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.
For your 5.7x28mm ammo needs, check out Ammo To Go, the ammunition retail sponsor of TTAG gun reviews.
In a weird feeling sort of way I want one. But nah, not really.
OK, who’s going to start the traditional “muh ammo choice is better than all the others ’cause stopping power” arguments?
5.7 vs 9 vs 10 vs .45 – go…
500 special, because CCing a snub nose x frame is already enough. (Starting with ridicilous to work back to absurd)
Ok great… now do 5.7 vs 9 vs 10 vs .45 vs .50 vs hand grenades for ‘stopping power’ during home defense.
😁
Wait we are allowing gen 2 Glocks in 40sw with reloads? Damn guy.
Wait? I have 2 of the very early Glock 23’s Gen 2’s that were available in US. 40 S&W.
Nothing wrong with those ‘puppies’ excent they kick a bunch with Cor-Bon carry ammo.
Geogia Arms reloads work fine in these old guns.
Avoid bubba’s pissin hot reloads ™ at your various gun shows and should be fine. From what I remember it was people trying to load 10mm (actual spec) level velocity in the 40sw that caused most the issues
tok
9×25
the correct answer is 38 super
and no, i will not elaborate
Laughs/cries in 357sig
You misspelled 357 magnum
Not if you want magazine fed that doesn’t jam up in anything smaller than a desert eagle.
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$399 for a weird gun is a bit much. Interesting, I might get one in stock once my distributor gets them in just to see how it does. I hate getting something interesting; everyone wants to see it and handle it but not buy it.
Make it Special Order NO RETURNS
No go in California. A large capacity magazine is defined as any mag, fixed or detachable, CAPABLE of holding more than 10 rounds.
Same issue with NY but I guess if they fixed it to 10 it could be an option as we don’t have a approved list to deal with.
What ban states might this fit into?
I think it’s interesting for a farm gun, maybe not a concealed carry go to. Internal magazine may potentially be more robust and free from defects if they have a solid milled feed system.
Just speculation though.
Excited to see it run on video. At least it’s. ot another glock. It’s cheap and looks fun.
I can see jams being a real problem, though, even if they’re rare. Can’t drop the magazine to help clear.
Same with New Jersey, fixed magazines holding more than 10 rounds are also banned.
They only recently added an exception allowing .22 LR tubular magazines like the Marlin Model 60 “Boy Scout gun,” which until recently was classified as an “assault weapon” in New Jersey (because reasons).
what is the last popular pistol that took stripper clips? a broom handle mauser?
Steyr 1912?
With 20 rounds on board, they just upped the small pistol round count by another ten – which puts the P365 back in the pack. That’s what SIG did to all the other carry pistols when they came out with it. How does that rate using it? Well, with only one reload every 40 rounds, we’ve dropped about 2 during a fire exchange – or during stages in competition, which nobody has talked about yet. Some contests allow 30 round mags to take advantage of that – now we have a carry pistol with 20 up, higher power – like it or not, the numbers push the 5.7 to the front of the carry pistol ranks.
Will we see folks no longer carry a reload? It was barely ten years ago the push to carry a spare mag started, then with modular frame/grips that carry mag became a 15-18 rounder. I fully expect some kind of 20 round double stack stripper – and upside down tapered mag style. And a barrel with threads just in front of the forward locking lugs? The use of a suppressor is yet to be explored – but that isn’t an issue as much with CCW.
We’ve had those who adopted the P7 as a carry gun, with its quirky precocker, I see this getting purchased at street prices in the lower $300’s and carried. I won’t expect a lot of aftermarket parts aka SIG’s grips or 3Gen Glock clones, but it does expand choices and will likely find a place in the gun rack for the fun of it.
I just have another firearm in front of the line ahead of it, and no closer to buying it now than 3 years ago – Shockwave.
At the dimensions given the more apt comparison would be the 365x Macro, which only holds three fewer rounds than this.
To me the more interesting stat is the weight, which is a full 8 oz lighter unloaded, and the ammo weighs 1/3 to 1/2 as much per round depending on each calibers respective bullet weight.
“Will we see folks no longer carry a reload?”
My first reason for carrying a spare magazine isn’t reloads, it’s redundancy in case of a jam or other magazine failure.
“It was barely ten years ago the push to carry a spare mag started”
I’ve been hearing that advice for at least 40 years.
Kel-Tec “street price” is usually higher than MSRP.
I use stripper clips with my Springfield M1A. Saves the trouble and weight of carrying all of those metal magazines — less bulky to carry in a jacket pocket. Once you practice a little, clips are much faster than swapping magazines.
Well not to knock Kel-Tec but what were they thinking? Either a lot of insane Gun Control is coming or they’re banking on the collector market. Just received an e-mail from PSA and they offer a lot more Gun for $100 less.
h ttps://palmettostatearmory.com/tisas-px-5-7-or-5-7x28mm-4-8-20rd-pistol-black-15200003.html
I doubt so far the production is hardly any except for the hand-tooled prototypes.
By golly for the first time I like a polymer frame pistol.
This is just to diesel punk cool to pass up.
I’m not really wanting to start another caliber collection.
An optics sight in my opinion ruins the looks.
Far out, right on, I can dig it.
no thanks.
where’s the cmr5.7
Not sure why anyone would even consider owing a pistol chambered for 5.7mm. Given its lack of peitration penetration compared to a 9mm, it would be a poor choice for self defense.
