PMR 30

[ElPollo]

I picked up a Kel-Tec PMR 30 this week. Given that I don’t live in griz country anymore, my main interest is a light trail gun and plinker. For those of you who have these and particularly those who put high round counts through them, what issues have popped up for you? Just looking at it, my first thought was I should probably loctite or paint pen the safety screws. Are there any maintenance issues that you have had with these things?

 

[RWT]

I enjoyed mine while I had it. I do wish they came with a threaded barrel. They are terribly loud being 22wmr. I was not a fan of the 2x4 grip and the trigger reach for me was an issue. It was ammo dependent regarding functionality. I also found if you blast it with break cleaner in the action every 200ish rounds it functioned better.

I now carry a P17 with a can in my hunting pack. Works great for running hogs off with CCI quiet. No issues with it function and is very quiet. The grip of the P17 is smaller and offers better trigger reach.

 

[TSAMP]

I have one. It's my trapping gun, and can confirm it's stupid loud. I have not found the mythical ammo that cycles well that some have found, but it is picky about how you load the magazine also. It's a cheap gun that i don't mind getting dirty and abusing.

 

[ElPollo]

Will agree on the stupid loud part. I ran a mag through it after picking it up and it’s not something I will ever intentionally fire without ear protection. It ran fine, with 40 gr CCI soft points, but I could only get about 27 rounds in the new magazine. I’m sure it’ll break in. Has anyone run a couple thousand rounds through one of these?

 

[Thegman]

I now carry a P17 with a can in my hunting pack. Works great for running hogs off with CCI quiet. No issues with it function and is very quiet....

Not to derail, but I'm curious what this looks like and what situations present it (?)

 

[PredatorSlayer]

This is @Formidilosus choice for grizz/brown bear protection apparently. He should be able to give you some good tips

 

[ElPollo]

Already noticed one downside to the heel mounted mag release. When in the holster, you can inadvertently hit it on furniture or other things and eject your magazine.

 

[juju]

Teh interwebs said use heavy bullets for reliable function. So I did. Thereby mine has always been reliable. It's a rimfire, so I'm sure it's malfed. I just don't remember it. That's pretty reliable in rimfire terms.

No, I did have a magazine spring issue right off the bat. KelTec sent springs.

I don't think those 50gr bullets are expanding, based off the reaction on live targets. Just a note.

 

[ElPollo]

Teh interwebs said use heavy bullets for reliable function. So I did. Thereby mine has always been reliable. It's a rimfire, so I'm sure it's malfed. I just don't remember it. That's pretty reliable in rimfire terms.

No, I did have a magazine spring issue right off the bat. KelTec sent springs.

I don't think those 50gr bullets are expanding, based off the reaction on live targets. Just a note.

I bought a big ass 2000 round bulk pack of 50 gr HP cheap stuff and 500 rounds of gold dot 40 gr hp. I intend to shoot it until I singe my eyebrows off. Shouldn’t take that much given the fireball that comes out the front.

 

[RWT]

Not to derail, but I'm curious what this looks like and what situations present it (?)

Generally put it together once I get to my blind. Hogs come in and run the deer off. I use this to run off the hogs and the deer stand off at the brush line then come back out as there is no more noise than a pellet gun. I center lunch the hogs as this is usually over 100 yards away.

 

[RockAndSage]

Use a really good lubricant, and heavy bullets.

 

[ARK_Ginger]

If you’re carrying it in a holster, use a piece of tape to tape the magazine to the grip. Otherwise you’ll find yourself without a magazine.

 

[EastTX Jess]

I have put around 500 rounds through mine. As others have said, clean around every 200 and lube generously. CCI Maxi-mags have been the most reliable. My son sent 3 clips through it last weekend and only had 1 jam.

 

[Jlister]

The mcarbo reliability kit helped mine a ton and wasn’t too bad to install. 300 ish rounds of 30-50gr since installing without a problem.

 

[BLJ]

@RWT. Will the P17 accept red dot? Thanks.

 

[RWT]

@RWT. Will the P17 accept red dot? Thanks.

Uncertain. I’ve seen online people add them. Mine is in my shop and it’s a 100 yard walk from the house. Just had my knee scoped so I am not hobbling on crutches that far in the rain to find out. Once walking again I’ll go inspect and report back.

I am curious if the PMR30 allows one as well? I did investigate the threaded barrel issue and you can purchase an aftermarket one for $130ish.
To me that would alleviate some of the issues with the PMR for me. The grip is still a challenge, but I if it came with a threaded barrel I would pick one up again to see if I could adjust.
I did find I shoot my single 6 in 22 mag much more accurately than the PMR. I have good fiber optic sites on the 6. Being single action I found I will my time compare to the PMR. It’s just to much fun to shoot quickly and throw lead.

 

[TSAMP]

I mounted a viper red dot on my PMR and it had issues cycling. It states in the paperwork that there are only a couple light enough to use. I think the burris fast fire might be one

Shield RMSC style Red Dot Mount Plate for the Keltec PMR-30

Lakeline optic mounting plates are the best available - machined to the highest possible tolerances

lakelinellc.com

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

After some magazine loading advice from @Formidilosus and another 600 rounds through the gun, we are starting to really get along now.

From this evening…

 

[HighUintas]

After some magazine loading advice from @Formidilosus and another 600 rounds through the gun, we are starting to really get along now.

From this evening…

View attachment 873809

Nice work. What distance are you hitting those from?

 

[ElPollo]

Uncertain. I’ve seen online people add them. Mine is in my shop and it’s a 100 yard walk from the house. Just had my knee scoped so I am not hobbling on crutches that far in the rain to find out. Once walking again I’ll go inspect and report back.

I am curious if the PMR30 allows one as well? I did investigate the threaded barrel issue and you can purchase an aftermarket one for $130ish.
To me that would alleviate some of the issues with the PMR for me. The grip is still a challenge, but I if it came with a threaded barrel I would pick one up again to see if I could adjust.
I did find I shoot my single 6 in 22 mag much more accurately than the PMR. I have good fiber optic sites on the 6. Being single action I found I will my time compare to the PMR. It’s just to much fun to shoot quickly and throw lead.

Red dots are an option on PMR 30s, but they require a mounting plate and are apparently pretty sensitive to the weight of your set up. The red dot mount is also pretty high up above the iron sights.