At SHOT Show 2025, KelTec turned heads again with the debut of the PR57—a compact, forward-thinking pistol chambered in the increasingly popular 5.7x28mm, purpose-built for real-world concealed carry. Let’s dive into what makes the PR57 stand out.
Key Specs of KelTec PR57:
- Caliber: 5.7x28mm
- Weight: 13.86 ounces (unloaded)
- Magazine Capacity: 21 rounds (top-loaded via stripper clips)
- Barrel Length: 4.64 inches
- Overall Length: 7.16 inches
- Width: 0.937 inches
- Height: 4.95 inches
- Twist Rate: 1:7-inch
- Trigger Pull: 4.5 pounds
- Features: Optics-ready (RMSc footprint), accessory rail, rotating barrel
- Price: $399 MSRP
Why We Love the KelTec PR57
The Lightest 5.7mm Pistol on the Market
Weighing in at just 13.8 ounces (19 ounces loaded), the PR57 is about 40% lighter than its closest rival, the FN Five-seveN. It’s also impressively slim and compact, with a profile under an inch thick and a height of just 5 inches.
Top-Loading, Clip-Fed Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the PR57? It’s a top-loader! That’s right—no detachable magazines. It may feel like a throwback to designs from a century ago but this is very smart engineering here because this design gives the gun a sleek, slimline profile.
So, the pistol comes with two 10-round stripper clips, giving shooters a 21-round capacity total (20+1 in the chamber). This eliminates the need for magazine buttons, reducing printing and simplifying handling—perfect for EDC.
Built for Performance and Comfort
The PR57 gets its name from its innovative rotating barrel system, which uses a rotary barrel to absorb recoil and enhance accuracy. Thanks to its low recoil and well-balanced weight, it’s a smooth shooter that even beginners will find easy to handle and enjoy.
The Easiest Pistol to Field Strip
One more thing that proves that KelTec PR57 isn’t some flashy gun made just for hype—it’s incredibly practical when it comes to maintenance. Cleaning and field-stripping this pistol is quick and effortless. With a simple push of the trigger, the slide detaches from the frame, giving access to the internals. Reassembly is just as simple.
Optics-Ready with a Popular Footprint
The PR57 is optics-ready, featuring the widely-used RMSc footprint. This makes it easy to mount a red dot sight like the Holosun 507K or EPS, Leupold Delta Point Pro, Sig Sauer Romeo-X Compact, Vortex Defender CCW, or the Viridian RFX11, which is specifically designed for the PR57.
Innovative & Affordable
Despite its advanced features, KelTec has kept the PR57 surprisingly affordable. It’s rare to find a pistol with this level of innovation and quality for under $400. At this price point, it’s almost certain to fly off the shelves.
Engineered in KelTec’s State-of-the-Art Facility
The PR57 is not just a new gun—it represents a new era for KelTec. It’s the first firearm to roll off the line at their cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
KEL-TEC PMR30 .22 WMR Pistol
$371.99
Price accurate at time of writing
- Action: Single-Action
- Caliber: .22 WMR
- Barrel length: 4.3"
- Capacity: 30rd
- Weight: 14oz (unloaded)
Potential Dealbreakers
Unfamiliar Top-Loading System: For many modern gun owners, the top-loading system may take time to get used to. Some have raised concerns about the speed of reloading, though it’s important to note that, as far as CC goes, civilian gunfights rarely require a reload, and 20+1 capacity is well enough for most defense situations.
5.7x28mm Cost: Although the 5.7x28mm cartridge is growing in popularity, it’s still more expensive than common calibers like 9mm.
Capacity Restrictions: The PR57’s fixed 20+1 magazine may not be legal in states with strict gun laws like Connecticut, where a 10-round capacity limit applies. Even with a fixed magazine, exceeding this limit can classify the firearm as an assault weapon. KelTec plans to release a 10-round version in mid-2025.
Hands-On Experience
At SHOT Show 2025’s range day, the PR57 impressed shooters with how smooth and controllable the PR57 felt. The rotating barrel noticeably reduces muzzle rise, making follow-up shots fast and accurate. The lightweight frame makes the gun more comfortable to handle during long range sessions, and the grip’s slim profile allows smaller-handed shooters to easily manage the pistol.
Reloading with stripper clips does come with a learning curve, but most testers found the process intuitive after just a few tries.
Additionally, testers noted that the PR57 remained reliable during hundreds of rounds of live fire, exhibiting smooth cycling and consistent ejection.
KEL-TEC P17
$256.99
Price accurate at time of writing
- Action: Striker-Fired
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Barrel length: 3.8"
- Capacity: 16rd
- Weight: 10.90oz (unloaded)
- Optic-ready, threaded barrel, fiber optic front sight / adjustable rear sight, steel slide
Is the 5.7x28mm Good for Self-Defense?
As you may have noticed, much of the skepticism surrounding the KelTec stems from the caliber it chambers. Let’s take a closer look at it to better understand this concern.
The Pros
One of the biggest selling points of the 5.7x28mm is its light recoil. In a high-stress scenario, staying on target is much easier with a lighter recoiling pistol, especially during rapid firing sequences.
Another advantage is its high magazine capacity. The Ruger-57, FN Five-seveN and now Keltec PR57 can hold 21 rounds, which is more than enough for most self-defense scenarios.
Additionally, the 5.7x28mm has less risk of overpenetration compared to calibers like 9mm. It’s designed to fragment or lose energy faster when hitting barriers like drywall, which is crucial in settings like apartment buildings or crowded areas where you want to minimize the chance of unintentional damage.
The Cons
The biggest concern with the 5.7 is the price of ammo. Compared to 9mm, 5.7x28mm rounds are significantly more expensive, which makes regular training with it a cost-intensive commitment. For any defensive caliber, consistent training is necessary to build and maintain skills, so the cost factor is a real concern.
There’s also the matter of stopping power. Many feel the 5.7 sacrifices knockdown power compared to popular defensive rounds like 9mm or .45 ACP. While its velocity is impressive—often exceeding 1,600 fps out of most pistols—the small bullet size means shot placement becomes even more critical. If you miss a vital area, the 5.7 might leave something to be desired.
* Prices accurate at time of writing
Keltec PR57 and Real-World Applications
The PR57’s low profile, light weight, and 21-round capacity make it an excellent EDC. The lack of a detachable magazine had some skeptics scratching their heads online, but it actually makes a lot of sense for concealed carry. 21 is more than enough for most self-defense situations—especially considering that reloads in civilian gunfights are exceedingly rare.
KEL-TEC SUB2000 Gen 3
$399.99
Price accurate at time of writing
- Action: Semi-auto, blowback system
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Barrel length: 16.15"
- Capacity: 10rd
- Optic-ready, threaded barrel, pic rail, M-LOK + 2 Pic rail, Glock mag compatibility
PR-57: Range Toy or Real Gun?
The buzz surrounding the PR57 is impossible to ignore—and we’re no exception. It’s not just the gun—it’s also about how it challenges the norms of pistol design. KelTec has taken bold steps with its top-fed magazine and rotating barrel, bringing something fresh and unique to a market that’s often resistant to change.
Even if you’re skeptical of KelTec firearms, dismissing them as range toys or meme guns, or you find the five-seven platforms impractical because of the ammo cost, it’s still refreshing to see a company like KelTec pushing boundaries and innovating.
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