If you’re sick of correcting people about magazines and clips, then the KelTec PR57 is the gun for you. It lacks a removable magazine and can be loaded using two 10-round stripper clips for an impressive 21-round capacity.
The internal magazine keeps the 5.7x28mm ammo in the grip. Now, enough about the clip, let’s talk about the rest of this remarkable weapon.
Grendel P10 Heritage
KelTec founder, George Kellgren, had previously founded another firearms company called Grendel, and its first pistol was the P10 pistol in .380 ACP.
That gun had a polymer frame and was loaded via a top-loading stripper clip. This new PR57 clearly has that heritage built into it.
Rotary Barrel
Unlike most modern pistols, the PR57 lacks a tilting barrel that unlocks as the gun cycles. Instead, This barrel rotates as the slide reciprocates.
This design uses two guide rods to direct the slide’s travel. It keeps the slide compact and makes the whole gun very slim.
PR57 is the lightest 5.7×28 pistol
KelTec claims this gun is 40% lighter than the next lightest pistol chambered for 5.7x28mm. It weighs just 13.86oz and is a mere .937 inches wide. It feels remarkably slim.
However, because the ammunition is significantly longer than 9x19mm ammo, the grip is deeper and still fills my hand comfortably. The feel of the grip is unique, and KelTec’s proprietary GatorGrip texturing ensures it shoots well.
Fun Facts
The PR57 comes with two stripper clips that hold 10 rounds each. The clip aligns with notches in the slide and then you plunge the ammo into the grip. It was cold at the range, but even with gloves on I got the hang of it in no time.
You can then add one more round, or load the whole thing like loading an AR-15 magazine by pressing ammo in from the top.
It is optics-ready. You change the polymer plate at the back of the slide and add a red dot.
Take down is simple: Push the trigger forward and remove the slide to the front. Re-assemble by pushing the slide back to the locked open position. It reminds me of my classic Winchester .22 rifles.
‘PR’ stands for Pistol Rotating (Barrel); 57 for the 5.7×28 ammo it shoots.
It has a double-action, long trigger pull with every shot, though it is quite smooth.
KelTec’s PR57 is made in Wyoming, USA, and will ship in the first quarter of 2025. MSRP is $399.
KelTec PR57 Specs
- Caliber 5.7 x 28 mm
- Weight Unloaded 13.86 oz, 393 g
- Magazine Capacity 20+1
- Overall Length 7.16 in, 182 mm
- Barrel Length 4.64 in, 118 mm
- Width (widest point) .937 in, 23.8 mm
- Height 4.95 in, 125.5 mm
- Twist 1:7 in, 1:177 mm
- Trigger Pull 4.5 lbs, 20 N
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