Gun show weekend, New Keltec PMR30, fun gun... I hope.

[ripley16]

Enjoyed a nice day at the Fredericksburg gun show with my older brother who was visiting over the weekend. Came across lots of ammo and a good supply of guns. I'd been on the lookout for the PMR30 for a while. Every time I'd see one listed, it seemed to sell immediately. Prices hung around $400 or more. I found several dealers with the pistol and negotiated what I thought was an OK price, under $400, and bought one. Picked up 250 rounds of CCI ammo to go with it.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i186/ripley16/Pistols/Current%20Pistols/New_1_DSCF2581_zps8zgw8mcc.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/ripley16/media/Pistols/Current%20Pistols/New_1_DSCF2581_zps8zgw8mcc.jpg.html)

This is an odd gun to take-down for cleaning, but it is easy. Cleaned, lightly lubed and after installing a Hogue grip I headed to the range. First round delivered a FTE. Had to remove the barrel to clear the case. I'm pretty disappointed. I fired 50 rounds, (25 per mag), of CCI HP and had 6 failures of various types. I'm hoping this is a temporary thing. Switched to CCI Vmax and they all worked great. OK, maybe it needs certain ammo.

Each round generates little recoil, even though the pistol is lightweight, toy gun weight at that. Even with 25 rounds in the mag this feels too light. There is a massive fireball and it's fairly loud. As a fun gun, this combination of size, capacity, caliber and light recoil should add up to a real winner. Verdict is out on reliability.

Many people have compared this pistol to the FN 5.7, which I also have. Let me offer my opinion... there is NO comparison. The FN is a very high quality firearm that has never faltered in any way. The rounds have a lot to do with reliability and the .22mag is a tough round to make reliable. I get that, but let no one tell you the PMR is the same as the FN.

Glad I bought, and I hope the problems go away with familiarity, and I do look forward to lots of fun with this Keltec.

[gb6491]

Congrats and thanks for the range report.

I have one. The first range session, I was very disappointed with it's accuracy (all over the place with it). Second session, I fired off the last of the Winchester Super X I had with similar results. I pressed on with a box CCI Vmax and instantly got respectable results. The same with Federal Game-Shok. After some further experimentation, it seems that particular barrel just doesn't like the Winchester fodder. I did pick up an extended barrel and it has no issues with the Super X, go figure. I've not had any problems with extraction. I'm pretty careful when loading the magazines, but do, on occasion, have a failure to feed. I've about convinced myself that it's due to operator error as I refocus on my grip after the FTF and it's trouble free the rest of the session. Overall, I like it, especially for the reasons you mentioned: the combination of size, capacity, caliber and light recoil plus " There is a massive fireball and it's fairly loud.":D
http://i43.tinypic.com/2rruc85.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[ripley16]

Is that a Keltec or some other aftermarket barrel? Suppressed? That would be a peck of fun!

[gb6491]

Is that a Keltec or some other aftermarket barrel? Suppressed? That would be a peck of fun!
It's a Kel-Tec barrel: not suppressed, but it is threaded (http://www.keltecweapons.com/pmr-30/pmr-30-accessories/pmr-30-threaded-barrel-with-flash-reducer/).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5EiY5ntXYw

There is a company that makes aftermarket barrels for the PMR30: https://www.1022rifle.com/buy/keltec

Regards,
Greg

BTW, some guy does have a vi

[OldFatGuy]

Never been to a gun show! There is one in Lakeland this weekend, a little over an hour away I might go to. They take credit cards, don't they?

[b4uqzme]

Never been to a gun show! There is one in Lakeland this weekend, a little over an hour away I might go to. They take credit cards, don't they?

That depends on the seller. Some won't take checks either. Around here they post ATM's with no withdrawal limit in case you feel spontaneous. I been to that ATM once or twice! :o Go! It's a lot of fun.

[ripley16]

It's a Kel-Tec barrel: not suppressed, but it is threaded (http://www.keltecweapons.com/pmr-30/pmr-30-accessories/pmr-30-threaded-barrel-with-flash-reducer/).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5EiY5ntXYw

There is a company that makes aftermarket barrels for the PMR30: https://www.1022rifle.com/buy/keltec

Regards,
Greg

BTW, some guy does have a vi


Meant to ask whether you had a suppressor, not was it. DOH! That would be the world's smallest silencer.:ohmy:
I noticed the barrel in the manual's exploded parts view and the threaded barrel on the web page you referenced are fluted. My barrel is not. Is there a design change I should be aware of? I recall there was a problem with early barrels.


They take credit cards, don't they?

Cash is king but most dealers take plastic. Many will add a surcharge for credit card use, usually around 3%.

[gb6491]

Meant to ask whether you had a suppressor, not was it. DOH! That would be the world's smallest silencer.:ohmy:
I noticed the barrel in the manual's exploded parts view and the threaded barrel on the web page you referenced are fluted. My barrel is not. Is there a design change I should be aware of? I recall there was a problem with early barrels.



Cash is king but most dealers take plastic. Many will add a surcharge for credit card use, usually around 3%.
Some early production barrels (non threaded, fluted) had problems with "key holing". Current, non threaded barrels are not fluted, so you should be good to go (change was about 4 years ago). http://www.slickguns.com/product/kel-tec-pmr-30-22wmr-semi-auto-handgun-pre-order-30199
As far as I know, the threaded barrels are still fluted.

Regards,
Greg

[OldFatGuy]

That depends on the seller. Some won't take checks either. Around here they post ATM's with no withdrawal limit in case you feel spontaneous. I been to that ATM once or twice! :o Go! It's a lot of fun.

So I expect the best deals are cash deals.

[MurrayNevada]

Many people have compared this pistol to the FN 5.7, which I also have. Let me offer my opinion... there is NO comparison. The FN is a very high quality firearm that has never faltered in any way. The rounds have a lot to do with reliability and the .22mag is a tough round to make reliable. I get that, but let no one tell you the PMR is the same as the FN.
So true. I hear folks equating the two and there is no comparison.