| Kel-Tec PR57 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Kel-Tec |
| Produced | 2025–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 0.866 lb (393 g) empty [1] |
| Length | 7.2 in (182 mm) [1] |
| Barrel length | 4.01 in (101.8 mm) [1] |
| Width | 0.94 in (23.8 mm) [1] |
| Height | 5.0 in (127 mm) [1] |
| Cartridge | 5.7x28mm |
| Action | Short-recoil, Rotary barrel, double-action only |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic[1] |
| Feed system | 20-round integral magazine, fed by 10-round stripper clips.[1] |
The Kel-Tec PR57 is a semi automatic pistol manufactured by Kel-Tec.
Design
The weapon is chambered in the FN 5.7x28mm round, uses a rotating barrel locking operation and most unusually, uses a 20 round internal magazine fed from stripper clips (similar to the Steyr M1912 and the Grendel P10 .380).
The hammer rides at approximately the half-cock position, and the relatively long trigger pull moves the hammer to full-cock, then releases the hammer to strike the firing pin. There is a false reset on releasing the trigger; the actual reset is all the way at the front of trigger travel. The sights are fixed, albeit the front sight is held in place with a screw, and the rear sight is molded into the plastic rear slide cover. The rear of the slide is drilled and tapped for a rear optic plate, which comes in the box from the manufacturer.
Manufacture of the barrel and slide use a number of machining steps on a lathe, unusual for a slide, followed by more conventional mill work for final finishing. This likely lowers the manufacturing cost of the firearm. Two small guide rods and captive recoil springs are mounted underneath the rotating barrel. The pistol is very easy to field strip by unusually pushing the trigger forward.
Variants
PR-3AT
The PR-3AT is chambered in .380 ACP, holding either 10 or 14 rounds, it features improved 7 round striper clips and a 2.85 inch barrel but it retains all features from the PR-57.
See also
References
- "PR57". KelTec.
- "Kel-Tec PR57, a clip-fed carry pistol!". gunsweek.com. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- "KelTec PR57 in 5.7x28mm, the inexpensive semi-automatic pistol without a magazine". all4shooters.com. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- "[SHOT 2025] Kel-Tec PR57: Personal Defense Gone Wild". thefirearmblog.com. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- Sim, Levi. "Finally! A Pistol with a CLIP! KelTec PR57 — SHOT Show 2025". gunsamerica.com. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- Zimmerman, Dan. "SHOT Show Range Day: Is It Wrong That I Really Really Like the New KelTec PR57?". Shooting News Weekly. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- Borisenko, Adam. "First Look: KelTec PR57". GunDigest. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- Creighton, Kevin. "SHOT Show 2025 Range Day Roundup". shootingillustrated.com. Retrieved January 21, 2025.