Kel-Tec PMR-30: One of 2019's Most-Popular Semi-Auto Handguns

by
posted on June 20, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
kel-tec-pmr30.jpg

Kel-Tec introduced the .22 WMR. chambered PMR-30 in 2010 and it was an instant hit with enthusiasts. The futuristic-looking semi-auto pistol features a flush-fitting 30-round magazine, Hi-ViZ fiber-optic sights—fore and aft—and an accessory rail for mounting lights and lasers.

It claimed third-place honors in semi-automatic handgun sales category last year in GunBroker's Gun Genius rankings, despite being nearly a decade old and chambered in a rimfire caliber some consider less than optimal for self- or home-defense purposes. Its popularity barely wavers, and it’s stayed in the top-10 for the past five years, even second in 2018.

The PMR-30 has a 4.3-inch barrel and measures 7.9 inches long, 5.8 inches tall and 1.3 inches wide. Those dimensions make it possible to be carried concealed, but it’s something of a challenge. That’s not where it shines brightest, anyway. Empty, the gun weighs only 14 ounces, which lets it lighten the load for hiking, backpacking and survival chores. Its capacity is a bonus for each of those duties.

The PMR-30’s steel slide is tapped for optics and is coupled with an aluminum grip frame to reinforce the primarily polymer construction. The barrel has a 1:11-inch rate of twist, although early versions were not as tight.

The magazine release is located at the heel of the grip, but instead of pulling back to release, it’s pushed forward. That’s a big difference from the traditional European style, and in testing for American Rifleman B. Gil Horman wrote, “I found that by pressing the heel of my non-shooting hand into the release tab, while hooking the front of the magazine base with my fingertips, it’s easy to quickly strip out a spent magazine and insert a new one.”

The manual safety is ambidextrous. A hybrid system of blowback and locked breech operate the semi-auto. MSRP is $478, and if there’s any question in your mind as to the popularity, it's disappeared from the list of available in-stock handguns from many major retailers during the current gun-buying frenzy.

Latest

Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto
Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

New For 2025: Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 2.0 & Alpine ST Rifles

Weatherby's Model 307 bolt-action rifle opens up a world of aftermarket components to consumers, thanks to its Model 700 receiver footprint, and the company now has two new models for hunters and sport shooters.

Preview: Thunderbolt To The Rebels | The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War

Author Darin Wipperman provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Berdan’s sharpshooters during the American Civil War.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.