KelTec PR57 in 5.7x28mm, the inexpensive semi-automatic pistol without a magazine

In the world of firearms, and of pistols in particular, there are ideas and technical solutions that are considered outdated but are often successfully re-proposed. Let's take a very practical example: forty years ago, striker-fired pistols were considered technically and operationally outdated, and polymer frames were an oddity to be wary of. Today, there is no major gun manufacturer that does not have at least one striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame in its catalog. Other systems from the past, such as the rotating barrel lock mechanism were revived for a time but with rare exceptions have again disappeared, or almost disappeared, from the pistol market. This is to say that surely few enthusiasts would have imagined seeing at the SHOT Show 2025 a semi-automatic carry pistol with a polymer frame, no magazine and a rotating barrel lock mechanism.

KelTec PR57: past and future of carry guns

The KelTec PR57 is top loaded by means of two stripper clips, each with a capacity of ten 5.7x28mm rounds.
The KelTec PR57 is a 5.7x28mm pistol built to be extremely affordable. In the USA it costs about $399.

We are talking about the KelTec PR57 in 5.7x28mm, a pistol in which modern and (apparently) demodé features come together to create yet another stroke of genius by the American company, known for the extraordinary originality of its designs. But let's start with the question everyone is asking: why a semi-automatic pistol without a magazine? KelTec's official version is that in this way it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of the gun, simplifying its production as much as possible... But the reality is that in some US states, such as Colorado, there is strong pressure to ban the sale of rifles and hanguns fed from detachable magazines, which would make only revolvers that are necessarily limited to 5 or 6 rounds usable for self defence. Thanks to the small cartridge size for which it is chambered, the KelTec PR57 has a magazine capacity of as many as twenty cartridges, more than enough to deal with a personal defence situation. And should the user still be unsafe (or dead) after firing twenty rounds, and need of a pistol reloading, thanks to the stripper clips, it is possible to reload the magazine in the grip with relative speed by locking the slide back and inserting the clip through the ejection port. If necessary, only ten rounds can also be loaded.

The KelTec PR57 fearures a rotating barrel   locking system. The trigger is double-action only.

Two clips with a capacity of ten rounds each are supplied with the pistol. But the feeding system is not the only special feature of the KelTec 57: the innovative rotary barrel design used in this pistol not only affects its aesthetics, but above all allows the overall weight to be dramatically reduced. The KelTec PR57 weighs 393 grams, around 40 per cent less than the lightest 5.7x28mm pistol on the market to date. As a matter of interest, it should be noted that once the magazine is filled with 20 standard 5.7x28 cartridges, the weight of the KelTec PR57 increases by approximately 140 grams. The round slide of the KelTec is reminiscent of semi-automatic pistols from a distant past, such as the Savage 7 or the Astra 400, but it is very practical and light, and thanks to a mounting plate it is possible to directly fit mini-reflex type red dot optics. Since this is a pistol designed for short-range personal defence, mechanical sights are simple but still perfectly capable of performing their task. The barrel is 118 millimeters long, with a 1:7" twist, while the overall length of the pistol is 182 millimeters with a maximum width of 24 millimeters. The trigger of the KelTec PR57 is double-action only, with internal hammer. In addition to being revolutionary and, apparently, also quite pleasant to shoot, and despite a rather long trigger, the KelTec PR57 is also decidedly inexpensive: retail price in the USA is $399. We can't wait to get our hands on it to give you some impressions.

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