Has anyone fitted an aluminum trigger to replace the factory one?

[clancey1849]

I saw an ad for an aluminum trigger assembly made by Northwood Components to replace the factory plastic one, and wondered if it was of any value added to do this? Has anyone put this trigger in their pistol?

[Haugrdr]

I put one in my PF9...I was one of the beta testers for the new product.

Value added? I dunno, but it sure shoots nicer than the original trigger. No more pinched finger or blisters. Better trigger control. Almost like shooting a completely different pistol.

[diamondmike]

This is the first I have heard of a company making a metal trigger and I like the sound of it.

I HATE... any of those cheap plastic parts Kel-Tec uses, Plastic Guiderod, Magazine release is the worst of the worst.

Kel-Tec says their plastic grip is made from nylon 6 but its still plastic to me.

I can fully understand why its important to keep the grip made out of a plastic for comfort of carry reasons but the Guiderod, Trigger and magazine release is so small that you would not even notice a difference in weight if they were made from metal.
And these parts are so small that it would not cost much either.

I have replaced my guiderod with a steel one that I bought from Kel-Tec and feel that probably prevented a future problem.
The plastic guiderod could get a nick in it and the slide could catch on the nick when returning back to battery and cause a problem.
And then the barrel gets hot and could possiblely warp the guiderod from the heat and this would put friction on the slide causing it to slow down or even stop before returning back to battery.

I GUESS TO EACH THEIR OWN!!!

[Haugrdr]

If you put a metal guide rod in, they tend to beat the heck out of the barrel. And wallow out the guide rod hole at the end of the barrel. That's why KT doesn't recommend using them in the PF9 and P11.

[frankmako]

i put one in my pf9. one of the best things i have done. no more sore trigger fringer. does not hurt the gun in any way. i am going to put one in my p11 and p40 next. kel tec should do this at the factory for all their pistols.

[diamondmike]

If you put a metal guide rod in, they tend to beat the heck out of the barrel. And wallow out the guide rod hole at the end of the barrel.

The guiderod should not touch the barrel at all.

You might get a little rub area inside the hole at the end of the slide but thats pretty much normal with all guns

[TucsonMTB]

The guiderod should not touch the barrel at all.

You might get a little rub area inside the hole at the end of the slide but thats pretty much normal with all guns

I beg to differ.

I believe Mr. Haugrdr was referring to wear at the point the end of the guide rod that pushes on barrel where it rests on the ledge in front of the barrel lug. That certainly can be a wear area if the rod is a harder material than the barrel. Mr. Haugrdr has been around in the Kel-Tec community for quite a while and undoubtedly recalls some of the past reports of excessive wear in the slide hole area too. Admittedly, that could have been a hardening failure in that area of the slide, but it did happen to several people on KTOG, if not here at KTrange.

[Haugrdr]

http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/guiderod.htm

Metal guide rod whacking the barrel on a P11.
dcp02024.jpg

Guide rod wear to end of slide/guide rod hole.
wear.jpg

Kel Tec puts a metal guide rod in the P3AT from the factory...they must think it needs to be there. The only reason there is a metal guide rod sold that fits the P11 is that it was designed for the P40. People keep requesting them for some reason or another, so Kel Tec sells them for the P11...but does NOT recommend them for the P11. Same thing goes for the PF9.

I've seen metal guide rods in P11's bend into a banana shape after only a few hundred rounds. The plastic ones don't do that.

The plastic guide rod will last dang near forever...I have well over 4500 rounds thru my PF9 with the factory springs and guide rod. The only thing the guide rod really does is contain the springs in place, there isn't much pressure or wear on them at all.

And thanks Tucson, for the support. Plus I had forgotten the metal rod also wallows out the pocket ledge it rides in on the barrel.

[banana380]

I hadn't really thought about it, but I guess the guide rod IS metal in my P3AT...

I think I'm finally past the break-in period, it hasn't jammed the last few times I've shot it That's what I get for expecting perfection from a new gun after properly breaking in the first one...

[clancey1849]

I got the new Northwoods trigger, and it just shames the original factory one. Much better in all aspects of performance.