MY IMPRESSIONS
KelTec makes firearms that are innovative and fun to shoot. I own several, and all have unconventional designs. The PLR-22 is no exception. At a compact sub-5 pounds, this handy braced pistol is made largely from high-strength polymer. The full pistol grip and textured forearm are comfortable and attractive. This pistol seems to want to be held and fired.
I like holding the PLR-22, and it looks great folded or extended. It lends a feeling of control and firepower that says, “We need to go shooting.” The recoil spring is located above the barrel, as on the AK-47 rifle. Whether shooting soda cans, hunting or target shooting, this brace feels good and looks good.
This PLR-22 Defender is a package that comes with a Strike Industries LVNV pistol brace, a Viridian RFX11 reflex sight, and a Magpul angled grip. The brace transforms the handgun into a solid platform, and unlike some wobbly braces, this brace stays locked whether folded or extended.
The Picatinny rail comes with nice open sights. A simple notch rear matches the adjustable front post for adequate aiming; however, the included Viridian optic brings out the accuracy potential. The green dot is easy to pick up in daylight and is centered in my vision.
Other neat features of the PLR-22 are the front angled handguard and threaded muzzle. The lower Picatinny rail allows attachment of the angled handguard, which protects my hand from sliding forward of the muzzle. If you do not have a suppressor, you are missing out on the fun of quiet! The 1/2x28 threaded muzzle accepts most suppressors on the market.
Controls
Fire controls are instinctive and oversized. The reciprocating bolt handle is textured and easy to grasp, while the cross-bolt safety is smooth on the left side and hollow on the right. This tactile feature allows me to easily feel if the safety is engaged, plus, it has a red ring on the left to visually verify it is in the fire position. The magazine release is located on the left side, forward of the trigger guard, much like on an AR-15 platform.
The bolt hold-open button is somewhat hidden behind the magazine well, forward of the trigger guard. It allows the bolt to be locked back independently of the magazine follower. The included Black Dog 25-round magazine is shaped and sized to resemble an AR-15 30-round magazine, adding to the cool factor of the firearm. The gray semi-clear polymer allows me to check my remaining ammo count.
My two least-liked features are the somewhat heavy trigger pull and tendency to jam with some types of .22 ammunition. As a target shooter, I appreciate a light trigger, but the trigger is not adjustable. Ammunition such as CCI Mini Mags and Stingers function well through the pistol.
RANGE TIME
Sunny and warm Area 52 in southern Arizona made a good testing ground for the PLR-22. My targets were two steel plates at 10 and 15 yards, and lots of 2-liter soda jugs from 10-25 yards. Ammunition was CCI Mini Mag and Stinger high-velocity hollow points, and I shot off-hand with stock extended.
The short overall length of the pistol makes sighting a challenge compared to a full-size rifle. I had to choke up on the stock to see the bright green dot, but once I got used to its size, it was not difficult to group my shots on steel. Root beer jugs fell victim to the Mini Mag hollow points, turning into spurters and geysers, with positive cycling and ejection from the PLR-22.
After 20 shots, I had one failure to feed. I cleared the jam quickly and reloaded to finish a long-range soda jug at 25 yards. As I suspect ammo sensitivity is critical with the PLR-22, I switched to CCI Stingers for the second portion of my test.
My Banish 22 suppressor was barely noticeable attached to the KelTec due to its light 4-ounce titanium construction and overall length of just over 5 inches. It kept the pistol quiet and did not affect accuracy.
Suppressed shooting with CCI Stingers was impressive. Shots on the steel gong grouped well, and I could make head shots easily. The quiet was noticeable. The high-pitched crack was gone, and function was not affected. Rapid-fire strings were no problem.
My accuracy test on paper at 10 yards was encouraging. I fired 10 shots with CCI Stingers off-hand into a measured 2-inch group. While not comparable to a match target pistol, that is useable accuracy for a fun plinking pistol.
Ron Calderone
Ron Calderone is a national record holder and recognized NRA competitor with a legendary background in Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette. A certified match director and former board member of the Tucson Rifle Club, Ron now enjoys retirement quail hunting with his French Spaniel and sharing his decades of competitive expertise.
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