New For 2023: KelTec R50

by
posted on March 18, 2023
** 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. **
Keltec R50 01
By adding a folding stock and lengthening the barrel to 16.1”, KelTec has transformed its P50 pistol into the R50 rifle.
Image courtesy of KelTec.

KelTec joined the 5.7 mm rebirth with the introduction of the P50 pistol, a unique handgun that utilized the 50-round magazines of the FN P90/PS90 and shared its 5.7 x 28 mm chambering. The pistol made a splash when it was introduced in 2021 and was named the American Rifleman Tactical Product of the Year for 2022.

The new R50 rifle is based on KelTec’s P50 pistol introduced in 2021.

For 2023, KelTec is taking the P50 design and turning it into a “sport utility rifle” appropriately named the “R50.” By adding 6.5” to the barrel, the P50 pistol becomes the rifle-length R50. The rifle barrel has its muzzle threaded 1/2 x 28 TPI, just like the pistol. At the rear, a stock has been added. The bent wire design attaches to the bottom of the pistol grip and folds to either side of the rifle. Mounting the stock eliminates one of the P50’s quick-detach (QD) sling mounts, but the R50 retains the second QD mount at the rear of the grip for a single-point sling. The R50 has an overall length of 30.5” with stock extended or a compact 21.5” when folded.  

The stock of the R50 folds, giving the rifle an overall length of 21.5”.

Beyond these changes, the R50 rifle is identical to the P50 pistol with its direct-blowback action. It uses an AR-like charging handle and has a set of iron sights built into its upper Picatinny optics rail. The transformation from handgun to rifle only adds about 1/4 lb. in weight for a total of 3.48 lbs. The trade-off is the increased ballistics provided by the 16.1” barrel and the accuracy of a shoulder-fired rifle.  

The R50 has an MSRP of $815, or $20 more than the P50 pistol, and is scheduled to be on the market in the third quarter of 2023. For more information, visit keltecweapons.com.

Latest

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.