Well there’s something you don’t see every day. KelTec’s just announced the latest addition to the ever-growing roster of pistols chambered in 5.7×28. ‘Yawn’ you say? ‘What’s the big deal,’ you ask? KelTec’s taken a different approach to the design of the new PR57. It loads with stripper clips.
The idea, they say, is to keep the pistol smaller and more concealable. The PR57’s overall height is almost a half inch shorter than most of its competitors. It’s very slim, too, at well under an inch wide. As KelTec tells it . . .
The top-loading design makes the frame profile slim and compact. 20 rounds fit into the grip of the gun which can be manually inserted one at a time, or by using two of the provided 10-round stripper clips for a quick speed load.
They say the PR57 is lighter than the competition, too.
The PR57’s innovative rotary barrel design sets it apart not only in appearance, but by dramatically reducing it’s overall weight. This pistol is nearly 40% lighter than the next lightest 5.7mm pistol on the market.
Another attractive feature is the PR57’s price. MSRP is a mere $399. The new pistol is due to hit stores in the first quarter. We’ll be checking it out next week at SHOT. Watch this space.
Say hello to PR57. The PR57 is a concealed carry pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm that utilizes a rotary barrel and stripper clips, instead of magazines to achieve a compact, ultra lightweight body, that still holds 20 rounds in the grip. It’s simple to operate with minimal controls,… pic.twitter.com/Y1ecJyDgI4
— KelTec (@KelTecOfficial) January 15, 2025
Specifications:
Caliber: 5.7×28
Capacity: 20+1
Barrel Length: 4.64 inches
Overall Length: 7.16 inches
Height: 4.95 inches
Width: .937 inches
MSRP: $399
Can you load that with arthritis?
5.7. Did you not read the article. It takes 5.7. 🙂
It’s not chambered for arthritis.
Its not chambered for arthritis.
OOOOoooooooo stripper clips! How 1918 of them
Beat me to it. I was gonna say 1890’s……
Since it doesn’t have a “detachable magazine”, is it ban state compliant?
As much as a Sig 365 is in NY. With that said other ban states would have varying levels of it being illegal or actually allowed. With that said make this into a rifle and you can use all the banned features here with a semi auto rifle permit. Damn commies.
KelTec returns to its Grendel roots.
I think I’ll have to own one.
Not a huge fun of 5.7, but this is interesting all way round.
Gimme gimme one
Curious on how to unload the weapon….
Pull the trigger 20 times…….or just rack it that many.
I love Kel-Tec’s coke-fueled engineering department. Bonkers engineering company, just not so great at actually producing those designs. Only Kel-Tec would combine 1890s clips with 1990s space-age PDW rounds.
Is it Sig or Ruger’s turn to rip off this design in three years? Smith & Wesson just had their turn with the KSG.
Make a carbon fibre holster which can mount toframe plz:)
As a range toy, maybe.
But as a carry piece, no way.
I like the concept, but yeah…
The weight is 13.9 oz. That’s impressive.
LKB,
This last summer I started carrying two Ruger LCPs (one in each front pocket) of my shorts on hot summer days when I was doing something strenuous and perspiration made it unwise to carry a pistol on my hip. Much to my surprise, the magazine was no longer locked in one or both of them on any given day when I took them out of my pockets (and their pocket holsters) at the end of the day. Needless to say, a semi-auto pistol is useless when the magazine unlocks from the grip. Also needless to say, that is a serious reliability problem. This new Kel-Tec pistol is only slightly larger and heavier than a Ruger LCP and yet has 20 rounds–all without an external/ejectable magazine to unlock.
I am seriously considering this pistol as a backup gun in the very least. And I am considering carrying two (one in each pocket or each hip) for primary carry during the summer. You have to admit, having 40 shots without having to reload is a desirable feature.
Is the FN Five-seveN an ideal caliber? No. Is it far superior to harsh words? Yes. Is it far superior to .380 Auto when the external magazine unlocks in my .380 Auto pistol? HELL YES.
Carry a FN Reflex in a Sticky pocket holster instead. 11 rounds of 9mm instead of .380, with a superb trigger; easily pocketable. And you can carry a 15 round extended mag in the weak side pocket for the times when it really goes ear shaped . . . .
LKB,
I will have to research the FN Reflex. I don’t suppose the price at local firearm retailers is anything close to the Kel-Tec pistol of this article, is it?
When they use this gun in a movie and say, “hand me a clip” it will finally be technically correct.
10 in the clip and 20 in the grip, Nate Dogg and Warren G bout to make some bodies turn cold…
If the trigger is as crappy as most Kel-Tec offerings, I’m likely to pass!