KelTec PR57 Posted on 01/23/2026 6:06:38 AM PST by marktwain
KelTec PR57
The KelTec PR57 has been designed from the start as a dedicated concealed carry pistol for self-defense. It combines old and new features, with KelTec characteristically starting fresh in its pursuit of excellence at a lower price point. AmmoLand covered the pistol at the Shot Show last year. The PR57 appears to have been selling well.
This correspondent watched sales and purchased a KelTec PR57 a little below the suggested retail price of $399 at KYGUNCO. In addition, a Viridian RFX11 1×16 Green Dot optical sight, four additional stripper clips, and an outside-the-waistband paddle holster by Rounded Gear were ordered directly from KelTec. The accessories cost about $240 with shipping and handling.
The average of 10 measurements on a Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge was 3.8 lbs. After a short take-up, no stacking was detected. There is about 5/8 inch of travel before let-off. It is like a very light double-action revolver trigger. The KelTec achieves this because the hammer is partly cocked by the slide. The trigger completes the cocking action and then releases. It is a 1 and 1/2 action. It is smooth, but takes practice to obtain the best accuracy. The safety is the long trigger pull.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
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With the optical sight and a good rest, groups of under 1 1/4 inches at 25 yards. Exceptional accuracy for a carry pistol.
5.7 is fast and flat. I spoke with a new PR57 owner last night who loves to shoot it but was unimpressed by the calibers ballistics. I don’t own anything in 5.7 but fast and light have always caught my attention.
I had not seen that round before. It looks more like rifle ammunition than for a pistol.
All the 5.7x28 are fast and accurate; this one’s unique because of its size and the lack of a magazine.
The rest are kindly described as “full-size.” Thin, but long.
A 9mm has more stopping power and is cheaper to shoot.
Yes. Fully loaded with 21 rounds, the weight is about 19 ounces.
The whole point of the 5.7 was is 2,000fps velocity. Punches through pistol body armor.
“stopping power” is hard to quantify. Many have tried.
Penetration is about the same as a 9mm. Energy about half of a hot 9mm. Cost of the cartridges about twice cheap 9mm as of today.
Very little recoil. Very flat shooting. Very accurate.
The 9mm has been perfected over a hundred and 20 years. The 5.7 is a newcomer.
It is also very easy to shoot. Plus cartridges are much lighter than 9mm. (of concern to military logistics)
Wow, that is pretty accurate.
This KelTek seems a Very Innovative
SemiAuto suited to Concealed carry
Self Protection.
.
The Price and Availability of 5.7
Ammo Being the Dealbreaker.
A newcomer, yes, but it's been 35 years.
The 5.7 was requested by NATO to replace the 9mm. Since the use of fragmenting or expanding bullets is prohibited in warfare for Hague Convention nations, 9mm was relegated to ball ammunition which has less than desired combat effectiveness.
It would be nice to see a reissue of the Mauser Broomhandle C96. (Broomhandle "C57"?)
Yet won’t penetrate body armor.
““stopping power” is hard to quantify. Many have tried.”
It has a DIRECT correlation with total volume of wound cavity. That’s not debated.
Diameter X depth.
Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood muslim terrorist used an FN Five-Seven pistol that uses this round.
True statement, but the 5.7 ammo that is capable of that is not available to you or me. Not supposed to be, anyway.
True statement, but the 5.7 ammo that is capable of that is not available to you or me. Not supposed to be, anyway.
Have to chime in on “stopping power.”
The idea of energy alone stopping an assailant ended with the Miami shootout.
People are *forced* to stop if their central nervous systems are damaged (immediate) or catastrophic bleeding (10s or so).
Because of the Miami incident FBI established a standard with organic gel and 12-18” penetration and expansion to represent going far enough to do that damage through a side profile shot.
5.7x28 is kind of an anomaly because it wasn’t created to that end. It exists because our military wanted something that could replace the subgun (think UZI), shoot further than handguns, and defeat soft armor.
It had a big lull because in a combat scenario it took multiple hits to stop enemies; more recently revived as makers developed civilian-focused projectiles targeting the FBI standard.
(Last note: the “clear” gel often seen on YouTube videos doesn’t correspond to organic gel and hard data in 5.7 is sparse so debate and confusion continues…)
You are correct. The FBI analysis of the Miami shootout has its own problems. Most of the failures were in tactics and, perhaps mindset.
I happened to be neighbors (for a couple of years) with the brother of the man who caused most of the carnage, Michael Lee Platt. Yes, he was a hard core criminal and murderer. He also had the warrior mindset. The FBI wasn’t prepared for someone who went all out to kill or be killed, and who had considerable combat experience.
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