The Goose
NES Member
Both guns are new to me and I took them both to the range today to test them out. Since they are both small carry guns I thought a comparison would be fun. Typically when I am testing out a new gun that I might potentially carry my first priority is functionality, I have to know that it will go bang every time. Right behind functionality is whether or not I can hit anything with it. Since I view both of these models as belly guns I keep the range short. In this case 30’ because that is the minimum at the MRA indoor range. Frankly I would have preferred 15 – 20’. I put a 5.5” Shoot N C on the target and I change out the whole target every 30 – 40 rds. I feel like if I can keep 5 shots on the Shoot N C with rapid fire I am doing OK.
First up was the 649 Bodyguard. This particular model has had a trigger job and has a ported barrel. Ammo selection was all .357 mag.; S&B 158 gr. fmj., Corbon 125 gr. jhp, and some reloads with 158 gr. jhp. With either Unique or AA#9. The trigger on this gun is really sweet. I fired only double action. After a few warm up shots it was pretty easy to keep everything well within the 5.5”. Recoil was stout but manageable. The ported barrel makes it really LOUD! Recovery between shots was pretty fast. I think the porting helps to make it more controllable. No surprises with this gun. It did what I expected a reliable S&W revolver to do. All in all I put about 200 rds through it. Of that only 20 rds was the Corbon. That round was a totally different animal. The report alone would make a bad guy crap his pants.
I had actually shot the Keltec P11 once before when I put about 100 rds through it. It had functioned flawlessly, but the rear sight had worked loose and kept sliding out to the right. Ammunition for today was Winchester white box 115 gr, fmj and Doubletap 115 gr.jhp +p. I put about 200 rds through it and it also functioned perfectly. Accuracy was not quite as good. It grouped OK, but I kept hitting low. At first I thought it was the sight, but I found that if I really concentrated I could pretty much hit to point of aim. I realized that the very long and heavy trigger pull coupled with the size and angle of the grip caused me to pull the barrel down slightly right at the end of the pull. Once again the difference between the regular 9mm and the DT +P was just incredible. The recoil and report of the DT definitely got my attention. The trigger is going to take some getting used to. I have read that the hammer spring can be switched out for a lighter one pretty easily so I may pursue that.
Comments.
I love S&W snubbies. The 649 is definitely a keeper and just a bit easier for pocket carry then the Ruger SP101 that is in my pocket now. Certainly no reliability issues.
The Keltec shows promise. It’s light weight, flat profile and 11 rds of +p is pretty appealing. Reliability seems good, but I would like to get a few hundred more rounds through it, especially with carry ammo, before I have full confidence. I would also like to do something with the trigger. Regardless, the Keltec is adequate for what it was intended to do.
First up was the 649 Bodyguard. This particular model has had a trigger job and has a ported barrel. Ammo selection was all .357 mag.; S&B 158 gr. fmj., Corbon 125 gr. jhp, and some reloads with 158 gr. jhp. With either Unique or AA#9. The trigger on this gun is really sweet. I fired only double action. After a few warm up shots it was pretty easy to keep everything well within the 5.5”. Recoil was stout but manageable. The ported barrel makes it really LOUD! Recovery between shots was pretty fast. I think the porting helps to make it more controllable. No surprises with this gun. It did what I expected a reliable S&W revolver to do. All in all I put about 200 rds through it. Of that only 20 rds was the Corbon. That round was a totally different animal. The report alone would make a bad guy crap his pants.
I had actually shot the Keltec P11 once before when I put about 100 rds through it. It had functioned flawlessly, but the rear sight had worked loose and kept sliding out to the right. Ammunition for today was Winchester white box 115 gr, fmj and Doubletap 115 gr.jhp +p. I put about 200 rds through it and it also functioned perfectly. Accuracy was not quite as good. It grouped OK, but I kept hitting low. At first I thought it was the sight, but I found that if I really concentrated I could pretty much hit to point of aim. I realized that the very long and heavy trigger pull coupled with the size and angle of the grip caused me to pull the barrel down slightly right at the end of the pull. Once again the difference between the regular 9mm and the DT +P was just incredible. The recoil and report of the DT definitely got my attention. The trigger is going to take some getting used to. I have read that the hammer spring can be switched out for a lighter one pretty easily so I may pursue that.
Comments.
I love S&W snubbies. The 649 is definitely a keeper and just a bit easier for pocket carry then the Ruger SP101 that is in my pocket now. Certainly no reliability issues.
The Keltec shows promise. It’s light weight, flat profile and 11 rds of +p is pretty appealing. Reliability seems good, but I would like to get a few hundred more rounds through it, especially with carry ammo, before I have full confidence. I would also like to do something with the trigger. Regardless, the Keltec is adequate for what it was intended to do.
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