KelTec may have single-handedly opened up the civilian 5.7x28 mm market with its introduction of the P50, a semi-automatic pistol that utilizes the 50-round magazine of the FN P90. The innovative and affordable firearm (the 2022 winner of an NRA Golden Bullseye Award for Tactical Product of the Year) kicked off a wave of 5.7 mm firearms designed specifically for the civilian market.
KelTec themselves expanded its 5.7 mm lineup with the R50 rifle version, along with the smallest 5.7 mm handgun on the market, the PR-57. Now KelTec is taking its 5.7 mm offerings in a radically new direction with the KP50, a new family of 5.7 mm firearms that will include pistol, short-barreled rifle (SBR), and selective-fire models, which the company calls “the next evolution of the PDW platform.”
At the heart of the KP50 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic action, similar to what is used in the P50/R50. The KP50 flips the script on the traditional positioning of a P90-style magazine, having it mount on the bottom, rather than the top, of the firearm. This has three advantages. First, the magazine can be reloaded without having to open the action, as is the case with the P50/R50. Second, the magazines will drop free of the action when released, making for quicker reloads. Third, two 50-round magazines can be “jungle-clipped” together and carried on the firearm at one time, with a magazine change involving removing the assembly, turning it 180 degrees, and inserting the fresh magazine.
The KP50 improves the ergonomics and handling characteristics of the original P50 with a more streamlined design. Its lower receiver is fully machined and uses the fire control components of KelTec’s SU16. The pistol grip is now removable and compatible with AR-type grips. All KP50s are supplied with a B5 Systems grip installed. Models with a folding stock or stabilizing arm brace have built-in QD sling swivel cups.
KP50 models have a 9.6-inch barrel, which hovers around the optimal length for the 5.7x28 mm cartridge (the FN P90 has a 10.4-inch barrel). The barrel has its muzzle threaded 1/2x28 TPI and comes with an A2-style flash hider installed. The top of the receiver is an M1913 Picatinny rail for mounting optics and accessories that is interrupted to accommodate the top ejection port. Controls are similar to the P50, with a non-reciprocating AR-style rear charging handle and a bilateral safety selector switch above the pistol grip. A new paddle-type magazine release in front of the trigger guard accommodates the new magazine mounting system.
The KP50 is available in four configurations:
- KP50 Pistol—The pistol has a section of M1913 Picatinny rail at the rear and is supplied with a single magazine. It has an overall length of 18.6 inches, weighs 3.2 pounds, unloaded, and has an MSRP of $899.
- KP50 Braced Pistol—The braced pistol is supplied with a side-folding stabilizing arm brace and comes with two magazines in the “jungle clip” configuration. It has an overall length of 18.6 inches with the brace folded, 28.3 inches with the brace extended, weighs 4 pounds, unloaded, and has an MSRP of $1,099.
- KP50 Defender—Like other KelTec products, the company is offering the KP50 as a ready-to-go “Defender Package.” This includes the KP50 braced pistol with a factory-installed Vortex Crossfire red dot optic and Magpul MBUS sights. The KP50 Defender ships in a custom hard case, has an MSRP of $1,349, and is available exclusively through KelTec Direct, KelTec’s factory-direct sales website.
- KP50 SBR—The short-barreled rifle version of the KP50 has the same specifications and MSRP as the braced pistol but has a side-folding stock in place of the stabilizing brace. Its purchase falls under the provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA).
The MP50 is like the KP50 SBR but is selective fire and available to military and law enforcement agencies only. KelTec is also offering a newly designed speedloader for the P90-style magazines used by the KP50.
For more information on the KelTec KP50, see the company’s website.
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