about 3 inches on average from a bench rest at 15 yards. That's been my experience, too, with a wide assortment of ammunition. By any standard, that's not bad for inherent mechanical accuracy. As a light pistol, it does kick more than a larger one, but not unreasonably so.