Kel-Tec PR57 Review: Top-Loading Power in a Lightweight Concealed Carry Package

Kel-Tec never fails to amaze me, and their new PR57 is no exception. Known for their innovation and engineering, Kel-Tec has delivered a standout addition to the firearms market with this slim, high-capacity 5.7x28mm pistol.

This 5.7 pistol isn’t just another option at a low price point. It’s compact, lightweight and has a 20+1 capacity. The Kel-Tec PR57 combines old-school ingenuity with new-school practicality.

What Makes the PR57 Different?

Loaded with the right round, a 5.7x28mm pistol can be an effective self-defense firearm. However, most 5.7 pistols on the market are large and rather expensive. Kel-Tec surprised the market with the PR57, a truly compact 5.7 pistol with a lower price point.

Before diving into the Kel-Tec PR57 review, I need a moment to wrap my head around the platform. The PR57’s operating and feeding system is unlike anything we’re used to seeing in modern handguns. It is, however, a throwback that would look quite familiar to firearms enthusiasts around 1893.

Kel-Tec calls it a “top-loading” design, but historically this feeding system is known as a “blind magazine.” In this design, the magazine is an integral part of the operating system, located inside the firearm. This feeding system is loaded from the top — either one round at a time or more quickly with stripper clips.

We typically associate the blind magazine system with rifles like the 1903 Springfield and Russian SKS, but it was also used in the earliest semi-automatic pistols at the turn of the 20^th century, especially those developed in Europe. Eventually removable magazine pistol designs triumphed over blind magazine systems for pistols, and the rest is history.

Kel-Tec redesigned the top feeding pistol design, removing some of its limitations by relocating the blind magazine to the grip. Externally, the PR57 still looks like a standard semi-auto, which is great for holster compatibility. The change greatly increased the magazine capacity in addition to reducing overall weight. And with no bulky detachable magazine, the PR57’s handle stays slim, comfortable and surprisingly familiar — more like a 9mm than a typical 5.7×28 pistol.

The rotary barrel action also does its part in reducing weight and complements the narrow diameter 5.7×28 cartridge and its lightweight bullets. This gives the PR57 a whopping 20+1 round capacity of defensive ammo when fully loaded. All these features in a pistol weighing only 13.86 ounces unloaded, making all-day carry unbelievably comfortable.

Kel-Tec PR57 Specifications

• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Magazine capacity: 20+1
• Weight unloaded: 13.86 ounces
• Weight with 20 rounds of tested ammunition: 18.34 ounces
• Overall length: 7.16 inches
• Barrel length: 4 inches
• Width at widest point: .937 inches
• Height: 5 inches
• Trigger pull: 4.5 pounds
• Sights: Fixed 3-white dots/optics plate included for red-dot sight mounting
• Frame: Molded-in Picatinny rail
• Slide: Grasping grooves along the length front and rear
• Controls: Slide release lever/left side/trigger/no manual safety or magazine release

Loading and Firing the Kel-Tec PR57

Testing the KelPR57 was both fun and unintentionally funny. For the first few shots in my friend’s barn, we instinctively checked the grip’s base for a box magazine and reached for a button eject. Old habits die hard.

Though challenging to long-standing habits, this system is one of the PR57’s biggest tactical advantages. There is no way to accidentally dump or disengage the magazine during a self-defense incident.

Before taking the PR57 to the range, I highly recommend you read the manual. I’ll admit I don’t usually thoroughly read the manuals of conventional firearms. However, I did it for this gun. Trust me, the time spent flipping through Kel-Tec’s colorful, graphics-rich guide is well worth it, especially for the mechanically disinclined.

My two most important takeaways are:

1. Loading the PR57 with Stripper Clips
   Kel-Tec includes two 10-round polymer stripper clips with the PR57. The two-piece unit comes apart. Unlike the clips used with an M1 Garand, these do not remain in the PR57. Instead, they guide the rounds into the blind magazine and are then set aside. The clips are great for quick reloads but add an extra step if you’re just shooting for fun. You can load rounds one at a time through the top of the gun.
2. Unloading the Blind Magazine
   This will take some getting used to. Because there’s no magazine to drop out, the only way to clear live cartridges is to manually rack the slide for each one — with the fingers well away from the trigger — until empty. It’s not fast, but it works. If you’re shooting at an indoor range, I would recommend only loading what you plan to shoot in that string. Fire until the slide locks back.

