In Praise of the Kel-Tec PMR30

C

CWKahrFan

New member
I'd been wanting one since they first came out. Certainly wanted to wait 'til after the beta-testing stage before buying, but that stage is long-over now. Then I was waiting 'til the price came down, but that's still not happening.

Yes, there is still a premium on these. The wholesale price is quite low but outlets know they can still add-on quite a bit due to desire-ability, so most of them do.

Anyhow, I got tired of waiting and trying to find a deal... Decided the gun would be worth $400+ to me, so got one at a LGS a few weeks ago. Used http://ammoseek.com/ to order 400 rounds of CCI maxi-mags online and delivered to my house (to supplement the ammo I already had... And will have to get more, heh heh).

Yes, there is a premium on .22 Magnum ammo too... I know, I know!

But I gotta' say... If you're interested and can hold your nose and pay the inflated prices, I say GO AHEAD and buy one 'cause THESE GUNS ARE REALLY FUN!!

I load mine up with 25 rds. at a time... (Why bother with 5 more tight difficult ones?)... LOVE the bright "illuminated" sights... Orange dots in rear, Green dot in front... And the ability to hold the gun right on target with nearly no muzzle rise to speak of.

If I take a little care in packing the mags correctly it runs right through 25 rounds without a hitch. These guns are very well made... Tight tolerances, adequate materials. I say, try not to be put off by the "airgun" look and feel of the PMR30 because it does what it needs to do. It's plenty strong and durable enough for .22 Magnum and you'll appreciate the gun's lightness since it adds to the fun factor!

I have a big hand and the PMR30 fits it perfectly. It's an adult-size gun and when cycling all those rounds through it gives the feeling of plenty of firepower.

I'm a very happy camper with my PMR30 and glad I didn't deprive myself any longer... Just needed to tell someone...

http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/kel-tec-pmr-30-range-report/
 
Congrats! I have looked at them, but all of the points you made have turned me off. I can stomach the $450 price but then the cost of feeding it is too rich for my blood. I reload and I guess I'm spoiled, and I don't want to spend that much money on non reloadable ammo.
 
Last edited:
I was on a waiting list for almost two years before I finally got one. Really wanted a gun my wife could work (slide racking is a problem, and revolvers don't work for her)... She CAN rack the slide, but haven't gotten her to the range, yet.

Mine has relatively few rounds through it, but it is simply amazing: it's like shooting a LASER, only louder. No recoil. Seemingly good durability (based on other comments, some from high mileage shooters -- I've not shot mine enough to be confident that THIS one is durable/relable too, but I'll be surprised if it isn't.)

I had thought about getting an FN 5.7, and this may be the poor man's equivalent.

When using ammo (like the Hornady Critical Defense, which is brewed for a shorter barrel) the round seems to expand to .380 levels, with much better penetration. Since you can shoot multiple rounds without a lot of muzzle flip, it may be a good personal defense weapon for those who are physically unable to handle much recoil.

.
 
Last edited:
Congrats!

I was a beta tester, I paid less than $300 new in the box for mine and it ran fine with CCI Maxi Mag. I sold it during the "boom" as it didn't really do anything special enough for me to keep it in the face of such a return on my initial investment. :D

261pa9y.jpg
 
Finally have one

I too waited on the PMR. Waited on availability, waited on the price to come down, waited on the bugs to be worked out, waited on ammo to become available. After all this waiting, and not getting any younger, the planets did align and the sun did shine! I got mine and she is fine! Fun firearm to fire, everybody wants to shoot it. No problems with her, you just need to pay attention when loading the mags. I'm happy with 25 rounds loaded in the mag. It works fine. (picture file not uploading)
 
Last edited:
I went to a gun show this past weekend and though about picking one of these up for my wife, until I handled it and remembered how big the grip is and the long reach to the trigger. My wife has very small hands and would have trouble gripping it and reaching the trigger...

I may still pick one up in the future for myself...
 
A few words of caution:

Check ammo cost/availability... locally any .22WMR starts at $18 / box of 50... that's double the cost of 9mm.

If you're OK with that, have fun.
 
The stuff I've seen doesn't start at $18 -- that's almost (i.e., near) the top end.

While .22 WMR can be expensive, I've been able to buy in bulk (5+ boxes) for around $13 a box, and even the Self Defense ammo (like Hornady Critical Defense) is less than $18, shipped.

But if you buy locally, a box at a time, it can be expensive. (But, when I bought mine, I picked up several boxes of Fiocchi [Which I later found that Kel-Tec says to avoid] for $14, and it shot beautifully.)

While even the cheaper stuff isn't as cheap as 9mm -- neither is 10mm or .357 SIG and folks shoot a lot of that at paper targets, too.
 
Last edited:
I remember the first generation of them. The Grendel P30.(Pre Kel-Tec.) They were Killed when Clinton banned the high capacity mags. They worked well too. I have an AMT 6"Automag I got in 1987. It is a stainless single stack and 100 reliable too. Congrats on your purchase of the Kel Tec.
 
Ammo

I bought two bricks of CCI 40 grain for $11.99/50 late February. Somebody always seems to have it on the internet.
Click to expand...

Bricks? $120 each? Hmmm. Not bad if you can find it. The less expensive stuff is impossible.

What was final cost with delivery?
 
I actually replaced my FN 5.7 with a PMR-30... sold my 5.7 back when things 1st started getting crazy, for way more than I paid for it... got my PMR-30 a little over a year ago... I never had a lot of 22 mag ammo, but have been slowly trying to build up a supply... I have a Czech semi auto rifle, as well as an Automag 2 in that caliber as well... been thinking about a small revolver as well... Sp-1012 or LCR maybe...

I'm also a big reloader, & really don't shoot that much semi auto, as I hate crawling around on the ground picking up brass... no need to do that with the PMR :D... ( & while the 5.7 was reloadable, it was a royal pain to do so, & brass life is dismal )
 
I love mine. Like shooting a squirt gun of frozen ropes at anything you look at. Accurate and very light weight. Its my trail gun.
Now if I could only find more 22mag ammo....:confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top