Posted: 3/16/2008 2:43:38 PM EDT
| Has anyone had any hands-on experience with Kel-tec's PLR-16? It looks good on paper, but how is it to shoot? |
|
Just want to followup my earlier post about ammo and mags. Yesterday I picked up a 30 round Magpul PMag at a gun show and tested it out with the PLR-16. Zero problems with the PMag, and my problems with the South African PMP ammo went away as well. I'll have to pick up more PMags. Also, the color and texture of the black PMag match the PLR-16 perfectly. Both must be made from the same stuff. |
|
I have one with the goodies on it, plus a huge red dot site. it is fantastic , I must say. I have put about 1000 rounds through it thus far, and have yet to clean it. It seems that keltec has figured out the piston drive, better than the ar folks have. I open up the receiver, and wipe the inside with my finger, and it comes out almost perfectly clean, just an absolute wonder. It is accurate, it uses regular ar attaching parts all over it, plus mags. One thing though, make damn sure you and those around you are wearing ear protection, this baby will deff let you know when it has been fired.   
|
Loud is not the word I would use to describe the PLR-16, when I think of a word that is 10x louder than loud I will let you know 
|
Well Kel Tec only makes it in 5.56 right now. The PLR 22 (.22) will be available sometime this spring, but those are your only 2 options with this pistol. You can build an AR pistol in 9mm if you like, but those are your only options in this, ahem, "style" of pistol. |
|
Fun shooter, picked one up a couple weeks ago. Grouped about 1.5" with the iron sights at 50yds when I sighted it in. Hit paper plates off hand at 40 yards no problem. Most recently I was hitting a empty cardboard case-of-coke box at 100yds in the backyard off hand. Rear sight adjustment is a little crude but works. I plan to add an Eotech. It's amazing light, almost no recoil. Get the sling, railed forearm, and muzzle brake accessories. Very easy to handle with the sling. I'm still breaking mine in ~150 rounds or so. Mine has a persistent problem with South African PMP .223 55gr ammo which is prone to light taps, stove-pipeing, or doublefeeds. Wolf HP, FMJ, and soft points all run like a champ. Also cycles well with 62GR 5.56 ammo from Lake City, Radway Green, S&B, and Winchester. Re mags, I've tried a mix of aluminum and SS 20 and 30 round magazines AR mags without any issues Followers include original Colt aluminum followers, to green followers, to magpul 2nd generation followers. Re pistol calibers in its class...IMHO..given 5.56 delivers more energy to the target at a superior range, with negligible recoil, I would think 9mm, .40, 45, etc chambering would be a disadvantage over 5.56. HOWEVER, I would advise against shooting anything in .223 or 5.56 indoors. The other calibers are less likely to permanently damage your hearing in a home defense scenario. Outside with hearing protection the PLR-16 is manageable. |
suppressed video ktog |
Re the recoil device, I'm working on a M4 build...a complete PLR-16 is about long as the M4 without a barrel attached. At the moment I can only compare the loudness to my 20-inch bushmaster. The PLR-16 is noticeably louder using the same ammo but I couldn't give you a measurable decibel difference. I would expect the Shorty to fall somewhere in between the two. If it helps, the PLR doesn't freak my wife out at the range when she's standing beside me shooting her .380.  But we're both wearing hearing protection and I try to stay far enough away from others as to not hit them with the muzzle blast.
|
I bought one brand new last summer, saved for some decent ammo and finally got out to the range a month later. I went right for the red dot scope as well. At 25 yards after a few shots, I was zeroed in and holding well under 1" groups sandbag rested, and after a couple of magazines, there was a ragged hole in the center of the target about the size of a quarter. I was more than pleased with the accuracy. Now for the bad. From the first shot fired I knew something was wrong. The gun fired the first manually chamberd round, the spent case ejected properly, but when I pulled the trigger a second time, the was no resistance. The trigger did not reset. I pulled back the charging handle and out came a live round, and when released, a live round stripped from the mag and chambered. I took aim again, (remember I'm sighting in my red dot at this point) pulled the trigger and it fired like it was supposed to. Again an empty case was ejected, a new round loaded, and the same issue with the trigger not being reset happened. I switched ammo, magazines, anything within my abilities to try to figure what the problem was. It was like a bolt action semi auto. When cycled manually it worked fine, so essentially a 20 rd mag only yielded 10 rounds fired. It was a pain in the arse, and I was frustrated, but damn this thing was accurate and barked with powerful authority. I painstakingly fired about 150 rounds by having to re-reload mags with ejected live rounds, manually re-cycling the bolt after each shot. Called and sent it back to Kel-Tec (with a detailed note) and got it back in just about 8 weeks total along with a "gunsmith's report" stating "it had a defective bolt carrier, and it was replaced. Test fired for accuracy and reliability of repairs." They also polished the feed ramp and smoothed the action. As a favor??? It was fine how it was, but when I got it back it was really a lot smoother and has fired perfectly fine ever since. I was frustrated when I first had the issue with it "new out of the box", but after getting it back from Kel-Tec service, it's better than new. It's a shame they don't test more thuroughly to avoid such issues, but we've all read about nearly all mfgr's that have similar issues. It's compact for a .223, feeds almost anything, has accepted many different magazine brands I've used, (old and new ones) is accurate beyond what I would have ever expected, and the power felt when shooting this thing is really a rush. I can't honestly say I have a practical use for it, but sometimes you just have to have something fun and different to shoot, even if there is no real purpose. I hope you get one. |
|
my first exploded.<ammo issue> it sparked a small design change from KT. it was replaced and the replacement has been perfection. the handguards are a MUST have. DO NOT get the stock muzzel break. loud simply is not the proper term. it will make your ears bleed even with plugs. |
How long ago was it when your first one exploded and the design change was made? Also, what do you recommend for a muzzle break/flash supressor? |
What don't you like about the stock muzzle brake? |
it will make peoples ears bleed in the next county and honestly doesn't really do anything for control. i put a a2 flashider on mine so i can use it with my can but the a2 is MUCH more hearing freindly and frankly looks better. |