The manual covers more than loading and unloading, such as takedown instructions for the PR57. Be sure to read the remainder of the manual to learn the Kel-Tec PR57 inside and out.

Kel-Tec PR57 Review: Accuracy, Recoil and Range Performance

My friend and I used the range inside his barn so as not to disturb neighbors on a Saturday morning. I used a single 10-round stripper clip just to get a feel. I’m familiar with stripper clips from my Chinese SKS rifle, but the two-piece clip was new to me.

Once the clips are ready, they insert easily. Simply lock the slide back and insert the clip, lining up with the channel at the rear of the slide. Push the cartridges down with the plastic thumb piece known as the plunger. To load it to full capacity, push the rounds from the other loaded stripper clip on top of those in the pistol.

We started with a Thompson Target B27 torso target from 21 feet. From the first shots, the Kel-Tec PR57 was an absolute blast (no pun intended) to shoot. The SS195LF round has a muzzle velocity of around 2,100 feet per second and has next-to-no recoil.

The dim lighting conditions of the barn revealed a bit of muzzle blast but nothing alarming. Most should be able to handle the PR57 and shoot it well. And at 18.34 ounces fully loaded, it’s easy to carry as well.

I loaded the second round manually and found that to be more convenient. I placed 21 rounds of the FN 5.7 ammunition into the red 10-ring zone, with eight round cutting the white X-ring. The group measured 2 ½ inches not including two flyers, which opened the group up to 3 ½ inches.

Bret followed up with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy qual target and saw similar — maybe even tighter — results. I then fired 10 more shots at the smaller 10-ring in the head. This time the group measured 2 inches and there were no flyers.

If I’d had more time, I would have attached a red-dot pistol sight. I ran the PR57 as it came with the factory-mounted three-white-dot sights: one at the front and two at the rear. With the rail segment upfront, I also could have added a Streamlight TLR and worked off the green laser portion get a sharp sight picture. Still, we logged zero malfunctions, tight groupings and plenty of fun without the enhanced sighting equipment.

Real-World Carry with the Kel-Tec PR57: Comfort Meets Capacity

I asked my editor for some extra time on this PR57 review to get a feel for carrying and traveling with the gun. That meant carrying the Kel-Tec PR57 during an out-of-state hotel stay, navigating real-world scenarios to see how this unique pistol fits into daily concealed carry.

Holster compatibility was no problem. I pulled out two that fit the PR57 like a glove:

• The DeSantis universal waist pack
• An Uncle Mike’s adjustable belt slide holster with adjustable thumb break retention

Kel-Tec also offers inside-the-waistband and outside-the-waistband holsters for the PR57, along with spare stripper clips, plungers and a compatible Viridian red dot optic.

Carrying the PR57 concealed was eye-opening. I had 20+1 rounds of lightweight, high-velocity 5.7x28mm on tap, with 20 more in two stripper clips in my pocket. That’s a lot of firepower in an ultralightweight concealed carry pistol. As with any semi-automatic pistol without a manual safety, the same precautions apply. I felt completely confident I could handle any situation that may arise.

One thing I’d caution: if you are involved in a self-defense incident while carrying the PR57, be prepared to explain how to safely unload the PR57 to any responding officers.

Why the PR57 Belongs in Your Concealed Carry Rotation

The Kel-Tec PR57 stands out as a lightweight, high-capacity defensive pistol that challenges conventional handgun design in a good way. Its top-loading blind magazine, rotary barrel and slim grip deliver a carry experience that feels more like a compact 9mm than a typical 5.7×28 handgun.

With 20+1 rounds onboard, minimal recoil and excellent concealability, the PR57 checks all the right boxes for personal defense:

• Easy to carry all day
• Shoots comfortably and accurately
• Offers a level of innovation that’s rare in today’s handgun market

A few changes I’d like to see down the line would be a Beretta/Walther or similar type slide mounted safety that disengages the hammer, thus making the unloading process even safer and an option for Tritium sights.

But as is, the PR57 gives you the ability to stay ready to defend yourself and your loved ones across a wide range of situations. Between the light weight and compact size there is no reason not to have it with you.

Sources:

Kel-Tec: KelTecWeapons.com
FN Ammunition: FNAmerica.com