I went a bought a Kel-Tec PLR-16 the other day.
Of course I dressed it out with all of the goodies I could put on it such as a Kel-Tec muzzle brake, forend, laser, red dot scope, and sling.
I fired 500 rounds of various .223 and 5.56 ammo with no malfunctions.
A word of caution this gun may get hot enough if fired at a rapid rate for 150 rounds to soften the forend a bit so use caution. Otherwise I loved its accuracy and fun factor.
It’s LOUD AS HECK to be kind to your neighbor.
If your going to use this for CQB or home defense I would recommend a 45 to 50gr HP bullet with cannular. The 5.56 m193 and m855 is at the low end of effective velocity for the 9.2” barrel length at 2600fps.
A HP as stated above will still provide reliable expansion and fragmentation and drive to 10 –12” due to lower velocity. A coroner friend advised me that he has seen this combination tunnel a 2-inch diameter hole inside of someone while penetrating 10 –12 inches. He stated the permanent cavity looked like a tunnel of jelly.
This gun with the loads stated above has and effective range of 50 yards.
I had a blast with it.




http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/plr16.html

Thanks for the report.
I'd be interested in hearing more in six months, and a year.
The rifle seems like a real deal, provided it's built well enough to last.
I don't think I agree with your effective range estimation of 50 yards. Is that a typo?

Kel –tec says 6000 rounds or more for the life span. Guaranteed for life though just send it in an they will due what needs to be done to fix any problems.
I think 50 yards is a stretch but with a good 40 to 50 grain hp you will still be in the velocity range of that bullet weight and design to get good expansion and some fragmentation.
As far as accuracy with a red dot site I was shooting 3 to 4-inch groups at 100 yards at Camp Atterberry. Thats head shot material.
I recognize the gun was made for CQB scenarios and with that in mind 0-60 feet would produce the ideal engagement range for this gun. After all it is a handgun
The local gangsters around here are buying them like mad. Not good for out local LEO.

I have trouble believing your statement " The local gangsters around here are buying them like mad." Why? simple- "gangsters" are normally too young to have been tried as adults or they are felons, so cannot legally buy any firearm, let alone a pistol. When we can no longer buy firearms, I hope you remember what you said, because when we (honest firearm owning citizens) say things like that, the sheeple listen. Anyway, now that my rant is over, I was considering a Kel-tec rifle, but decided I needed a break from "black guns" after I came back from Iraq.
Andy

The local store I purchased it from has sold per the owner of the store on average between 1 and 3 a day. I would label most of the customers ( thugs or gangsters )
This store is in an area of my city that is a high crime area. When you walk into the store you will see what I mean by gangster, (Gold teeth, all dresses in black with faces obscured by hooded shirts and so on.) Yes you statement rings true. They are obviously legal to purchase a gun.
Perhaps “wanna be gangster is more accurate”
The phone in this store rang 12 times in an hour I was there and every call was a trace call from the Feds
That means a firearms purchased from that store was used in a crime and they are tracing the purchase.
I have no problem labeling someone a gangster regardless of criminal record if thy act like one.
Walks like duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.
I doubt you would argue Al Capone was not a gangster prior to his arrest for tax evasion.
I am a mega supporter of the second amendment but some firearms dealers need to use more discretion on who they sell to.
We don’t need more government regulation just more common sense.
I have LEO friends and that patrol that area. They are concerned about the individuals they are seeing with these guns out on the street.
The PLR-16 will put a hole in a vest if loaded with the correct ammo at 60 feet or so.

I understand what your saying though.

P.S. Andy, thankyou for your service to our country.

some firearms dealers need to use more discretion on who they sell to.
They have to adhere to the letter of the law. A man in a "hoody", with a clean record, is still a citizen entitled to his rights. What you mean to say is that dealer should elect NOT to sell that arm at all if he thinks it's a favorite for use in crimes.
As far a penetration and damage, I can do more with a .41 or .44 mag. If street types are buying military "styled" weapons, they're buying them for looks, and not for any tactical or ballistic advantage they know how to take advantage of.
My .02.

Valid points.
I would have some hesitance to say that “more” damage form a .41 or .44 especially at say 0-60 feet.
A 50-grain hp will penetrate 10-inches or so leaving a 2-inch channel of destruction to boot. That’s considerably a larger permanent cavity than any handgun. Also you still get a sizable stretch cavity as well. Remember this is still a rifle bullet traveling at rifle velocities.
No handgun cartridge will match the internal ballistics of a rifle cartridge.
Add to that ammo capacity say 30 rounds or so and the potential destruction speaks for itself.

And yes its waaaaay cooler looking than your typical handgun.

I bet it is loud, and a blast (no pun intended) to shoot at the range. Can you take the break off? I bet you it would be much quieter without it. My brother has an AR someone built for him, it has the break with many little holes, you cannot be anywhere but directly behind that thing when its shooting.
Andy

It's very very loud with or with out the brake.
I recommend leaving it on as it does make a very noticeable difference in recoil.
I am enjoying shooting it at the range.
A word of caution. I do not shoot this gun like I do my Bushmasters. I try not to get it to hot. After all it is a zytel receiver.
Kel-tec has advised me it is a very sturdy gun and they have had no reported failures do to heat other than the handgaurd getting soft one time form a client shooting very rapid drum mags.
This is more of a sport/hunt gun that looks like a combat platform.
But it will easily do the job as a CQB.I put 90 rounds thru mine fast without any trouble and then let it cool down a bit.
It's a good gun that is under priced. Go get one before you can't
Mine pictured above with Bushnel red dot scope, lasersite laser under the barrel, kel-tec muzzle brake and barrel shroud, strap and 2 30 round coupled AR15 mags..


This video is from Kel-tec[/FONT]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJE3-MpxALE

You do realize that the gun in the picture is illegal as heck don't you? Or did you SBR it or AOW it? You cannot attache a vertical grip, or any secondary grip to a pistol and this includes the AR-15 type pistols. This is well documented so unless you AOWed or SBRed that thing you better get that second vertical grip off there ASAP. Not wort a $10,000 fine and jail time IMO.

If you want to cut down on the blast some try the Noveske KX3 muzzle device. It is classified as a flash suppressor but it does an excellent job of directing the blast down range and away from the shooter. I just put one on my AR-15 pistol tonight.
But seriously, get that second VG off there NOW, and get rid of the picture too unless you want jail time. If you think you need documentation contact any ATFE office or AR15.com, AR15 section, AR15 handgun forum.

Regarding the gansta stuff. I hate them too, walk, talk, act like a duck...but with that second grip on there you are as illegal, maybe even more so, than any of them.

Link to ATFE ruling (http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=122&t=277274)

Thanks Big Bore. New one on me.
Took care of it right away. See pic above previous post.

There you go. What grip, I don't see a second grip? I must have been hallucinating again. Darn those cold pills!

The PLR-16 is definetly loud, but, it is very accurate. I handload 55gr Nosler BTs and it will aggregate 1.25", 5 shots, 100yds with scope and rest.

One note: this handgun prefers to run on the wet side and needs to be cleaned and lubed at least every 100 rounds for reliable function. I've been using Break Free.