But I’m sure it’s popular with the spray and prey crowd.
Did well enough in Ft Hood.
My feeling is that it’s not competing with 9mm, it’s competing with .380. It fares better in that comparison. But it’s the per-round cost that turns me off.
Since I’m not the market for .380, I’ll just use 9mm and thus 5.7 has no appeal.
What happens if you have a malfunction? Turn the gun upside down and shake out all the ammo?
Throw it away and grab a real gun like a Glock, Sig or HK
My question exactly. Also, how do you empty it?
I presume the same way you empty most tube magazine guns — repeated cycling of the action.
Keltec is an innovator, but this design is so weird, Smith and Wesson or Ruger might not even bother to steal it.
Yeah, I feel as if fixed magazine handguns just don’t have enough inherent advantages these days. Detachable magazines work pretty well. I mean … I like my SKS and my lever guns, but….
Kinda weird. Kinda cool.
I want one ….. not sure why.
But say what you want….i’d carry this over a 22 rimfire auto.
Better ignition and pretty hot velocity.
And I like rotary barrels…..some company for my mini cougar
In a weird way I actually really like the looks of this thing and the unique action is very intriguing. I’m not going to rush out to get one but whenever one eventually turns up at my local store I definitely want to take a close look at it.
I honestly never thought I would see a pistol loaded by clips (real clips, not magazines) again in my lifetime after the Steyr 1912.
mmm… kwirky.
The politician likes it…but no. See, detachable magazines may go bad on you if you actually shoot with them. That’s why fixed mags are for antiques and dumb asses who talk despite having no experience. KELTEC should be in the dangerous toy category for one after another like this. Detachable mag by next year like the P10 since you can’t get by on noobs alone in the gun business.
So only magazine-fed shotguns.
Got it.
TBF, I have had to replace the magazine tube spring on my 870 once! 😉
I’ve owned it for ~30 years.
I’ll throw in on the this vs that handgun thing too. Used to know Durant a Belgian Congo mercenary. He said he shot them with every pistol caliber and what mattered was “you shoot them right here” pointing at his head. Interesting photo albums. However, even the effeminate Secret Service has permanently racked their P90s for penetrative and ricochet “issues”.
Gotta say, how long till S&W knocks this off.
Just say no to Kel-Tec.
Hey, that’s not fair to S&W and Ruger, if you let their R&D department go out of business!
what an absurd pistol i will take 2
Total junk and ridiculous! For $300 you can pick up a Taurus G3 compact. Taurus has upped the quality. I have put over 2000 rounds through mine and no issues. There are numerous other brands in this price point with excellent reliability and accuracy.
I do really like it for a couple reasons:
1. It’s the only compact sized 5.7 Im aware of. If you’re someone who’s been dying to carry that caliber, this is the smallest production firearm chambered in 5.7.
2. If you live in a 7-10 round magazine capacity state, this is the only way you could have 20 rounds in your carry gun, or any gun for that matter.
3. It’s a Keltec, so if the MSRP is $399 the street price might be starting with a 2 by end of year. That’s insanely low for what it is and what it competes with. That being said something like a PSA Dagger if you live in a non-magazine restricted state probably makes more sense as an affordable self defense gun for a number of reasons.
My first impression was that it was silly. Now I do see a couple applications for it. I believe 5.7 isn’t all that, I’m no 9mm fanboy but I’d rather have one of these in 9mm for example. Still, props to them for innovation and actually making something different.
As a sycophant of the PX4 storm compact for 10 years now don’t sleep on the rotating barrel, that action is how they reduce the recoil and have a softer recoil spring than what a browning action would need. That in theory makes it flatter shooting and easier for weak handed people to lock back the slide, which is critical for a breech loaded pistol I presume.
If I wanted a 5.7mm handgun (I don’t), I’ve seen a Ruger 57 online for about $550 before tax. Is there another reason I’d want the KelTec aside from price?
My hard experience has been that if you intend to rely on the gun, saving $200 is a poor reason to buy cheaper. Better to just set your pennies aside for a few more months, if possible.
Another problem with odd guns like this is that you can almost never find fitted holsters for them.
Custom custom and yet more custom and all the costs that will entail. Luckily BFR and longer barreled/slide versions of standard pistols are about as odd as I go but just seeing how tricky getting H&K models holstered for people I know the struggle is real.
Interesting… “carry gun” uh no! I guess if you got a double feed you could throw the gun at them.
I’d bet that thing is LOUD!
which puts the P365 back in the pack. That’s what SIG did to all the other carry pistols when they came out with it. How does that rate using it? Well, with only one reload every 40 rounds, we’ve dropped about 2 during a fire exchange – or during stages in competition, which nobody has talked about yet. https://westcostsecurity.com/category/news-guns/ Some contests allow 30 round mags to take advantage of that – now we have a carry pistol with 20 up, higher power – like it or not, the numbers push the 5.7 to the front of the carry pistol ranks.
Will we see folks no longer carry a reload? It was barely ten years ago the push to carry a spare mag started, then with modular frame/grips that carry mag became a 15-18 rounder. I fully expect some kind of 20 round double stack stripper – and upside down tapered mag style. And a barrel with threads just in front of the forward locking lugs? The use of a suppressor is yet to be explored – but that isn’t an issue as much with CCW.
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