Keltec PR57 at Shot Show 2025

The Keltec PR57 is one of the more innovative pistols seen at the 2025 Shot Show.  As indicated by the name, the pistol is chambered in 5.7×28. The pistol is top loaded, with a 20 round magazine. The magazine is integral, like a Steyr 1912 or a C96 broom handle Mauser. This allows for a smaller grip, fewer parts, and a very thin and light pistol. As expected, there is significant muzzle flash and blast when the pistol is fired. Recoil is more than most .22 rimfire pistols, but less than most 9mm pistols.  The capacity is listed as 20+1. How is the 21st round loaded?

One of the Keltec representatives indicated he locked back the slide, inserted a round in the chamber, then used his thumb to depress the top round in the magazine. With the other hand, pull the slide back to release the slide lock, and allow the slide to move forward, under control, as the thumb is taken off the round in the magazine.  Alternatively, put the 21st round on top of the 20th round, and press down, then using the other hand, pull back on the slide and allow it to go forward under control. As the 21st round enters the chamber, remove the thumb holding it in place and allow the slide to go fully forward until it locks in place.

Bottleneck cartridges make for reliable feeding.  Because the magazine is integral, the feed lips are subject to less possibility of damage. No tolerance is needed to accommodate slight differences in removable magazine manufacture. The integral feed lips are sturdy and unlikely to be easily dammaged. Stripper clips are much easier and cheaper to manufacture than magazines.

Using stripper clips to reload is a little slower than using a detachable magazine. A stripper clip reload is probably at least as fast as reloading a revolver with speed loaders. 20 or 21 rounds of ammunition is likely to allow an opportunity to reload at some point. 20 rounds of ammunition would require three reloads in a six shot revolver.

Fully loaded, the Keltec PR57 weighs 19 ounces, four ounces less than an
unloaded Glock 19. The pistol is less than 1 inch thick. about the same
height as a Glock 19, and is a little shorter than the Glock 19.

The disassembly procedure for the pistol is simple. Push the trigger forward. Pull the slide off the front of the frame. The slide and barrel are locked together. You now have the slide assembly and the frame.  It appears cartridges could be removed from the magazine by simply pushing them forward, free from the magazine feed lips.

The Keltec PR57 uses a patented rotating front locking mechanism. A lug on the back of the barrel fits into a slot on a part called the trunion by Keltec. The trunion fits between the barrel and the frame.  As the barrel and slide move backward in recoil, the barrel rotates and unlocks. The slide continues backward, ejecting the cartridge case.

Trunion shown separate, above frame

At the Keltec booth, this correspondent asked about the unusual circumstance of the jam at the industry day at the range. The Keltec representative speculated it might have been the ammunition which was being used. Semi-automatic pistols rely on uniform ammunition to function correctly. The jam was easily cleared. It was a simple failure to eject. Pulling and releasing the slide cleared the failure to eject. It appeared to this correspondent to be consistent with underpowered ammunition. All self defense pistols should be tested with the ammunition will will be carried for self defense, before they are relied on in critical situations.

©2025 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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