Keltec is known for its out of the box thinking and they sure have come up with some unusual designs over the years. It works for them though, because they usually do well and their designs have certainly influenced other manufacturers as well. Even with that said, this latest drop is a surprising one, but if you know some Keltec history it’s not unprecedented. With that said, lets take a look at the new internal magazine, stripper clip fed, PR57…pistol.
What the Heck Is the PR57?
According to KelTec, the PR57 is a compact concealed carry pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm. Okay, pretty cool so far, there are a bunch of 5.7 pistols out now. Like most newer pistols, the PR57 is optics ready and comes with an optics plate. It features a rotary barrel, which they say dramatically reduces it’s overall weight. Its nearly 40% lighter than the next lightest 5.7mm pistol on the market. Okay, that’s pretty cool, too. But wait, that isn’t the quirky part…
The PR57 has a 20-round capacity. Now that is pretty awesome, but again not unusual for a 5.7 pistol. But oh, that’s not the catch. The catch is it’s a top loading, fixed magazine. Yep, here’s where things get a little funky. The PR57 trims off some of it’s weight and bulk by using an internal magazine. It does away with a mag release and space for a separate box magazine and packs that 20 rounds internally. That makes for a slimmer, more compact overall design. You can either load rounds individually through the top when the slide is locked back or load with the two provided 10-round stripper clips.
The PR57 has a 4.64-inch barrel and is 7.16 inches overall. The height is 4.95 inches and the weight is just 13.86 ounces empty. That’s actually a bit smaller than a Glock 19, and less than half the weight. And it’s packing 20 rounds of 5.7x28mm.
Back to the Future: The Grendel P10
This isn’t Keltec’s first foray into a stripper clip-fed pistol. Well, actually it is, but its not the first for Keltec founder George Kellgren. Kellgren did an internal mag .380 ACP pistol back in 1988 during his Grendel Firearms days. I still remember it, and a buddy of mine had one. It was the Grendel P10, one of the earlier polymer frame pistols. It used M16 stripper clips, which worked with the .380 round as I recall. It didn’t really take off, but apparently Mr. Kellgren hasn’t totally given up on the idea.
Who’s Going to Buy a PR57?
The PR57 is certainly unique. Simple, compact and easy to use according to Keltec. It packs a lot of rounds in a surprisingly trim size, and the rotary barrel is neat. Keltec says that the PR57 is designed to be the perfect everyday carry pistol for everyone. I’m not sure about that, but I can say that I’m in. It’s odd enough that I have to try one. With an MSRP of just $399, it’s actually pretty affordable, too.
I can see this being a neat option for folks in ban states too. I believe a lot of the legislation specifies detachable magazines, so this may be a unique option for those folks stuck behind enemy lines. I plan on checking them out at SHOT, so keep an eye out for more updates on this quirky new release from the always innovating Kellgren clan.
PR57 Specs:
Caliber: 5.7 x 28 mm
Weight Unloaded: 13.86 oz.
Magazine Capacity: 20+1
Overall Length: 7.16 in.
Barrel Length: 4.64 in.
Width (widest point): .937 in.
Height: 4.95 in.
Twist: 1:7 in.
Trigger Pull: 4.5 lbs.
MSRP: $399
Be sure to check it here.
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