In 1992, as a young Marine with limited funds (“One doesn’t become a Marine to get rich,” a sergeant once told me), I purchased a small .380 semi-auto pistol called the Grendel P12. It was a polymer frame pistol that many called the “tiny Glock,” although it obviously had nothing to do with the Austrian gunmaker. They were a company in Florida that made firearms and owned by a gentleman named George Kellgren. Many may know him as the man behind Kel-Tec. Grendel ceased making pistols in 1994 and Kellgren re-emerged with his new company, Kel-Tec that continues manufacturing arms today.
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After purchasing my Grendel P12 for carry in my car (legally) and for home defense, I took it to the range on one of our training days. After shooting the required pistol courses as a military policeman (MP), the training officer would usually open up the range for us to shoot any of our own personally-owned pistols. I was eager to shoot the Grendel, and I pulled it out of its diminutive box and eagerly loaded the 9 round magazines, of which I had two. As I was loading my magazines, the lieutenant came over to me and laughed at my pistol. He said it was tiny and probably not very good. I told him I’d let him shoot it, and he said, “Sure, I’ll shoot it. How bad can it be?” Well, what we both weren’t aware of is that repeated shootability at the range was not a strong suit of the P12. I found out quickly that after a few magazines, the force of the .380’s went directly into the wrist and caused some unexpected soreness in the wrist. The lieutenant saw me massaging my wrist and asked me if I would prefer a BB gun to shoot. I handed the pistol and a magazine over to him and said, “Here, Sir. Shoot the magazine.” He took the pistol, inserted the magazine, racked the slide, and with a grin aimed at the target. I watched him pull the trigger, and the smile immediately disappeared from his face. A few more rounds, and he looked down at his hand. “What the heck? This kicks like a mule for its size!” he told me, and called a few other officers and staff NCO’s over to shoot it. They were all impressed with its accuracy and build, but nobody was happy with its recoil. They agreed it was a great pistol to have as a backup or as a defense weapon, but not for a plinker or range shooter.
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On bus on the way back from the range, I asked the lieutenant if he wanted me to bring extra rounds the next time we went to the range for him to shoot the Grendel. He told me in no uncertain terms and in quite colorful naval traditional language that not only was it not necessary, but not recommended.
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I still own the Grendel, and it was my daughter’s concealed car carry weapon for a few years (legal in Texas) until she exchanged it with me for a Daewoo DP51. She will soon be trading up to a Glock 19 Gen 2.
After purchasing my Grendel P12 for carry in my car (legally) and for home defense, I took it to the range on one of our training days. After shooting the required pistol courses as a military policeman (MP), the training officer would usually open up the range for us to shoot any of our own personally-owned pistols. I was eager to shoot the Grendel, and I pulled it out of its diminutive box and eagerly loaded the 9 round magazines, of which I had two. As I was loading my magazines, the lieutenant came over to me and laughed at my pistol. He said it was tiny and probably not very good. I told him I’d let him shoot it, and he said, “Sure, I’ll shoot it. How bad can it be?” Well, what we both weren’t aware of is that repeated shootability at the range was not a strong suit of the P12. I found out quickly that after a few magazines, the force of the .380’s went directly into the wrist and caused some unexpected soreness in the wrist. The lieutenant saw me massaging my wrist and asked me if I would prefer a BB gun to shoot. I handed the pistol and a magazine over to him and said, “Here, Sir. Shoot the magazine.” He took the pistol, inserted the magazine, racked the slide, and with a grin aimed at the target. I watched him pull the trigger, and the smile immediately disappeared from his face. A few more rounds, and he looked down at his hand. “What the heck? This kicks like a mule for its size!” he told me, and called a few other officers and staff NCO’s over to shoot it. They were all impressed with its accuracy and build, but nobody was happy with its recoil. They agreed it was a great pistol to have as a backup or as a defense weapon, but not for a plinker or range shooter.
On bus on the way back from the range, I asked the lieutenant if he wanted me to bring extra rounds the next time we went to the range for him to shoot the Grendel. He told me in no uncertain terms and in quite colorful naval traditional language that not only was it not necessary, but not recommended.
I still own the Grendel, and it was my daughter’s concealed car carry weapon for a few years (legal in Texas) until she exchanged it with me for a Daewoo DP51. She will soon be trading up to a Glock 19 Gen 2.
