KelTec PR57 Clip Distraction and Magazine Disengagements

AmbGun PR57 Page
https://www.ambgun.com/ambidextral-pistol/keltec-pr57

KelTec’s PR57 stunned the industry. An extremely lightweight and thin 5.7mm pistol, 20 round internal magazine, rotary barrel, and DA only trigger.

Twenty rounds in a pistol that weighs a mere 393 grams makes it the highest rounds per size and weight pistol in the AmbGun spreadsheet. Higher even than the P17 or CP33. It’s actually slightly shorter and narrower than the P17. Astonishing for a centerfire cartridge.

And it’s manufactured in KelTec’s Rock Springs, WY plant.

Twenty rounds. I rarely carry an extra magazine with my P17 or LCP II, so that’s more on tap than I normally have with me. But unloading, well I’m not a fan of having to cycle the slide 20 times to empty the pistol. But its effort endured at home to make carry easier and self defense “out there” more efficacious. Or just leave it loaded, but secured in a gun safe when not carried.

The benefit of an internal magazine? Internal, non-detachable magazine is what makes such high capacity in such a small footprint possible. Mag feed pistols have the grip material thickness and the mag material thickness plus some space to allow the mag to fall free. Duplication of space.

Without a magazine release button, there is no possibility of accidental disengagement of the magazine…an especially common problem for button releases. I’ve been a long time advocate of the paddle magazine as a means of reducing the risk of accidental mag disengagement. The PR57 totally eliminates the risk.

In a self defense situation, those first four rounds are crucial…not the 21st round or the 30th. Eliminating the risk of accidental disengagement is far more valuable than a sub 2 second reload of round number 21.

Loading with the clips. Everyone seems to focus on those clips. I regard the clips as just a step above those mag loader sleeves that are included with other pistols. I experimented with the clips enough to be competent, but ultimately stowed them away in the nice plastic pistol case just like I do with those mag loaders. If I felt the need to carry additional ammo, I might use them otherwise I prefer loading directly into the pistol. The clips are just a duplication of effort…load the clip and then load the clip into the pistol.

More AmbGun content on the PR57 is forthcoming, but so far I’ll say I’m supremely impressed.